Website Review: Federal Student Aid

FEDERAL STUDENT AID from the U.S. Department of Education features sources to help students seeking grants, loans, and work-study funds for college or career school.

The website is divided into five sections.

The Prepare for College section takes teens through the process of defining goals, thinking about college costs, and planning for college.

The Types of Aid section explores funding ideas from the U.S. federal government, states, colleges, and nonprofit or provide organizations.

The Who Gets Aid section discusses issues related to eligibility for federal student aid programs.

The FAFSA: Applying for Aid section takes teens step-by-step through the process of completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

The How to Repay Your Loans section helps teens understand the process of choosing a repayment plan and avoiding problems.

The website is available in both English and Spanish. A search tool is provided for those wishing to search the website. A glossary in the About section defines key terminology. Use the social media links for up-to-date information including short, financial aid-related videos.

Librarians will find this to be an excellent resource for students preparing for college. Work with the school counselor to set up a display that features useful books, pamphlets, and other information along with key websites.

To visit the website, go to https://studentaid.ed.gov/

App Review: Monster Guard: Prepare for Emergencies

MONSTER GUARD: PREPARE FOR EMERGENCIES by the American Red Cross is an engaging middle grade app preparing youth for natural disasters and other types of emergencies.

Sponsored by Disney and reviewed by major government agencies, the app is both engaging and authoritative. This visually attractive educational simulation stresses the Learn-Practice-Share approach including the importance of learning how to stay safe in an emergency, practicing safety strategies, and sharing with friends and family.

Users work their a series of 14 fun training activities. Students can role-play as five different monster recruits, earn badges, and beat high scores as they learn about emergencies. Audio support and subtitles address the diverse needs of learners. The simulated training environments focus on the types of emergencies found in particular areas of the United States such as hurricanes in coastal areas and wildfires in dry regions.

Librarians will find this to be an excellent app for building both science and social studies curriculum connections. Extend the experience by creating a display of books associated with natural disasters such as tornadoes, earthquakes, hurricanes, and floods.

To learn more, go to http://www.redcross.org/monsterguard.