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The Battle Of Print Versus Digital

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You have been running in this epic race for a very long time, almost since the beginning. Your exhaustion knows no bounds. And now, the semester is about to come to its logical end. Besides that truckload of syllabus already parked in your backyard, there are copious, unread notes, essays and diagrams still crowding the room. Even in those few precious moments before the exams, when your finish line is in plain sight, there is a ton of study material to skim through. It is at these moments that an ancient debate (one involving all teachers and parents) spurs back to life—should you get everything photocopied or download the pdf versions on your phone?

The age of the internet and free wi-fi is here, people and it has got all the students and teachers hooked on to its wireless universe. Random study guides can only take you so far in this era. Education at the university level has itself transformed, especially for the social sciences, where it is impossible for many students to ‘learn’ without Google’s help. “In our college library, one can never find a book in its proper place. Who has the time to scan through all those shelves for one book? I’d rather look for material online,” says a source who would prefer to remain unnamed. There are many who choose the easier, quicker path by downloading books, essays and videos in the digital format.

It is a natural human instinct to fall for freebies. Who wouldn’t be attracted to the prospect of downloading a free pdf instead of splurging five hundred bucks on a book? Many see curriculum books as a waste of money.

But joining in the debate from the other side too are scholars and students who still root for the old-school tradition of libraries and hard copies. “Staring at the screen for a long time causes me a headache,” is their primary slogan. They treasure the ‘feel’ of books instead of intangible pdfs. In fact, if bad comes to worse, they would rather get their notes photocopied than strain their eyes over screenshots and countless pictures on the phone.

And thus the endless battle continues. One side argues for moving on with the times, using free internet resources to save up on (already low) student money. The other side believes that books never went out of style. They would rather get their photocopies and mark important lines using pens, highlighters and pencils—something a pdf does not allow. Even as this debate rages on, it must make us ponder why photocopy shops in DU still make profits despite websites offering free material. In fact, can the internet indeed be a better alternative for explanation than study guides? It should make us think, essentially, how a 21st century college student functions today. Time will be a testament to whether that is a good direction to follow or not.

 

Featured Image Credits: http://thefinalchapterblog.wordpress.com/

Deepannita Misra

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QWERTY

QWERTY: Prepare for your entrance exams with these 4 apps

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The first year of college usually goes in finding where you fit in, the second in cementing the bonds & friendships and the third goes in woes and worries about the future. Although some students take up the campus placements, majority of people prepare to pursue higher studies or to do professional courses. Whatever option they may choose, all of them go through a barrier, known commonly to every college-going, degree-seeking individual as ‘entrance test’. There are different types of entrance tests for different courses and institutions, all of them testing the candidate’s knowledge of a certain field. However, most of these exams have some common sections, which tests one’s general knowledge, English proficiency, etc. The following apps will come to your rescue, so that you don’t have to put too much effort for preparation of these sections:

1. Inshorts – News in 60 words

high-resolution
InShorts

The title says it all. With one of the simplest user interface out there, Inshorts offers the users with the news in the most precise and accurate manner. The news articles are stacked and can be viewed one after another by swiping up. The concise nature of content in the app helps the user stay updated with everything going around the world without getting bored, which the reader feels when going through long articles. The reader can also cover news from various sectors without having to spend a lot of time going through each of them.

2. Slide

Slide
Slide

This is a news app. An average user locks and unlocks his/her phone at least 100-200 times a day. The app banks on this simple activity. The app displays news excerpt on the lock screen. The user has a choice to swipe left and read the whole article or swipe right to continue to the home screen. The title of the article and the news is visible, which in itself, is enough to convey most of the story. This app can also help you stay on top of worldly events. In addition, the app gives 5 paisa every time the user unlocks the screen irrespective of, whether the user opens the article or not.

3. Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary.com
Vocabulary.com

This app’s purpose is evident in its name itself. The app helps the user improve and expand their vocabulary through word games and quizzes, which are quite addictive. Gamification, the concept of imparting knowledge through games, has been effectively used in this app. The app also helps you prepare for different standardised tests like SAT, TOEFL, GRE etc. as users can chose which exam they want to prepare for. The app covers everything related to any word, from its origin to pronunciation to meaning.

4. GK Current Affair SSC-IBPS-IAS

GK Current Affair SSC-IBPS-IAS
GK Current Affair SSC-IBPS-IAS

This app is designed with a special focus on Indian entrance exams. It is a complete exam preparation app, which offers everything a candidate might need for the exam, they are preparing for. There is a forum section where user can post question about any doubts regarding any topic they are preparing or answer any doubt question on the forum. The app has complete study material for entrance exams, which include – e-books, question banks etc. The user can also take mock tests to check the level of their preparation.

Kavach Chandra

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How to make the best of the last days before exams

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As exams are just round the corner, a feeling of nauseating anxiety revolves around our minds, inclining us towards stress and tension. Now, with meager time and enormous burden of covering the syllabus, the only way to score decent grades is by realizing that studying ‘hard’ is way more important than studying ‘smart’. The following points will help you in acing the semester, with the minimalistic amount of time left!

 1. Get organized :

The first step is to organise the time schedule in such a way that the last important days are utilized in the best possible way. Note down the maximum amount of time you can devote to studies during the last days. Frame a schedule accordingly.

2. Note down the ‘most’ important things to be covered :

Call up your professor, friend or senior who might have the best knowledge about the subject. Inquire about the important chapter and its contents. Use previous ten years question papers to have an idea about the format and occurrence of questions. Mark them, study them. Summarize all your notes and keep them handy.

3. Highlight :

Now that the time is less, focus on the main headings, underlined words or significant notes. Highlight everything that seems important. Read, memorize, turn to the next page. Don’t spend much time on something that you don’t understand. Mark it, and move on. When you take a break or finish, go through it again or ask a friend.

4. Focus more on ‘understanding’ than on mugging it up:

If you force feed your brains more than it can take, you’re more likely to go blank the next day. Instead of covering too much, understand the concepts and memorize the basics. Relate or link the important points to numbers or alphabets. Focus and learn up the keywords. Elaborate on it later in the exam.

5. Tell yourself you ‘can’ do it :

The only thing that ruins the exams even after proper preparations is nervousness and negativity. Remind yourself to be optimistic about doing well and don’t let stress or fear overcome you.

6. Relax! :

This is where most of the students may lack. Too much syllabus and last day preparations may urge you to stay awake the entire night before the exam. Try avoiding this, because this may cause your brain to be over exhausted, which may prevent you from performing your best on the main day. Have proper food and sleep and give it your best shot with a refreshed mind.

All the best!

Image credits : professorsworld.com

Lovleen Kaur

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DUB Speak

Getting back into focus for exams

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Even though exams are just around the corner for students of Delhi University, most of us simply can’t resist the pull of social media, that new TV series you just started or, well, Game of Thrones. Some have attempted to start preparing; the smart ones have resisted all the temptations to procrastinate and are revising their notes, while the remaining ones are still hoping to make some sense out of all those notes they scribbled throughout the semester.

We know you cannot wait to get over with these exams to finally begin with the summer break! To get you through the last few days of the semester, here are 5 tips that can resurrect that focus to study for semester-end exams:

1. Time to block out the distractions

With only a few more days left, the first step must be clearing out as many things which stand in the way of you and studying with focus. Yes, that includes less use of social media and not finishing just one more episode again. Remember, it’s just about a few more days of hard work before weeks of freedom.

2. Keep your study material in plain sight

Having all your notes, books and other study material right where you can always spot them in the room will be a stark reminder of tasks at hand. If you aren’t already past this stage yet, do it as soon as you can. Make sure you’ve fixed up sufficient hours to study during the day with your piling notes as reminders of all that needs to be done. It triggers a small amount of stress which is optimal for narrowing down focus.

3. Getting ready with your study plan & acting on it

As clichéd as this tip is, chunking your syllabus into smaller bits to be done over a period of time can really help in keeping track of all that’s left to be done. After that, focus on finishing your first separated chunk of the course. Once the plan is in action, you will automatically move towards finishing what’s left of it.

4. Visualize the final goal to get the motivation

What’s the point of it all? Whenever you take a break, try to visualize the end goal of it all. You’re smart enough that you’ve made it here so far. If you manage to study really hard and somehow score well, it could actually impact your future in a good way. Think about it, if you manage to pass this, you can actually grow independently and be satisfied internally as well. All of that for the cost of just a few days worth of hard work, so get to it!

5. Go through previous year exam papers

This is extremely important as you gain a basic idea of how your paper might really be. Practice past exam questions papers, sample papers and revise answers for all of them thoroughly. Do remember, practice and thorough focus is the key to all of this. Just going through a few questions and their answers from past papers can trigger the need to finish a certain chunk of course, reeling that focus in.

Featured Image: bbc.co.uk

Shaina Ahluwalia

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DUB Speak

A list of five TED Talks to inspire you for the upcoming exams

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The period before and during exams can be tricky as you come across the fleeting nature of human motivation. There are days when you’re immensely focused and are doing everything by the schedule and then there are days where you are questioning your existence while lying on the bed, not able to face the pile of books which are yet to be read. So, for the latter sort of days, here’s a list of five inspirational TED Talks, sure to evoke your slumbering motivation and help you ace this semester.

1. For a change of perspective

Many a times, we become so engulfed in the petty problems of our day to day life that we forget about the people fighting and trying to overcome even bigger obstacles with twice our enthusiasm and positivity. Here’s a video by Amy Purdy, who loved to skateboard and travel. She wanted her life to be a series of adventures till an unexpected disease made her lose both her legs below the knee. Witness the journey which made her believe that her legs didn’t disable her but rather enabled her to achieve her goals and dreams.

[youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2QZM7azGoA” width=”500″ height=”300″]

 

2. Developing grit and a stronger work-ethic

Angela Lee Duckworth is a management consultant turned New York maths teacher who talks about how the ability to learn is not fixed and can change with your effort. She believes that the formula to do well at life isn’t IQ or the ability to learn things quickly but is ‘grit’

“Grit is passion and perseverance for very long-term goals,” she says. “Grit is having stamina. Grit is sticking with your future, day in, day out, not just for the week, not just for the month, but for years, and working really hard to make that future a reality. Grit is living life like it’s a marathon, not a sprint.”

[youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H14bBuluwB8″ width=”500″ height=”300″]

 

 3. Changing stress from a foe to a friend

Kelly McGonigal, PhD and a health psychologist, has a golden rule to make life easier: Make stress your friend. She says that when you change your approach towards stress, you can change your body’s response towards stress, as well. So, stress doesn’t need to be a dreaded thing. Rather, we all can embrace and appreciate it.

[youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcGyVTAoXEU” width=”500″ height=”300″]

 

4. To avoid procrastination

We’re all guilty of this, aren’t we? I say this while writing an article just a few hours before my deadline. So, to make us understand more about this oh-so-familiar habit, we have a video of Tim Urban, explaining about procrastination through the amusing characters inside our heads. There is an ‘instant gratification money’ telling us to to enjoy and be carefree and then there’s the ‘rational decision maker’ who wants to secure our future. He also outlines some very helpful tips to beat this habit, provided you don’t procrastinate to apply them in your own life.

[youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arj7oStGLkU” width=”500″ height=”300″]

 

5. For a visual treat and rejuvenation

Louie Schwartzberg’s time-lapse photography will leave you in a state of awe. His project ‘Happiness Revealed’ will make you realise the importance of ‘today’ and how an appropriate response to the present day should only be gratefulness and gratitude.

[youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lXYZ6s3Dfk” width=”500″ height=”300″]

 

Image credits: youtube.com

Nishita Agarwal

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DUB Speak

Difference in attitudes towards exams during various semesters

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Exams come and go every semester but in a three – year graduation program, the question papers are always welcomed with a unique expression by the students. To put it more clearly, all students of the second, fourth and sixth semesters have their own special attitudes towards the Delhi University examinations in May.

Semester 2:

The relative newbies!
The relative newbies!

These are the one-semester-down lot who have not yet understood the system. Still fresh-on-campus, appearing for just one round of exams doesn’t make you very comfortable with the whole idea of college examinations. A few of them are currently being frowned upon or looked at with jealous eyes, because they have scored quite exorbitantly in the first semester. There are also those who are quite scared of what happened in the previous semester results. Both the latter and the former categories are gearing up with full gusto for the coming month. The behaviour of semester 2 students generally reminds me of freshly hatched turtles who are moving towards the sea, unaware of what might hit them on the way. These are the naïve group of people who, as of now, have not decided what future in DU will be like for them. They’re just too new to the system.

Semester 4:

Maintaining their averages!
Maintaining their averages!

They are dead meat! They know that their performance in the past, whether good or bad, doesn’t mean anything; irrespective of their past record, they have to score well again because averages are important. These are the ones who have got used to DU and are gearing up for internships and coaching for third – year entrances. Most of them have even begun their MBA preparations. Their interests and attention are divided between exams and forwarding resumes and filling out forms for internships. Many are even preparing planned structures of their career paths, under their parents’ watchful glances. There are also those carefree ones who wish to take life as it comes. They are indifferent about their score and have another year to think about their future. Generally, Sem 4 students are in a dilemma of sorts and are uncertain about their future, but being seniors to the first years, don’t let their guards down.

Semester 6:

The veterans!
The veterans!

These are the veterans. They still don’t know how DU comes up with its question papers and syllabi but are too tired to do anything about it. At the same time they also care about their percentage as their life depends on it. Their attitude is more like ‘Oh God, please maintain my average and let me pass all subjects’. Half of them have already figured out the next year or two for themselves. Many are even sidelining their exams because entrances are undoubtedly more important. Quite a few have jobs in their hands and know that further studies will come after some practical experience. These are the people everybody is looking up to. They have everything to lose. They have been bid adieu to and have nothing to lose. They are being consulted for advice. What nobody knows is that they are the most tense and anxious right now. It is the end of a journey for them, especially for the erstwhile FYUP batch that got the bad end of a bargain.

Whatever semester you might belong to, it’s time to prepare with gusto and to say goodbye to another semester on a happy note. Happy exams!

Feature Image: sacap.edu.za

Ayesha Sareen

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DUB Speak

Competition, a threat to learning

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The sense of competition is a poison instilled in our minds so fiercely that we seem to lose touch with the concept of analysing our personal progress. Ever since we started working hard for achieving anything, be it grades, prizes or anything, we are constantly reminded of how much someone else is getting as compared to us. When I was a kid, I first had my personal objection on the column of “highest marks obtained” in our report cards. The only question that kept nagging was why and how can I compare my improvement by a standard set up by someone else? We are always told to score the best, do our best. What we seem to overlook is the very sense of our honest hard work and the result that presents us our calibre.

 

Every semester, the same story does it rounds. We give our exams and wait for the results and then as soon as we get them, the first thing everyone looks up for is the highest marks scored and by whom. I wonder why people can not compare their progress by what they got in the previous semester. Every time, it is the same old thing. You do your best, get the result and then compare it with others and insult yourself for being yourself. In this world of competitions, it is suffocating to be happy and satisfied with what you get. It’s not only our parents or teachers who are concerned with the highest or lowest, but even us. It’s a mandatory ritual that is followed. Those who scored less are bashed up and insulted. Sadly no one ever bothers to even scrutinize the insides but just the papers. Meanwhile the ones who really do score well get a chance to feed their ego.

 

It is said to not compare, for if you do, you are only insulting yourself. But there comes a point when you feel insulted and pathetic when over your batch group people start discussing someone else’s result; the one that scored the highest last time and how it has deteriorated this time. It’s derogatory especially when that someone else is a part of the group. It is not only rude and stupid but indeed a pathetic act. Comparisons and competitions have the ability of making a person feel dissatisfied and incapable of everything they could do or have done. Due to this constant reminder of competition and the ever lasting impression of beating others, most of us have assumed education as a system of mugging up and pouring it out on sheets than actual learning and understanding. Our generation is so heavily influenced by the standards others have set up for them that they overlook their personal development and start rushing for the undesirable. Most of the students fall prey to acts of dishonesty and cheating. Carrying chits or looking up to your partner for answers is the very evidence of how much we have lost the correct sense of education. Indeed, competition and the want of being the highest scorer are blunting the edge of learning. Marks only present to you what you could do in three hours. Life and educations is not limited to three hours.

 

From primary school to the life in college, this poison seems to be an inevitable enemy to me. This idea of highest scorer and being a topper seems absurd to me. It’s hard to find people who actually learn and understand. This poison constantly controls and limits the growth, development and progress of a person. We all have heavily compromised on our broad scope of growth just to focus on reaching the column of “highest marks scored”. Every student these days need to understand the importance of improvement, personal growth, and development. Marks have narrowed down our capabilities and the broad frame of possibilities. This needs to be replaced and understood. Marks are a way of analysing a person’s personal growth and not a race to be won or lost.

 

Guest post by Afeefa Nishaat

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3 things to keep in mind before starting a new semester

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New semester

A new semester is either a dreadful or a pleasant opportunity for the Delhi University students. Irony hangs heavy when the experience of going through ‘Board Exams’ every six months has students on the extreme ends of the stress spectrum. Either they are stressed and anxious right from the beginning or are ‘casual’ about the supposedly serious things. For both kinds of people, here are three things to keep in mind for a new semester

1. Setting a target

Right from the beginning, set your goals for a new semester or just set the goal of not setting any after all. Changing things midway won’t land you either way. If you decide to achieve something by the end of the semester, then strive for it. If you decide to drop goals in the middle then there was no point in the beginning to start and pursue them. Realising what can be a realistic goal is important and no exterior force can bring this realisation.

2. Balancing social and academic lives

This realm haunts most of the DU students. The act of balancing here requires being or getting smart enough to be aware of what’s to be done when. Although a person can balance both of them efficiently, the supposed efficiency proves to be detrimental for both the areas. It needs to be understood that in a time frame, only one area needs to be focused on. Focusing on both the areas at the same time would involve a lot of juggling.

3. Figuring out the way to score

After results of a semester are declared, one understands the plus and the minus of the academic system. It is wise to discuss the extrapolation regarding the techniques to score with your college mates. Developing a concrete notion on scoring before starting a semester is always helpful.

 

 

Image credits: http://blogs.simmons.edu/

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The #1 post exams to-do list

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post exams

What now, once the ordeal is over? Nothing planned? Well take some hints from us, and live a little after the torture of a month.

1. Work/Internship

While mostly applications have to be submitted well-in-advance, you may still be able to find work or pursue an internship after your exams. It is a great opportunity to learn something and add it to your CV, and even a better way to make contacts in the industry.

2. Join a course

There are enough online/offline courses in the market. Go and learn something that helps you in future or maybe just boosts your interest. It does not have to be academic only.

3. Go on a trip

While road trips are the quickest and easiest, even visiting your extended family is not a bad option. A trip or maybe just a change of atmosphere will refresh you, and even give you a new zeal for the term ahead.

4. Binge on TV/Movies/Books

It is the right time to visit or re-visit those characters and their journeys that you patiently waited for all this time. Start reading a new series, after having devoted time to your course for six months. Relax and have the time of your life.

5. Social Service

It is harmless to utilize your time by teaching or volunteering for an NGO. It may just give a purpose to your life. Or just go to an orphanage or old-age home, and spend some quality time with people you don’t know. It will not only make you feel better, but will bring a smile to somebody else’s face.

6. Research

No matter what year you are in, it is never too late or too early to look up the internet. Even if you are sure, what you want to do in life and what your career will be, search options and maybe probable routes to achieve your dreams. Gain some knowledge and be surprised, if not confused!

Finally, sleep. You deserve it.

 

Ayesha Sareen

[email protected]

Image credits: http://24.media.tumblr.com/

 

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Sex Amma

Sex Amma: Can exams get in the way of intimacy?

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Q. Dear Amma I have been seeing this guy for a few months now, but due to exams our dates have reduced. I am afraid that due to spending less time together he might end up losing interest in me. How can I prevent that?

A. Aiyyo my troubled idli! Do not let your inner insecurity lead you astray.

Foremost, there is no guarantee that you might suffer a dry phase in your relationship due to exams and reduced date time. So little idli shun away your inhibitions and let technology come to your rescue. Sexting can keep the fire burning even if you can’t meet that often. Secondly, with exams just a fortnight away it is imperative for you to focus on completing your syllabus and urge him to do the same or atleast reach an understanding that this is just a phase and will last for a few weeks!

The trick is to strike a balance, without letting your focus slip you can manage to maintain a healthy relationship. But it is also important for you to understand this little idli; exams do require a little sacrifice and that it never goes in vain. Do not fret, reduced dates will not harm your relationship especially due to exams, Amma suggests you pull out the big guns and go all in for your exam prep because the time nigh!

Amma wishes all her hardworking macchis best of luck for exams!

To send in your queries to Sex Amma email us at [email protected]. We respect your confidentiality as much as you do.

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