Photography Tips to Help You Shine on Social Media

Photography Tips to Help You Shine on Social Media Photography Tips and Tricks to Wow Your Followers! ChaptersComposition: Play to the Psychology Behind PhotographyFlat Lays: Instagram’s Most Popular TrendThe Best Social Networks for PhotographersOver the years, photography has come to be a key feature of social media.With every good-quality or interesting photograph that you post come many likes and even new followers.This is down to the attractive and engaging nature of photographs which makes them a perfect medium for people to develop an online presence and have an influence on their followers.Whether it’s simple filters, frames and retouching or specialist software including Adobe photoshop Lightroom, there are countless tools for improving the appearance of photographs â€" so it’s not that difficult to create the illusion that you have the artistic skill of a professional photographer.However, if anyone can at least pretend to have mastered the art of photography, how do you stand out from the crowd when it comes to your own photography skills?The secret is to learn photo graphy on a photography course taught by a professional instructor.Signing up for expert instruction in photography will teach you everthing you need to know to take your photography skills to the next level. In photography workshops and tutorials, whether they're beginner or advanced photography, you can expect to learn how to use your camera to its full potential by first mastering the fundamentals then perfecting your practical skills.“Passion is the essence of social media”,    Jay BaerIf you don’t have your own digital camera, the camera integrated into your smartphone will be good enough to get started! However, it is recommended that you invest in a high-quality camera if you develop a serious interest in photography.As technology evolves, more and more cameras are becoming compatible with Wifi and Bluetooth, so not only will your photographs look more impressive, but you will be able to share them more easily.Check out the best photography courses online here.Some of I nstagram's most popular shots are taken on smartphones ¦ source: VisualhuntBy using a professional digital camera, the photographs you produce will be of higher quality and you will be able to capture more of the scene in front of you.Using high-quality equipment, coupled with real photographic know-how from your photography classes will make your Instagram or Facebook page more interesting to look at and the followers will come flooding in!Here are some more useful digital photography tips to stand out from the crowd when it comes to sharing your talent for photography on social media.Check out some amazing photography courses near me here.Robert CapaIsolate the main element: The aim here is to get your main object to be the focus of the whole scene â€" this is to say that there will be no distractions from other objects (such as a passing car or pedestrian). This can be done in several ways. Firstly, you can move closer towards the object so that it takes up a larger portion of t he frame. You can also reduce the depth of field around the object in order to soften the background. Focussing on your object will also blur the background.Experiment with repeated patterns: Patterns of objects or motifs are pleasant to look at â€" so make the most of them! The patterns you find might include wire fencing (which can be used as a frame for landscape photography), a field of identical flowers or a cluster of similar tower blocks. Your photograph can be made more interesting if you include something which interrupts the pattern. For example, this could be a window with a different colour frame to the rest.Symmetry: This rule demands a high level of attention to detail when it comes to choosing a subject and its frame. Your subject might be a solitary object placed at the very centre of your image (such as a monument at the end of road, for instance). You could also have two objects in symmetrical positions to one another.Discover the best photography courses on Superp rof.Posting interesting or quirky pictures will make you stand out ¦ source: Visualhunt - jesse.millanThere are many other photography techniques which can be used to achieve a good composition for your photographs, but getting a good grasp of the basics is the key to taking your photography to the next level later on.Flat Lays: Instagram’s Most Popular TrendIf the term ‘flat lay’ doesn’t mean anything to you, here’s a quick run-down of what it involves.Flat laying is all about photographing from above several related items which have been arranged on a carefully selected background.This style of photography is especially popular among those who run lifestyle, food and travel accounts.Flat laying is a method of presenting essential items for a particular outing or event to your followers. For instance, travel blog flat lays may include a tourist guide, rucksack, camera, sunglasses, passport, sun block and a bikini.For food accounts, flat lays are used for displaying all o f the ingredients required for a particular recipe.The flat lay has popularised the high-angle shot across social media and even in day-to-day life. Taking pictures   of restaurant meals when eating out to be later posted on social media is now incredibly poular.This is an example of a flat lay you may find on a beauty account ¦ source: Piixabay - summaHere are some tips for taking beautiful flat lay photos:Position yourself well above the arrangement or plate â€" standing on a chair will do the trick! Your camera should be above and directly in the centre of the objects you want to photograph.Make use of natural light. Daylight will give your photograph a better effect than studio lighting. However, try to ensure that this light is indirect by using a curtain, for example.Don’t neglect the composition of your photo - the success of your flat lay depends on it! The positioning and arrangement of each individual object should make for a balanced photograph. Make sure you consider the size and colour of each object in arranging your flat lay.Choose your background wisely. Your flat lay should be harmonious â€" this means creating a balanced ambience within your photograph, whilst still emphasising the objects in the flat lay. As a general rule, try to choose light backgrounds for darker objects and dark backgrounds for light-coloured items.The Best Social Networks for PhotographersAmong the multitude of social networks that are available, there are some designed specifically for the sharing of photography.Here are just some of them:Instagram: Instagram is, without doubt, the King of social media when it comes to photography. It revolves entirely around the sharing of photographs and creating communities based on content with hashtags.Pinterest: With Pinterest, you can create virtual mood boards, which you can use for saving and categorising the photographs which inspire you. There is also an option to follow other users with similar interests.Flickr: Flickr i s a social network which allows users to share photographs in a professional manner.DeviantArt: This is an online community where artists can showcase their creativity and have their work seen by others.500px: 500px is a sharing platform aimed at professional photographers. The photographs on this social network are of a professional standard.Now you know how to really make your photographs shine and develop an online presence, you will hopefully start to see results very soon.So, find a photography school, sign up to online photography courses, work on your composition, consider your lighting techniques, exposure, lens aperture, white balance, ISO, shutter speed, then stand on a chair and post your pictures on your favourite social network!

Getting a Good Wedding Photographer

Getting a Good Wedding Photographer What Makes a Good Wedding Photographer? ChaptersEstablish a Budget for Wedding PhotosFind the Style for Your Wedding PhotographyGetting in Touch with Your Wedding PhotographerHow Long Before the Wedding Should You Contact Photographers?Where Can You Find the Best Wedding Photographers?“The highest happiness on earth is the happiness of marriage.” - William Lyon PhelpsTrust, faithfulness, and communication are some of the key ingredients to a good marriage. However, planning a marriage requires organisation and cooperation, especially when choosing the right photographer.A wedding photographer has to capture all the emotions on the day as and when they happen. The preparation, ceremony, photos of the couple, etc., being a wedding photographer is a lot of work. They need to be discreet and professional and capture all the moments up close without getting in the way. Then they need to put all the best photographs into a collection for the happy couple to take with them in their new lives together.Here’s our advice for c hoosing the right wedding photographer. AllanPhotography Teacher 5.00 (2) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NatashaPhotography Teacher 5.00 (7) £55/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors TimothyPhotography Teacher 5.00 (5) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Anosh nadeemPhotography Teacher 5.00 (2) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ZangmoPhotography Teacher 5.00 (6) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RosiePhotography Teacher £12/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MattPhotography Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AndyPhotography Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsEstablish a Budget for Wedding PhotosThe best wedding photographers are those who are within your budget. There’s no point in looking at photographers that you can’t afford. Weddings are expensive enough as it is. This is counterproductive and just plain frustrating. The photographer is a part of the budget that's often underestimated. (Source: Shutterbug75)The first thing you need to do is agree on how much you’re willing to spend on your photographer.  For some married couples, this is one of the most important steps and sounds a lot simpler than it is. Since a photographer is often considered an essential part of the wedding, it’s one of the first decisions you’ll make.Rates can be anywhere between £500 and £3,000 depending on what you opt for and the photographer's experience and reputation. If they’re going to be hanging around all day taking photos, expect to pay more. If you want to save money, you might want to have them there just for the ceremony.If you know someone who’s pretty good at photography, you might want them to take your photos for the rest of the wedding day. Similarly, don’t hesitate to encourage your guests to take photos of the whole day. This way, you’ll have photos from throughout the day. Even if your p hotographer is there all day, you might still want people to be taking photos so that you don’t miss a thing.Even if photography isn’t everyone’s thing, a little encouragement can go a long way. That said, you don’t want to get in the way of your professional photographer.The main part of your budget will come down to how much you have your photographer do on the day. Similarly, a novice photographer will often be cheaper than a photographer with 20 years of experience.Whatever the reason, focus on your budget when choosing your photographer. Don’t forget that photography isn’t the only thing you have to pay for.Find the Style for Your Wedding PhotographyWhether you want your photos in black and white, a vintage style, candid, or posed, different photographers have different styles and ways they like to work. To find the best wedding photographer, you need to look around. Make sure you pick the right type of wedding photographer for what you're after. (Source: StockSnap)More and more couples choose reportage photographers. These are photographers who’ll capture the moments of your wedding as they happen. They’ll focus on candid shots of the bride and groom, the guests, and provide you with photographs that capture the best moments and overall feeling of your wedding.There are also photographers who focus more on the details. They’ll focus on the beauty of the day and focus on capturing photos with nice backgrounds and beautiful colours without paying too much attention to the narrative. These photos can be looked at in any order.Each photographer will have their preferred techniques. Some choose to shoot in black and white or take colour photos then apply a filter to them. Each has their own style so you should really look at their portfolios.A portfolio is a sample of the photographer’s work and it’ll give you a general idea of their style and what they can do. Most modern photographers will present their portfolio online so that interested parties can find them easily. The samples of high definition photography and videos (in the case of videographers) will help you see what they’re capable of. You might want to look for “couple’s photography”, “portrait photography”, “photojournalism” or “reportage photography” to decide.To work out which style you prefer, you might also want to visit social networks like Instagram and Pinterest to decide what you like and what you don’t. Thus, you’ll have a better idea of what it’s all about.Your wedding photographs don't necessarily need to go into a wedding album, either. There are plenty of wedding photographers who can provide you with digital copies of your wedding pictures rather than an album you may or may not ever look at again.Find out more about where you can get wedding photos taken. AllanPhotography Teacher 5.00 (2) £20/h1st lesson free!Disc over all our tutors NatashaPhotography Teacher 5.00 (7) £55/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors TimothyPhotography Teacher 5.00 (5) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Anosh nadeemPhotography Teacher 5.00 (2) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ZangmoPhotography Teacher 5.00 (6) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RosiePhotography Teacher £12/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MattPhotography Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AndyPhotography Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsGetting in Touch with Your Wedding PhotographerOnce you know what kind of style you’re after for the big day, you need to start putting together a list of names. Try to put the shortlist in order of preference. You want to make sure that your photographer is fully briefed on anything unusual that's going to take place during the wedding. (Source: SplitShire)Of course, if your list includes around 30 names, you might want to narrow your search. On the other hand, if you have just two or three that you’re interested in, you can probably start contacting them.The first thing you need to ask them is whether or not they’re available on the day of your wedding. Their rates are often on their websites but if not, you’ll want to ask them how much they charge. However, there’s nothing stopping you from telling them exactly what you want so you can get a fair quote.If everything goes well, most photographers will arrange to meet with you before the wedding to iron out the finer details. Use this opportunity to calm your nerves and ask any other burning questions that you may have.The important thing is that you and your photographer are on the same wavelength. Talk about what your wedding wil l be like, what the venue’s like, who will be there, and any other pertinent information that the photographer will need.You can also ask them about their experience:How many marriages have they done?What equipment do they use?Do they have backup equipment?How long will it take for the photos to be delivered?How much do they charge for travel?Will they have an assistant on the day?This is also a good opportunity to see if you and the photographer get along. You want to feel comfortable in your choice as it’ll be one less thing to worry about on the day.The last thing you’ll have to do is decide upon your photographer and get the contract signed.How Long Before the Wedding Should You Contact Photographers?Wedding photographers are often booked long in advance, especially for the busy summer period. Many of them will be fully booked every weekend of summer and won’t be able to help if you’ve left it too long.You need to get in touch with your photographer as soon as possible . That said, it’s pointless getting in touch if you haven’t booked your venue yet or don’t know your dates. It’s too risky booking your photographer for a certain day if you don’t have somewhere for them to photograph.If your wedding is taking place in winter, autumn, or spring, you may have more luck finding a photographer.  For reputable photographers, you’ll want to be looking at least a year in advance.Similarly, if you want an engagement photo for wedding invitations, you might have to go to a photography studio. Some wedding photography packages will include these services so discuss this all with any professional wedding photographer you talk to.Additionally, the more requests and demands you have, the earlier you want to talk through it all with your photographer. Most professional wedding photographers will be familiar with what happens during a wedding but if you're going to have something special happen as you're walking down the aisle, you might want to let t hem know.Similarly, if there's something special about the wedding venue that you want captured, tell them! They won't need wedding photography tips, they're experts at taking pictures, after all, but just let them know any pertinent information that'll help them get the best photos.Where Can You Find the Best Wedding Photographers?Where can you find great photographers? Where should you look?Perhaps you’ve got some friends who were married recently. In this case, you might want to ask them who they used and if they have any photos you’d like to take a look at. Word of mouth is a great way to find reputable photographers. You can find wedding photographers online, in the phone book, and at wedding fairs. (Source: Pexels)It’s also quite simple to find wedding photographers online by searching for them plus the name of where you’re getting married. Plenty of websites will show up. Have a look at the portfolios and rates first.There are also wedding blogs which will have recommendations for photographers where you'll be able to find their details. You just need to get in touch or have a look around their own sites.Be it wedding fairs, wedding planners, or in-person, there are plenty of ways to find the ideal photographer for your wedding. Don’t make this step more difficult or stressful than it has to be. Just make sure that you agree on the final decision.If you want the perfect wedding photo, engagement photos, or even videography, don't leave it until the last minute.

Should I Go To Oberlin College

Should I Go To Oberlin College The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teachtheyre sharing their college experiences as well. Sasha received his Bachelors degree in Neuroscience and Philosophy from Oberlin College. He is currently a tutor in Chicago specializing in philosophy tutoring, Spanish tutoring, and several other subjects. See what he had to say about his experience at Oberlin College: Describe the campus setting and transportation options. Sasha: I attended Oberlin College, in Oberlin, OH. The campus was extremely easy to get aroundit was arranged in a grid, which was only slightly longer than it was wide. Many people bike, and there is a bike co-op that is all about learning to repair bikes, and increasing bike accessibility (more on co-ops later). Coming from Philadelphia, the campus felt very quiet, and it is perhaps the safest place I will live in in my life, and certainly in the foreseeable future. There were, of course, crimes, but relative to city life, they were sparse and significantly less violent. At night, there is a free shuttle that you can call for a ride if you feel unsafe walking. Safety and Security also provides this service 24/7. How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants at Oberlin College? Sasha: I could not imagine the professors being more available. I scheduled meetings for later in the same day, and I often found that directly after class, professors would make time to talk. Beyond just providing their time, professors generously shared contacts and advice, and they were genuinely supportive people. Beyond the classroom, I have had meals with professors, both on campus and in their homes, and I organized multiple social events that included both faculty and students. How would you describe the dorm liferooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Sasha: The dorms at Oberlin College are quite diverse in terms of cleanliness, upkeep, and, for some, programming. Dorms are assigned based on a lottery system, which is randomized within semesters in-residence. Your number is constrained by how long you have been on campus, and it determines your pick order. There are some very nice dorms, and there are some more antiquated dorms. These do tend to be the first year dorms, however, the experience of living in them is likely worth it. First year dorms provide an easy place to meet people, and to hang out with your neighbors. That being said, it is not the vibe everyone wants. If you desire a strong social system, but are not one for the crush of humanity that is living in the first year dorms, the co-ops may be a good choice. Admission to the Oberlin Student Cooperative Association (OSCA), which is not owned by the college, is also run by lottery. However, it is totally random, and semesters in-residence do not matter. OSCA is owned a nd run by its members, and it functions largely independently of the college. OSCA offers more affordable housing and dining, along with an extremely dedicated and close-knit community. Living or dining in a co-op does commit you to a few hours of work each week, largely in the upkeep of the space, or in preparation for meals. There are also programmed dorms, if youd like shared cultural heritage or hobbies to help determine your neighbors. Outside of dorm life, opportunities for socializing abound. There are hundreds of clubs, spanning a massive set of interests. Which majors/programs are best represented and supported? Sasha: Politics, English, and biology are probably the most popular majors in each of the three divisions (social sciences, humanities, and natural sciences). Beyond these, comparative American studies, classics, and neuroscience are some other popular and well-supported majors. I studied neuroscience and philosophy because I wanted to approach the questions I had and continue to have from multiple directions. Oberlin College, through its faculty, made me feel very supported in my studies, and I was often asked difficult and necessary questions. How easy or difficult was it for you to meet people and make friends as a freshman? Does Greek life play a significant role in the campus social life? Sasha: Freshman year, it was very easy for me to meet friends, many of whom I am still close with, and a few of whom I live with. There is no Greek life at Oberlin College, which I think is fantastic. The lack of a de facto social scene means that people are, in general, more intentional about seeking the sorts of friendships they want. People are also much more friendly than I was used to, so talking to strangers quickly became easy. How helpful is the Career Center and other student support services at Oberlin College? Sasha: Im not especially qualified to speak to this, as I made minimal use of the Career Center and other support services. The Registrars office was quite helpful when I needed them, as was the Office of the Student Union. The rest I cannot really speak to. How are the various study areas such as libraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Sasha: The libraries are large, and the librarians work hard to make them useful, productive spaces. The student union is a big mish-mash of room types, and it is used for all sorts of things. It could do with some redecoration, but it serves its purpose well. These sorts of buildings are well located on campus, and they rarely feel over-full. Describe the surrounding town at Oberlin College. Sasha: The town of Oberlin was founded after the college (if only by a few years), if that gives you a sense of its size. There are some great stores in town, but dont expect much diversity within any category. There is a hardware store, a general store, an antique shop, a theater, etc., but not more than one of these sorts of things. The restaurants are inexpensive if you are coming from a city, but cost more than other small towns in Ohio. The town of Oberlin is fun if you can structure your time and be creative. There are things to do, but the town isnt going out of its way to amuse you. People live there, and do cool things, but you need to be proactive about finding them. How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Sasha: The student body is about average size (without doing any math) for a liberal arts college, and it feels likes it (that is, small). That was never a bad thing for me, but if you want to only see the same people once a month, look elsewhere. Faces will likely become familiar, even if you dont know everyones name. I liked the sense of community that arose from this, as I think many of the students do. Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one you regret the most. Sasha: A memorable experience in my senior year, I took a seminar called The Neurobiology of Addiction. As you can infer from the title, the class was both science-heavy, and of significant social importance. About halfway through the semester, following discussion with the class, my professor decided to cancel the remaining oral presentation. She did this so that we could spend our time preparing a series of activities to teach the local 8th graders about addiction in a factual and approachable way. I already knew I liked teaching, but having a chance to teach a subject that is so often mired in fear mongering and misinformation was rewarding and exciting. The 8th graders and their teachers responded very favorably, as did my classmates. My professors desire to make what we were learning useful, instead of just checking off boxes on the syllabus, was an experience I wont soon forget. Check out Sashas tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

De-centralised Learning with Meetnlearn

De-centralised Learning with Meet'n'learn Tutors are in demand from a growing number of students who would previously not have had the opportunity to access this privilege. Instead, there is a rise in peer-to-peer learning between high school and university students that are pulling each other up. As they realize that they have skills that may be different, but complimentary they recognize ways in which they can learn from each other. Often it is the case that there is not enough availability of teachers or professors for each student to give individual support. So many students have taken it into their own hands and decided to find other methods so that they can learn from each other. Meet’n’learn is empowering these students to take learning into their own hands. Students can fill out their profiles online themselves and immediately get students who are sometimes their own age, at other times younger, that is introducing peer-to-peer learning. For those students that are at University, they can find a way to teach the subjects that they are becoming specialist in. By tutoring others they are able to learn better and deeper themselves. Without this opportunity that Meet’n’learn presents for students to teach and learn their own subject, through a safe and easy to use platform then, students both at University and also at high-school may find themselves having to take on part-time jobs that are not relevant to their careers or specialist subjects such as working as a waitress or delivering food, papers or any other number of low-wage and skilled jobs. The question of quality comes into play when students themselves are tutoring others. Quality is measured by the students who are able to measure how good the tutors are for them, by their improvement in that particular subject at school. For example, one student who was struggling in her physics exam found that she was able to pull up her marks from a 6--that is the worst mark you can achieve in Germany in a subject--to a 3. This was a huge improvement and she could measure the quality of the tutor against her school success. Meet’n’learn like TutorFair believes in accessibility for all. Tutors can set their own fee, however, they can choose the possibility to give special offers to those that cannot afford the price set. This encourages more students to navigate and discuss specific situations and needs with those tutor on the Meet’n’learn platform. Bilgehan Arikoglu who since January 2015 has been managing business development for Meet’n’learn has developed partnerships with Sprachschule Beck-up that is the biggest YouTube channel in Germany for math-videos and Die Neue Schule, to name a few. With over 1300 tutors active in Austria and Germany having reached over 1500 tutors in October 2015, Czech Republic and Slovakia combined have over 5000 tutors it`s clear that Meet’n’learn that was founded by Juraj Svincak and Tomáš Palkovic in 2012 have developed an wonderful opportunity for peer-to-peer and intergenerational tutoring that can be found over a quick and easy platform that is user-friendly for both parents and students alike. Written by  Jessica White: Freelance EdTech Consultant

Tutorfair has been recognised by Insights Success!

Tutorfair has been recognised by Insights Success! ‘They have given thousands of students access to free tuition and inspired many of the UK’s top tutors to join the Tutorfair community.’ Tutorfair is back in the news! This time we have been recognised for our technological vision, making  education and tutoring more accessible. Tutorfair has been shortlisted, amongst a small number of other outstanding and exceptional solution providers, in Insights Success  The 10 Fastest Growing Education Solution Provider Companies issue.   Like Tutorfair, all these education solution provider companies are using technological advancements as its best and are standing strong while proving their mantle. ‘Educational Transformation with the help of Technological Upgradation’ Featured as part of  The 10 Fastest Growing Education Solution Provider Companies series, Insights Success discusses the Tutorfair journey, Andrew, our CEO’s vision for Tutorfair, the hurdles we’ve overcome and the promise we have as a foundation. Tutorfair: Giving Every Student Fair Access to Excellent Tutors ‘Tutorfair was launched by Andrew Ground, Mark Maclaine, Edd Stockwell, and Patrick Verdon in 2012 and is based in London, United Kingdom.’ ‘Tutorfair offers professional development opportunities through tutor training, volunteering, and observation. Students can look for tutors by subject, and browse their profiles to view their videos. Registered users can make their own shortlist, book tutors and message them.’ ‘They offer  Paid Tutoring, where a small donation is made to the Foundation with each lesson purchased through Tutorfair;  Professional Training, where some of the most experienced tutors in London share their best practices; Volunteer  Programs, where tutors work with inner-city students in small group tutoring or university application workshops.’ Andrew Ground: Finding Solutions for the Real Life Problems ‘As with every good idea it started with a problem, the story of Tutorfair began when  Andrew Ground, CEO and Co founder  of  Tutorfair,  started to find a tutor for his son. Andrew had just finished being CCO at LOVEFILM (the Netflix of Europe), which had sold to Amazon. At LOVEFILM Andrew had helped create an incredible product that could help users pinpoint the ideal film to watch next.’ ‘Andrew found it surprisingly difficult to find a tutor for his son. He realized that his need for a tutor was a similar informational need to his previous product, and one that the web would be perfect to solve; and he cared much more about helping his child succeed, than he did about what to watch next.’ “One For One” Promise ‘After a little research, Andrew realized that he was not alone in this journey. Both the Americans and Germans had already established tutor marketplaces. He presented the idea to an early investor who suggested the “one for one” promise; for every student who pays they would give tutoring to a child who can’t. This was a big idea that could transform the way people saw the tutoring business; it attracted a team who wanted to make waves within education, and formed their name “Tutorfair”.’ Overcoming the Hurdles ‘Andrew and his team set out to create a Minimal Viable Product (MVP), but it took a lot of troubles to make it viable.  Their MVP was launched in January 2013 but it certainly was not viable, not even close. The team manually signed up tutors by showing them mock-ups on paper of what the website would look like, and set up volunteering projects in local schools. Their friends soon found out about what they were up to, and put in their tutoring requests. They would call up the tutors to arrange the lessons and send an invoice. They had a business, a community of tutors, a brand and a clunky website. It was a thrill for the team to see a few users trickle through and use the site â€" but 80% of their business was offline.’ ‘Andrew took this as validation of the concept, and raised £150k to employ a full-time developer to fix the product. Having an in-house developer sped up the entire process, they tackled even the worst bugs and became confident adding in features that were initially left out. They began to feel good about the progress they were making.’ Easy way for Tutors to reach Students ‘For tutors, Tutorfair is free to join â€" they set their own hourly rate and the subjects they want to teach with subjects ranging from English, Maths and Science to chess, music and drama. Tutorfair charges a variable rate of commission on top of their hourly rate depending on the number of Tutorfair hours they have completed.’ ‘The Tutorfair Foundation arranges for tutors to go into inner-city London schools, helping children who otherwise would not be able to afford tutoring.’ ‘What started as one man’s overreaction to the problem of finding tutoring for his own children is today helping thousands of parents find their own tutors.’ Access the full article as part of The 10 Fastest Growing Education Solution Provider Companies  series  here Looking for a tutor? Find a tutor at Tutorfair.

Winning friends how to meet new people while teaching overseas

Winning friends how to meet new people while teaching overseas We know from speaking with teachers who have been placed through Teach Away to teach overseas that many of them have been worried about being able to settle in and make friends while abroad. This is a completely normal concern: everyone wants to connect with others on some level. Having friends is an important part of daily life while abroad -- in many cases, your friends will act more like family while you’re teaching away: you’ll share holidays together, classrooms, and sometimes even apartments! Expanding your friend circle can seem like a daunting task. How difficult it is to meet new people will vary from country to country. In some countries you’ll find locals to be really warm and welcoming, and in others, you’ll have to stretch yourself a little further. But we’ve put together some helpful tips to get you started: Class meetup: try asking your students (if they’re adults, of course!) if they have a favorite local restaurant that they’d like to take an after-school field trip to together. This is a good chance to get to know your students on a more personal level and talk with some of them about things other than schoolwork. Fill your calendar with events: try local festivals, art openings, and cultural events to get exposed to more people with similar interests. Find a coffee shop haunt: or a favorite place for an after-class beer. Whatever it is, the more you show up at one spot, the more likely the shopkeepers will be to chat you up. Connect with friends’ friends: use the connections you have to make new ones you might not even know about. Write to your friends who have traveled where you’re headed and ask them to connect you with any friends that they may have made while abroad. Be a ‘yes’ man (or woman!): when you get invited to something, go, even if it doesn’t seem immediately appealing to you. Who knows who you’ll meet and what doors the invitation will open! But be safe about this -- don’t accept invites to someone’s house if you’ve just met them. Join a class: whether it’s a language class, an exercise class, or even a volunteer group that meets weekly, it’s a great way to connect with the same group of people each week and maybe make a connection with one or two individuals. Try Facebook groups: find groups in your area that cater to your specific interests or your career. It shouldn’t be hard to find TEFL groups in Hong Kong or one that connects expats living in Thailand. Try a language exchange: there are all kinds of websites (like Conversation Exchange) that help connect locals with English speakers in an effort to learn language in affordable, conversational ways. It’s also a great way to connect with locals and make new friends. Are you teaching overseas? Share with us how you’ve made some of your friends thus far!

The Career Advice No One Ever Gives You

The Career Advice No One Ever Gives You Photo Via: http://www.timothylutts.com Look no further. If you want to get ahead at work and ensure you’ll become an asset to the company you work for, it takes effort. So to help you out, here is the career advice that no one ever gives you. 1. Attitude is everything. Photo Via: http://www.commdiginews.com Whether you’ve learned this or not, the way you present yourself at work (and in your personal life) influences how people perceive you. Having a positive attitude and hanging around with positive people will go a long way, especially in the eyes of your boss and coworkers. I know we’ve all heard about picking friends carefully, but in the workforce, it carries much more weight than you think. So keep your attitude in check, and that means in your personal life as well. 2. Mentors can make or break a career. Photo Via: https://usfconnect.files.wordpress.com Typically, when you start a new job, you find a mentor, or someone higher up in the company than you are to learn from and help you advance. No one ever tells you this, but picking a mentor is something that’s ultimately up to you, and that choice matters. Just because someone is assigned to help you doesn’t mean they need to be your mentor. You can look up to anyone in the company and develop a professional relationship with them as well. Picking the right mentor isn’t only important for helping you better yourself in your given field, but also for helping you advance in that field. Whether you use them for recommendations, advice or just as a role model, a mentor is one of the most important people in your professional career, so choose wisely. 3. You need to be present. Photo Via: http://knote.com It’s common sense that spending your workday on Facebook, or taking selfies with Picpal isn’t exactly productive, and it certainly isn’t going to get you a promotion. But many people don’t know that physically leaving your office and communicating in person with your boss/coworkers is one of the most important things you can do during the day. Of course, this doesn’t mean leave your work behind in the office to rendezvous at the water cooler, but rather that face time with your employer can show your engagement with the job (and office) as well as display your hard-working attitude and communication skills. If you have a question, don’t just send out an email every time. Go physically ask your boss and have a conversation about it. This is one of the easiest ways to avoid mistakes and to show that you care. 4. You arent permanent. Photo Via: http://racetalkblog.com Despite what many think, getting a job does not mean you’re there until you quit. This is where the advice you actually do get comes in handy: do what you want to be doing. Because if you aren’t, your employer will notice. So while it’s easy to take a job for some extra cash and go through the motions everyday, at some point, your boss is going to notice you aren’t progressing and he/she will replace you with someone that will. You always need to be improving, you need to be actively working and you need to care about what you do, or none of the above tasks are going to be possible. Faking it until you make it may work from time to time, but in the business world, you’re expendable, so you definitely need to act like it. 5. Looks arent everything, but they matter. Photo Via: http://sunshinesigningconnection.com And finally, no one ever tells you how important your looks are in the business world. And I know we’re told to dress nice for work and such, but that’s not all that you have to do. How clean you are is indicative of how much you care about yourself, which translates to how much you’ll care about your life, job, etc. So while wearing slacks and a button up shirt may seem like enough, it isn’t. Your hair/face need to be washed daily, you shouldn’t look like you just crawled out of bed a few minutes ago and you certainly shouldn’t ever looked stressed out or tired. Yes, this seems like too much attention to detail, but I assure you, it isn’t. There’s a reason you look your best when you go to a job interview, and it’s the same reason that you look your best when you go to work for the day. Looks matter in the business world, even if they shouldn’t. So there you have it: the career advice no one ever gives you. So take advantage of this advice and apply it to your future career choices or your current ones. While they may not make detrimental differences in your professional life, your employer will take notice, and it just might set you ahead of somebody else when it comes time for that promotion.

Government willing to bail out some Universities - Tutor Hunt Blog

Government willing to bail out some Universities Government willing to bail out some Universities, but will others be left to fail? Government willing to bail out some Universities, but will others be left to fail?UniversitiesWe are all used to reading about the government bailing out Banks when they face hard times, but what about universities? Can they expect the same kinds of help the financial sector regularly receives? Are they also, to use the popular American colloquialism, `too big to fail`? A university is not part of the capitalist system - they are public institutions, funded by the government, and of course by students themselves, who must pay substantial amounts for their attendance. The purpose of a university though is not to make money - they are seats of learning, palaces of higher education. Many receive partial funding from private companies for research purposes, but this goes towards ancillary aspects of the university. They are there to educate, not to make money. The international ratings agency Moody`s recently revelled to its clients that it believes there to be a high probability the government would step in to assist a university that was facing financial hardship. This is not to say that they believe most universities are acting complacently, nonchalantly believing that whatever troubles they face, the government will save them. It is actually not unusual for universities to borrow money from a bank in the same way that a company would - but out of the nine universities that have recently taken out large loans from banks Moody`s have attached negative warnings to the credit ratings of as many as seven of them. Out of all the UK universities only Oxford and Cambridge are rated by Moody`s as being stable financially. This summer it was reported that a university, so far unnamed, had received a 900,000 bail out package from the Office for Students, the government funded UK higher education regulator. The timing was comically apposite, given that only this month the head of the OfS, Sir Michael Barber, announced in a speech that they will not be bailing out universities in the future, and that they must not assume they will always be propped up with emergency financial packages. At the wonderfully named Wonkiest higher education festival in London earlier this year he laid out his views on the subject: `The OfS will not bail out providers in financial difficulty. This kind of thinking not unlike the `too big to fail` idea among the banks will lead to poor decision-making and a lack of financial discipline, is inconsistent with the principle of university autonomy and is not in students` longer term interests,` `Should a university or other higher education provider find themselves at risk of closure, our role will be to protect students` interests, and we will not hesitate to intervene to do so. We will not step in to prop up a failing provider.` These are indeed hard times for many universities - rising tuition costs have meant that the number of students applying to universities has dropped in recent years. Their financial uncertainty is only exacerbated by the imminent threat of a funding review, commissioned by Teresa May earlier this year. It seems that larger universities are afforded more protection by the government, with a financial bail out being more readily given to them than to smaller ones. While Oxford and Cambridge enjoy top triple A ratings according to Moody`s, Manchester only has an Aa2 rating, while Keele and Leeds languish with Aa3 ratings. Moody`s said the drop in University applicants has played a major role in low credit ratings, with uncertainty concerning tuition fees, general funding, and brexit related fears only adding to their financial uncertainty. The rating`s agency wasn`t all negative in its report however, going on to say that it expected general credit ratings for UK universities to remain good, thanks to secure debt management plans, and the well respected international reputation they enjoy. It uttered a cautionary note however, saying that `some rated universities are likely to post operating deficits as a result of these pressures over the next couple years.` The UK has some of the oldest and most prestigious universities in the world - it would be a terrible shame for any of these to be lost due to financial mismanagement. It also has a number of smaller, newer universities, that may not be able to solicit as much aid as their larger, more venerable counterparts; and it would be sad indeed if a disproportionate amount of assistance went to assist the larger universities, while the smaller institutions were left to fend for themselves. 15 months ago0Add a Comment