[WRITTEN BY KAYLA HALL] In an era where online learning has become the new norm, the debate between synchronous and asynchronous learning has never been more pertinent. The evolution of online education has been nothing short of remarkable, allowing learners to access a wealth of knowledge at their own pace and convenience. However, the key question remains: What's the real-time difference between these two approaches? Synchronous learning, often likened to traditional in-person classes, brings learners together in virtual classrooms through video conferencing, webinars, or live streaming. It fosters real-time interaction, immediate feedback, and the camaraderie of smaller groups. On the flip side, asynchronous learning empowers individuals to chart their own course, accessing course material and engaging in discussions, quizzes, or coursework at their own time, irrespective of different time zones. This article explores the contrasting dynamics of synchronous and asynchronous online learning, shedding light on their benefits, pitfalls, and examples of real-world applications. Whether you're navigating the virtual forums of discussion boards or participating in live Zoom sessions, understanding these nuances can be your key to unlocking the full potential of online education in today's digital age.

[WRITTEN BY KAYLA HALL] If you’re a high school student, you’re probably starting to think about what happens next, and that could include higher education. The four years you spend in college are particularly formative ones, so making the right choice is critical. After all, those are years — and tuition dollars — you won’t get back, so you’ll want to make them count. To help you find the best fit, let’s explore the top nine factors to consider when looking at colleges.

[WRITTEN BY KAYLA HALL] Welcome to the definitive guide on the best colleges in Kansas in 2023. Whether you're a high school senior gearing up for the next academic chapter or an out-of-state student seeking a top-notch public or private institution in the heart of America, we've got you covered. In the Sunflower State, you'll find a diverse range of accredited institutions, from community colleges to public universities, each offering unique degree programs to suit your aspirations. In no particular order, stay tuned as we dive into the rankings, enrollment details, financial aid options, and everything you need to know about the best colleges in Kansas for 2023. Your academic journey begins here!

[WRITTEN BY KAYLA HALL] Welcome to our guide to the best colleges in Idaho for 2023! Whether you're a high school graduate seeking your dream campus, a prospective doctoral student looking for research opportunities, or someone interested in the unique blend of liberal arts and on-campus life, we've got you covered. In this list, we'll explore the top institutions that offer a variety of programs, from associate degrees to doctoral research opportunities. Our rankings consider factors like enrollment size, available financial aid, and the variety of degrees offered. So, if you're searching for your perfect academic fit, read on to discover the best colleges in the Gem State (in no particular order).

[WRITTEN BY KAYLA HALL] Are you scratching your head over the ACT, better known as the American College Testing exam? Perhaps you're wondering what the magic number is - that coveted "good" ACT score. The answer is pretty simple and also complex. A good ACT score is one that sails over the hurdle of admission standards set by your target colleges. While 36 is a perfect score, the average ACT score for high school students in the class of 2020 was 20.6 out of 36 according to the ACT organization. However, wait to celebrate if you've hit this average score. The waters get a bit choppy when you're looking to enter selective schools that anticipate much higher scores from their applicants. In this article, we'll explain the elements of the ACT test, including its layout, content, and scoring mechanism, which play a pivotal role in the college admissions process.

[WRITTEN BY KAYLA HALL] We’re excited to share our latest blog on the impact of ChatGPT on education in 2023! 💡 With the growing demand for AI-driven technologies in education, ChatGPT is poised to revolutionize how we approach teaching and learning. However, there are also important considerations, such as factual inaccuracies and the potential for AI systems to reinforce biases. Read our comprehensive analysis to learn more about the potential benefits and challenges of ChatGPT in education! Read more: ​​https://www.hilink.co/post/the-impact-of-chatgpt-on-education-in-2023 #ChatGPT #Education2023 #AIinEducation #OpenAI

[WRITTEN BY KAYLA HALL] How will ChatGPT revolutionize education in 2023 and beyond? With its natural language processing capabilities and sophisticated machine learning algorithms, ChatGPT understands human inquiries and generates human-like responses. This technology has the potential to be a game-changer in education due to its wide range of applications, from helping students write essays to speed up the grading process for teachers, and so much more. It’s no wonder that the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into education has become increasingly popular in recent months. But what can we expect as ChatGPT and other AI writing tools gain even more prominence? This article explores the advantages and challenges posed by ChatGPT in education and looks toward what's next for this innovative technology. We explore how ChatGPT can streamline tedious tasks such as grading exams or developing lesson plans, as well as how it can help students speed up their education. We also tackle potential risks associated with AI-powered solutions, including issues like plagiarism concerns or the ethical implications surrounding using AI for critical decision-making. Finally, we offer a glimpse into what the future may hold for ChatGPT and its impact on education.

[WRITTEN BY KAYLA HALL] The 2023 school year is now upon us, and with a new calendar comes a whole new set of technological trends that are set to shape the world of K12 education. From artificial intelligence (AI) to virtual reality, there’s no doubt that technology is transforming how students learn and educators teach in schools. In this blog post, we’ll break down the top K12 tech trends for the year ahead, so that educators can stay current on what’s happening in their field.

[WRITTEN BY KAYLA HALL] Are you an online tutor looking to become more efficient in teaching your students? Whether you’re a remote tutor or an online teacher, there are strategies that can help you deliver quality lessons more quickly and effectively. Let’s explore some of these methods for improving efficiency in online tutoring. With these tips, you can make the most of your online tutoring sessions.

[WRITTEN BY KAYLA HALL] If you’re an online math tutor looking for ways to improve how you teach math online, you’ve come to the right place. We have tips! Our experts in online education have narrowed down the top four methods that regular math tutors can adopt in order to level up your skills in remote teaching. The four tips we’ve outlined below help online math tutors overcome the unique challenges in math distance learning. Read on to discover how a few tweaks to your tutoring style can drastically improve student outcomes.

[WRITTEN BY KAYLA HALL] The moment is here! It’s time to create your free HiLink account. Starting today, the HiLink virtual classroom is open to use for free for a limited time. Educators can now access the full suite of features within HiLink. You can test out this state-of-the-art virtual classroom free with your students and decide if it’s right for you. Discover how HiLink makes online education easier for teachers and tutors, as well as your students. Sign up for free today. Enjoy your new online classroom!

[WRITTEN BY KAYLA HALL] Keeping your students engaged in their language lessons can be challenging – we get it. They need to work toward fluency in their new language, so they can take advantage of their new skills. But students aren’t always as interested in their education as we’d like them to be. If your language students are paying attention to anything but your language lessons, keep reading. Foreign language learners often get frustrated if they’re struggling to progress. Low engagement can also result from sheer boredom or communication barriers that come with remote learning. In fact, overcoming those barriers and forming a stronger student-teacher relationship is the number one strategy teachers of all grade levels can focus on to improve student engagement. Easier said than done though, right? No matter why you’re looking for new ways to engage foreign language learners, we have a few ideas that might help. Technology can enhance the language learning experience for students and teachers in several meaningful ways. This article outlines multiple ways you can use tech tools in your world language classroom to engage students more and improve their language education. These tips work for native English speakers learning a second language, as well as English language learners (ELLs) starting with a different home language. With these free and paid tech options, you can fill gaps in your lesson plans and engage your students in immersive, enjoyable language-learning activities.

[WRITTEN BY KAYLA HALL] If you teach students virtually and you want to nurture their mental wellness along with their academic development, we wrote this guide for you. Social-emotional learning (SEL) has become a leading priority for K-12 teachers, especially since the ongoing COVID pandemic started in 2020. The problem is that too many internet “experts” on virtual social-emotional learning have overwhelmed teachers by promoting over-the-top online SEL curriculum programs and SEL rubrics. They make regular social-emotional support seem like it has to be a full-fledged college psych course that you fit into your regular K-12 class. It doesn’t have to be that hard! We’re going to make it easy for you to teach social-emotional learning in a virtual classroom. Here, we explain practical ways – free ways! – that you can bring SEL learning into your virtual classroom, without adopting an entirely new way of doing your teaching thing.

[WRITTTEN BY KAYLA HALL] Online video game competitions, known as Esports, have evolved into a wonderful, healthy arena for K-12 and college educators to bring new game-based learning opportunities to students. Schools across the globe are creating full-blown Esports programs because administrators and teachers have recognized the many benefits of Esports in schools. According to EdTech Magazine in 2021, "The North America Scholastic Esports Federation supports nearly 2,000 high school clubs across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico." And there are over 100 college teams as well. So what are the benefits of Esports in schools, and are they really worth the hype? As eLearning specialists, we believe they are. Let's review the latest ways that Esports programs are giving students a leg up, and benefiting their schools as well.

[WRITTTEN BY KAYLA HALL] Today’s online educators know all too well that presenting lessons on camera in an online classroom is quite different from teaching students in person. Teaching through a virtual learning platform may leave you as a teacher feeling insecure, or unsure about your ability to transfer your in-person teaching style to a virtual learning environment. This article will help, offering ways you can build your confidence on camera before the video turns on, and how you can stay confident when video conferencing fatigue hits.

[WRITTEN BY KAYLA HALL] Academic conferences serve as an important vehicle for researchers, business leaders, educators, students and other academics to share their work, learn from one another and further the goals of their fields. In the COVID era, those who organize these essential conferences are having to adapt, often transforming what used to be an in-person conference into a virtual academic conference. If you are facing this challenge at your institution, this guide will help you create a cohesive method for planning a virtual academic conference using a video conferencing platform. With these detailed recommendations, you will be able to host a successful virtual conference that may even rival the traditional in-person version.

[WRITTEN BY KAYLA HALL] Choosing the best EdTech tools for your K-12 school or other educational organization can be an overwhelming task, but answering a few key questions can help. This spotlight on how to purchase EdTech solutions outlines the top five questions to consider as you research various EdTech tools, talk with salespeople, watch demos and ultimately decide on the right EdTech products for your needs.

[WRITTEN BY KAYLA HALL] Feedback between teachers and students has always been an essential part of the educational process, allowing both parties to make the most of the learning experience. If you are teaching in a virtual classroom, however, you may find that the traditional ways of exchanging feedback are no longer ideal or accessible. What before came naturally in person doesn’t so easily occur in a remote learning setting. That’s why we’ve put together this guide for collecting and providing feedback in the virtual classroom. Teachers and students alike can benefit from these simple methods for exchanging feedback and improving their classroom experience.

[WRITTEN BY KAYLA HALL] Could attending a Christian college be right for you? (Maybe!) Are all Christian schools the same? (Definitely not.) We explore these questions and more as we dive into Christian faith-based colleges, with a little help from our friend and pastor-in-the-making Kenna Ledbetter, who earned her Bachelor of Arts in biblical studies at the faith-based Azusa Pacific University (APU) and is now pursuing her Master of Arts in pastoral studies at Azusa Pacific Seminary. Across America, religious institutions of higher education offer students like Ledbetter the opportunity to expand their minds while deepening their faith. Keep reading to find out what it really means to attend a Christian faith-based school.

[WRITTEN BY KAYLA HALL] Earning a college degree is challenging in itself, and there are even more obstacles for students who have visual impairments. When your vision is impaired, class materials are more difficult to access, navigating through campus takes more than just a map, visual social cues are missed, and most importantly, getting support from your college will likely be crucial to your success. This guide offers a complete walkthrough to help blind and visually impaired students navigate their college experience. You’ll find a list of the things to consider when choosing a college, information on financial aid for students with disabilities, and the top schools for students with visual impairments, among other helpful information and advice.