The Social Media In Education English Language Essay

The Social Media In Education English Language Essay In todays technological environment, it is important that teachers try their best to make use of this innovative technology. As explained by Thaker, this technology can be used to facilitate communication between the students and the teachers. However, this new form of communication can also help parents in getting involved in the learning of their children. One way of enhancing this communication is through the use of social media (Bienstock, 2012) (Thaker, 2011). There are a number of social networking sites that can be used. Facebook  [1]  , Twitter  [2]  , Edmodo  [3]  , LinkedIn  [4]  , Twiducate  [5]  , Classroom 2.0  [6]  and Google+  [7]  are just few of the existent social media that one can make use of in education. These media are being constantly used by almost everyone on everyday basis. The results obtained from Pingdom (2012) on the demographics of 24 different social media sites show that these media are being used by different persons in different age groups. In fact, the study shows that even teenagers are making use of such media (Pingdom, 2012). However, one might argue, should we use such media in education, even though we know of the problems and issues related to such media? However others might reason that we cannot just eliminate the use of such a valuable and easily accessible resource. Bienstock (2012) makes reference to the New York Times article in which Ms. Pust states I think that we would do more good keeping kids safe by teaching them how to use these tools and navigate this online world rather than locking it down and pretending that it is not in our realm. (Bienstock, 2012) In the following sections, we will discuss the advantages that social media offers in the area of education. However, we are also going to point out the problems that these media might present and how to cope and manage them. Social Media Benefits in Education Students Develop communication skills students can gain social confidence from online interaction, which may help them feel more secure in new situations Increase skill in technology students become more familiar with new and emerging technologies, as well as increase their media literacy through exposure to many different types of online media Since many students already use these forms of technology, they may be more engaged in learning if they utilize it Online communities can be very diverse and expose students to many new view points, ideas, and opinions Social media can also be a source to increase talent to work on group projects Students can develop an optimistic image of themselves by putting best qualities out there Enhanced Collaboration acquiring information can be accomplished by students alone. But problem-solving skills are often better enhanced in a collaborative environment. Social media allow students to work together on projects beyond an individuals capability Teachers and Schools Increased access to resources since learning materials can be shared Collaboration amongst teachers and exchanging of lesson plans and information Can reach parents who are incapable to come to school in a cheap and effective way Can form partnerships with schools in other states or countries Enhanced Flipping through social media the relationship between teachers and students can be improved. Teacher can upload course material and record lectures were students can access them at their own pace. In classroom teachers will guide students with activities that usually are recognized as homework. Modernize Discussions through social media teacher can credit students for in-class participation. This requires teacher to monitor which students are speaking up when. Communicate Between Classes Teachers can send out announcements, share ideas or pose questions to pupils, especially when classes are spaced several days apart. How well are schools using social media? Successes Challenges Making safe communities some sites allow teachers to control online environments thus reducing dangers associated with social media Lack of knowledge a schools social media account should be managed by someone who understands social media Encouraging collaboration students can critique and comment on each others assignments. They can easily work in teams online and asking teachers questions or starting a discussion is easy Lack of features lack of engagement for students can make them feel as if the school doesnt care. Features should include one-on-one connection Invitation to produce content social media can invite students and schools to produce content for both enrolled and prospective students. This can show the schools personality More than a presence a social media profile requires daily maintenance and interaction with students The NCF (Ministry of Education, Employment and Family 2011) argues that literacy, numeracy and digital literacy are the foundations for further learning. Our students are digital natives whether we like it or not. For us as teachers we have to accept this and exploit it to deliver the subject content to our students. Students and Social Media Our students are continuously communicating through social media, in Malta the most popular one being Facebook. Can we stop this? No we can not as out students are equipped with laptops, tablets, iPads, smartphones all providing easier access to social networks. Introducing social media in education is not an easy step, as mentioned before students are continuously using it with most of them ignoring the possible consequences. When the topic is approached only on a theoretical level students think that it will never happen to them, for them there is nothing wrong uploading any kind of photos to appear cool with their friends. They can not perceive that once a photo is available on the Internet is available to anybody even though they select the Only Friends option. Social Media Problems and How to Minimise Them? The only way to deal with this problem is through educational videos that illustrate various situations which teenagers found themselves in because they didnt know it could happen to them. A teacher can start by showing these two videos http://viewpure.com/nOUu1fldBbI and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hK5OeGeudBMfeature=channel and discuss a set of questions with the students to elicit important points from both videos; the uploading of photos, anyone can watch your photos without you being aware of it. Students need to be educated towards social media. They have a tool in their hands, they think of knowing how to use it but most of them dont. Teachers and parents have to understand we cannot stop the social media hype. We as teachers have to educate about this tool. What can go wrong? Many students ask the questions: What can go wrong? These are some of the answers that we as educators need to provide: Cyberbullying (CEOP, 2007):: By using technology like mobiles or the internet, this type of bullying can affect someone not just at school, but at home as well. Because it takes place in the virtual world, it has a 24/7 nature and can make someone feel upset or threatened in their own home. Students should be educated that this kind of bullying can be evidenced. With cyber bullying they can save text/emails/WebPages, print them and used as a proof to catch the bully. Sexting: Someone taking an indecent image of themselves, and sending it to their friends or boy/girlfriend via a mobile phone or some other form of technology is sometimes referred to as sexting. Once these images have been taken and sent to others, control is lost of them and they can end up anywhere.   They could be seen by friends and family, a future employer, or even, in some cases, end up in the possession an offender! This also puts that person who originally sent the images in a vulnerable position (CEOP, 2007):, as somebody they may or may not know now has these images and could use technology to bully, harass or even try to locate them as seen in the videos. Students have to be educated to think Do I want my schoolmates to see these photos, my family? Hacking: Students should always choose the Log Out option so their account can not be hacked. False Identity: People arent always honest with who they are, their age or what they look like. Students have to be share of whom they are confirming as a friend. It is very easy to lie on the Internet and there is no way of knowing if someone is telling the truth. Even if someone shows them a photo of themselves, this could be a picture of someone else or could be faked. This applies to webcam or video footage too; seeing a person in a video, does not mean it is them. Students have to be educated not to meet people they encountered over the Internet. Addiction: One has to be aware of the time and effort spent in establishing connections. It is very easy to become addicted, for some, these sites become one of the major concerns (CEOP, 2007). This can have adverse effects on a persons ability to work efficiently and affects ones health as well. Sometimes the best lesson to educate our students is not through theory but providing them with actual facts. For example this article http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2201064/Man-murders-girl-16-testify-raping-years-agolured-death-posing-teen-Facebook.html narrates the story of a girl killed by her rapist before she could testify against him. He posed as a teenage boy on Facebook and told Shania Gray (the victim) he had a crush on her and they agreed to meet. He took her to a secluded park and shot her (Pullman, 2012). Everyone has a facebook account why shouldnt I? Our society, educators, parents cannot hide from the reality that social media are part of our culture. The future generation are approaching their lives differently as they integrate digital technologies- such as computers, the Internet, instant messaging, cell phones and e-mail throughout their daily activities. As educators we can propose the following simple but effective SMART Rules (UK Safer Internet Centre, 2012): Keep your personal information like address, mobile number safe. Make students think this question If I meet a stranger on the street would I give him my mobile number? The same reasoning has to be applied to a stranger met on the Internet. Dont Meet Up. Social networks can be a place to encounter with new people. Students must always know who you are talking to. If an adult they do not know asks them to meet up, they have to be educated to say no. Accepting (UK Safer Internet Centre, 2012): Educate students to think before they accept something from someone over the Internet as it might contain viruses with the sole purpose to steal information from someones computer used by a hacker to keep data on people perhaps engaged by paedophiles. If students do not know from whom it is and it has an attachment, they have to delete it. Reliable (UK Safer Internet Centre, 2012): Not everyone online can be trusted. Older men tend to lie about their age and who they are to meet female adolescents. This is a point we as educators need to stress onto; students have to know who they are talking to. Tell (UK Safer Internet Centre, 2012): Students should not be afraid of talking if someone is harassing or stalking them over the Internet. They have to talk with their parents, or a guidance teacher or any other trusted adult if someone makes them worried or uncomfortable online. Moreover if a student knows about a friend who has these kinds of problems he/she has to tell someone. It is not betraying him/her friends trust, it is helping and in some cases saving his/her friend. The Issue of No Physical Interaction Social media is a medium that enables communication between people from all over the world through the use of technology. Such interaction can be done from the comfort of your own home and this can facilitate the process tremendously. Some may argue that social media may present a challenge since the students are unable to socialise properly. This may be due to the fact that the interaction between peers is not presented in a physical manner. On the other hand, social media allows people to meet in ways that otherwise would have not been possible. Social media not only allows easier communication but eliminates the issue of geographical barriers. It allows students to form and (Tomaszewski, 2012) (Connolly, 2011) (Williams, 2011)maintain friendships, that otherwise would have been difficult or impossible. Such friendships allow students to learn and interact with other cultures other than their own. It allows wider knowledge sharing from people all over the world. Such interaction would not have been possible or would have been difficult and more costly if it had to be done physically. Therefore, when used with properly and with caution, social media allows not only learning to occur, but also friendships and knowledge sharing to take place. Twelve Things Students Should Never Do on Social Media We do not want more rules but as any other important tool Social Media should be used responsibly. We are in the day and age, were Social Media is used all the time by everyone and this is the main reason why we should be careful of what we do. We should educate our students how to use Social Media sites responsibly. These are a few rules, which if applied, help us appreciate the power of Social Media when used in the classroom. Post Illegal Activities Although your profile may be set to private there are other ways and means how this content can become public and be view by anyone on the web. Once public, it will be impossible to remove that content from the internet. Bullying Do not post anything on any Social Media site which might be a form of bullying. Anything from verbal abuse and hate words and other posted material can lead to very grave consequences including suicide. Trash Your Teachers Bullying can also include interactions done on posts where teachers or school administration are mentioned. This can be a grave offence even if certain things may seem harmless to who posted them. Post Objectionable Content from School Computers or Networks Do not use the school computers to post objectionable information. Some school networks can track this activity. Post Confidential Information This is very important as already mentioned before everyone can see the information you post so be careful not to post any personal information where people can track you. Overly Specific Location Check-Ins Do not use Social Media to say that you are home alone or in a remote location this will help even persons who are not willing to help to find you. Lie/Cheat/Plagiarize If a lie is shared on Social Media it is most probably that everyone will get to know. There can also be investigations regarding cheating and plagiarism. Threaten Violence When a threat is posted online even if anonymous, there will be investigations by the police and eventually will trace the offender. Ignore School-Specific Policies Always abide by the policy of your school regarding Social Media. Unprofessional Public Profiles Students should be thoughtful of what to post online. Certain content might not be acceptable for an employer, who in the near future might go through ones profile. Do not say or put anything on your profile which you do not want a future employer to see. Never Rely on Privacy Settings 100% Students should never rely on privacy settings over good judgment, says Andrew Moravick, social media specialist. Some Social Media networks have very good privacy settings but some are updated very often and not everyone can keep track. Post Emotionally Do not post anything on Social Media when feeling emotional about something. Thing may seem very different when analyzing the same scenario when feeling calm. As we can see, these are very simple rules students and everyone using Social Media can follow. We just have to keep in mind that anything posted irresponsibly on Social Media networks can have very negative effects. Conclusion It is clearly seen that social media and education dont necessarily go hand in hand. So far experts remind us that there are clear dos and donts for integrating social media in the classroom. Social technologies are here to stay and it is import to help students learn how to used social media. Guide students in how to think deliberately about their use and consider the outcomes of proper and improper use of social media. This goal can be appropriately reached when teacher have received appropriate training on the use of social media. Full backing and support of the school administration is mandatory to fulfill this objective. Turning social media into an educational tool can be used to further a students education and enrich it.

Elevator History :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  An elevator is a mechanism for moving people and freight from level to level in a building or any other structure. The first elevator-like structure was built in 236 BC by the Archimeds. This construction was a hoist operated by ropes and pulleys. However, the first pragmatic elevator was not developed until the 19th century. Though sensible, this elevator has been modified many times throughout the course of history and is still updated with all of the new advancements in math and technology. From the start of the production of elevators through today, there have been numerous and boundless improvements made on their structure and how they operate: all due to the advancement of mathematics and technology.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The first elevator developed was known as a manual elevator. This system of elevators used â€Å"relay logic†. Relay logic was a simple wiring based on circuits. This type of elevator did not transfer people from one level to another, only cargo. *****  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The second type of elevators was developed in the 1800s. These elevators were powered by steam. At first, these elevators were used solely to transport freight in factories and ore in mines. Unfortunately, these elevators required a safety device to restrain the elevator from dropping if it’s supporting cable broke, and this had not been invented yet. Eventually, this necessity was discerned and acted upon. In 1852, Elisha Graves Otis designed the first safety contrivance for elevators. This device was a system involving spring-operated cams that affianced the guide rails in the elevator shaft when the cable broke. This secured the elevator from subsiding which enabled steam powered elevators to be used for transporting people along with cargo. This new use was caused by the precautions taken in improving the safety of steam powered elevators. It was first used for people in 1857 in New York’s own ‘Haughwout’ department store. This edifice was driven by steam power: unlike the manual elevator it had the capability of transporting people from floor to floor. Though this was a major amplification in the manufacturing of elevators, technology and mathematics were still improving allowing for even more types of ameliorated elevators to take the place of those already produced.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  As mathematics advanced, the third type of elevators was formulated. This being the hydraulic elevator was the first practical elevator with semblance to those of today’s time. The concept of hydraulics is somewhat based on Pascal’s Law. This stated that pressure exerted upon a liquid is transmitted in all directions at the same magnitude. This was theorized sometime in the mid-17th century yet it’s capability of advancing and Elevator History :: essays research papers   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  An elevator is a mechanism for moving people and freight from level to level in a building or any other structure. The first elevator-like structure was built in 236 BC by the Archimeds. This construction was a hoist operated by ropes and pulleys. However, the first pragmatic elevator was not developed until the 19th century. Though sensible, this elevator has been modified many times throughout the course of history and is still updated with all of the new advancements in math and technology. From the start of the production of elevators through today, there have been numerous and boundless improvements made on their structure and how they operate: all due to the advancement of mathematics and technology.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The first elevator developed was known as a manual elevator. This system of elevators used â€Å"relay logic†. Relay logic was a simple wiring based on circuits. This type of elevator did not transfer people from one level to another, only cargo. *****  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The second type of elevators was developed in the 1800s. These elevators were powered by steam. At first, these elevators were used solely to transport freight in factories and ore in mines. Unfortunately, these elevators required a safety device to restrain the elevator from dropping if it’s supporting cable broke, and this had not been invented yet. Eventually, this necessity was discerned and acted upon. In 1852, Elisha Graves Otis designed the first safety contrivance for elevators. This device was a system involving spring-operated cams that affianced the guide rails in the elevator shaft when the cable broke. This secured the elevator from subsiding which enabled steam powered elevators to be used for transporting people along with cargo. This new use was caused by the precautions taken in improving the safety of steam powered elevators. It was first used for people in 1857 in New York’s own ‘Haughwout’ department store. This edifice was driven by steam power: unlike the manual elevator it had the capability of transporting people from floor to floor. Though this was a major amplification in the manufacturing of elevators, technology and mathematics were still improving allowing for even more types of ameliorated elevators to take the place of those already produced.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  As mathematics advanced, the third type of elevators was formulated. This being the hydraulic elevator was the first practical elevator with semblance to those of today’s time. The concept of hydraulics is somewhat based on Pascal’s Law. This stated that pressure exerted upon a liquid is transmitted in all directions at the same magnitude. This was theorized sometime in the mid-17th century yet it’s capability of advancing and

My First Jump – A short Story

The wind was painful against my face, the skin being pulled back from my face, skull emobossed against it. My instructors (Jake and Ryan) were falling with me, to keep me â€Å"safe.† Jake tapped my shoulder, the signal that I should pull my chute. I grabbed the rip cord, and pulled it with all the force I could†¦this was a mistake. I had been instructed before to just give it a gentle tug†¦the cord snapped off. My parachute had failed. This is when the panic kicked in. All the training I had received, gone. My mind drew a complete blank. I was looking around desperately at Jake and Ryan, while the earth was hurtling towards us rapidly. Ryan tilted himself forward, causing his whole body to move forwards in the air, moving towards me. He pulled a cord on my parachute, so as to activate the emergency chute, something which had not been explained to me, as they didn’t see the point, it usually works†¦The emergency chute failed. Nothing appeared. This was when my heart was in my throat, no parachute, freefalling, I was dead. At that moment in time, I couldn’t understand why Ryan then decided to grasp on to me, coiling his body around mine, like a koala gripping a tree, until he pulled his cord, deploying his parachute, causing us to fall much slower, all of this happened in an instant. We were, however, still at a dangerous height, the only thing that was keeping me from falling to my death was the grip of Ryan, and the strain could be felt, and the grunts of pain, as he put everything he could in to holding me up. The land site was no longer a priority, it was more landing in general. We were getting closer and closer to the ground, but I could feel myself slipping†¦I managed to rotate while in mid air, and hold on to Ryan, allowing him to let go of me, and all of the pressure was now on me. At around 10 foot, I lost grip of ryan, and fell to the concrete ground below. This broke my ankle, and sprained my knee, but at this point I was just glad to be alive†¦ This experience was really a massive reality check for me, it’s made me realize that not everything goes to plan all the time, no matter how much it needs to. It has also made me really appreciate life, and every moment of it. As they say, â€Å"five minutes of life, is life.† Another experience, which is totally different from this one, but had the same impact on me as a person, is this†¦ My vision was blurred†¦nurses shouting†¦something about an â€Å"antidote.† I couldn’t remember anything that had happened. Panic struck me. I had no idea what was going on, and was too weak to express this, but it was obviously serious. What was a â€Å"Chinese Bird Spider†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦? I was on holiday in China, that much I knew†¦My eyes were getting heavier†¦ †¦Ã¢â‚¬ he’s coming around†¦Ã¢â‚¬  The sun was shining, dazzling, in my eyes, it was difficult to see, I could however, ask what had happened. I had been bitted by a â€Å"Chinese Bird Spider.† One of the most venemous and dangerous spiders on earth. If my mum hadn’t recognised it instantly, and taken me to the hopsital. I would have died. No doubt. The pain in my neck was definitely present, but dull and numb, it must have only just been in time. This event has also made me really appreciate life, and how amazing it is. I now realise that I took everything I had for granted. Fear, I feel, is the ultimate form, of humanising someone, making them realise what life is truly about, and how to live it.

Reflective Placement Log Report †International Coffee Organisation (ICO) The WritePass Journal

Reflective Placement Log Report – International Coffee Organisation (ICO) Introduction Reflective Placement Log Report – International Coffee Organisation (ICO) . 2013. Mission. Accessed: ico.org/mission07_e.asp?section=About_Us. Last Accessed: 20/11/2013. Phillips C. Burbules N.C., (2000). Postpositivism and Educational Research. UK. Rowman Littlefield Publishers. ISBN-10: 0847691225

Free Essays on Asian Rain Forest Deforestation

Deforestation in Asia and the Effects on the Environment and its Peoples† Today, the logging and rate of deforestation of Asian forests is at an all time high. National governments are making a profit from the logging rights to the forests but it is at the expense of the indigenous peoples of the areas. Unless there is an immediate change in this, there will be no way of saving the forests for future generations and the indigenous peoples will lose the way of life they have grown accustomed to. â€Å"The term â€Å"indigenous† has come to be applied to a politically marginalized, territorially based ethnic groups, who are culturally distinct from the majority populations of the nation states in which they have now found themselves, and who recognize themselves as indigenous† (Minority Rights Group International). Today, the Asia-Pacific region has lost over half of its original forest cover and there are no signs of that rate declining. Most of the Asian national governments have sided with the logging companies and sold parts of the forests to them. Not only are the forests being ruined, but the indigenous peoples are being run out of their homes. The indigenous peoples are dependent on the forests and they need them to sustain their lifestyles. The land on which they live is the same land where their ancestors lived. These ancestral territories are not only their economic base, they are also intimately bound up with their cosmologies and identities and comm unities as peoples. The indigenous peoples see themselves as stewards holding the land of their ancestors in trust for future generations. By cutting down the trees in their areas, it would force the indigenous peoples out of their areas and eventually force them to change their way of life. None of this seems to matter to the national governments of Asia or the loggers. They are more interested in their own well being rather than preserving the historical cultures and socie... Free Essays on Asian Rain Forest Deforestation Free Essays on Asian Rain Forest Deforestation Deforestation in Asia and the Effects on the Environment and its Peoples† Today, the logging and rate of deforestation of Asian forests is at an all time high. National governments are making a profit from the logging rights to the forests but it is at the expense of the indigenous peoples of the areas. Unless there is an immediate change in this, there will be no way of saving the forests for future generations and the indigenous peoples will lose the way of life they have grown accustomed to. â€Å"The term â€Å"indigenous† has come to be applied to a politically marginalized, territorially based ethnic groups, who are culturally distinct from the majority populations of the nation states in which they have now found themselves, and who recognize themselves as indigenous† (Minority Rights Group International). Today, the Asia-Pacific region has lost over half of its original forest cover and there are no signs of that rate declining. Most of the Asian national governments have sided with the logging companies and sold parts of the forests to them. Not only are the forests being ruined, but the indigenous peoples are being run out of their homes. The indigenous peoples are dependent on the forests and they need them to sustain their lifestyles. The land on which they live is the same land where their ancestors lived. These ancestral territories are not only their economic base, they are also intimately bound up with their cosmologies and identities and comm unities as peoples. The indigenous peoples see themselves as stewards holding the land of their ancestors in trust for future generations. By cutting down the trees in their areas, it would force the indigenous peoples out of their areas and eventually force them to change their way of life. None of this seems to matter to the national governments of Asia or the loggers. They are more interested in their own well being rather than preserving the historical cultures and socie...

Crminal Justice System of Singapore Research Paper

Crminal Justice System of Singapore - Research Paper Example Other relevant offences get created by statutes like the Abduction Act, Arms Crime Act, Vandalism Act as well as Abuse of Drugs Act. In Singapore, many activities considered relatively mild in other countries such as jaywalking, sale of chewing gum, littering, failing to flush toilets after use, possession of obscene material and sexual activities like oral and anal sex between men considered illegal thus perceived as a highly regulated society (Haas, 201). This burdensome act has led to Singapore having rare cases of the low occurrences of awful crimes in the universe. Singapore carries out both corporal punishments that are by caning offenders and capital punishment by hanging serious offenders. These punishments are necessary for certain offences. According to statistics, the country has one of the highest homicide rates in the sphere in relation to its population outstanding Saudi Arabia, for example, between the years 1991 and 2004, more than 400 people ended up executed most of them being drug peddlers. William Gibson a Science Fiction writer termed Singapore as Disneyland with the death penalty. In the 19th century, the criminal law received a discharge in the three Straits, Settlement of Singapore. At the period, there was slight suspicion that English general law offenses were accepted in these territories. Straits Settlement Penal Code was approved and came into operation in 16th September 1872 after problems like use of certain Indian Acts arose in 1871. The code is virtually a re- enactment of the Indian Penal Code. The main act in Singapore is the Penal Code. It relates to criminal law and has more than 500 units divided into 24 chapters. The Penal Code terms the fundamentals of every offence and recommends the maximum and sometimes the minimum penalties for the offence. The basic form of an offence has the lowest penalties, while other literary forms of the crime are defined as

Impact of Financial Aid on Educational Environment Dissertation

Impact of Financial Aid on Educational Environment - Dissertation Example Also, the importance of education, particularly, that of college education has been discussed shortly at the beginning of this paper. Furthermore, how racial differences can hinder the process of acquiring financial aid by African American students has also been discussed. Table of Contents Abstract 2 Table of Contents 3 Introduction 4 Literature Review 5 Introduction Many students ask this question when they are about to graduate from high school that why it is so important for students to acquire higher education. It certainly is since it provides a number of opportunities to people who wish to raise their standards of living and excel in their respective field of education. Higher education is an outlet to various opportunities and therefore its importance cannot be denied (Wilkinson, 2005). Going to college expands the horizon for students as they advance from lower educational level to higher educational level and experience a more broadened aspect of everything they have been s eeing all their lives up till now. College lets a student learn more than just from books. It allows students learn from the excellent experienced professionals creating a remarkable experience in learning and acquiring the right set of attributes to excel. If we think beyond the job aspects of acquiring higher education it is quite important for our own development as well. It lets us be a better person in our society and helps us educate people around us (Wilkinson, 2005). Though acquiring higher education can be difficult, it is not impossible. Many financial aids program help in this regard. What we need to understand is that are these financial aid programs, in any way, affecting the student’s educational environment. There could be varying answers to that. This paper gives a detailed review of how these financial aid programs can affect student academics. How financial aids vary from one another according to the needs of the students and are it true that financial aid p rograms depict a bitter reality of our society, portraying the ugly picture of racism. These questions lead to a deeper analysis of whether choosing to have something better in life would free a student from discrimination and differences that are built on part of these institutions. How students can have several problems related to choosing for the right program and applying to it. Many students are found to have face problems in following the instructions. This could be a major hindrance in achieving their goals. This paper also explains how academic performance of a student can greatly affect his receiving of financial aid from his own institution or federal ones. Altogether, these are various circumstances and conditions, which directly and indirectly affect the process of acquiring financial aid for a college student. Some of these factors conceive further hidden factors that are considered taboo, people do not want to talk about it, people want to hide it, but the reality rema ins in its place. This paper also includes the types and categories, which are designed for individual students to accommodate their requirements. Literature Review Economy regulates one’s life. How it is supposed to be lived, economy decides as it steers people into a direction where they can survive. Henry David Thoreau (1996) explains in his book how economy has changed the way men used to live, â€Å"But lo! Men have become the tools of their tools. The man who independently plucked