preparation for grad school app COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - SIPA Admissions Blog

preparation for grad school app COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - SIPA Admissions Blog If you’re starting to apply to public policy programs, I remember being in your shoes.   It can be nerve wracking and frustrating especially when you have   years of professional experience, but in a non-traditional field. Coming from a background of working on political campaigns, I knew what skills I had developed and how they could help me be successful at SIPA, but I wasn’t sure how my resume would translate to an admissions committee that might not be familiar with the intense work environment, time management, and quantitative   skills that one builds on the campaign trail. Luckily for me I was able to make that argument because, here I am! I want to share some advice I wish someone had given me early in the application process. These tips can be useful to everyone, but especially those coming from a non-traditional working environment. Here is some advice I wish someone had given me in preparation for the grad school application process. 1) Take some classes.  Even though SIPA does not require any specific courses as a prerequisite to admission, you need to be able to show you have strong quantitative skills on your application.   I   knew where these skills came into play on a campaign,   but I knew it would be less obvious to others and scoring well in a math or econ class can help solve that as well as give you a leg up in your first year econ courses. In addition, if your grades werent great in college, as mine were not,   taking classes gives you an opportunity to prove that youve matured. Finally if youve been out of school for a while, its an opportunity to cultivate an academic reference, and one who is more experienced in writing letters of recommendation than your professional colleagues are likely to be, which brings me to number 2 2) Give your references plenty of warning, and coaching.  You should probably do this anyway, but it goes double if your references are from a field where they are not usually called on to give a recommendation.   In my case asking my former bosses to write a reference in October of an election year would have been far from ideal. You dont want to miss out on a reference who knows you well because they dont have time and you dont want them to do a rushed job. In addition, your friends and colleagues may be unfamiliar with the application process so it useful to give them plenty of coaching about writing a good recommendation.  Send them a copy of your personal statement so they have a sense of your professional goals and can relate that back to your prior experience. Talk to admissions officers  (or read on our website) about what we are looking for in an application and then use your recommendations to highlight your strengths with specific examples and to help address any holes. 3) Start your applications early, not just the essay.  I made this mistake with my early applications. I spent weeks writing answers to the long essay questions, but had not considered what I would include in my resume, what if anything, I would write about having been sick in college in the portion where they ask if there is any additional information the admissions committee should know, and how long it would take to track down and upload my transcripts in the proper format. Ideally I would fill all of these out ahead of time, and have uploading my final essays as the last step. 4) Visit the campus.  Trying to distinguish between schools from their websites and viewbooks is kind of like online dating- you wont get a real feel for them until you meet them in person. Undergraduate institutions have distinct personalities and so do their graduate counterparts. Not only will pre-application visits save you time and money on applying to places you wouldnt actually want to go, they will help you get a feel for the culture of the school and thus what to include in your application.  SIPA offers info sessions on most Mondays and Fridays as well as the opportunity to sit in on classes and interact with current students. Send us an email! I’d be happy to help you set this up. 5) Be able to make an argument for why you need your degree.  I like to joke that I have a PhD in Campaign Management from the school of hard knocks, and yet here I am pursuing a Masters of Public Administration.   Think long and hard about what you want out of a graduate degree and which programs fit your career goals before you begin to apply. If you cant explain to yourself why you need a degree from that institution to achieve your goals, then how can you explain it to the school? There is no shame in researching a program and deciding it isn’t the right fit for you. The more specifically you   can articulate how your program of choice will help you reach your goals,   the better your chance of admission and the better for you personally. Im looking forward to helping you through the process! Best of Luck, Nancy Nancy Leeds is a Democratic Campaign Operative and blogger  pursuing her MPA in Social Policy and Management at SIPA.   She is specifically interested in voting rights and electoral systems.

Tips for Declaring Variables in Java

A variable is a container that holds values that are used in a Java program. To be able to use a variable it needs to be declared. Declaring variables is normally the first thing that happens in any program. How to Declare a Variable Java is a strongly typed programming language. This means that every variable must have a data type associated with it. For example, a variable could be declared to use one of the eight primitive data types: byte, short, int, long, float, double, char or boolean. A good analogy for a variable is to think of a bucket. We can fill it to a certain level, we can replace whats inside it, and sometimes we can add or take something away from it. When we declare a variable to use a data type its like putting a label on the bucket that says what it can be filled with. Lets say the label for the bucket is Sand. Once the label is attached, we can only ever add or remove sand from the bucket. Anytime we try and put anything else into it, we will get stopped by the bucket police. In Java, you can think of the compiler as the bucket police. It ensures that programmers declare and use variables properly. To declare a variable in Java, all that is needed is the data type followed by the variable name: int numberOfDays; In the above example, a variable called numberOfDays has been declared with a data type of int. Notice how the line ends with a semi-colon. The semi-colon tells the Java compiler that the declaration is complete. Now that it has been declared, numberOfDays can only ever hold values that match the definition of the data type (i.e., for an int data type the value can only be a whole number between -2,147,483,648 to 2,147,483,647). Declaring variables for other data types is exactly the same: byte nextInStream; short hour; long totalNumberOfStars; float reactionTime; double itemPrice; Initializing Variables Before a variable can be used it must be given an initial value. This is called initializing the variable. If we try to use a variable without first giving it a value: int numberOfDays; //try and add 10 to the value of numberOfDays numberOfDays numberOfDays 10; the compiler will throw an error: variable numberOfDays might not have been initialized To initialize a variable we use an assignment statement. An assignment statement follows the same pattern as an equation in mathematics (e.g., 2 2 4). There is a left side of the equation, a right side and an equals sign (i.e., ) in the middle. To give a variable a value, the left side is the name of the variable and the right side is the value: int numberOfDays; numberOfDays 7; In the above example, numberOfDays has been declared with a data type of int and has been giving an initial value of 7. We can now add ten to the value of numberOfDays because it has been initialized: int numberOfDays; numberOfDays 7; numberOfDays numberOfDays 10; System.out.println(numberOfDays); Typically, the initializing of a variable is done at the same time as its declaration: //declare the variable and give it a value all in one statement int numberOfDays 7; Choosing Variable Names The name given to a variable is known as an identifier. As the term suggests, the way the compiler knows which variables its dealing with is through the variables name. There are certain rules for identifiers: reserved words cannot be used.they cannot start with a digit but digits can be used after the first character (e.g., name1, n2ame are valid).they can start with a letter, an underscore (i.e., _) or a dollar sign (i.e., $).you cannot use other symbols or spaces (e.g., %,^,,#). Always give your variables meaningful identifiers. If a variable holds the price of a book, then call it something like bookPrice. If each variable has a name that makes it clear what its being used for, it will make finding errors in your programs a lot easier. Finally, there are naming conventions in Java that we  would encourage you to use. You may have noticed that all the examples we  have given follow a certain pattern. When more than one word is used in combination in a variable name the words following the first one are given a capital letter (e.g., reactionTime, numberOfDays.) This is known as mixed case and is the preferred choice for variable identifiers.

Should We Hold The Act Of Studying Higher For Worth Than...

(No title yet) One question I’ve struggled with throughout most of my high school career and even throughout the beginning of college was, â€Å"what is the correct balance between the â€Å"process† and the â€Å"destination†?† More bluntly and subjectively, â€Å"what is the correct balance between my grades and the learning process?† As a student I’ve always been told that learning is what matters. Everything else, including grades will follow suit. Teachers stress that putting forth all your attention on the task at hand – concentrated studying – creates success. They say that we as students, should value studying more than any summative value. Yet as a student I find this statement impossible. How can we hold the act of studying higher in worth than we†¦show more content†¦But attaining one’s goal is a step-by-step process – that is, it is solely a result of the journey. Additionally, the â€Å"journey† to ma ke this goal a reality is governed by the combination of the person you are at that moment, the aspiration to be the person you ought to be, and the â€Å"in-between† that we work on in trying to bridge the gap between the two. In other words, in the act of trying to reach our goal, we are governed by our evolving â€Å"character† – that is, this â€Å"character† being changed for better or for worse, by this process. Lastly, _____. Reaching one’s goals is a step-by-step process. Not many can say they’ve been able to accomplish their goal without taking the steps to get there. For often, to get from one side to the other requires the stepping across of many stones – not simply one large stride. For example, losing weight and sustaining that [that is not the right word], would be impossible without an articulated plan. However, when a healthy nutritional habit and lifestyle is implemented, losing weight becomes inevitable. Fishbach and Choi in their study of planned vs. actual exercise time, found that regardless of the activity, focusing on the result or goal of the activity decreased enjoyment in the activity and decreased the continued pursuit of the activity in the long run. Fishbach and Choi used four different studies, each study with a different activity, to support the idea that â€Å"attention to goals promotes behavioral intentionsShow MoreRelatedSelf Concept And Academic Success1 657 Words   |  7 Pagesis what lead me to begin this research for what was to becomes of my final paper for interpersonal communication. In a rather valiant second attempt at post graduate education I have personally come to enlighten my self-concept and indulge my self-worth in order to achieve positive success in furthering my education. Throughout my research I have chosen to embrace my ability in school by understanding and implementing the techniques necessary in providing a heightened sense of self-concept in orderRead MoreWhat I Would Never Have Believed That Concepts From Economics3977 Words   |  16 PagesAP course. The only reason why I was able to choose between these three courses was because of my grades. This is similar to the concept of â€Å"barriers to entry† in economics; the students are the new firms, the courses are the industries, and the different grades are the actual barrier into the courses. During sophomore year, I maintained an average grad e in the honors history course of higher than a B-. Because of this, I was able to maintain eligibility for the honors course and so choose theRead MoreProblems and Difficulties of Students3613 Words   |  15 Pagesof the most important factors in our life that every one of us must have. It serves as the beginning steps in achieving our goals in life, the basic training in facing the world business and experience to bring about learning. As our parents say, it is the best gift that we can get from them that no one can steal it. Thus, education is our investment to become our dreams turn to reality. We as student have our own dreams. When we are child we have already our dreams just like me. Before, whenRead More Brown v. Board of Education and Multiculturalism Essay2346 Words   |  10 Pagesin public schools. The decision, igniting fierce debates throughout the country, was met with violence and strong defiance in the South. The years after Brown, however, saw the passing of several important Acts: the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and the Fair Housing Act of 1968. Today, Americans remember Brown v. Board of Education as a success in African Americans’ struggle for equal rights, a change of sea tide for the civil rights movement. While Brown deserves its placeRead MoreCultural Comparison - Russia and US Education6674 Words   |  27 Pagesï » ¿ A Cultural Comparison of Higher Education in Russia and the United States of America Intercultural Communications August 19th, 2014 â€Å"Inculcation is the gradual coming to know something through mundane processes of training and learning† (Chetro-Szivos, J. Lecture 1). Through inculcation we acquire a set of dispositions that mold the body and eventually become second nature to the actor. Paralleling this concept withRead MoreFactors That Affect the Academic Performance of the Student Using Computer11401 Words   |  46 Pagesstatistical research is available for evaluating which type of training and teaching degree has the best effect on student achievement. As the demand for higher academic achievement and accountability in public education grows, it is important to determine whether teachers who hold advanced degrees in education as a general field are more effective than those who have degrees in specific subjects like English or math. http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2000/09/cda00-09-effects-of-advanced-teacher-training-on-student-achievementRead MoreEssay on Bell Hooks Talking Back: Thinking Feminist, Thinking Black4090 Words   |  17 Pagesneeds.How can we transform consciousness if we do not have some sense of where the students are intellectually, psychically? (hooks Talking 54, emphasis mine). I agree with hooks that it is important to understand what our students need to à ¬transform consciousness.à ® At the same time, why must we force students to express themselves without giving them the chance to choose how? Is language really how we give our students a voice in the classroom? Hooks believes in order to give our students a voiceRead MoreEssay about Human Resource Management2982 Words   |  12 Pagesalways portrait to work as secretary, nurses or stayed at home taking care of the children’s, whereas men’s roles in society was to be the breadwinner. Kimmel’s findings shows that men’s main goal in the life was to succeed in their work and get a higher salary to provide for their families (kimmel, 1987). This shows men’s responsibilities were at work instead of home. This has not changed men at present are still the main breadwinners. Educations as well as occupational factors were found to impactRead MoreIs Having a Degree Importan t Pros and Cons6691 Words   |  27 PagesIs having a degree important pros and cons Is Getting A College Degree Worth It These Days? By: Brian Kim - August 28, 2007 I got the idea for this article after overhearing a conversation the other day between two teenagers. One was arguing that getting a degree was the only way to get a good job to make good money and the other was arguing that getting a degree wasn’t necessary in today’s day and age in order to make good money. I’m sure you or someone you know have had this debate at leastRead MoreThe Study of the Factors Influencing Students Attitudes Towards Learning Mathematics in the Junior Secondary School (a Case Study of Bwari Area Council, Fct Abuja)10704 Words   |  43 Pagesterms and concepts used will be explained as well as the motivation for the study. Finally, an overview of the research methodology to be used in the present study is explained. From home to the work place, mathematics tools have b+6ecome a part of our day-to-day life. In many circle of computer literacy, technological and mathematical competences are perceived as essential skills. Thus, schools have responded to this need for mathematical competence by enhancing their course offering in mathematics

Timber 2013 Major Folio Free Essays

Timber 2012/2013 Hsc major project folio Research Ergonomics How efficient will it be in a working environment? I have taken into consideration that I am a bit taller than other people, and after measuring all cabinets in my house they ranged from 900 mm to 950 mm and for me personally I considered them to be to small. Which is the reason I have chosen to make it to 1000mm. Design How did I come up with the design and why? Originally I started looking on the Internet and browsing through images but there were just so many options and I would not have known how to begin making them. We will write a custom essay sample on Timber 2013 Major Folio or any similar topic only for you Order Now During our theory lesson at school the teacher brought some magazines into the classroom, after reading through and getting some ideas I finally found a cabinet that captured my attention both because of the amazing look and the complexity of it, my design I very similar to the one that was in the magazine. I chose to make a cabinet as I noticed that one particular cabinet at my house is very bland and is starting to deteriorate due to its old age. Timber Selection What timber did I use and why? For the legs of my major project I have used Sydney Blue Gum as it is a hardwood timber that is more than capable of holding my job upright and also as I have used it before and have seen how it finishes. Glues What Glue/s have I used and why? Poly Vinyl Acetate (PVA) is the most common glue that I will be using as it is fast drying, dries clear, creates a strong bond between both timber surfaces and is easy to work with. Hardware What hardware has been used and why? Joints What joints have I used and why? Time Management Plan Week| Monday| Tuesday| Wednesday| Friday| 1| Designing Project – SketchingTheory| Designing Project – Sketching Theory| Designing Project – Adding DimensionsTheory| Selecting Timbers – Bought Blue Gum timber for LegsTheory | 2| Cut out legs 45mm X 45mmEach 1000mm long| | Marked and cut first curve on front legs| Roughly sanded curves with drum sander| 3| Marked and cut out second curve on front legs| Roughly sanded curves with drum sander| Problem – One of the curves was out significantly, new leg had to be made. Cut out new leg and cut curve on one side| 4| Cut second curve on leg and sanded on drum sander| | Major Project Portfolio explained and examples shownTheory| Cut all legs to precisely 1000mm| 5| Began sanding legs with 80 grit sandpaper| Sanding legs with 80 grit sandpaper| Sanding legs with 80 grit sandpaper| Sanding legs with 80 grit sandpaper| 6| Sanding legs with 80 grit sandpaper| | | | 7| | | | | 8| | | | | 9| | | | | 10| | | | | Mat erials List Material| Length (mm)| Width (mm)| Thickness (mm)| Estimated Cost| Cost| Sydney Blue Gum (Legs Top)| 1200| 300| 45| $90| $137| Jarrah (Door Frames)| | | 15| $45| | Maple (Draw Fronts)| 800| 140| 20| $20| | MDF (Back)| 900| 480| 3| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Statement of intent Throughout this year and next I intend on designing and constructing a modern wooden cupboard. It will consist of two drawers up the top of the job and two doors with glass panels in them below. My goal is to make it perfectly with minimal complications or problems. I plan to achieve this by following my original designs and if need be small alterations might be made to ensure the job is up to a suitable standard. For the legs and the top of my job I plan on using Sydney blue gum as in previous years I have used it and personally I think it has a nice colour and finishes well. For the framing of the doors I plan on using some Jarrah as I think it will mix well with the Sydney blue gum and provide an amazing contrast of colors. For the draw fronts I plan on using a lighter material such as maple because it adds another colour that I think will look good. I also plan on putting frosted glass panels to add some extra complexity to it. I decided to make this particular design, as I think it is a practical piece of work that if made properly would serve me well throughout its life. Its main use will be for storing objects in the draws and bottles in the bottom compartment where the doors are. Throughout the process of making my project, I will be using various types of timber and tools to make up most of my job. I will also be using glue, nails and various joints to join all aspects of my job together. Classification of Timbers Sydney Blue Gum Hardwood or softwood – Sydney blue gum is a hard wood Botanical Name – Eucalyptus Saligna Origin – Blue Gum is found along the NSW coastline from Batemans Bay to Southern Queensland Appearance – The colour varies from soft pinks to dark pinks and dark reds Texture – The texture of this timber is moderately coarse and even Grain – The grain is straight or slightly interlocked in some cases Common uses – Joinery, Furniture, Domestic, Floor Boards, and Commercial Construction Jarrah Hardwood or Softwood – Jarrah is a Hardwood Botanical Name – Eucalyptus Marginata Origin – Jarrah grows in the Southwest corner of Western Australia Appearance – Heartwood varies from rich reds to deep browns; the Sapwood is a pale yellow colour Texture – The texture is relatively even but coarse Grain – The grain is generally straight but sometimes slightly interlocked producing a fiddle back figure Common Uses – Wharf and bridge construction, railway sleepers, framing, flooring, and joinery How to cite Timber 2013 Major Folio, Essay examples

This Side of Paradise F. Scott Fitzgerald Quotes

'This Side of Paradise' F. Scott Fitzgerald Quotes With This Side of Paradise (his debut novel), F. Scott Fitzgerald took the literary world by storm (the first printing sold out in a matter of days). And, with the success of this work, he was able to win back Zelda (with whom he would have such a tumultuous relationship for so many years to come). The book was first published in 1920. Here are a few quotes. This Side of Paradise Quotes From Book 1 She had once been a Catholic, but discovering that priests were infinitely more attentive when she was in process of losing or regaining faith in Mother Church, she maintained an enchantingly wavering attitude. Book 1, Ch 1 They slipped briskly into an intimacy from which they never recovered. Book 1, Ch 1 He wanted to kiss her, kiss her a lot, because then he knew he could leave in the morning and not care. On the contrary, if he didnt kiss her, it would worry him.... It would interfere vaguely with his idea of himself as a conqueror. It wasnt dignified to come off second best, pleading, with a doughty warrior like Isabelle. Book 1, Ch. 3 Dont let yourself feel worthless; often through life you will really be at your worst when you seem to think best of yourself; and dont worry about losing your personality, as you persist in calling it; at fifteen you had the radiance of early morning, at twenty you will begin to have the melancholy brilliance of the moon, and when you are my age you will give out, as I do, the genial golden warmth of 4 P.M. Book 1, Ch. 3 Never walk near the bed; to a ghost, your ankle is your most vulnerable partonce in bed, youre safe; he may lie around under the bed all night, but youre safe as daylight. If you still have doubts pull the blanket over your head. Book 1, Ch. 4 This has nothing to do with will-power; thats a crazy, useless word, anyway; you lack judgment- the judgment to decide at once when you know your imagination will play you false, given half a chance. Book 1, Ch. 4 Life was a damned muddle... a football game with every one off-side and the referee gotten rid of- every one claiming the referee would have been on his side... Book 1, Ch. 5 Quotes From Book 2 All life was transmitted into terms of their love, all experience, all desires, all ambitions, were nullified- their senses of humor crawled into corners to sleep; their former love-affairs seemed faintly laughable and scarcely regretted juvenalia. Book 2, Ch 1 I have your best interests at heart when I tell you not to take a step youll spend your days regretting. Its not as if your father could help you. Things have been hard for him lately and hes an old man. Youd be dependent absolutely on a dreamer, a nice, well-born boy, but a dreamer- merely clever. (She implies that this quality in itself is rather vicious.) Book 2, Ch 1 People try so hard to believe in leaders now, pitifully hard. But we no sooner get a popular reformer or politician or soldier or writer or philosopher- a Roosevelt, a Tolstoi, a Wood, a Shaw, a Nietzsche, than the cross-currents of criticism wash him away. My Lord, no man can stand prominence these days. Its the surest path to obscurity. People get sick of hearing the same name over and over. Book 2, Ch 2 I regretted my lost youth when I only envy the delights of losing it. Youth is like having a big plate of candy. Sentimentalists think they want to be in the pure, simple state they were in before they ate the candy. They dont. They just want the fun of eating it all over again. The matron doesnt want to repeat her girlhood- she wants to repeat her honeymoon. I dont want to repeat my innocence. I want the pleasure of losing it again. Book 2, Ch 5 Progress was a labyrinth ... people plunging blindly in and then rushing wildly back, shouting that they had found it ... the invisible king- the à ©lan vital- the principle of evolution ... writing a book, starting a war, founding a school... Book 2, Ch. 5 He found something that he wanted, had always wanted and always would want- not to be admired, as he had feared; not to be loved, as he had made himself believe; but to be necessary to people, to be indispensable... Book 2, Ch. 5 Life opened up in one of its amazing bursts of radiance and Amory suddenly and permanently rejected an old epigram that had been playing listlessly in his mind: Very few things matter and nothing matters very much. Book 2, Ch. 5 Modern life... changes no longer century by century, but year by year, ten times faster than it ever has before- populations doubling, civilizations unified more closely with other civilizations, economic interdependence, racial questions, and- were dawdling along. My idea is that weve got to go very much faster. Book 2, Ch. 5 Im restless. My whole generation is restless. Im sick of a system where the richest man gets the most beautiful girl if he wants her, where the artist without an income has to sell his talents to a button manufacturer. Even if I had no talents Id not be content to work ten years, condemned either to celibacy or a furtive indulgence, to give some mans son an automobile. Book 2, Ch. 5 As an endless dream it went on; the spirit of the past brooding over a new generation, the chosen youth from the muddled, unchastened world, still fed romantically on the mistakes and half-forgotten dreams of dead statesmen and poets. Here was a new generation, shouting the old cries, learning the old creeds, through a revery of long days and nights; destined finally to go out into that dirty gray turmoil to follow love and pride; a new generation dedicated more than the last to the fear of poverty and the worship of success; grown up to find all Gods dead, all wars fought, all faiths in man shaken.... Book 2, Ch. 5

Definition of Algorithm in Mathematics

Definition of Algorithm in Mathematics An algorithm in mathematics is a procedure, a description of a set of steps that can be used to solve a mathematical computation: but they are much more common than that today. Algorithms are used in many branches of science (and everyday life for that matter), but perhaps the most common example is that step-by-step procedure used in long division. The process of resolving a problem in such as what is 73 divided by 3 could be described by the following algorithm: How many times does 3 go into 7?The answer is 2How many are left over? 1Put the 1(ten) in front of the 3.How many times does 3 go into 13?The answer is 4 with a remainder of one.And of course, the answer is 24 with a remainder of 1. The step by step procedure described above is called a long division algorithm. Why Algorithms? While the description above might sound a bit detailed and fussy, algorithms are all about finding efficient ways to do the math. As the anonymous mathematician says, Mathematicians are lazy so they are always looking for shortcuts. Algorithms are for finding those shortcuts. A baseline algorithm for multiplication, for example, might be simply adding the same number over and over again. So, 3,546 times 5 could be described in four steps: How much is 3546 plus 3546? 7092How much is 7092 plus 3546? 10638How much is 10638 plus 3546? 14184How much is 14184 plus 3546? 17730 Five times 3,546 is 17,730. But 3,546 multiplied by 654 would take 653 steps. Who wants to keep adding a number over and over again? There are a set of multiplication algorithms for that; the one you choose would depend on how large your number is. An algorithm is usually the most efficient (not always) way to do the math. Common Algebraic Examples FOIL (First, Outside, Inside, Last) is an algorithm used in algebra that is used in multiplying polynomials: the student remembers to solve a polynomial expression in the correct order: To resolve (4x 6)(x 2), the FOIL algorithm would be: Multiply the first terms in the parenthesis (4x times x 4x2)Multiply the two terms on the outside (4x times 2 8x)Multiply the inside terms (6 times x 6x)Multiply the last terms (6 times 2 12)Add all the results together to get 4x2 14x 12) BEDMAS (Brackets, Exponents, Division, Multiplication, Addition and Subtraction.) is another useful set of steps and is also considered a formula. The BEDMAS method refers to a way to order a set of mathematical operations. Teaching Algorithms Algorithms have an important place in any mathematics curriculum. Age-old strategies involve rote memorization of ancient algorithms; but modern teachers have also begun to develop curriculum over the years to effectively teach the idea of algorithms, that there are multiple ways of resolving complex issues by breaking them into a set of procedural steps. Allowing a child to creatively invent ways of resolving problems is known as developing algorithmic thinking. When teachers watch students do their math, a great question to pose to them is Can you think of a shorter way to do that? Allowing children to create their own methods to resolve issues stretches their thinking and analytical skills. Outside of Math Learning how to operationalize procedures to make them more efficient is an important skill in many fields of endeavor. Computer science continually improves upon arithmetic and algebraic equations to make computers run more efficiently; but so do chefs, who continually improve their processes to make the best recipe for making a lentil soup or a pecan pie. Other examples include online dating, where the user fills out a form about his or her preferences and characteristics, and an algorithm uses those choices to pick a perfect potential mate. Computer video games use algorithms to tell a story: the user makes a decision, and the computer bases the next steps on that decision. GPS systems use algorithms to balance readings from several satellites to identify your exact location and the best route for your SUV. Google uses an algorithm based on your searches to push appropriate advertising in your direction. Some writers today are even calling the 21st century the Age of Algorithms. They are today a way to cope with the massive amounts of data we are generating daily. Sources and Further Reading Curcio, Frances R., and Sydney L. Schwartz. There Are No Algorithms for Teaching Algorithms. Teaching Children Mathematics 5.1 (1998): 26-30. Print.Morley, Arthur. Teaching and Learning Algorithms. For the Learning of Mathematics 2.2 (1981): 50-51. Print.Rainie, Lee, and Janna Anderson. Code-Dependent: Pros and Cons of the Algorithm Age. Internet and Technology. Pew Research Center 2017. Web. Accessed January 27, 2018.

Carbon Family - Element Group 14

Carbon Family - Element Group 14 One way to classify elements is by family. A family consists of homologous element with atoms having the same number of valence electrons and thus similar chemical properties. Examples of element families are the nitrogen family, oxygen family, and carbon family. Key Takeaways: Carbon Family of Elements The carbon family consists of the elements carbon (C), silicon (Si), germanium (Ge), tin (Sn), lead (Pb), and flerovium (Fl).Atoms of elements in this group have four valence electrons.The carbon family is also known as the carbon group, group 14, or the tetrels.Elements in this family are of key importance for semiconductor technology. What Is the Carbon Family? The carbon family is element group 14 of the periodic table. The carbon family consists of five elements: carbon, silicon, germanium, tin,  and lead. It is likely that element 114, flerovium, will also behave in some respects as a member of the family. In other words, the group consists of carbon and the elements directly below it on the periodic table. The carbon family is located very nearly in the middle of the periodic table, with nonmetals to its right and metals to its left. The carbon family is also called the carbon group, group 14, or group IV. At one time, this family was called the tetrels or tetragens because the elements belonged to group IV or as a reference to the four valence electrons of atoms of these elements. The family is also called the crystallogens. Carbon Family Properties Here are some facts about the carbon family: Carbon family elements contain atoms that have 4 electrons in their outer energy level. Two of these electrons are in the s subshell, while 2 are in the p subshell. Only carbon has the s2 outer configuration, which accounts for some of the differences between carbon and other elements in the family.As you move down the periodic table in the carbon family, the atomic radius and ionic radius increase while electronegativity and  ionization energy decrease.  Atom size increases moving down the group because an additional electron shell is added.Element density increases moving down the group.The carbon family consists of one nonmetal (carbon), two metalloids (silicon and germanium), and two metals (tin and lead). In other words, the elements gain metallicity moving down the group.These elements are found in a wide variety of compounds. Carbon is the only element in the group that can be found pure in nature.The carbon family elements have widely variable physical and chemical proper ties.Overall, the carbon family elements are stable and tend to be fairly unreactive. The elements tend to form covalent compounds, though tin and lead also form ionic compounds.Except for lead, all of the carbon family elements exist as different forms or allotropes. Carbon, for example, occurs in diamond, graphite, fullerene, and amorphous carbon allotropes. Tin occurs as white tin, gray tin, and rhombic tin. Lead is only found as a dense blue-gray metal.Group 14 (carbon family) elements have much higher melting points and boiling points than the group 13 elements. Melting and boiling points in the carbon family tend to decrease moving down the group, mainly because atomic forces within the larger molecules are not as strong. Lead, for example, has such a low melting point that its easily liquefied by a flame. This makes it useful as a base for solder. Uses of Carbon Family Elements and Compounds The carbon family elements are important in daily life and in industry. Carbon is the basis for organic life. Its allotrope graphite is used in pencils and rockets. Living organisms, proteins, plastics, food, and organic building materials all contain carbon. Silicones, which are silicon compounds, are used to make lubricants and for vacuum pumps. Silicon is used as its oxide to make glass. Germanium and silicon are important semiconductors. Tin and lead are used in alloys and to make pigments. Carbon Family - Group 14 - Element Facts C Si Ge Sn Pb melting point ( °C) 3500 (diamond) 1410 937.4 231.88 327.502 boiling point ( °C) 4827 2355 2830 2260 1740 density (g/cm3) 3.51 (diamond) 2.33 5.323 7.28 11.343 ionization energy (kJ/mol) 1086 787 762 709 716 atomic radius (pm) 77 118 122 140 175 ionic radius (pm) 260 (C4-) 118 (Sn2+) 119 (Pb2+) usual oxidation number +3, -4 +4 +2, +4 +2, +4 +2, +3 hardness (Mohs) 10 (diamond) 6.5 6.0 1.5 1.5 crystal structure cubic (diamond) cubic cubic tetragonal fcc Source Holt, Rinehart and Winston. Modern Chemistry (South Carolina). Harcourt Education, 2009.