Commendable: UNILAG Provides Free Internet Wi-Fi For Students - See How To Access It

The management of University of Lagos (UNILAG) has provided free Internet Wi-Fi. The Free Internet Wi-Fi would allow the students to have access to the Internet and increase knowledge within the institution, whereby elevating them to the same level with their contemporaries at other institutions of learning. 

With this present economy climate, students that have Internet enabled devices but can’t afford the data bundles touted by the providers making Internet access a daunting task but the fact that its free allows it to cut across all age groups within the institution.

The Free Internet Wi-Fi can be accessed around Main Library of the Univeristy of Lagos. 

The guidelines to benefit this free service are as follows 

1. Put off your mobile data
2. Connect to the SPOTQWIX Wireless Network named 'SPOTQWIX' 
3. Launch your browser. You will be redirected to a REGISTER/LOGIN Page 
4. For First time Users. Register with a Valid Email Address and Phone Number.
5. A text message with a OTP [One Time Password] Would be sent via text message.
6. Revisit your browser and fill in your Phone Number and the OTP sent via text.
7. If details entered are correct, a success page would be shown.
8. Enjoy the free service- 2hours a day or 150mb-both cumulative and whichever comes first.



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Importance of Teaching Numeracy in the Early Years

Mathematics is one of the most basic skills we expect our children to master.  Reading, writing and arithmetic: these are the three subjects often named as being of paramount importance.  And yet, while much focus is put on early literacy skills including reading and writing, math is often lost in the shuffle.  But teaching your child math skills from an early age is more important than you might think.

"Mastery of early math skills predicts not only future math achievement, it also predicts future reading achievement," states Greg Duncan, PhD, of Northwestern University.  Research into the importance of early math skills shows that children who are taught math early and learn the basics at a young age are set up for a lifetime of achievement in all aspects of their academic performance.  Building more advanced math skills is just one of the areas in which basic math taught early on can make a difference.

Math can be taught much earlier than most parents think.  While addition and subtraction are out of most toddlers’ grasp, from as young as infancy children start to grasp the concept of numbers and counting.  “There are precursors to numerical understanding that children can do at a very young age. For example, research tells us that by 6 to 12 months of age, children can recognize small groups of numbers without counting,” says Dr. Douglas Clements, Professor of Mathematics and Computer Education at the State University of New York, Buffalo, author, and expert on early childhood math skills.

Parents can encourage this natural understanding of mathematical concepts and help children to build on them by providing educational toys and activities that promote math skills.  As with reading and writing, experts recommend the earlier the better when it comes to introducing basic math.  The better a child can develop early math skills, the likelier he or she will succeed in later academic pursuits.
Make math a central part of your child’s early education by:

• Providing toys like blocks that allow for developing the concept of numbers
• Choosing books and educational videos focusing on numbers and counting
• Spending time on simple counting and numerical activities with your child, just as you spend time reading to develop literacy skills

Early math is just as important as early literacy; in fact, it can improve reading and writing skills.  Children who start with numerical skills even in infancy will do better with math when they reach school.  Giving your child the opportunity to get a head-start on math is one of the best things you can do for their future success.

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English Grammar: Understanding Verb Tenses (Part 1)

Introduction:

Tenses of verb is simply defined as the various forms of verb, used to express the time when a verb action takes place.

Common Types Of Verb Tenses:

1. Simple Present-used to express actions that occur regularly or an occupation. 

Example
i.   My father is a teacher. 
ii.  She writes very well. 
iii. I receive my salary every month.

 2. Present Continuous-used to express an action that is going on at the moment. Usually goes with the present auxiliary plus main verb ending in 'ing'. 

Example 
i.   She is writing her name. 
ii.  I am receiving my salary. 

3. Present Perfect-used to express an action that has just ended at the present. It goes with has/have plus p.p. of the main verb. 

Example 
i.   She has written her name. 
ii.  I have received my salary. 

4. Present Perfect Continuous-used to express an action that began sometime ago and is still going on in the present. 

Example 
i.   She has been writing well for long.
ii.  I have been receiving my salary since last year....


Assessment

Use the root verb, 'work' to make 4 sentences, each representing:
a. Simple Present tense
b. Present Continuous tense
c. Present Perfect tense
d. Present Perfect continuous tense

Each question carries 5 marks.

English Grammar: Understanding the Difference between 'Awhile' and 'A while'

Few word pairs capture the idiosyncrasies of the English language as effectively as a while and awhile. Both of these terms are expressions of time, and both have been in use for over a century, but one is written with a space while the other is one word. What are the differences in meaning between the two? And what are the appropriate uses of each?

These two terms represent different parts of speech. The two-word expression: a while is a noun phrase, consisting of the article a and the noun while, defined as “a period or interval of time.” The one-word awhile is an adverb that means “for a short time or period.” Although these definitions are similar, and although the terms can sometimes be used interchangeably, there are a few simple rules that prove helpful in keeping them straight.

The noun phrase a while can and often does follow a preposition, such as for orin: “He said he would be home in a while.” The adverb awhile cannot follow a preposition, a rule that makes sense if you revisit the definition of the term and drop it into a sentence such as the one above: “He said he would be home in for a short time or period.” However, if we omit the preposition and rewrite it as “He said he would be home awhile,” the sentence works with a slightly altered meaning.

The base word in both of these expressions, while, is perhaps most commonly used as a conjunction, meaning “during,” “although,” or “throughout the time that,” as in “She ate the cookie dough while he greased the baking sheet.” These senses are separate from the noun and adverbial senses discussed above. While can also be used as a verb meaning “to cause (time) to pass, especially in some easy or pleasant manner,” as in “She whiled away the hours ruminating on the differences between awhile and a while.”


Assessment

1. Make any three correct sentences with the phrase, ' a while'
2. Make any two correct sentences with the adverb, 'while'

Each question carries two marks

ASUU opposes financial autonomy for Nasarawa varsity

Nasarawa State University chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) says it is opposed to the financial autonomy granted the institution by the state government.

The chairman of the chapter, Dr Nghargbu K’tso, said this on Thursday when he paid a courtesy call on the state House of Assembly Committee on Education in Lafia.

K’tso said that the union opposed the financial autonomy because the university “is a public institution’’ that should be properly funded by the state government.

He appealed to the Assembly to ensure that institution was properly funded to improve its standard of education and for the overall development of the state.

“We appeal to you to use your good office to increase funding of the education sector in the state, particularly the state university subvention, because the budget is passing through you.

This is to make the university compete with other universities favourably.

“We are also demanding that there should be a review of the law establishing the university by allowing the management of the university to serve single term of five years, not four years renewable.

“This will encourage excellence and productivity,’’ he said.

According to K’tso, ASUU says no to financial autonomy because the institution is a social service sector which belongs to the public.

“We do not know of any public university that has financial autonomy,’’ he said.

Responding, Mr Daniel Oga-Ogazi, chairman of the committee, assured ASUU that the Assembly, in partnership with the state government, was addressing problems in the education sector in the state.

The lawmaker promised that the Assembly would continue to enact laws that had direct bearing on the lives of the people of the state.

Today.Ng