Student Tech Success Educational Tools to Improve Digital Learning Kids these days face so many more distractions from academics than their parents did. It’s not as easy to focus on homework when TikTok, YouTube, and all sorts of video games beckon. Instead of trying to prevent screen time, why not allow students to engage with technology that will help promote their learning rather than distract from it? Here are three tools to help students at different age levels get the most from online learning. BEANSTALK While Beanstalk is an online learning tool, the beauty of it is that the classes and videos aim to pull kids “out of the screen to do real-world physical activities.” These include science experiments, building projects, and more. Experienced teachers provide engaging lessons and learning tools, and many of them are free. EDUHAM What better way to learn about the history of our nation than through one of the nation’s most popular musicals? “Hamilton” creator Lin-Manuel Miranda launched this learning platform in 2016 along with the show’s director and in partnership with The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. EduHam is a free digital program for students and their families that provides history lessons on the Founding Era of the United States. It also brings art into the mix — Miranda shows students how to create their own performance pieces based on primary source documents, which they can then share in the app. The program is geared toward students in sixth through 12th grade, though everyone is welcome to participate. FIVEABLE For high school students, the most looming challenges include the SAT and Advanced Placement (AP) exams that are so important for college. Enter Fiveable, the amazing free resource that houses thousands of livestreams, study guides, trivia games, and other resources for 15 AP subjects. Started by a former teacher, Fiveable is passionate about giving students the resources they'll need to be successful now and into the future. With so many resources out there, students can use technology in plenty of ways to help them be successful. Here’s to a fall season full of learning!
THE SURPRISING DANGER BEHIND RED CAR TURN SIGNALS
By law, every vehicle on the road is required to have a turn indicator. Turn indicators are there to improve road safety conditions by communicating our intentions to other drivers. A recent issue of Road & Track magazine included results from a study about which colors were most effective for turn signals. Generally speaking, many cars have yellow, orange, or amber turn signals, and these signals are the safest, but some have red signals. However, a 2008 study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) concluded that red turn signals are a bad idea. But why are red turn signals unsafe? According to the 2008 NHTSA study, vehicles with red turn signals are 22% more likely (than vehicles with yellow turn signals) to be involved in an accident. Specifically, they are more likely to be rear-ended. In a follow-up study, the NHTSA looked into the connection between signal color and crashes. Drivers are more liable to confuse a red turn signal with a red brake light. As a result, they might not respond in the same way as they would with a yellow turn signal. Drivers typically keep their foot on the brake pedal longer when they notice a car in front of them is getting ready to turn so they can respond accordingly. A red turn signal can be interpreted as tapping on the brakes and the following driver may misinterpret what they are seeing. The NHTSA also found that when a vehicle's signal was changed from red to yellow, the chance of a rear-end collision dropped by an average of 5.3%. When it comes to increasing the safety of a motor vehicle, that’s a huge improvement. With these findings, the NHTSA says they are considering making yellow, amber, or orange turn signals a requirement if a vehicle manufacturer wants to be eligible for a 5-Star Safety Rating from the agency. That would mean that if a manufacturer submitted a car with red turn signals for a safety rating, the highest rating it could earn is four stars. Drivers should also consider this when buying a car. If you want a safer car, buy one with a yellow turn indicator.
2
WWW.LEGALINSURANCEAGENCY.COM
817.618.6381
Made with FlippingBook Publishing Software