Find Out About U of U Tutoring

Find Out About U of U TutoringAt U of U, tutoring is part of a general education program that serves many purposes. Students must have a solid foundation in language and math in order to successfully complete coursework. In addition, faculty members provide tutoring for students who are struggling in the classroom, or who may be in need of extra assistance when it comes to remediation or independent study.Tutoring is available for students who are struggling in specific topics. They can speak with a tutor in Spanish, English, Math, History, Science, Humanities, and other disciplines that are important to them. In order to find out about the program in which you are interested, it is important to contact the Tutor Directory.A few of the areas where tutoring is available at U of U include: Math, French, Math Placement Test, Spanish, Secondary Care (counseling), Academic Care (career counseling), Social Studies, Writing and Language Arts. Some tutoring is only available for students in a specific college or school.The tutoring sessions can be arranged by individual instructors, or the program can be set up through the department office. Each student must have a tutor that is approved by the instructor. When the student has a teacher to contact, they will be able to find out if they are on a list of approved tutors. The tutoring can also be arranged by an instructor and will need to be requested by the student.The students enrolled in any U of U college or school are able to access tutoring through the school's office of college counseling. They can also check their status online in the Academics and Academic Success Office. There are some students who are unable to attend sessions due to travel or other reasons. If this is the case, they will be able to request any tutoring in the nearest locations available.Students can find out about any classes that have limited numbers of seats available online. They can also see what other students are studying and if they ha ve a tutor that is approved. All classes are assigned randomly. They should check their assigned class no more than three weeks prior to the start of the class.Anyone who is interested in enrolling in any U of U tutoring should check the Tutor Directory for information on the program in which they are interested. If a specific class or topic is part of the program, the Tutor Directory will have information about that class and the offerings. A tutor should be able to answer questions and refer the student to the student aid office for further inquiries.The office of college counseling at U of U can provide support to students who are struggling in a class, or who need extra help. Students can also seek support from the Enrollment Management and Counseling Center. Students who have special needs can also find tutoring services through the Borrower Assistance Program.

Games Can Help Kids Learn! - ALOHA Mind Math

Games Can Help Kids Learn! Ask any parent about the best way to keep a child occupied and sitting in one position for more than 10 minutes and the answer will mostly be “Hand them a video game!” Though we try to impose restrictions and limit the time spent on electronic items such as games or the computer, an easier way might be to introduce children to games that are fun as well as educational. In this way, we can utilize the time that is going to be spent on playing games anyway, in an effective and positive way. Free Educational Games Online:You can find a multitude of learning games for kids on online sites which can be played free of cost. These are usually even provided in a grade-wise grouping which makes it easy to find age appropriateness for your child. Do make sure that you scout around and check out the site online before you let your child play any game unsupervised especially for younger children. You will even find fun games for kids that help motor skills, such as painting or typing games, as well as a variety of math games for kids. Some of the most popular games are: Coloring games like this which educates the child about colors as well as teaches them motor control in a fun way. Math games like this one in which the child gets to play a game like pac-man and also solve some simple math problems along the way. Sites like this also give a grade-wise selection of games. Using gadgets effectively: Children are instantly attracted to gadgets like tablets or phones and pick up navigation skills to get around these devices even faster than an adult can. Parents can ensure that devices are updated with the current apps and newer games, choosing a combination of fun and educational games. Kids spend a lot of time on gadgets especially when you may be traveling and there may be nothing else to entertain them, so by choosing the best educational games for kids, you can make sure that they can learn along with play.“Super Why” has been named as one of the best educational Apple apps for kids, by Parenting.com, Board Games: Whenever possible, parents can also sit with children and play games such as Scrabble which are great for building vocabulary. Initially they might need a little parental guidance unlike with some online games or apps, but once the child gets an idea of the rules, they can start playing with friends and spread the enthusiasm too. As we can see, there are many games that we can choose from to help our kids have fun and learn at the same time. Another way to make learning fun and easy is to introduce them to mental math techniques through Abacus classes at Aloha USA. Please see our website for more details: http://www.aloha-usa.com/. Also, follow us on Facebook; http://www.facebook.com/aloha.usa and on Twitter @AlohaKidsMath for continuous updates on your child’s learning development!

6 Ways to Set Sail for Advanced Language Learning Without Leaving Home

6 Ways to Set Sail for Advanced Language Learning Without Leaving Home 6 Ways to Set Sail for Advanced Language Learning Without Leaving Home Learning a new language is a wild adventure. Youre introduced to new music, new movies, new people  and new cultures!The beginner stage is a particularly heady part of the love affair.Progress is quick, and the rewards are pretty high.There are tons of courses for beginners online, myriad blog posts and reams of books detailing how to get started.Everything about the new language is fresh  and exciting.But what about the intermediate or advanced learners out there? Wheres the support for them?Things are somewhat easier at a higher level, true.While you once stared at target language text with confusion, you now see lucid, beautiful writing! While you used to watch TV shows or listen to podcasts wondering how any human could  utter  such sounds, let alone make sense of them, you now  understand  a surprising amount of whats being said.Along with these successes, however, you cant help but notice that there are still texts out of your reach, and theyre not all exactly high literature e ither. You understand a lot of the spoken language, but you dont get  all  of the jokes, and some movies still fly right over your head.People who know youve been learning a language for a while may wonder why youre not fluent yet. Why you cant translate any phrase someone throws at you on command.It seems like its been weeks, nay,  months, since youve seen any improvement!Whats worse is that many people insist that  living in the country  is necessary to achieve real proficiency in a language.And if youre like me, you dont  quite have the resources for such an endeavor. So is that it for you? Will you ever make progress again?Of course you will! If youre somewhere roundabout the high-intermediate to advanced levels, and youre not sure what to do next, then this post is for you.There are plenty of ways to keep progressing without leaving your house, no matter how much of a challenge you need! 6 Ways to Set Sail for Advanced Language Learning Without Leaving Home1. Deliberately fil l holes in your vocabulary.  Learning vocabulary through media is greatâ€"its carried by context, and its easy to remember. However, you dont have to learn that way only. Sometimes word lists can be great. You can even engineer your reading to fill gaps in vocabulary!While this tip is a little textbook-y, its great for learners who already have a good handle on their target language. Competence in a language only drives further competenceâ€"youll understand and remember individual words better as you progress.This is active learning right here. Think hard about your vocabulary-based weaknesses. Can you talk easily about your job? About your favorite animal? Your hobbies? Can you teach someone to play your favorite sport in your target language? No? Then fix it!For example, scroll down to check out the baby-themed part of this Around the House vocab list  on MedicalSpanish.com.It includes the Spanish equivalents of words like crib, stroller and diaper. You probably knew these words w hen you were four (for good reason), but they dont tend to pop up in your run-of-the-mill language course or immersion environment.  A specific word list like this one is your solution if you suddenly need to talk about  babies!Most major languages have tons of vocab lists online. And its important to realize that even if they seem basic, theyre not necessarily just for beginners. There are lists out there with every household object you can think of (can you say clothespin in your target language?), obscure animals, gaming vocab, etc.One way to find these kinds of lists is to simply Google [topic] word list [target language], if youre learning a popular language.If youre interested in learning the vocabulary youre missing  without having to deliberately seek it out, you can always try  FluentU, an online immersion platform that keeps track of all the language you know.  FluentU takes real-world videosâ€"like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talksâ€"and turns them in to personalized language learning lessons.You can also read Wikipedia articles on whatever subject you like, and look up the terminology you dont know. Its reading, its fun and itll make you into one fantastic conversationalist!2.  Start working your target language into your daily life.Whats the number one benefit of traveling or living abroad? It gives you an environment in which your target language is all around you all the time. You cant ignore it or easily retreat into an English (or whatever your native language is) bubble. If you can embrace that kind of intense environment, your linguistic skills will improve and  fast.But that doesnt mean that traveling abroad is the only way to boost your level. You can easily imitate this in your own home!Move beyond deliberately setting aside time for textbook study, reading or even target language TV. Youre past the beginner stage, so nows the time to mix these things in with your other everyday activities.  Make the language a part of you.  Shape your life so that it mirrors the lives of the most advanced speakers of your chosen language on the planet (native speakers!).Start browsing the Internet in your target language. Look up websites and online communities that talk about your favorite hobbies, your field of study or your work. TV, movies, video gamesâ€"whatever native resources you likeâ€"are doubly important now. Mix them in with the other things you watchâ€"watch target language TV or movies not just specifically while thinking about improvement, but  for fun, just to relax. Change your OS language or your phone settings, if you havent already. Own the language like youve never done before!However, if youre one of those good souls whos been hitting the native resources from the get-go, or even if youre not, trying  upping your concentration level every now and then. Really try to understand everything. See a word you dont know? Dont ignore it, look it up! Write it down or  enter it in your SRS.More input is crucial for advanced learning. Aim for resources outside your comfort zone every now and then, and focus on the parts you dont know.Which leads to3. Get intensive and extensive with your novel reading.In the spirit of focusing on what you  dont know, novels will improve intermediate and advanced language abilities in a very specific  way: They will hand you that elusive, obscure, specialized vocabulary on a silver platter.This is the stuff of fluency! Of eloquence!  Its hard to express yourself if you lack the specific words that express  precisely what you mean. Imagine yourself always having the right word, right at the tip of your tongue. Imagine being able to communicate  exactly what you mean,  exactly  when you need to.Novels will give you all this and more.But come on, why novels specifically? Wont Internet surfing, nonfiction scanning, technical manual browsing or shampoo bottle reading get you there just the same?Not quite. Novels differ from nonfiction in that fiction authors tend to employ a broader and richer vocabulary, all to your benefit. Its poetic! Theyre not just trying to convey information, theyre trying to do it artfully.Really pay attention to the long, descriptive passages in your novel of choice.  Sections like this tend to be more difficult and tend to use less common vocabulary. If youre already into target language novels, you might have skimmed these bits before between easier parts with more action and dialogue, but really concentrating on these passages will serve you well at this stage in your learning.Nevertheless, dialogue is also great for picking up conversational nuances and slang you might have missed in your listening or textbook work.But what should you read?What to readI find that, at the intermediate and advanced levels, middle-grade novels (aimed at children ages 8 through 12-ish) and young adult fiction (aimed at the 12 through 18 crowd) are particularly useful for making progress. The stories tend to be short and engaging without being bogged down with too much flowery language.Try to find your own favorite childhood novels in translation, or look for book bloggers and vloggers and get recommendations from them. (Google or YouTube search favorite books in your target language.)How to readSo besides keeping up with those descriptive passages, how can you incorporate novel reading into your routine with an eye on the advanced level?Try balancing these two methods:Extensive reading: This is reading for pleasure! The goal here is  breadth. You want to be reading lots of novels, skipping what you dont know. You have my permission to ignore unknown vocabulary words and weird grammar constructions! Youll end up picking up a lot of these through context, anyways. Extensive reading is great for intermediate and advanced learners, because a lot more comprehensible literature is available to you. You can pick up things in your favorite genres and just relax and have a good time. You wont understand ev erything just yet, but extensive reading gets you there!Intensive reading:  This is just the opposite of extensive reading. The goal here is  depth. This fits in with  the aforementioned idea of really focusing on what you dont know. Look up words on each page and make note of them or enter them into your SRS. Make mentalâ€"or physicalâ€"note of grammar patterns you havent seen before. This gets tiring, however, so Id recommend limiting this to 2-3 pages or 10-20 minutes at a time. After that, go back to extensive reading for fun!4. Add output to your input!Output (speaking and writing) is often the benchmark of whether we know a language. While this might be a  little  unfair (comprehension is worth a heck of a lot), output is what a lot of us are after.During the beginning stages of language learning, it can be beneficial to stick with input (listening and reading), while you build up your skills. Then, when you feel somewhat confident, you can bounce over to talking and writing!I f you use this kind of input-based method, you can comfortably start speaking and writing practice at the mid-intermediate stage, around when you start to understand sizeable chunks of clearly-spoken media (think news, radio shows, things like that).You can certainly wait longer if you want. Input is still hugely beneficial for speech and writing, even if you wait to speak. And if youre the outgoing type, make sure you still include input even when youre focusing on output!However, what this all comes down to is that practicing output at the intermediate and advanced levels can really make your target language feel natural to you, and youll soon be able to speak and write without stumbling. The main thing to keep in mind when practicing output is that its important to get corrected!Here are a few resources for practicing writing:Lang-8:  Lang-8 allows you to write journal entries in your target language, and native speakers correct you. The turnaround is quick: Native speakers will generally get back to you within the day, sometimes within hours. Because were talking advanced level here, try to use Lang-8 and similar resources on a scheduled basis, say, a journal entry every day or every other day. Additionally, make sure to push yourself. If you just talk about your daily life in every entry, youll be using the same vocabulary over and over. Pushing beyond intermediate and advanced stages means getting a little creative: Try writing book and movie reviews, political opinions, tutorials for sports or games, religious manifestos, you name it!Conversation Exchange:  This site allows you to contact native speakers for Skype calls, live meetups, or pen pal exchanges. While it gives all of these options, I find its best for seeking out pen palsâ€"a lot of people on the site are willing to exchange emails every now and then. This is great because, like Lang-8, it forces you to write drawn-out letters rather than quick texts or chat, and youll get corrections! Again, push yourself out of your comfort zone and talk about a variety of subjects (though political opinions or religious manifestos might not be as appropriate when writing directly to another person).Google searches:  If youre just writing on your own and youre not sure about a particular phrase, try typing it into the Google search barâ€"if it autocompletes, youre probably right! If youre  still not sure, search the phrase in quotes to see if native speakers commonly use it.WordReference forums:  Finally, while many of you might already be familiar with the online multilingual dictionary WordReference,  you may not have taken advantage of the sites extensive forums.  The forums are a fantastic resource because native speakers and learners alike discuss the nuances of all kinds of vocabulary. This is a boon for the intermediate-advanced learner whos moved beyond your standard bilingual or monolingual dictionary!For speaking practice, try:Finding an exchange partner on  italki,  The Mix xer  or any other language exchange site:  italki is a hugely popular site thats geared towards learners who want to practice their languages over Skype (though it has features similar to Lang-8, too). On italki, you can also hire an online tutor if you so choose. The Mixxer is similar, but a little less active. As many of you will know, a Skype language exchange will likely involve speaking one language for a set amount of time, and then switching to practicing the other. So, how do you tailor this to the advanced level? Look for a serious partner on these sites whos willing to brutally correct you and talk about a variety of subjects!Find an online tutor. For a relatively low price per lesson, you can also find a professional tutor. Verbling is a site that makes the whole process of searching for an online language tutor super easy and comfortable. Once youve found a tutor, make it clear that youre there for conversational skills, and a well-trained tutor will be able to help you expand those. Theyll help you target your weaknesses and get you away from talking about the safe subjects you might have a habit of clinging to.5. Forget long-term goals: Set mid-term and mini goals.When youre a beginner, its easy to absorb whats around youâ€"thatll be a lot of the common vocabulary and common grammar, and other basic conversational stuff.When youre at the high-intermediate or advanced stage, you know that there are still linguistic bits youre missing, but doing the same old things that worked as a beginner doesnt necessarily cut it anymore.Sometimes you can get bored. Youve been at the language for a while now, and it might be frustrating for you that youre not further along.Goals are key hereâ€"they can vary widely, from learner to learner, but they help maintain your progress.To make sure you stay on track, set mid-term goals. Your long-term goal is probably fluency in the language, and youre still working towards that. But mid-term goals keep you on track from week to week and month to month.These can include things like:To be able to comfortably have casual conversations within two months.To be able to talk about my work at job interview level within ___ months.To be able to understand classical literature in my language within ___ weeks.Specific goals are bestâ€"you know what reaching the goal should look like, so youll know with certainty when you’re there!Set mini goals tooâ€"these can be things you do on a daily basis. Try to tailor them to your long-term goals, and theyll help you along the way. For example:Skype conversations once a week.Lang-8 journal entry three times a week.6. Relax and accept learning plateaus.Learning plateaus are common amongst learners in the intermediate stage and beyond. You were used to making huge strides as a beginner, but now it may seem like its been a long time since youve made significant progress.The good news is that these plateaus are not caused by your inability to learn a language.  Your stri des might seem smaller, but youre making as much progress and more! In fact, if you harness the power of the intermediate and advanced stages, you can get better at your target language a lot faster. The key to this, as already mentioned, is exposure to native resourcesâ€"once you understand a little, that understanding builds on itself.Personally, Ive found that at the intermediate level, learning starts manifesting as sudden, almost inexplicable jumps in ability.  The fact of the matter is that youve been improving all along, but you only notice the improvement when its dramatic.So dont worry too much about seeing progress from day to day. Just carry on with your reading and listening and watching and talking, and be comforted by the idea that youre surely still on track and youre making progress. And some day soon, youll surprise yourself with fluency!There you have it: Everything you need to know to move up to and beyond an advanced level, all without spending thousands on trave l!Travel is not a necessity for reaching proficiency in a languageâ€"not by a long shot.And getting fluent in a language before you travel can come with some sweet benefits.When you do eventually go, youll be able to talk, read signs and generally relax in the language.Itll make your progress that much more rewarding! And One More ThingIf youre digging these at-home learning strategies, youll love using FluentU. FluentU makes it possible to learn languages  from music videos, commercials, news and inspiring talks.With FluentU, you learn real languagesâ€"the same way that natives  speak them. FluentU has a wide variety of videos like movie trailers, funny commercials and web series, as you can see here:FluentU App Browse Screen.FluentU has interactive captions that let you tap on any word to see an image, definition, audio and useful examples. Now native language content is within reach with interactive transcripts.Didnt catch something? Go back and listen again. Missed a word? Hov er your mouse over the subtitles to instantly view definitions.Interactive transcript for Carlos Baute song.You can learn all the vocabulary in any video with FluentUs learn mode. Swipe left or right to see  more examples for the word you’re learning.FluentU Has Quizzes for Every VideoAnd FluentU always keeps track of vocabulary that you’re learning. It uses that vocab to give you a 100% personalized experience by recommending videos and examples.Start using FluentU on the website with your computer or tablet  or, better yet,  download the FluentU app from  the iTunes store  or Google Play store.

An Overview of Educational Tutoring Programs For Toddlers

An Overview of Educational Tutoring Programs For ToddlersTaught tutoring for toddlers should be the goal of every teacher and parent, but it is often elusive. These children are often too much for most teachers to handle, especially if they have no background in childcare and the toddler has no formal schooling. Most teachers aren't really comfortable with the idea of teaching and learning to their children, especially when they already feel that they don't know enough about the subject matter.When you want to begin tutoring for toddlers, you need to make sure that you have the right curriculum. This can be a hard topic to find time to research, especially since many tutoring programs for toddlers fall under the auspices of traditional schools. It is imperative that you search for a program that provides the right educational material to prepare your child for the first step of tutoring, which is Kindergarten. A lesson plan will help you in teaching this first stage in a fun and inte ractive way, while allowing your child to develop an overall attitude and confidence.The time required to read through the many other lessons in a program may be very daunting, so you may want to consider purchasing or making an online package that includes some of the more engaging lessons, which are more commonly found in the programs for children. Online tutoring programs for toddlers also enable you to review the material as it is taught, so that you can really see what is being done and whether it is working.Make sure that the online program has a homework assignment or activity for each lesson and video for each activity. This enables your child to demonstrate skills and learn faster. It is also important that the program allows you to perform the tasks in the computer, allowing you to view the progress as your child goes through the program. If your child is lacking motivation to perform the tasks, you may want to look at purchasing a program that contains parental management software that allows you to lock the computer while the child is completing the program.It is very important that you use a tutor that has experience in working with children and can be patient and understanding of your child's shortcomings. As much as possible, make your interaction with the tutor something you enjoy and your child will also become motivated to be a more cooperative student. If you have specific issues you would like addressed, you should make sure that you bring this up and your tutor will be happy to provide answers.There are several excellent programs that you can utilize. Some are very popular and offer a wide range of teaching methods. Others are much more simple and allow your child to focus on reading and writing skills at a younger age. There are programs that allow your child to speak to the tutor in real time, so that they can listen and see the results of their work in their own time.When you start your program, there will be a few initial tasks, such a s identifying your child's strengths and weaknesses, looking at a particular lesson, and training your child to be able to function in the tutor's office. After these tasks, you will have a program that is geared toward teaching your child as well as building their confidence. This is the program that you will be using when you begin tutoring for toddlers.

How Can I Teach With a Teaching Degree?

How Can I Teach With a Teaching Degree?You can find many opportunities for teaching with a degree in tutoring Clear Creek and several other area schools. Even if you don't want to teach, there are numerous great opportunities to work with children. Many people who work in this field are employed as tutors and counselors at various schools.Parents may contact your school or community center in order to find out if you can teach there. They may be willing to hire you for a job. It is even possible to join one of the private tutoring centers in Clear Creek and get started teaching. You can work with kids who come to your school but don't have classes there.You can start by working at the downtown Clear Creek branch of West Valley College. It is an excellent place to start. If you want to teach at a different school, you need to work there for a while. Once you get used to it, you may be able to teach at your new school.There are also other opportunities to teach at the Clear Creek Schoo l District. The district does not really do a good job of keeping track of how many tutors they have. In fact, the school district doesn't really provide you with any kind of job opportunities if you don't have a teaching degree. You might find that you are working in schools for a while before you can be hired as a teacher. You might be able to find work as a counselor.Don't forget that the Clear Creek School District has several schools that are running programs that are based on the rich history of the Clear Creek area. You might find that you can teach there. It is possible to work as a tutor for them. They can use your teaching experience to help keep their students educated. You might also find that your teaching ability helps children who are struggling to make it in school to learn as much as possible.In fact, your help at Clear Creek can make it possible for the children in the district to have a more successful future. Teaching with a teaching degree may be necessary to ma ke that happen. If you are looking for a great way to learn how to teach, you should consider learning the ropes at Clear Creek.If you think you would enjoy teaching at Clear Creek, contact their library. They will be happy to give you information about the opportunities there.

Slope of a Vertical line

Slope of a Vertical line A vertical line is the line that is parallel to the y axis as, the y-axis is the vertical line. The equation of the y axis is x = 0. Slope of a line is defined as raise over run. The slope of a straight line is calculated by the change in the y co-ordinates divided by the change in the x co-ordinates of any two points on the straight line. Example 1: Find the equation of the straight line parallel to y axis and passing through the point (3, 4)? Solution: Given, the line is parallel to the y axis. The equation of the y axis is x = 0. The lines are parallel so they have the same slope. The slope of the y-axis is undefined. Hence the slope of the vertical line is undefined. General form of the vertical line passing through (a, b) is x =a The line is passing through (3, 4). Therefore the equation of the vertical line is x = 3. Example 2: Find the equation of the straight line parallel to y axis and passing through the point (1, -5)? Solution: Given, the line is parallel to the y axis. The equation of the y axis is x = 0. The slope of the y-axis is undefined. Hence the slope of the vertical line is undefined. General form of the vertical line passing through (a, b) is x =a The line is passing through (1, -5). Therefore the equation of the vertical line is x = 1.

Thriving In A Brainstorming Meeting as an Introvert - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / Thriving In A Brainstorming Meeting as an Introvert - Introvert Whisperer Thriving In A Brainstorming Meeting as an Introvert As an introvert in the workplace, nothing is more draining than meetings. I just want to sit at my desk, do my work and leave meetings to other people. Whenever I go to a meeting, even if I have nothing to say, I get called on to give my opinion. The hardest types of meetings though are brainstorms. With other meetings, you can get away with sitting in the back, saying something only when asked or when it’s your turn. Brainstorm meetings force creativity, interactions, and holding full-fledged conversations. Every time I’ve walked out of a brainstorm, I feel totally drained.   If you work in a creativity demanding environment like me, you’re probably well acquainted with brainstorms and the toll they take on your emotional well-being. Here are some tips to not only handle the stress but thrive in brainstorms and how to walk out not feeling squeezed dry.   Prepping Everybody Before the Brainstorm Far too much time is wasted at the beginning of poorly planned brainstorms trying to figure out what they’re gonna brainstorm. Having no topic, or an extremely loose topic just leads to long side conversations, additional interactions and wasted time.   By emailing everybody ahead of time and informing them of the focus for the brainstorm, it will help everybody hit the ground running. That means less chit chat, more work and the sooner you can get back to sweet solitude and start to recharge. If you aren’t in charge, encourage the facilitator to send that email out.   Finding The Right Place Lots of workplaces aren’t designed to promote creativity and collaborating, or may just don’t have a spare room to dedicate to brainstorms. In these situations, making everybody feel relaxed, including you, is next to impossible. Nobody wants to throw out ideas in a room next to the boss or in a public space where everybody can hear.   Finding a safe, relaxed spot for everybody helps get those creative juices flowing. If your office doesn’t have a space like this, encourage going off-site. This will transform a stuffy, stressful meeting into a more casual and relaxed get together with coworkers. Just be sure to stay focused and actually working. Some great places to head to are: coffee shops, libraries, local parks and office lobbies.   Promote creative ideas by providing members of the group with the tools needed to think up and explain ideas. Have a whiteboard or massive notepad for people to sketch out ideas to explain to the group. Have access to a computer so somebody can show an existing idea and bounce ideas on how it applies to the current problem. Identify and provide the tools your team needs so they can provide the most value in the meeting.   Being The Scribe Your brainstorm is only as good as the ideas remembered. That means somebody has to record all of the ideas that get tossed around. Volunteering to be the note taker for the meeting not only makes you a valuable member of the brainstorm but also allows you to be more in the background. Nobody expects too many ideas from the scribe because they are busy writing everything down.   That doesn’t mean you are off the hook, though. Be sure to still contribute ideas to the group and not use note taking as an escape. You simply have better control of your interactions and don’t have to push yourself to match those around you.   Every Idea is a Good Idea One massive fear in a meeting is saying an idea that people deem stupid and you being judged as unintelligent. Add that to crippling social anxiety or an introverted nature, and there is no chance of contributing to a group discussion.   The best brainstorms are upbeat, positive, sessions where ideas should be given without fear of judgment. You never know how your ideas can influence others, and crazy ideas can lead to great innovations. Having each participant be on board with this idea will reduce a lot of stress and make the meeting that much better.   Set a Time Limit One of the dangers of a brainstorm is people simply chatting or getting off topic. Brainstorms can easily turn into a two or three-hour time suck, even though all of the ideas were burned through in the first hour.   These drawn out interactions can be extremely draining, with you sitting, just wishing it would end, but too afraid to walk out. If you are in charge of setting up the brainstorm, define a clear start and stop time for the meeting. This will help focus the group to squeeze as much out of that time as possible. If you aren’t in charge of the meeting, scheduling a task after the meeting will give you an excuse to duck out and encourage everybody else to end the meeting. Be sure to let everybody know beforehand that you’ll have to leave so it doesn’t seem you are just abandoning the brainstorm.   The Value of Brainstorms While they can be very draining, brainstorms can be incredibly valuable in a creative career. Don’t shy away from calling a brainstorm when you’re stuck with something. You can avoid big scale brainstorms by having short, effective, impromptu sessions with just a few coworkers. Getting a few more minds involved in a problem can make creative solutions and build workplace camaraderie.   Do you have some tricks for getting the most out of brainstorms? How do you prevent yourself from getting totally drained after a meeting? Let us know in the comments below. Author: Ben Allen Ben Allen is a writer that covers topics from business, marketing, motivation and video games. His goal is to help everybody become better and make the world a nice place to live in. You can see more of his work by following him on Twitter @allen24ben. Do you know what your next career step is?   Many people don’t. I want to help you accelerate your career by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my eBook on how to construct your Career SMART Goals â€" that will help you put together your actions and keep you accountable.   Get your copy now and start your action plan today: CLICK HERE Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleash your professional potential.