Readers might be intrigued by a book standing in the middle of a bookstore lined with shiny artwork. But what will make them flip through the pages after they’ve picked it up? And what will lead them to the cashier to make a commitment to this one book out of countless others? The answer lies in the ‘book introduction’. That’s where the real magic happens: where the author hooks the reader and captures their thoughts, making them feel like what they’re about to read is going to change their life in some way.
In this article, we are going to cover the purpose of book introductions; the simple steps you can take to write a great one for your book (whether it’s for a work of fiction or nonfiction); and finally, we’ll share some examples by authors who just nailed the assignment!
No matter who or where we are in life, we all have a story to tell. Whether it’s a happy memory or a tragic turning point, these stories can affect many people. And that’s what memoirs are all about.
But the craft of memoir writing isn’t like any other; even though it is considered a work of non-fiction, it contains some elements of fiction that keeps the reader wanting to know more. So let’s explore how to write a memoir and turn it into a best seller (even if you aren’t a celebrity).
Plagiarism is the unethical act of using or copying someone’s work without proper citation and/or permission. This work can be in the form of a photograph, a quotation, a research idea, or any other intellectual property.
Whether you are a student, an academic, or an employee, plagiarizing can have serious consequences. Not only is it illegal, but it can also result in a loss of credibility among your peers or customers. So how does one avoid plagiarism in the first place?
Although the rise of the Internet means we now have access to unlimited content, therefore increasing our chances of accidental plagiarism, the good news is that plagiarism checkers are here to help us. When used correctly, plagiarism checker software can help ensure that your work is original and plagiarism-free.
In this article, we will take a look at some of the top plagiarism checkers of 2022, and how you can select the one most suitable for your needs.
The Benefits of Using Plagiarism Checkers
Besides offering you peace of mind in knowing that your work is 100% original (and alerting you when it is not), using plagiarism checkers has many advantages. Here are some of these benefits:
1. Can search a wide range of databases in no time!
Top plagiarism checker tools are able to access a variety of databases quickly and simultaneously in order to search for content. They can take a trip around the entire web in a matter of seconds: the user simply inputs a piece of work into the plagiarism software checker, and almost instantly learns whether or not their content is original.
2. Point users toward original texts
With good plagiarism checkers, users are supplied with links to the original plagiarized text(s). They can then see, for example, exactly which sections were directly lifted from the source text, or which were poorly paraphrased or wrongly cited.
3. Act as an educational tool
Educators can use plagiarism checkers to teach students how to cite properly, and how to deliver original content while still demonstrating the research they have done. Moreover, such tools can eventually discourage students from intentionally plagiarizing material in the first place.
4. Suitable for various formats
Top plagiarism checkers can check content in a variety of formats, ranging from Word and excel documents to pdfs and Google docs. This means that users have the option of uploading complete files rather than just copying and pasting sections of content to check.
5. Act as ethical guides
Plagiarism checker tools help writers remain ethical by allowing them to produce work that is authentic. Users can utilize them to ensure they are on the right track, thus protecting their own integrity and keeping themselves out of trouble.
How to Select the Best Plagiarism Checkers
The Internet hosts a wide variety of plagiarism detectors, which means it can sometimes be difficult to know how to choose the one best suited for your needs. So before we delve into our list of top plagiarism checkers, here are some key factors to consider when deciding which one is right for you.
1. Scope
Whether you are a high school student, an author working on your latest novel, or an educational institution, choosing a plagiarism checker will largely depend on the tool’s scope and how that corresponds to your needs.
For instance, a student might be content with a tool that provides basic plagiarism reports, whereas an educational institution, such as a university, would probably require a more comprehensive tool with higher security features. Nevertheless, the best plagiarism checkers will have access to a large database against which your work can be checked.
2. Cost
Some plagiarism checkers are free to use, while others either have a fixed price or are priced according to a user’s needs (word count, page count, etc.). Some plagiarism checker tools require users to pay for additional features such as more advanced plagiarism reports, or proofreading and editorial services. Deciding whether or not to pay for certain premium packages depends on the level of advancement a user requires.
3. Compatibility
A good plagiarism checker should be compatible with different file formats (such as .doc, .pdf, .xls, etc.). Some plagiarism checkers are also able to detect various languages, which can come in handy for users working with multilingual sources. However, if a user knows they are only handling English sources and using Word documents, then there is no need for them to actively seek a plagiarism tool that caters to other languages and file formats.
4. Accessibility
It is useful to choose a plagiarism detector that offers a user-friendly interface. However, some plagiarism checkers can appear to be more complicated than others, especially if they host various different features. Depending on their needs, some users might sacrifice ease of access if that means they will in turn receive more advanced services.
Top Plagiarism Checkers
The best plagiarism checkers should be able to accurately detect the largest possible percentage of plagiarism—and that includes uncited paraphrasing (i.e. not just straight copying of material).
Still, with various plagiarism checkers out there to choose from, how can users select the most suitable tool for their specific needs? To help answer that, we’ve prepared a list of some of the best plagiarism checker software of 2022, with a detailed analysis supplied for each tool.
With more than 1,000 academic institutions as its clients, Unicheck has access to a database of over 91 billion pages and library files. As it focuses on achieving authenticity more than just providing its users with numbers, Unicheck is an ideal tool for both individuals and large institutions.
Price: Unicheck pricing is divided into 3 categories: personal, educational, and business. Under the personal category, users pay per page (this starts at $5 for 20 pages). More large-scale packages are offered for educational and business institutions.
Audience: Students and academic institutions
Pros:
Offers live support
Allows for bulk uploading
Integrates with Microsoft 365, Google Docs, and Chrome, which means users can scan for plagiarism directly while working
Supports and detects over 20 different languages
Cons:
Provides multiple sources for a single plagiarized sentence, which means that it can be difficult to find the intended original source
Offers a downloadable report that can be overcrowded and difficult to read due to the multiple sources provided per result
Does not use color coding to differentiate between plagiarized sources
With its main focus on academics, Scribbr has 4 million monthly student users and can scan a database of 91 billion web pages and 69 million publications. The great thing about this tool is that it doesn’t only check for plagiarism, but it also offers proofreading and editing services, and a free citation generator.
Price: Scribbr offers a limited free trial, after which users pay per document. Prices range from $20–$40 per document, depending on the word count.
Audience: Students and academics
Pros:
Offers an academic proofreading tool
Includes a free citation generator that fixes incorrect citations
Allows users to upload their own previous work to check for self-plagiarism
Utilizes different colors to mark different sources in order to make plagiarism reports more readable
Supports 20 languages
Cons:
Does not allow users to recheck their documents for free
Does not permit users to work directly on Scribbr
Lack a dashboard and the necessary security elements to make it suitable for large institutions
Grammarly is an extremely popular tool as one of the best AI writing assistants out there. And even though there is a free plagiarism checker tool on Grammarly, the paid version offers users a detailed report, in addition to a wide variety of editing and proofreading services that can be vital for content creators with a fast work turnaround.
Price: Free version available, but users must upgrade to the premium plan to get a detailed plagiarism report (plus other editing and proofreading features), starting at $12/month.
Audience: Freelancers, bloggers, and content writers
Pros:
Has a user-friendly interface that clearly shows plagiarism scores in percentages and lists original sources
Simultaneously acts as an editing and proofreading tool, checking grammar, spelling, writing technique, and other stylistic elements
Offers quick response time when generating plagiarism reports
Cons:
Functions only in English
Does not offer a plagiarism checker as part of its free version
Does not use color coding to easily differentiate between sources
Quetext aims at helping professionals, bloggers, teachers, and students find any plagiarised text in their work and fix it. It provides rich and intuitive feedback, with interactive snippet text and a comprehensive plagiarism score. One of Quetext’s unique features is its usage of DeepSearch technology to yield more reliable reports.
Price: Quetext offersa freeplan that allows users to scan 2,500 words (or 5 pages of text) per month. Afterwards, the basic package is priced at $9.99/month and allows users to check up to 100,000 words. Users also have the option to purchase an upgrade at $19.99/month for 250,000 words and $49.99/month for 500,000 words.
Audience: Teachers, students, copywriters, and freelancers
Pros:
Offers multiple file uploading for bulk plagiarism scanning
Offers users the option of a free plan
Uses a color-coded system to highlight potential plagiarism
Uses a system known as DeepSearch, which relies on AI technology to deliver more accurate plagiarism-detection results
Cons:
Does not offer grammar checking
Does not include DeepSearch in the free version
Does not allow users to work directly on Quetext
Only offers color coding that reflects the degree of plagiarism in reports (red for complete matches, orange for partial matches). The same colors are, however, used for different sources, which can be confusing
As an award-winning software, Plagiarism Checker X is both user-friendly and accessible. It provides its users with color-coded reports and supports various file formats. Moreover, it is available in 7 languages (English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Dutch, and Portuguese) and is used in over 80 countries.
Price: Plagiarism Checker X provides a free basic plan that includes up to 30 searches daily. It also offers a professional plan for a one-time fee of $39.95 per one-user license.
Audience: Students and academics
Pros:
Allows users to upload multiple file formats, including .docx, .doc, .pdf, .html, and .rtf.
Supports multiple languages
Offers a user-friendly interface with a side-by-side display and clearly marked tools
Provides color-coded results for greater report readability
Allows users to paste content (even URLs) directly into the tool
Offers a bulk comparison tool that allows users to check multiple works simultaneously
Cons:
It is slightly slower than other tools
It is only compatible with Windows platforms, which is inconvenient for many users who use Mac and other operating systems
It does not offer browser extensions for Chrome or Firefox
If you are looking for a reliable plagiarism checker that can also detect paraphrased content using advanced AI technology, then you might want to check Copyleaks. Offering tailored packages for individuals, educational institutions, and enterprises, this tool ensures that your text is plagiarism-free while protecting your privacy.
Price: Copyleaks offers a limited free trial of 20 pages/month. The Copyleaks pricing model is then divided into two categories: Premium and Institution. For personal use by academics and educators, the premium package starts at $10.99/month for 25,000 words. For institutions, Copyleaks offers customized packages with tailored solutions, including LMS integration.
Audience: Students, professors, business professionals, and academic institutions
Pros:
Available in over 100 languages
Provides access to a large database
Offers a plagiarism checker mobile app for ease of access
Caters to individual users while also being suitable for large educational institutions
Cons:
Can take longer than other tools to generate plagiarism reports
Has a more complex design that renders plagiarism reports more overcrowded than others
Primarily an AI writing assistant, ProWritingAid is designed to improve a writer’s work by acting as a smart editing tool (checking grammar, offering stylistic suggestions, etc.). In addition to that, its plagiarism checker can be used online or through the Microsoft word add-in.
Price: The ProWritingAid plagiarism checker is an add-on to the Premium Plus package, which is priced at $89/year. The plagiarism checker alone is billed based on the number of checks, starting at $10 for 10 checks, while users automatically get 60 plagiarism checks with their Premium Plus package and can afterward purchase “checks” in bundles.
Audience: Bloggers, fiction and nonfiction authors, and content writers
Pros:
Allows users to upload their work directly to ProWritingAid
Offers users the option to scan their work while using popular writing applications like Scrivener
Generates accurate plagiarism reports
Suggests fixes beyond plagiarism, such as writing style, grammar, and spelling
Can be integrated with Microsoft Word, Google docs, Chrome, and Scrivener
Cons:
Takes longer to get used to its various features
Could be slow when editing large documents of over 10,000 words
Allows access to the plagiarism checker only through the premium plan
Plagramme is a plagiarism checker tool with thousands of users from more than 90 countries. It has access to an astounding database of over 14 trillion web pages, periodicals, books, articles, papers, and reports. One of the main advantages of Plagramme is that it’s free and has no word limit on plagiarism checks.
Price: Plagramme is a FREE plagiarism checker tool, although it does offer a paid premium package for bulk checking.
Audience: Students, freelancers, and bloggers
Pros:
Has a simple and user-friendly interface with a straightforward plagiarism scoring system
Doesn’t have a word limitation for plagiarism checks
Doesn’t just detect plagiarism, but also highlights any risks of plagiarism by marking potentially paraphrased sections and incorrect or poor citations
Supports multiple languages
Allows users to upload multiple file formats (.docx, .doc, .pdf, .odt, .rtf, and .pages)
Cons:
Users must wait in a “queue” when using the free version
There are many advertisements in the free version
The plagiarism report offered by the free version is not complete
The free report offers a plagiarism percentage range rather than a set figure
The accuracy of plagiarism detection is not as high as that offered by other paid tools
Top Plagiarism Checkers Compared
Tool
Price
Database
Target Audience
Unicheck
– PAID per page batch for personal users (starts at $5 for 20 pages). – FREE TRIAL to check up to 200 words
91 billion+ sources
– Students- Academic institutions
Scribbr
– PAID per uploaded document, ranging from $20–$40 per document (depending on the word count)- Limited FREE TRIAL available
– 91 billion web pages- 69 million publications
– Students- Academics
Grammarly
-PAID monthly subscription, starting at $12/month
1.7 billion websites
– Freelancers – Bloggers- Content writers
Quetext
– FREE PLAN of up to 2,500 words/month- PAID monthly subscription packages: $9.99/month for 100,000 words OR $19.99/month for 250,000 words OR $49.99/month for 500,000 words
– 20 million books- 35 billion web pages – 1 million+ academic journals
– Teachers- Students – Copywriters- Freelancers
Plagiarism Checker X
– FREE BASIC PLAN of up to 30 daily searches- PAID one-off fee of $39.95 per user license
16 billion published pages
– Students- Academics
Copyleaks
– FREE PLAN of up to 20 pages/month- PAID monthly subscription of $10.99/month for personal users.
Millions of user-submitted documents
– Students- Professors- Business professionals
ProWritingAid
– PAID checks start at $10 per 10 checks.- Premium Plus package for $89/year.
1 billion+ web pages, published works, and academic papers
– Bloggers- Fiction and nonfiction authors- Content writers
Plagramme
– PAID premium package for bulk checking.- FREE
14 trillion+ sources
– Students- Freelancers- Bloggers
Final Thoughts
In a world oversaturated with information, presenting original work is becoming more challenging. This is why now, more than ever, plagiarism checkers are considered essential for almost any type of written work.
However, not all plagiarism tools are created equal. Users can choose the tool that’s right for them by first assessing their own work: How many words do they write per month, what genre does their writing fall under, and what file formats do they tend to use,? Armed with this knowledge, they can then confidently examine the list of top plagiarism checkers and select that which best suits their needs.
Creating ebooks is one of the best ways to share knowledge and add value to both your customers and employees. But that’s not all that ebooks can do for your brand; adding your brand identity to your ebooks or ebooks library can help you achieve so much more.
So let’s delve deeper into some tips and tricks on ebook branding, and how and why to add your brand identity to your ebooks.
What Does It Mean to Brand an Ebook?
To brand your ebook means to add your business or personal identity to it so that anyone who opens this ebook knows it belongs to you or your organization. This is done by customizing certain features regarding the ebook content and design, such as the colors, fonts, and even the orientation.
Why Should You Brand Your Ebook?
Branding your products, including your ebooks, will help you create loyal customers and hire and retain great talent. It forms an emotional connection with them, as it helps them recognize your ebooks once they open them and appreciate the content you are offering. Additionally, it helps your brand stand out.
In short, ebook branding can serve as a great marketing tool. You can use these ebooks to increase your readers’ engagement with your brand by delivering value. This in turn is going to elevate your brand.
How to Brand Your Ebook
In order to keep your ebook true to your brand, there are several things you need to keep in mind. These aspects have to do with both the content and the design of your ebook.
We are going to walk you through each of these aspects and how to customize them to highlight your brand identity throughout the ebook.
1. Be Authentic
The first thing you have to keep in mind while preparing the manuscript is being authentic and true to both your customers or employees and brand. Present your content to your readers in an interesting and engaging way that shows how your ebook is different from any other.
2. Focus on Your Niche
It’s essential while preparing your ebook to focus on the brand’s mission and vision. The content of this book has to be aligned with the core philosophies of your business. And if this ebook is for employee training, you’ve to show your expertise on the subject matter through this ebook.
For example, if the mission of your brand is to create eco-friendly products to help reduce the impact of climate change, then your ebook shouldn’t recommend using non-degradable everyday items.
3. Use Your Brand’s Tone of Voice
Every brand has a tone of voice with which it addresses both its customers and employees. This tone could be formal, friendly, casual, etc. And just as in any content you present to your customers, your ebook should use the same tone to create a sense of harmony and help the customers easily identify with your content.
We at Kotobee, for instance, use a formal yet friendly tone throughout all channels. This applies to our website, blog, newsletters, ebooks, and other communication forms.
4. Add Your CTA
A great way to remind your readers of your brand is to add a call to action (CTA) whenever there’s an opportunity. This way you won’t only add value to them through your ebook, but you can also convert those readers into potential customers. These CTAs urge your customers to hire you, subscribe, or buy your product. For the CTA to be effective, it has to be eye-catching and clear.
5. Customize the Visuals
There are many visual aspects of your brand identity that you can add to your ebook. You can choose to do this yourself as you prepare your book, or if you have your manuscript ready, our creative design experts can take care of it for you.
Here are some of the visual elements that can be customized to represent your brand’s identity:
Logo One of the essential elements of your brand’s visual identity is the logo. Some people like to add it as a watermark on every page, while others keep it in the header or the footer. Wherever you choose to place it, make sure it isn’t distracting the readers from the actual content of your ebook.
Font It’s advised to keep the fonts of your brand–and ebook–between 2 to 3 fonts. You can use one for the title and one for the main text. In case you decided to use a third font, try keeping it for special text (e.g. quotes and highlights). Using Kotobee Author, you can choose from a range of fonts embedded in the app. You can also import your own fonts and use them in your ebook.
Color Scheme Last but not least, it is important to include your brand’s color palette in your ebook. This can be incorporated into the design of the cover, the color of the fonts, or the graphics you include inside the book. Moreover, these colors can be used in the design of the ebook itself, including the header, menus, and bars. Keep in mind that, just like the number of fonts you use in your ebook, an effective design usually utilizes 3 or 4 colors. Using more than 4 colors can make the design of your ebook look too busy and distracting.
How to Customize your Ebook App Using Kotobee Author
One of the best ways to create branded ebooks is to make them in the form of applications, whether it’s a mobile, web, or desktop app. Kotobee can be your go-to ebook branding software, as it allows you to create and customize many aspects of your ebook app to help showcase your brand identity.
To add the visual identity of your brand, there are certain elements that you can customize. So let’s walk you through these elements, using an ebook app created by Kotobee Author as an example.
Startup Page
It is important that your readers see your brand identity from the very first page of your ebook app, and that is the startup page that appears while the book is loading.
Not only can you customize the loading page of your ebook app, but you can also change the color scheme of different elements inside your ebook to add your brand color palette. Here’s what you can customize:
Header Bar
The first thing you can change the color of is the header bar, where the chapter’s title, chapter menu, notes, and bookmark icons are located. Both the background and text colors can be customized to match those of your brand. You can either enter the hex code or visually select a color and shade of each element.
Chapter Menu
The chapter menu appears in a collapsible left panel when you click on the chapter’s title. This menu is split into 2 sections: the book info on the top and the table of contents on the bottom.
Just like the header bar, Kotobee Author allows you to change the colors of both the text and the background. This can be done either by entering the hex code or by selecting the color and shade of your brand.
Control Bar
You can find the app’s control bar at the bottom of the screen. This bar has all the tools your readers may need, such as the search, notes, and settings. The colors of both the control bar and the icons can be customized using the hex code or by selecting a color from the sidebar.
How to Brand Your Own Ebook Library
If you have multiple ebooks then you can add them all inside one branded digital library, and control access to your content. Kotobee Library allows you to create highly customizable ebook libraries and digital bookshelves. This way you can give your readers the comfort of reading your ebooks directly from your very own branded digital bookshelf. You can host your ebook library on your own website, or export it to different app formats (desktop, web, or mobile).
Brand your ebook app with your color scheme and logo.
Add your own start-up page with your brand’s identity.
Customize different tools and display options to provide a unique reading experience.
Change the language, header, footer, and even templates of emails that are sent to your library users.
Final Thoughts
Ebooks can be a powerful marketing tool when used right. Adding your brand theme and identity to your ebooks can increase and improve the way your customers and employees engage with your brand, and it can also set you apart from your competitors. So head to Kotobee now to start creating and branding your own ebooks.
When picturing a writer, it’s easy to imagine a solitary figure toiling away at his/her desk. But the truth is, writers rarely work in such a vacuum. Instead, they rely on feedback from their potential readers (also known as beta readers) to help better develop their work.
It’s no coincidence that all the great authors we know today relied on at least one beta reader with whom they could share their writing. Take J. R. R. Tolkien, for example. The author of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit would test out material on his two sons, who offered him their opinions and ideas.
He also had another influential reader: his friend and fellow writer C. S. Lewis. Tolkien once wrote: “[Lewis] was for long my only audience… But for his interest and unceasing eagerness for more I should never have brought The Lord of the Rings to a conclusion.”
In this article, we will explore exactly what beta reading is by delving into the world of beta readers: who they are, what kind of services they provide, where they can be found, and why every author needs them.
Authors have always thought that to get their books to the light, they either have to go for traditional publishing or self-publishing. But thankfully, there is a third alternative that combines the best of both worlds, and that is hybrid publishing. And even though the term hybrid publishing might seem complicated for some, it is actually pretty simple.
If you’d like to skip the hassle of finding an agent who pitches your work to a traditional publisher, or avoid the tiring process of finding the perfect self-publishing platform, then keep reading this article to discover what hybrid publishing is all about.
Most teachers have come across the faces of overwhelmed students at the back of their classrooms. And although it’s unfair that such students should struggle in silence, most traditional classroom environments make it impractical for teachers to pay attention to each individual learner.
In an effort to remedy such faults, more schools have begun to adopt a nuanced approach to learning—or what is now referred to as “personalized learning”. Nevertheless, because of its broad terminology, it has been the subject of much debate, starting with the basic question: what exactly does it mean for learning to be personalized?
This article aims to give you an overview of personalized learning: its different models and strategies, the common misconceptions surrounding it, and the benefits of adopting it in the classroom.
What Is Personalized Learning?
Personalized learning is an educational approach that focuses on the learning needs of each individual student; that’s why it’s also referred to as “student-centered” learning. Although the speed and method by which each student learns may vary, the academic standards and end goal stay the same.
Since its aim is to address students’ varying needs, aspirations, and abilities, a good personalized learning program should be flexible. It should also be able to suit all types of schools and students.
This flexibility does not imply that personalized learning has no structure; at its core, it should aim to place the student at the heart of the learning process by:
Employing highly trained teachers who provide students the opportunity to direct their own learning,
Offering flexible learning environments that are not restricted to the traditional classroom, and
Using technology and data analytics to pinpoint students’ strengths and interests. This allows educators to provide more inspiring and engaging content.
What Are the Different Models of Personalized Learning?
Below are some of the common models of personalized learning. It is worth noting that because every classroom is different, educators often end up utilizing a combination of these models, depending on the subject taught and the students’ needs.
Learner Profiles
Some schools use what is known as learner profiles, whereby each student is assigned a unique profile comprising his/her data, including their skills, strengths, and how they learn. This enables teachers to better understand students’ interests, passions, strengths, and needs.
What makes learner profiles an effective personalized learning model is that they offer highly detailed and frequent updates. These can then be accessed by the school, the student, and the parents. In other words, they don’t merely document whether a student is passing or failing. Instead, they help teachers pick up on early warning signs if a student isn’t reaching his/her potential.
Personalized Learning Paths
Students and teachers collaborate to design a unique learning path for each individual student, one that is based on his/her interests, strengths, and previous experience.
This means that each learning path is customized while still covering all the standard concepts and skills students have to learn. What is particularly innovative about this model is that it allows the students to contribute to the creation of their educational path.
Competency-based Progression
Rather than focusing on test results as the main way of assessing students’ progress at school, the competency-based model places importance on skill mastery. Using various teaching methods, students are taught certain skills. And in order to progress, they have to demonstrate a mastery of those skills.
However, showcasing mastery doesn’t depend on tests but rather on more creative ways of assessment that students can help choose. For example, students may come up with ways to demonstrate their mastery of a chemistry concept by utilizing it to cook a meal!
FlippedInstruction
Relying on a mixture of in-person and online learning, flipped instruction aims to change the traditional division of classwork and homework. By adopting this model, teachers place their lessons online and use the in-person class time to have students work on activities together.
Flipped instruction aims to increase students’ engagement with the taught material. Moreover, placing lessons online enables students to access them in a more flexible manner and on their own terms.
How Can Educators Apply Personalized Learning?
So how can we bring to life the theory of personalized learning? Here are some examples of strategies that schools apply when following any of the abovementioned learning models:
Train teachers to analyze students’ interests and past experiences in order to create the most suitable learning paths.
Provide students with creative spaces to showcase their knowledge, rather than limiting them to standard assignments and assessments.
Give students a voice by making them active participants in their own learning. This includes knowing what and how they want to learn, and what kind of goals they want to set for themselves.
Create flexible classrooms by installing more adaptable seating arrangements. This is important for student-centered instruction as it caters to the varying physical needs of different students.
Installlearning stations (also known as “playlists”) in the classroom. These stations offer more than one type of activity pertaining to the topic being taught. Students then have the option to rotate through the different stations/playlists, which increases their engagement with the material and their classmates.
Immerse students in projects related to a particular subject to provide them with the opportunity to dig deep into topics, thus mastering different skills while doing so.
Use Education Technology (EdTech) tools to design a tailored and customizable learning environment.
Where Does EdTech Fit in Personalized Learning Programs?
The previous examples of personalized learning seem great in theory, but how can they be applied in large classrooms? How can we make this type of learning a scalable solution for schools, applicable not just to a handful of students but to hundreds, or even thousands?
This is where EdTech steps in.
Education Technology provides schools with multiple digital solutions that can automate many examples of personalized learning. The most important of which is facilitating the connection between teachers and students.
Whether it’s through video conferencing software or AI technologies, EdTech is how schools can make personalized learning cost-effective, attainable and viable.
Examples of EdTech tools for personalized learning:
Playlist-creating Tools: Used by teachers to create learning stations, playlist-creating tools such as Gooru and PowerMyLearning enable users to design and deliver their learning playlists, as well as integrate content from different sources.
Immersive Learning Technologies: Students retain more knowledge of a subject when they delve deep into it. By using immersive learning technologies, such as VR and AR, students can quite literally engage with the material being taught.
Adaptive Learning Platforms: Employing artificial intelligence and algorithms, adaptive learning platforms—such as Edapp and Knewton—aim to deliver personalized learning resources and activities. By utilizing students’ data, like their interests and previously acquired knowledge, teachers can use these platforms to customize lessons for different types of learners.
Video Conferencing Software: This type of technology enables students to connect with their teachers in a flexible manner and build connections with other students around the world. This in turn opens up their perspectives and provides them with new outlooks. Examples of popular video conferencing software are Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams.
Learning Management Systems: Learning Management Systems (LMS) are software applications that help educators deliver online learner-centric content. Platforms, such as Moodle and Blackboard, provide students with the means to obtain feedback from teachers and share resources. It also allows them to submit and collaborate on multimedia projects and assignments. They also enable students to keep track of all their work in one place.
What Myths and Misconceptions Surround Personalized Learning?
The fact that personalized learning is viewed differently by various people has naturally given rise to some misconceptions about it. Here are three common myths surrounding personalized learning:
Myth 1: Personalized learning will replace teachers with technology.
Just because personalized learning often utilizes technology certainly does not mean that teachers will be rendered replaceable. Good teachers don’t just impart knowledge to their students; they also offer empathy, motivation, and compassion—all of which form the basis of personalized learning.
Myth 2: Personalized learning isolates students.
Although personalized learning aims to offer a tailored education for students, that doesn’t mean they work in a vacuum. Yes, students have different learning paths, but these paths are not meant to be traversed alone.
In order to reach their customized goals, students must collaborate on different projects with their teachers, classmates, and even with the outside world. They learn about their interests and passions and also get to share them with others.
Myth 3: Personalized learning is for students who want to go slower.
One aspect of personalized learning is enabling students to set their own pace, but that isn’t the main goal. For starters, students don’t set the pace themselves; instead, they work with their teachers to decide together on the pace best-suited for their needs.
Students can set a slower pace for specific elements of a certain course. They can also speed up other elements that they are able to master quickly. Aside from pace-setting, students are also heavily involved in choosing the educational resources they would like to use. They are also able to design goals for themselves and then plan the best way to attain them.
What are the Benefits of Personalized Learning?
Personalized learning is an educational approach that is growing in popularity—and for good reason. Here are some of the benefits associated with this type of learning:
Creating tailored learning paths means teachers can highlight the strengths and passions of their students. This in turn helps engage students in the learning process.
By allowing students to become active participants in their education, personalized learning arms them with important life skills–such as decision-making and accountability.
Through personalized learning, students achieve high levels of motivation and dependability and become more self-aware individuals.
Personalized learning helps students attain self-advocacy skills by giving them a voice and a say in their own futures.
By tailoring each student’s learning content based on their interests and prior knowledge, personalized learning can result in high levels of knowledge retention.
When implemented properly, personalized learning enables teachers to manage their time in a highly efficient manner. By using data analytics to pinpoint what students need, teachers can thus address issues that are specific to certain students.
Personalized learning is a democratic approach to education. Its inclusive nature allows educators to become learners too. This shifts the traditional teacher-student hierarchy making it more of an equal partnership.
Final Thoughts
The exciting thing about personalized learning is that it’s malleable, meaning that technically there are no set rules for adopting it. Nevertheless, an effective personalized learning program places the student at its heart and provides flexible but targeted instruction. It also employs high-quality teachers who are willing to give students a chance to participate in the creation of their own learning paths.
In other words, successful personalized learning means that teachers will no longer be haunted by the faces of silently struggling students in the back of a classroom, but will instead be met with a sea of engaged and happy learners, each on their own path to the same destination: knowledge.
It’s always been said that books have the power to transform readers into other worlds. With the advancement of augmented reality (AR) technology, this is now true more than ever. Just like the famous Pokemon Go game, augmented reality books and publications merge the virtual world with reality, giving readers a unique experience.
Many people argue that the future of publishing lies with AR technology. This is due to its engaging nature and the features of interactivity it adds to any publication. So let’s take a look at the benefits and usages of AR in publishing, as well as some examples of how authors included AR in their books and magazines.
Let’s face it; whether we like it or not, tablets, mobile phones, and laptops have become an integrated part of our children’s life. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing though. When used mindfully, there are many tools that can benefit our kids and help them develop various skills. One of these tools that could be both entertaining and educational is interactive ebooks.
In this article, we’re going to cover how to make interactive children’s books and what elements to include in them. We’ll also provide you with some great examples that are sure to keep your kids pleased and get you inspired.
Writing a book isn’t an easy task; it takes a lot of blood and sweat to get your manuscript perfected and then published. Naturally, you don’t want anyone to simply steal your work or attribute it to themselves, and that is where copyrighting your book comes in.
One way of protecting your book is to include a copyright page. This is true for ebooks as it is with printed books. So if you are wondering how to make a copyright page for an ebook, keep reading this article to find out.
