Blame Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Blame - Essay Example The consequentialist theory holds that the moral rightness or ethicality of the act can only be determined by the actual consequences that the act yields (Armstrong). Also, the rules applicable to the acts of same kind or motivation behind the act, also determine the moral rightness of the act. If the consequences are good for the people than the act is also good. Based on the consequentialist theory, the terrorist’s actions held no moral rightness or ethicality as their acts directly resulted in the killing of thousands of people and indirectly it resulted in creating an atmosphere of fear for the Americans, and discrimination for the people of same ethnic and geographical background. Although all Muslims, be they devout or not, are not responsible for such actions and do not hold such enmity against Americans, yet, the actions of the terrorists resulted in reflecting upon the whole Muslim community. Which gives rise to the blame that if the actions of the terrorists were not morally right so are the actions of the people who discriminate against the Muslims or the Arabs are wrong; as being part of a learned civilization they should

Microsoft Environment Analysis Essay Example for Free

Microsoft Environment Analysis Essay Abstract Windows of Vulnerability is defined as the ability to attack something that is at risk. Hackers search and pride themselves on finding vulnerabilities or creating their own within a system. A few examples of vulnerabilities that will be covered in this paper are CodeRed, Spida, Slammer, Lovesan, and Sasser. The worm named Code Red was observed on the internet on July 13, 2001. Computers running Microsoft IIS web server were attacked with this worm. Code Red worm did not infect the largest amount of computers until July 19, 2001 with 359,000 hosts being infected. The worm would spread itself in a vulnerability known as a buffer overflow. It would do this by using a long string of the repetition of the letter â€Å"N† to overflow a buffer. Spida worm infects via Microsoft SQL installations with administrator accounts that have no passwords defined. Microsoft recommends the â€Å"sa† account be set upon installation but many servers are not properly secured after installation. The main purpose of the Spida worm is to export an infected server’s Sam password database. SQL Slammer worm caused a denial of service on Internet host and slowed down general internet traffic. On January 25, 2003 it spread rapidly and infected 75,000 victims in ten minutes. The worm exploited the buffer overflow and would generate random IP addresses, send itself out to those addresses. If one of those addresses happens to belong to a host that is running an unpatched copy of Microsoft SQL Server Resolution Service, the host becomes infected and sprays the Internet with more copies of the worm. Lovesan worm A.K.A. MSBlast or Blaster Worm was a worm that spread to computers running Microsoft operating systems Windows XP and Windows 2000. The worm spread using a buffer overflow. This allowed the worm to spreads without the users opening attachments simply by spamming itself. The worm would display a two messages reading â€Å"I just want to say LOVE YOU SAN!!Soo much.† This message gave the worm the name Lovesan; the second message read â€Å"Billy Gates why do you make this possible ? Stop making money and fix your software!!†. Sasser worm affects computers running Microsoft operating systems Windows XP and Windows 2000. Sasser spreads through a vulnerable network port. It is particularly easy to spread without user intervention but is also easily stopped by a  properly configured firewall. The worm received the name Sasser because it would spread through a buffer overflow in the component known as LSASS(Local Security Authority Subsystem). References Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Code Red (computer worm) Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Code_Red_(computer_worm) IBM X-Force: Ahead of the Threat Resources. advise118 . Retrieved from http://www.iss.net/threats/advise118.html Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. SQL Slammer Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SQL_Slammer Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Blaster (computer worm) Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blaster_(computer_worm) Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Sasser (computer worm) Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sasser_(computer_worm)

Chemistry Pilot Experiment :: Papers

Chemistry Pilot Experiment Aim: The aim was to become accustomed to working with the equipment and to find optimum levels of hydrochloric acid and magnesium ribbon to produce 60cm of hydrogen, a sensible amount to produce in the real experiment. We also began to investigate the effect of temperature on the rate and the result of the product (hydrogen). It also served to discover any errors in the procedure which could affect the final result and prevent us getting accurate results, thus allowing us to eliminate these errors in the real experiment. Diagram: Method: We attached a gas syringe via a plastic tube to a test tube and used a clamp and stand to hold the gas syringe in place. Having poured 25cm of hydrochloric acid (of strength 1M) into the test tube, we placed a strip of magnesium ribbon (which length varied each time we repeated the procedure) in the test tube and rapidly pushed a rubber bung into the top of the test tube to avoid any gas (hydrogen) produced in the reaction escaping. We then poured out the contents of the test tube and repeated the procedure using the same amount of hydrochloric acid but a different length of magnesium ribbon. The next procedure we carried out involved changing another variable. Having discovered what length of magnesium ribbon would produce 60cm of hydrogen when allowed to react with 25cm of hydrochloric acid, we then used this length of magnesium ribbon and the same amount of hydrochloric but changed the temperature of the hydrochloric acid that was allowed to react with the magnesium ribbon to see if this had any effect on the reaction by previously heating the hydrochloric acid to different temperatures using a Bunsen burner. We recorded the amount of hydrogen produced every 15 seconds using a stopwatch. Results: This is a word equation for the reaction between magnesium and hydrochloric acid: magnesium+ hydrochloric acidà ¢Ã¢â‚¬  Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ magnesium chloride+ hydrogen Here is a table of the amounts of hydrogen produced when 25cm of

The Death Penalty Should be Discontinued :: Against Capital Punishment Essays

There are a lot of people who think that the death penalty should not be legal in the United States. Killing someone doesn't right the wrong that has been committed. They say that executing the offender doesn't give him or her a chance to be rehabilitated and become a productive member of society. This may be true, but executing an offender does prevent a criminal from killing again. In the 21st century, the death penalty is considered by most civilized nations as a cruel and inhuman punishment. Since 1990, 30 countries have abolished it, however, the death penalty continues to be in use in other nations. The United States, China, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Iran are the most prolific executioners in the world. There has been much debate in the US as to whether the death penalty constitutes an appropriate punishment, at least to the most dreadful crimes. In recent years, it has been well documented that many criminals sentenced to death have later been found not guilty. Because our appeals system is no more perfect than our criminal court system, the exoneration of those wrongly convicted takes a lot of extremely good luck. The death penalty is not a deterrent to `capital' crime. There have been studies that prove the theory, but it doesn't take much to conclude that those who commit crimes do not consider that they will be caught. In the case of premeditated crime, the person expects to escape from being caught. In the case of `crimes of passion', the person simply does not think about the punishment before committing the crime. In Canada, which abolished the death penalty in 1975, studies show the homicide rate has fallen. The death penalty does not seem to be applied evenly. Most studies that criticize the death penalty do so because more people from minorities are given a

Effective Speaking Skills

————————————————- Effective Speaking Skills ————————————————- the basics for The Ice-breaker The icebreaker! (Aurora Australis) No not that one†¦ You’re first speech as a Toastmaster and, arguably, you’re most important. The icebreaker is the pretext for all speeches to follow and the one in which you’re good and bad speaking habits are identified. My talk tonight will include the Icebreakers; Purpose, structure and provide you with information on how to write and present your first speech as a toastmaster.It is important to note that in the fourth and final night of speech craft you will all be giving your own icebreakers. So firstly what is the purpose of the icebreaker? Quite simply the icebreaker is designed to give new participants a n introduction to public speaking; to give the speaker a feel for presenting a topic in front of a captive audience. The icebreaker is also used to discover speaking skills that you already have and identify which areas of your abilities need development.The icebreakers structure is typical to that of most speeches having an introduction, body and conclusion. Now without revisiting the fifth grade let me summarize quickly the most important features of each component. The introduction is used to reveal the topic and maybe most importantly GRAB ATTENTION. Continuing with your speech from this point would be futile if the listener has no reason to actively follow your speech. Great attention grabbers are things such as asking rhetorical questions, making startling statements, using humor or narrative and arousing curiosity.While most toastmasters are just as good listeners as they are speakers it is a simple truth that, outside of these walls, unless you give someone a reason to liste n to you; they won’t. The body of course is the crux of your talk and the reason you are standing in front of your peers. We will touch more on what the body of an icebreaker speech would normally include shortly. Finally the conclusion is used to summarize your speech and should always finish with impact.This can be achieved by closing with a quotation or narrative. The second and most unique component to the Icebreakers structure is its timing. The Icebreaker is a four to six minute speech and as you will notice on the timekeepers lights; the green light appears at four minutes, the amber at five and the red at six. So how do I write and present my icebreaker speech? The best way to begin your speaking experience is to talk about a familiar subject – yourself.It would be near impossible to condense your life into 5 minutes so you must narrow it by selecting some significant and interesting life events that will give your fellow toastmasters an introduction and brief insight into you as an individual. This might include your birthplace, education, family and/or future ambitions. You could speak of your recent travels to Asia and tell of some funny stories whilst there or you could simply give a brief chronological account of your life to this point highlighting the key parts.Select your visual aids carefully should you choose to use them. Be wary not to provide too much or too little information so as to confuse the viewer and listener. For instance; if I was suddenly giving a lesson on the special theory of relativity it’s simply a gross impracticality to provide all the information in a single slide expecting the listener to understand. Instead provide your visual be it a slide presentation or object with as much simplicity and symbolism as possible so as to maximize meaning whilst minimizing clutter.

6 Ways To Use the Spanish Preposition En

6 Ways To Use the Spanish Preposition En If you were told that en is a Spanish preposition and were asked what it means, you most likely would guess in or on. And youd be right in both cases. But en can also be translated as at, about, by, on top of, upon, inside of, and other ways, so its use isnt as straightforward as it may appear. The Spanish Preposition "en" The Spanish preposition en frequently means in or on when referring to physical locations.En can also be used to mean in in certain time expressions.En is so used in phrases and following certain verbs with translations that arent always predictable. These idioms and verb phrases must be learned individually. Fortunately, when en doesnt mean on or in, you can usually tell by the context what is meant. Like some other prepositions, en can seem quite versatile to the foreigner. Here are the most common uses: Using En for Locations and Meaning 'In' When it is used in describing locations, en can mean in or inside of. As in the third and fourth examples here, en can also be used this way figuratively. El dinero est en la caja. (The money is in the box.)Vivo en Espaà ±a. (I live in Spain.)La crisis sà ³lo est en la mente de las personas. (The crisis is only in the minds of people.)Hay cien cantavos en un dà ³lar. (There are 100 cents in a dollar.) Using En in Time Expressions En can be used in time expressions much as it is in English with periods of time other than days of the week. Llegamos por tren en una hora. (We arrive by train in one hour.)Trabajarà © en el verano. (I will work in the summer.)Esperan aprobar la ley en dos semanas. (They hope to pass the law in two weeks.) With days of the week, a preposition isnt needed: Llegamos el lunes. (We arrive on Tuesday.) Using En for Locations and Meaning 'On' En is frequently used to meet on in the sense of meaning on top of or placed on. El dinero est en la mesa. (The money is on the table.)Fijà ³ los carteles en la pared. (He put the posters on the wall. Note that the preposition a also could have been used here: Fijà ³ los carteles a la pared.)Las manchas en la cara pueden aparecer por diversos motivos. (Blemishes on the face can appear for various reasons.) Using En in Expressing Values Although not particularly common, en is sometimes used instead of por when referring to costs or similar values: Vendià ³ el carro en $2.000. (He sold the car for $2,000.)Comprà ³ el mà ³vil en un buen precio. (She bought the cellphone for a good price.)Tenemos el cojà ­n ideal para ti en sà ³lo $349.00 pesos. (We have the ideal cushion for you for only 349 pesos.) En in Miscellaneous Expressions Numerous phrases or idioms use en. Most of these need to be learned as phrases rather than simply translating word for word: en broma, as a jokeen busca de, in search ofen cambio, on the other handen casa, at homeen espaà ±ol, in Spanishen honor de, in honor ofen la actualidad, presentlyen la radio, on (the) radio; en la televisià ³n, on (the) televisionen lugar de, instead of, in place ofen secreto, in secreten seguida, immediatelyen serio, seriouslyen todas partes, everywhereen vez de, instead ofen vilo, anxiously awaitingen vista de, in view ofen vivo, live (as in live TV)en voz alta, in a loud voice; en voz baja, in a soft voice. Using En With Certain Verbs When used with many verbs, en is translated as in or on: ayudar en algo, to help in doing somethingcompeter en, to compete inconcentrarse en, to concentrate onconcurrir en, to concur inconfiar en, to trust in; creer en, to believe in; esperar en, to trust inempeà ±arse en, to persist in;insistir en, to insist onintervenir en, to participate inpersistir en, to persist inreflejar en, to reflect onresultar en, to result in. But it can have other translations as well: actuar en consecuencia, to act accordinglyadentrarse en, to get intoadvertir en, to noticeaplicarse en, to devote oneself tocaerle en suerte, to get luckycoincidir en que, to agree thatcomprometerse en, to get involved withconcurrir en, to meet atconsentir en, to agree toconsistir en, to be composed ofconvenir en, to agree toconvertir(se) en, to change intoequivocarse en, to be mistaken aboutextenderse en, to spread overfijarse en, to noticeingresar en, to be admitted toinscribirse en, to register forjuntarse en, to meet atmolestarse en, to bother bypensar en, to think aboutquedar en que, to agree thatreparar en, to noticevacilar en, to hesitate to.

Allegory of Cave essays

Allegory of Cave essays Compare the divided line and the parable of the cave The parable of the cave is a story where men are held prisoner is a cave. These men could not move because they were chained underground and all they could see are shadow of things from the fire that was burning. These men only saw shadows of things because of the fire and walkway. The light was projecting objects and these men would guess what each was. These men were never outside in their entire lives. They were trapped in a cave where darkness ruled and very little light was shown. There only contact with mankind was echoes they heard from people passing by. What kind of life is this for these men? They had no understanding of life outside the cave. Plato later asks the question of one of these men being freed and getting a chance to see real light. How would this man react? How would he adjust to the light? This man finally was able to see the real images of life. After taking all of this in the man finally got to see the real light, the sun. Now his eyes are opened ! for the first time in his life. Then the man comes back to the cave. He has to readjust his eyesight to the darkness. He is now miserable because he is back in the cave along with the darkness. The other men said he spoiled his eyesight. Now the other men would try to kill anyone who tried to remove them from the cave. Was the trip out of the cave worth it? Would you give up everything you did? Everyday for something new? The cave is a life of politics; everyone is with out true knowledge of himself or herself. His theory is first draw a line and then cut it into two sections. One section represents opinion and the other knowledge. Then, cut those two sections again. The sections of opinion are imagination and belief. The sections of knowledge are thought and understanding. The divided line is the level of human understanding. One must do a number of things to get past the four stages to reach true...

The Presentation of Curleys wife in John Steinbecks novel Of Mice and Men

The Presentation of Curleys wife in John Steinbecks novel Of Mice and Men "Of Mice and Men" is not kind in its portrayel of women. In fact, women are treated with contempt throughout the course of the novel. Steinbeck generally depicts women as being troublemakers who bring ruin on men and drive them mad. Curley's wife, who walks the ranch as a temptress, seems to be a prime example of this destructive tendency - Curley's already bad temper has only worsened since their wedding. Aside from wearisome wives, 'Of Mice and Men' offers limited, rather misogynistic, descriptions of women who are either dead maternal figures or prostitutes. The fact that she is not given a name only adds to her lack of status.Despite this Curley's wife does emerge as quite a complex and interesting character. Initially she does appear to be quite a simple character as she is described as having 'got the eye' and being a 'tart'. Again when we see here for the first time it is clear that she is seen as a dangerous, sexual character.The Flood (Of Mice & Men album)Her 'rouged lips', 'red nails' and 'red mules' emphasise her dangerous role. Her negative description is furthur developed with the ironic cutting off of the light, foreshadowing her role in destroying everyone's dreams and Lennie's life. We are encouraged to dislike her as she acts provocatively towards the men and behaves inappropriately for a male dominated, ranch environment. George's comment that she is 'jail bait' furthur ensues that we see her as a danger, particularly as he almost predicts Lennie's future entanglement. We only begin to see her in more depthand feel sympathy for her when she shows her obvious fear for Curley when she becomes 'apprehensive' at the mention of him looking for her. This made me begin to wonder about and that she may be more than just a 'tart'.

Description of microbial journal article review Essay

Description of microbial journal article review - Essay Example screening, even before the advent of sexual activity in young girls can serve to enlighten people about prevention strategies and the need for vaccination. However, there are many factors which prevent the participation of susceptible young people in screening programs. Agurto et al, 2004 in their study have endeavored to identify the barriers to cervical screening that exist among Latin American women, a region where cervical cancer is rampant. The authors have hypothesized that unknown factors exist which prevent the populations in these countries from participating in cervical screening programs. The authors have tried to identify the barriers which prevent populations in the Pan American countries from participating in screening programs, which they feel need to be removed, as screening programs in other countries such as the US and Canada have succeeded in reducing the incidence of HPV ( Agurto et al, 2004) By following a common theoretical and methodological approach, the authors conducted five separate qualitative studies in Venezuela, Ecuador, Mexico, El Salvador and Peru which incorporated questionnaire based study protocols aimed at the affected females; their male partners as well as the healthcare professionals as the prime focus groups to identify their perception of the existing barriers which prevented the people from participating in screening programs. Appropriate statistical tools were used for the analysis. The main barriers encountered as per the responses of the interviewed focus groups in the region were anxiety, negligence on part of the sufferer as well as healthcare professionals, poor accessibility to healthcare facilities, lack of education and financial resources, examination at public places for the Pap smear test, lack of follow up and poor management by local healthcare professionals. Diagnostic tests were believed to be unreliable by many interviewed people who felt that the results were not conveyed in a timely manner. The

The Importance of Using Social Media in Business Research Paper

The Importance of Using Social Media in Business - Research Paper Example   Through social media, businesses are able to establish and use social marketing as a tool to expand. Social marketing is one of the key factors for making a business successful in terms of sales by increasing the market range. For marketing to become a success in social media by the use of social marketing, businesses must set up hierarchies that prove effective in marketing the business. At the bottom of the hierarchy, pyramid is blogging. It is a known fact that the internet has revolutionized the world. Using this view, it has been observed that blogging has seen to revolutionize the internet world. Blogs are online diaries, which help the business people reach their potential customers. Through blogs, businesspersons are able to air views to their customers and, using them as online dialogue, receive feedback. Through blogs, businesses are able to monitor the progress of their businesses and hence they are able to effectively market their business. From blogs, businesses are also able to make the necessary adjustments so as to achieve success through factors such as increased sales, which result in a higher profit margin in the business. Blogging comes as an aid in building customer loyalty. This is in the sense that a businessperson is able to keep his or her customers engaged with your business by keeping customers apprised of new products in the business and fluctuation of prices. New services in the business are also known to the customers through blogs due to their accessibility (Debono, 2012).

Essay/Memo Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

/Memo - Essay Example nt of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 for her humanitarian work, Mother Theresa has left an important legacy of humanism and self-sacrifice after years working to better humanity (Clucas, 1998). Mother Theresa was first and foremost a Christian who believed in the spread of the Gospel and the eternal redemption of the poor through the word of Christ. She was a humanist who left her native Albania to tend to the sick, frail and the poor and established an international charitable organization which sought to administer to the sick and dying around the world. Mother Theresa was known for her selflessness and the charitable nature of her life. Kindness and self-sacrifice were virtues that she lived by. Mother Theresa worked tirelessly to help others and based her life upon the compassionate teachings of Christ. A humanist in the truest sense, Mother Theresa tended to the poorest of the poor, irrespective of ethnic or racial differences. According to the Mother Theresa Center in Calcutta, India, Mother Theresa had the following to say about her worldview, â€Å"By blood, I am Albanian. By citizenship, I am Indian. By faith, I am a Catholic nun. As to my calling I belong to the world. As to my heart, I belong entirely to the Heart of Jesus.† (Mother Theresa Center, 2009). Internal characteristics which Mother Theresa came to embody included a universalism which was not often understood in the context of the middle of the 20th century, an eternal compassion for the suffering of others and a call to duty to spread the word of God through help and self-sacrifice. Although she committed herself to a life of self-sacrifice and poverty, Mother Theresa’s charities were international in scope and established throughout the world. She worked with terminally ill patients and those inflicted with the scourge of leprosy in India while operating ministries in more than 100 countries by the late twentieth-century (Williams, 2002). Mother Theresa was a compassionate and

Personal Branding and Social Media Literature review

Personal Branding and Social Media - Literature review Example ‘A personal brand is a perception in the minds of others’ which the brand owner creates and controls, and sends the message that nobody else exists in the marketplace who is quite like you (Vitberg, 2009, p. 10). While the brand is a perception, however, this does not mean that the perception is a contrived or false one (Banet-Weiser, 2012). Every person has his or her good and bad qualities; like any brand for a good or service, the personal brand highlights the best attributes of a person (Reddick, 2012a & 2012b) which must be grounded in truth (Canada, 2012; Madden & Smith, 2010; Millman, 2010). Necessity of personal branding Like Arruda, Rampersad (2008) does not see personal branding as an alternative, but as a vital asset in today’s ‘online, virtual and individual age’ (p. 34). He observed that the common misconception is that popular and successful people like Tiger Woods and Oprah Winfrey are those who can lay claim to having a personal brand. In truth, everyone has a personal brand, but because they are not aware of it, they are unable to use their personal brands strategically (Shepherd, 2005). Rampersad proposes the personal branding model which is shown below: Authentic personal branding model (Rampersad, 2008, p. 35) Rampersad’s model, though it may appear complicated, is built on what he describes as a four-step evolutionary and organic process: (1) Define and formulate your personal ambition; (2) Define and formulate your personal brand on the basis of your personal SWOT; (3) Formulate your personal balanced scorecard, which is the action plan into which your personal ambition and personal brand are translated; and (4) Implement and cultivate your personal ambition, personal brand, and personal balance scorecard (Rampersad, 2008). A personal brand is of little use, however, unless it is communicated to the target market (Martin, 2009). Jerry Wilson, senior vice-president of the Coca-Cola Company and preside nt of the Global McDonald’s Division, concurs that personal branding is crucial, and proposes that if one finds himself stuck in a certain job or position, that he/she should try to rebrand or reinvent himself (Jacques, 2009). This does not mean that people should make themselves into somebody else (Chase, 2011), but they may change their image and how people perceive them by highlighting those qualities they possess which have not been given much attention to (Colmerauer, 2012). This may be achieved by doing a brand audit, an assessment of where one is and what one has to offer. Wilson calls these attributes ‘transferable equities’ (Jacques, 2009, p 32) that a person may put forward to redefine him/herself. Personal branding and authenticity The key to success is having ‘an organic, holistic, and authentic personal branding model’ (Rampersad, 2008, p. 35). Arruda also perceives people as having the wrong view that personal branding is made up and ar tificial (Martin, 2009), and stresses that it must be honest and authentic. Morton (2012) likewise emphasizes the importance of authenticity, observing that a personal brand grows over time. This is significant, because if a personal brand is not solidly rooted in authenticity, then the

Article review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Review - Article Example He emphasizes on the allowing the staff the freedom to execute their duties with innate wisdom rather than following a set of rules laid out by the company. The training staff should be able to impact knowledge on the team of employees with the resolve to end lack of information and hesitation in performing the task at hand. It is clear that the staff should practice critical thinking in various situations so as to come up with the best solution to a problem in question. Such thinking will enable the employees to analyze the problem, evaluate it as well as review the ways of approaching the issue. They use own logic to devise the resolution of conflict after taking in the pros and cons of the problem. No wonder the writer is keen to illustrate that staff have to be capable of using their own initiative to handle problems in the organization. This piece of writing has gone out of its way to outline how the issue is to be handled. Instead of just stating facts, the writer has taken the pain to elaborate on how one should go about upgrading the customer care service of the entire organization. He has given tips for both start-ups and large companies. His pointers are easy to follow and applicable to all types of business ventures irrespective of their size and numbers. This is a simple and well defined article with no hidden meaning or jargons that could confuse or manipulate the point laid across. In addition, the example given is practical and drawn from a well to do organization that has proven track success in their business. One will be more inclined to believe what the writer is talking about rather than read the article for leisure. However, the article is biased as it talks more about airline administration and no other. It as if the ideas were targeted for companies in the airline industry leaving out other business ventures. This approach could cause one to doubt the credibility of the whole idea outlined in the article causing hesitation in the incorpor ation of the mindset put forth. It is also a very short writing that tends to leave us hanging on the subject matter as one is left with many questions in mind. This is shown after the writer lists what he learnt on the training he attended without broadening or adding light on the issues touched. He doesn’t touch on success they have gained from the experience especially on the part of customers. His theory is directed on the employees without shedding light on how their actions have resulted in the realization of the end goal. The missing link in this writing is that success stories that have arisen out of proper customer service have not been recorded. We should have been given examples on reports of the success of the practice that has been instigated rather than just laying out the ideas. Also, a more global approach should have been taken as it is a local borrowing on the subject matter. Other companies in other sectors of the industry have been shut off as the practica bility of the subject has not been proven for their case. We are not convinced on taking up the issue as it has not been fully exhausted as we expected it to be. The starting was very catchy as it was very clear and precise but at the end we are left wondering if there was more to it than was laid out. The title does not suit the writing as one is tempted to think that we will be talking about the customers who are the people of value in the

Personal Branding and Social Media Literature review

Personal Branding and Social Media - Literature review Example ‘A personal brand is a perception in the minds of others’ which the brand owner creates and controls, and sends the message that nobody else exists in the marketplace who is quite like you (Vitberg, 2009, p. 10). While the brand is a perception, however, this does not mean that the perception is a contrived or false one (Banet-Weiser, 2012). Every person has his or her good and bad qualities; like any brand for a good or service, the personal brand highlights the best attributes of a person (Reddick, 2012a & 2012b) which must be grounded in truth (Canada, 2012; Madden & Smith, 2010; Millman, 2010). Necessity of personal branding Like Arruda, Rampersad (2008) does not see personal branding as an alternative, but as a vital asset in today’s ‘online, virtual and individual age’ (p. 34). He observed that the common misconception is that popular and successful people like Tiger Woods and Oprah Winfrey are those who can lay claim to having a personal brand. In truth, everyone has a personal brand, but because they are not aware of it, they are unable to use their personal brands strategically (Shepherd, 2005). Rampersad proposes the personal branding model which is shown below: Authentic personal branding model (Rampersad, 2008, p. 35) Rampersad’s model, though it may appear complicated, is built on what he describes as a four-step evolutionary and organic process: (1) Define and formulate your personal ambition; (2) Define and formulate your personal brand on the basis of your personal SWOT; (3) Formulate your personal balanced scorecard, which is the action plan into which your personal ambition and personal brand are translated; and (4) Implement and cultivate your personal ambition, personal brand, and personal balance scorecard (Rampersad, 2008). A personal brand is of little use, however, unless it is communicated to the target market (Martin, 2009). Jerry Wilson, senior vice-president of the Coca-Cola Company and preside nt of the Global McDonald’s Division, concurs that personal branding is crucial, and proposes that if one finds himself stuck in a certain job or position, that he/she should try to rebrand or reinvent himself (Jacques, 2009). This does not mean that people should make themselves into somebody else (Chase, 2011), but they may change their image and how people perceive them by highlighting those qualities they possess which have not been given much attention to (Colmerauer, 2012). This may be achieved by doing a brand audit, an assessment of where one is and what one has to offer. Wilson calls these attributes ‘transferable equities’ (Jacques, 2009, p 32) that a person may put forward to redefine him/herself. Personal branding and authenticity The key to success is having ‘an organic, holistic, and authentic personal branding model’ (Rampersad, 2008, p. 35). Arruda also perceives people as having the wrong view that personal branding is made up and ar tificial (Martin, 2009), and stresses that it must be honest and authentic. Morton (2012) likewise emphasizes the importance of authenticity, observing that a personal brand grows over time. This is significant, because if a personal brand is not solidly rooted in authenticity, then the

International context in marketing and how media theories can be Essay

International context in marketing and how media theories can be apllied to ctreate strong relationship with consumers in the modern market - Essay Example ‘Marketing is an organizational function for creating, communicating and delivering value to customers and for managing customer relationships in ways that benefit the organization and its stakeholders. It is a management process of anticipating, identifying and satisfying customer requirements profitably.’ (Berzins) Globalization has created revolutionary changes in all over the world. Most of the organizational principles have been redefined because of globalization. Most of the organizations believe that globalization has opened up the doors of immense possibilities for them and hence they are spending millions of dollars in finding the right strategies to exploit the possibilities. For a business organization, globalization has created immense opportunities for marketing their products in international market. But for exploiting the possibilities of the modern global market, organizations need to innovate marketing strategies along with the existing ones suitable for different countries. The business world has already developed several types of new marketing techniques like telemarketing, direct marketing, marketing through ads, sensory marketing, etc apart from the conventional marketing activities. Most of the big business tycoons are expanding their activities to overseas countries in order to capitalize the possibilities of globalization. Small or medium scale businesses are suffering because of the immense competition from the MNCs. It is difficult for the small business groups to operate profitably by overcoming the stiff challenges for the corporate. Big organizations always have immense resources, and facilities which they will utilize to monopolize the market. Moreover they have the better equipped Research and Development (R&D) wing to facilitate their operations by providing required data about the changing trends of consumers. The conventional marketing

Racial Discrimination Essay Example for Free

Racial Discrimination Essay Racial discrimination involves treating someone unfavorably because he/she is of a certain race or because of personal characteristics associated with race such as skin color. Race here can mean that people belong to different countries, castes or different geographical regions within a country. It is unlawful to harass a person because of that person’s race or color. Harassment can include offensive or derogatory remarks about a persons race or color, or unfair treatment due to differences in race. Racial discrimination has existed for eons now and while we’d like to believe that it has reduced or is non-existent in the society we live in today, the fact of the matter is that it still exists and can be felt in different facets of the society even today. Mahatma Gandhi was a victim of racial discrimination years ago in Africa because he was an Indian despite the fact that he was a very well educated professional lawyer. He was thrown out of a train at midnight merely because he was an Indian. We, Indians, faced cruel and intense racial discrimination in our very own country at the hands of the Britishers only because we were Indians ! Racial discrimination prevailed at every step and every part while the British ruled us. Indians were not allowed to share the same space with Britishers. â€Å"Dogs and Indians† not allowed†¦well that is the kind of injustice Indians faced at the hands of the Britishers. There were schools where Indians were not allowed, In offices, Indians could never get to the top ranks and even at social gatherings, Britishers would not allow Indians entry. What’s ironic is that we still suffer the aftermath of this racial discrimination even 60 years after independence†¦we still believe that it’s a priviledge to be fair skinned†¦.companies in India make millions selling fairness creams not just for women, but even men ! This is not all. We have created and still live by the caste system which leads to discrimination on various accounts. Discrimination also exists due to people belonging to different states or geographies within our country. Racial discrimination has been the worst against the Dark skinned or Blacks as we know them in the Western world. The likes of Nelson Mandela have fought hard against it but it still exists today. God made us all the same. The blood that runs in our bodies is the same. Our brains think alike and our hearts feel the same too then why have we created a demon like racial discrimination, which even after years of education and civilization, we can’t get rid of ? Let Us, the future of this country pledge that we would free our minds and souls and never be a part of racial discrimination in any way. Thank You !

Leadership in healthcare

Leadership in healthcare Student Number: 3226029 AHP_6_011 Leadership for Allied Health Professionals At the opening ceremony of the Singapore Healthcare Management Congress 2013, Singapore Health Minister Gan Kim Yong said that strong management capabilities and leadership quality in the healthcare sector are extremely crucial to lead the growing healthcare needs of an ageing population, constant threat of global pandemics and rising non-communicable diseases. There is a need to constantly innovate and find ways to keep the population healthy and deliver the healthcare services more effectively (Gan, 2013). â€Å"One of the things that a leader needs to learn is that the traditional models of leading change are not very effective.† (Kent, 2014). The context for healthcare is changing due to changing expectations, changing disease profile and greater emphasis on ‘predict and prevent’ (Hartley, et al., 2008). Definition of Leadership Leadership in healthcare can be viewed in many different ways. Clinical leadership can come from hands-on care, from maintaining clinical expertise and may sometimes be separated from management with the goal of leading staff through transformational change to develop better services for the local community (Bishop, 2009). In the recent years, leadership is seen as something to be used by all but at different levels (National Leadership Council (NLC) Clinical Leadership workstream, 2011). It can be described to be a team effort (The Kings Fund, 2012) or also known as â€Å"sharedness† of leadership processes (Wang, et al., 2013) in an organisation. Shared leadership is displayed in terms of mutual influence, shared responsibility among the staff and leading each other towards the goal achievements. Shared leadership expands the extent of leader prototypicality (Wang, et al., 2013) as team members are given a chance to take on decision-making process and leadership role. â€Å"Gone is the heroic individual with a monopoly on the vision; it is replaced by a commitment to building shared visions with a range of stakeholders.† (The Kings Fund, 2012). Wang, et al., (2013) divided shared leadership into 3 categories which are shared traditional leadership, shared new-genre leadership and cumulative, overall shared leadership. The subgroups on the types of leadership under each category such as transactional, visionary and transformational leadership can be seen in Appendix A. Shared traditional leadership is where the leader uses methods such as contingent rewards towards staff to achieve team goals and satisfy staff’s needs (Wang, et al., 2013). Shared new-genre leadership emphasizes transformational, visionary and charismatic leadership which empowers the staff towards development and change (Wang, et al., 2013). Cumulative, overall shared leadership is displayed within the team level, in which each individual team member demonstrate a degree of leadership. Importance of leadership Leadership is important as it can determine the functionality of a basic team unit as it strongly influences key team processes. It can determine and clarify the objectives of the team, giving the team a clear view on the goals and the pathways to take to achieve the goals (Hartley, et al., 2008) such as improving patient experience and outcome (NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement, 2011). Having leadership can encourage participation from the staff, allowing the staff to contribute and pool great ideas, supporting innovation in the team. It also enhances the commitment to quality, as having a leader ensures primary quality objectives are met in the day to day workings within the staff (Hartley, et al., 2008). Guidance to the changes in the healthcare in many aspects There are many aspects of healthcare that are constantly changing such as new techniques and technologies in healthcare. As such, there is a constant need to find new ways of working within and across teams, and with patients (Hartley, et al., 2008). Therefore, strong leadership that support a vision for change with a clear articulation of what needs to be achieved, by whom and with what, would likely to succeed in healthcare organisations (Gifford, et al., 2013). Leadership is also crucial when it comes to finding new approaches to continuous improvement which rely a lot on ‘people management’ (Hartley, et al., 2008). Bishop, (2009, p. 83) stated that leadership in Allied Health is no longer just about ‘managing’ the service and being a ‘therapy lead’, it is about leading the staff and the service to a new position. To achieve this, clinical leaders such as nurse educators, clinical nurse specialist and practice developers are to influence research use through their roles in mentoring, providing information and assisting in the development of policies and procedures to support professional practice (Gifford, et al., 2013). Leaders have to constantly think of methods to support staff so as to make and sustain improvement efforts in order to improve service to the patient. This is important because patient’s expectations have increased as the healthcare industry develops over the years. Future-looking system There are new challenges in healthcare such as the kinds of illnesses or even trends are changing (Hartley, et al., 2008). Leadership is important to anticipate rather than just react to changes in demographic and disease profiles (Hartley, et al., 2008). Leaders have to anticipate the multiple diseases associated with a larger elderly population and chronic diseases due to lifestyle choices such as obesity. For example, the rising numbers of cancer cases in Singapore as reported in The Straits Times (Lai, 2014) was made known to awareness among the public. Networking Gantz, et al., (2012) stated that collective leadership complements healthcare globalisation. They recognised healthcare globalisation as a way to close disparity gaps and improve public health on a global scale through resource and information sharing. There are new health goals where ‘treatment’ is not the only goal now but also ‘predict and prevent’ illnesses for the public health (Hartley, et al., 2008). As such, there are more hospitals that network with each other and disseminate evidence-based practices throughout their regional and local communities (MacPhee, et al., 2013). Therefore, leadership is important to shape these new goals and to ensure that there is a close link between ideas and practice on the front-line and between different partners. Clinical decision making According to Hartley, et al., (2008), leadership clarity is associated with better team processes, and with actual innovation – and ambiguity about leadership was associated with low levels of innovation. This corroborates the view of the role of leadership in helping to create compelling direction and ensure participation of team members in decision-making (Hartley, et al., 2008). One of the thing that a leader needs to do is to make good decision based on in-depth understanding of all the constituent parts, all the tradition and cultures that accompany the existing professional structures and values (Bishop, 2009, p. 83). Therefore, it is important for a leader to have good decision-making skill so as to have a smooth efficient workflow and quality service. In Singapore’s healthcare setting, although the decisions made are largely based on the patients’ choice, their family members still exercise significant influence over the level of revelation of prognosis information and final action taken (Foo, et al., 2012). Familial-centred approach is common in Asian setting especially if it involves poor prognosis. As such, a leader in this situation has to consider the various views and make a final decision that gives the best outcomes for the patient and family, even if it means that they have to withhold information about patient’s expected poor clinical outcomes to the patients (Foo, et al., 2012). Good decision-making is achieved based on the good understanding of the culture and tradition of the context. The need for decision-making may arise at any one point while in a clinical setting. For example, the below anecdotal incident (see Appendix B) about clinical decision-making is analysed using Gibb’s reflective cycle (Waugh, 2013) (see Appendix C). The incident is about a disagreement I had with a senior colleague about him deviating from the treatment protocol regarding the verification of the treatment area. I felt frustrated that I was the only one wanting to do the right thing and find a solution despite voicing out my concerns. After the incident, I felt sad and unjust that my colleague was angry at me for refusing to proceed with the treatment. The positive experience was that my decision prevented an incident report and an inaccurate delivery of radiation dose. I stepped out of my comfort zone and voiced out my concerns to the oncologists. Conversely, my long decision-making time resulted in a queue of patients and delayed appointments. According to the Fielder’s contingency model (see Appendix D), I am a task-oriented leader, and the incident calls for a leader with a low Least-Preferred Co-Worker (LPC). As such, I’m a fitting leader for the task as I handled the situation which prevented errors from being made in the treatment. On the whole, I took a long time to make my decision waiting for my colleague to share his opinions, which turned out to be fruitless. Such disagreements can be avoided if there are mutual understanding and better treatment protocol knowledge. I should have sought assistance from the other seniors right away. After the incident, we had a discussion on the treatment protocols, directing more focus on the importance of protocols and the adherence to them should any similar incidents occur in the future. Future leadership Nobody stays stagnant in the workforce. For example, a radiation therapist from North Carolina realised that he needed more leadership skills when he progressed from the treatment aspect to administration and then managing (Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, 2013). The King’s Fund (2012) refers to leadership as a ‘cognitive catalyst’, where the leader’s choice of actions and ideas are focused on as learning points in order to spur learning in the work place by the other team members. In order to change an organisation, leaders need to change themselves first and be open to changes. â€Å"If our leaders grow and help others to grow, our organisation will not only succeed in their changes efforts- they will be an example for other leaders and organisations around the world.† (Kent, 2014). More leaders are required in Singapore because the healthcare service is expanding rapidly so as to cater for the aging population (Bishop, 2009). As such, the Ministry Of Health Singapore has launched a SingHealth Graduate Diploma in Healthcare Management and Leadership programme in Singapore Management University. It aims to groom a new generation of healthcare professionals who excel in both healthcare management and business leadership which is a skill that is high in demand in today’s evolving healthcare industry (Gan, 2013). Additionally, the Ministry Of Healthcare has also provide sponsorships such as the Healthcare Administration Scholarship (HAS) where outstanding scholars will be given opportunities to be developed for top leadership position within the public healthcare sector (MOH Holdings Pte Ltd, 2013). Competency frameworks have also become a widely used approach to thinking about the skills of leadership. For example, the healthcare in UK are using the NHS Leadership Qualities Framework (see Appendix E) (National Leadership Council (NLC) Clinical Leadership workstream, 2011). It sets out the key skills or competencies for leaders in healthcare (Hartley, et al., 2008). Leadership skills are seen to be very important in the healthcare industry worldwide so much so there are many studies and programmes to train future leaders to meet the demands of the ever changing and growing industry. 1

Emersons definition of experience :: essays research papers

The true meaning of life based on experiences†¦ What is it? This is a question which many people dedicate their lives into answering. Ralph Waldo Emerson is one of the few who has succeeded in answering this question. He weaved his answer into a long and tedious essay, which is called â€Å"Experience†. The only downfall from this work is that it’s solely from his perspective, and doesn’t include other people’s ideas as well as his. Emerson believes that people don’t possess the individualistic quality. Everyone is too focused on the actions and opinions of everyone else, and should take a more personal stance for once. We mimic people too much because we believe that we will benefit if we’re the same as the majority. We are all individuals and have our own opinions, and we should embrace them! Emerson also believes that people are multiform, and therefore have trouble uniting as one society. However, he explains how deep down everyone has a background of unity, and really want to unite as one. This is another reason why some people try to copy others. We figure that if we are all the same, we will be united. However, this is not the case, because our opinions and beliefs get in the way. We have a universal desire to believe, and because of this strong impulse, we yearn to move forward. We crave to be able to waltz up the stairs, and get closer and closer to our dreams. People gain intelligence and knowledge through what they experience. They gain valuable life skills by actually witnessing events first hand. If society were only to learn out of a textbook, everyone would be boring and completely one-sided. Our experiences help to shape our ‘clay of identity’. Instead of hiding from horrible experiences, we should try to learn from them, and incorporate the morals into our daily lives. Ralph Waldo Emerson’s writing style is very deep and profound, and answered the question of what the

Essay --

Introduction Today’s marketers are looking for other approaches to communicate and connect with their target audience and a technique that is receiving more and more attention over the past decade is product placement. Product placement is not a new concept, but it has become much more prevalent in recent years. It is not only due to the changes to the way viewers are watching television, but also for the advent of new technologies. This marketing communications technique is evolving. While before companies tended to sponsor a film, or TV series, now they are buying space within the programme. With this new concept, companies can cut money on very expensive advertisement, and film producers and TV networks can get extra sources of funding for production. Moreover, advertisers are aware that seeing your favourite TV series character sipping a Coca-Cola, using an iPhone or driving a Toyota, can have a far more persuasive effect on viewers due to the emotional connection to the story and characters. Car manufacturers are one type of company that are making the most of product placement, and are signing deals with broadcasting networks and film producers to have their vehicles appearing and characters talking about all the amazing features of a specific car model. Toyota is by far, the company investing the most in the use of product placement, and in fact is trying to impose their presence, not only during episodes of certain TV series, but also dictating the rules to certain TV networks to have dedicated pages on their websites. Marketing Communications It is difficult to find a universal definition of marketing communications, and there are many different orientations regarding the subject. The table below summarises the main ... ...tial effects on consumers’ memory and brand attitudes. Prominent placements are most likely to be remembered, but they have a positive influence on the consumers’ attitude toward a brand only if they are consistent with the plot (Wilbur, Goeree and Ridder, 2008). American consumers, for example, are more likely to buy a product that was shown in a movie, and American students prefer product placement in films to traditional advertising (Lee and Chung, 2009). Moreover, households appear to have better attitudes to product placement, followed by adults 25- 54 and adults 18-49 (Wilbur, Goeree and Ridder, 2008). Overall results of recent studies indicate that consumers are incline to have positive or neutral attitudes towards product placement and that the effect of it can differ depending on consumers’ specific differences in their personalities (Ju and Tinkham, 2011).

Positive Aspects of Technology Essay

From man`s first invention of the wheel to modern day’s advanced computers, one can clearly see how far humans have developed with technology. Modern technology has provided mankind with numerous positive aspects; from getting to places in seconds to curing complex diseases. The most fundamental and important positive aspect of technology is that it gives humans the ability to share knowledge more effectively. Nowadays, a country is not defined by its wealth or influence, rather by its â€Å"ability to develop and advance knowledge† (Johnston 1). In the essay, The Diplomacy of Knowledge, author David Johnston states that, â€Å"information has never been so ubiquitous and so cheaply and easily shared† (1). In other words, information has never been so readily available, thanks to the fast growing Internet. The Internet allows billions of people to express their opinions and put forth their knowledge for others to see. Johnston also mentions that the foundations of the internet were laid by â€Å"300 years of discovery in math and science from Newton to Einstein† (2). Great scientists such as Newton to Einstein shared their experience and findings which have become the cause of all the ongoing technological development. For instance, the recent uprising in Libya was hugely successful due to the internet. Thousands of people posted Facebook statuses and communicated in numerous other ways. By sharing each other’s thoughts and knowledge, they were able to overcome the situation by establishing a strong and organized community. Moreover, new inventions are also greatly impacted by the sharing of knowledge and this can be evidently seen with a great discovery such as Insulin. Charles Best and Frederick Banting, a bio-chemist and a surgeon, are innovators from different fields. Both of them shared each other’s knowledge and brought forth one of the greatest discoveries of all time, insulin which saved millions of diabetic patients. In other words, today’s advancements in technology let the sharing of knowledge much more effectively, as it allows mankind to â€Å"[experience] unprecedented rates of change† (2). It also gives humanity the opportunity to undergo â€Å"rapid transformations, characterized by risk and opportunity on a global scale â€Å"(2). These changes brought through the sharing of knowledge bring an evolution in social and ethical factors within the society. In conclusion, technology has provided mankind with countless positive aspects, although the greatest aspect is the better collaboration of knowledge. From insulin to modern medicine, history has made it clear that great things can happen when everyone shares their learning with each other. As Thomas Jefferson mentions, â€Å"[by lighting] your candle with the flame of mine, my light is not diminished, it is enhanced† (2).

The Country Ecuador

Ecuador, a country smaller than the size of Nevada, is located in western South America. It borders the Pacific Ocean at the Equator and is a tropical region. The capital of Ecuador is Quito. Quito is located in Northern Central Ecuador. One interesting fact about Ecuador is that it contains the highest active volcano in the world, Cotopaxi. The volcano is located just below the capita, Quito. Due to their new constitution the economic status of Ecuador, a Third World country, is rising. The GDP is $58.7 billion. The GDP per capita is $4,800. Only 35% of the population are below the poverty line. The lowest 10% of income is shared by 2.3% of the population and the highest 10% are 37.6%. The foreign debt is $12.5 billion. 12% of people who live in Ecuador experience wide spread unemployment. Their industrial production growth rate is 2.4%. The budget in Ecuador is $5.1 billion, not including money from private organizations. Ecuador produces a range of products to be exported. They export 30% petroleum, 26% bananas, 16% shrimp, 2% cut flowers, and 1.9% fish. They export to the United States (39%); Latin America (25%); EU countries (22%); and Asia (12%). Ecuador imports $2.9 billion worth of products. These include transport equipment, consumer goods, vehicles, machinery, and chemicals. They import from the United States (32%), EU countries (19%), Latin America (35%), and Asia (11%). Ecuador†s industrial force produces: petroleum, food, textiles, metal work, paper products, wood products, chemicals, plastics, fish, and lumber. Ecuador†s agricultural production includes: bananas, coffee, cocoa, rice, potatoes, manioc, plantains, sugar cane, cattle, sheep, pigs, beef, pork, dairy products, balsa wood, fish and shrimp. Ecuador†s social indicators are really not too disturbing. The infant mortality rate is 30.69 deaths/1,000 live births. This is not a very high rate compared to many other Third World countries. The average life expectancy for an Ecuadorian is 72.16 years. The average for a male is 69.54 years, and for females the life expectancy is 74.9 years. The population growth rate is 1.78%. This is not a great increase. The literacy rate for the total population is 90.1%. This is outstandingly high. The main religion in Ecuador is Roman Catholic, which includes 95% of the population. Petroleum, fish, and timber are Ecuador†s three main natural resources. The climate in Ecuador is mainly tropical along the coast, and as one moves inland it becomes much cooler. Arable land makes up 6% of land, along with permanent crops (5%), permanent pastures (18%), forests and woodland (56%), and other areas (15%). Ecuador faces many natural hazards, which include frequent earthquakes, landslides, volcanic activity, and periodic droughts. Deforestation, soil erosion, desertification, water pollution, and pollution from oil production wastes are some of the environmental issues facing Ecuador. The government of Ecuador is a unitary republic. Their system is set up much like the United States. The government contains three branches- legislative, executive, and judicial. The people elect the president and vice-president by casting only one ballot. In congress, the representatives are limited to four-year terms. Impeachment of a president, would require support of one-fourth of representatives. In order to actually remove him or her from office it would take a vote of two-thirds of the representatives. On August 10 1998, President Jamil Mahuad took his term as Ecuador†s president, and the new government brought forth a new constitution. Primary and secondary education will be free to everyone, in the new constituiton. Universities will not be included in this; students also will be required, much like in the United States, to pass admissions requirements before entering the university. Education is a major factor in helping the poor of Ecuador, by being educated one can start to help themselves by finding better jobs that pay more. Under the new constitution, the state must now try to sustain economic growth. The new constitution stops the state from changing contracts that have been already signed if the law was not enacted previously. Having this will create more private investment, which will help Ecuador obtain foreign capital. Since the establishment of the new government in 1998, the congress has been receiving pressure from citizens to pass a balanced budget and tax reform. Special interest groups and many other interest groups have slowed the progress ofcongress by raising questions about how this is going to happen and disagreeing with congress†s plans. Congress has been threatened by numerous associations to get the budget bill passed. Questions on whether a legislature should remain are arising. Ecuador is also having problems paying their debt. They have defaulted on their interest payments on Brady and Eurobonds. With the already week financial system, some analyst believe this may cause bankruptcy for new institutions. Electricity prices have always been a sore spot in Ecuador. Since the lack of enforcement of the new budget and tax reform, outrage is even more prevalent. CONELEC, the National Electricity Council, has been pressed with the issue of how to implement the higher taxes. Many ideas have been brought to the forefront. One idea is to base the price of electric off the price of the exchange rate of the United States dollar. Another idea is to not enforce the increase until January and then increase the price 34%. After January keep increasing the price monthly until Ecuador breaks even. Ecuador has a new government and with that comes conflicts. They have an excellent government system working for them, but as in every society someone wants to change that. Ecuador is working on convincing some of the old institutions that the government they have now is good. The government is doing good things for the economy by helping reducing the number of the poor. Ecuador†s economy will probable thrive as soon as the bugs are worked out of the system. A volcano threat in Ecuador has forced many individuals to leave their homes. The Tungurahua volcano, located about 120 miles south of Ecuador†s capital Quito, blanketed the area with ash. The Tungurahua volcano is 5,000 meters high and it spews about 10,000 tons of vapor a day. Many experts believe there is an 80% chance that the Tungurahua volcano will erupt. Only minor eye irritations and respiratory problems have been reported as a result of the volcanic gases and activity. Economic development seems to be doing well along with the reduction of poverty since the new constitution was established in 1998. Although I would have liked to have a law that even though primary and secondary education is free-that it is required one attends until a certain age. With a lot of Ecuador†s economy based on agriculture I am concerned that even though education is free, one†s children may not be able to attend due to the need to be on the farm. Education coincides with poverty reduction so I find that the two go hand in hand. Poverty can not be solved in one day, but I do think that education is the right approach. I think there should programs set up to go to the older population and help educate them as well so that they understand why it is important for their children to receive and education. Ecuador is a complicated country with many strong attributes. The country essentially is starting over with a new government, which will take time for everyone to adjust. Ecuador†s economic data and social indicators look good for Ecuador†s future.

Neonatal Necrotizing Enterocolitis Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Neonatal Necrotizing Enterocolitis - Assignment Example The initial search was done in PubMed using the MeSH terms "necrotizing enterocolitis" "preterm" "breastfeeds" "formula feeds". The limits set for the search was "English language article only" because of lack of understanding of the reviewer of other languages. The search yielded 12 results. After this, google scholar was used for the search. The key terms used for the search were "necrotizing enterocolitis" "very low birth weight infants" "preterm" "breastfeeds" "formula feeds." The search yielded 130 articles. Abstracts from the articles in the first 2 pages of the search were reviewed for selection of pertinent and useful articles. Further on, CINAHL database also was used for the search. Search in this database was pursued after logging in and using the search terms "necrotizing enterocolitis" "very low birth weight infants" "preterm" "breastfeeds" "formula feeds". It was found that the articles found in Google Scholar and CINAHL database were there in PubMed too. From these dat abases, 3 articles were selected to answer the PICO question and facilitate evidence-based practice. The gold standard for any evidence-based practice is randomized controlled trials which when performed with optimized research designs that can answer pertinent questions. However, meta-analysis and a systematic review have topped the hierarchy list and when present, they are preferred to randomized controlled trials (Evans, 2003). According to the Cochrane database, in preterm infants with low birth weight, formula milk is associated with higher risk for NEC when compared to donor breast milk. Such an inference was based on the exhaustive meta-analysis conducted by Quiley, Henderson, Anthony et al (2007) in which the researchers reviewed randomized controlled trials pertaining to this topic. It was found that formula-fed infants had a statistically higher incidence of NNEC (2.5, 95% confidence interval 1.2, 5.1); when compared to breast milk-fed group (33, 95% confidence interval 17, 100).  Ã‚  

Ethical issues Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Ethical issues - Essay Example onted by Don Marquis in his ‘Future-like-ours argument with regards the morality of abortion, an assertion which was later on opposed by Bonnie Steinbock in his ‘Interest View’ argument. While Marquis argues that abortion is immoral as killing deprives the fetus of its future and Steinbock believes that abortion is not wrong based on the moral status of the unborn and its lack of consciousness, their arguments continue to confound rather than illuminate the morality or immorality of the issue. Marquis contends that abortion is seriously immoral as taking another person’s life, as for instance, an adult’s, as it dispossesses him of his future. This is akin to the killing of a fetus. Marquis asserts that fetuses are in the same category as adults with regards moral value. Thus, the immorality of abortion rests on strong presumptions such as on the dogma that killing is wrong. The concept that killing is brutal and thus, it is wrong does not explain the depravity of the act. For Marquis, what makes killing unacceptable is its consequences on the victim as the loss of one’s life is considered the greatest loss. This loss constitutes loss of activities and gratifications which make up the valuable future of the victim. As death divests a human being of the ‘value of his future,’ the most justifiable reason against killing an adult individual is the consideration of the ‘loss of his future.’ In addition, Marquis argues that other l iving entities and species have similar ‘future’ like our and believes that it is likewise wrong to kill animals. Although he does not support active euthanasia, he admits that killing the ‘very ill or the dying’ cause no wrong. The heart of Marquis’ arguments, however, lies on his contention that killing an infant or fetuses amounts to immorality as they have acquired ‘futures of value.’ As the personhood theory does not put to light the immorality of killing, this notion should be replaced by the idea that

Kinship System of Yanomamo Culture Research Paper

Kinship System of Yanomamo Culture - Research Paper Example In the Yanomamo community, their males are considered to be more valuable than their female counterparts (Rosman, Rubel & Weisgrau, 2009). The leadership positions in their community determine their village’s relations with neighboring villages due to the existing kingship along with marriage patterns. The leaders within the community are chosen from the kinship groups with most members in the village (Early & Peters, 2000). Within the Yanomamo society, marriages are usually arranged by the older kin within them who include brothers, fathers and uncles (Rosman, Rubel & Weisgrau, 2009). In these communities, there exists a social imbalance with women being less than men which is worsened by the fact that some of the men are polygamous. These people additionally practice marriage within related groups of people which have in turn helped in speeding their population’s growth (Early & Peters, 2000). The women in these villages undergo abductions along with incest taboos tha t play a great part in decreasing the effects that come from inbreeding. When bilateral marriages between cousins are allowed double relations are created since their parents may have gone through similar marriages (Rosman, Rubel & Weisgrau, 2009). The resultant internal conflicts that arise tend to bring about village fissioning among them. The villages that are not related through marriage are urged to make peace by engaging in trading activities which help them in abstaining from war. Gifts are also offered between the leaders in the warring villages to help in preventing the occurrence of conflicts (Chagnon, 2012). The Yanomamo people usually have role prescriptions within their communities which are mainly keyed into people who hold certain... This research paper focuses mostly on Kinship, that is a vital system among the Yanomamo people. Their culture has mainly remained unchanged due to their ferociousness along with strong wills. Their kinship system conforms to a pattern referred to as the Iroquois classification which insists on them having bilateral cross marriages between cousins. The people from the Yanomamo community usually organize their relationships in the order of closeness. They are organized from the local partilineal moieties, village settlements, feasting alliances, marriage alliances and trading alliances to their enemies. In localized moieties there are rarely partrilineage groups that have members who exceed two grown-up generations with members coming from the same villages. In the Yanomamo community, their males are considered to be more valuable than their female counterparts. The leadership positions in their community determine their village’s relations with neighboring villages due to the existing kingship along with marriage patterns. The Yanomamo people usually have role prescriptions within their communities which are mainly keyed into people who hold certain statuses. The individuals living within this community are supposed to know who they really are in order for them to handle their prescribed roles appropriately. The researcher states that individuals with superior statuses within the Yanomamo community are given extra roles for them to perform since they are pivotal for the operations of the society.

Principles of Economics Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Principles of Economics - Research Paper Example sgruntling customers, suppose that the company may introduce a different type of programming that is cheaper for the company to provide yet is equally appealing to customers. Explain what would be the effects of this action. The law of demand states that, ceteris paribas, the higher the price of a commodity, the less the demand will be. On the other hand, the law of supply states that, all factors being constant, sellers are more willing to supply goods at a higher price than at a lower price. This theoretical point at which sellers are willing to supply goods and buyers are getting all the commodities they are demanding is referred to as the equilibrium. The equilibrium is depicted in the figure below: Figure 1: Market equilibrium chart (â€Å"Economics Basics: Demand and Supply,† 2011) If the government make a price ceiling law on cable TV that sets the price below the current equilibrium price two things will happen immediately: (1) cable TV sellers will find the business less attractive because of increased possibility of lower revenues and thus they will lower their supply. (2) Consumers will find the lower prices attractive and thus they will increase their consumption and demand for cable TV. After some duration, the huge consumer demand and low supply will cause consumers to compete for the few cable TVs available. This is depicted below: Figure 2: Effect of price ceiling (Taylor, 2006) In a free market economy, the consumer competition for cable TVs will push the prices up, which will make sellers want to supply more and hence bring the price closer to its equilibrium. However, in this case, the price ceiling prevents suppliers from increasing the supply because of the low marginal benefits compared to marginal cost of supplying cable TVs. This eventually... The rationale for releasing the new guidelines to be used by the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission for evaluating proposed mergers is to provide more clarity and transparency to businesses seeking to engage in mergers and acquisitions. This way business can tell beforehand whether they will be successful with their application or not. Additionally, the new Guidelines take into account changes that have taken place in the legal and economic arenas since the last revision in 1992. From the guidelines one thing that stands out is the Department of Justice’s and the Federal Trade Commission’s focus on protecting competition and innovation within the American business sector. Mergers and acquisitions that may substantially lower competition, or to tend to create a monopoly will be rejected. So too will those M&As that are viewed as done to kill innovation. Some of the major implications of these guidelines are that: (1) it will enable companies save on r esources that they may have wasted on a merger or acquisition that ends up being disapproved; and (2) it provides the legal fraternity with more clear guidelines for those who would like to seek legal redress

Memorandum Project Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Memorandum Project Paper - Essay Example The other three post-impressionist paintings that I will choose are Paul Gauguin’s Fleurs dans un vase avec partition musicale; Edward Le Bas’  Thames from Rotherhithe; and, Paul Gauguin  Ã¢â‚¬Ëœs Yellow Christ. The Riviere et falaise is perceived by Courbet as symbolic of freedom and the painting expressed his passion for liberty (Courbet-Gustave, 2012). Courbet is among those who engaged self in a realist movement and had positioned himself in figurative landscapes, compositions and seas but depicting the semblance of social issues specially those of peasants and labor (Courbet-Gustave, 2012). Courbet wanted to show the realist’s mission for truth and the contradictions evident in society. The artist explored his passion for oil painting while he was in Paris in 1839 at Steuben and Hesse studio. He was strongly influenced by Victor Hugo and George Sand, Rembrandt, Hals, and some Dutch masters (Courbet-Gustave, 2012). This painting which showed the rivulets of river and nature will be displayed at the visitor’s lounge area to evoke natural beauty. The river is also perceived as the passage of abundance. It is inspiring to welcome guests and visitors with the aesthetic concept of abundance. The piece is historical too because it reflect the artist’s controversial refusal to accept the Legion of Honour offered by Napoleon III and his signature will remind viewers about his participation in 1871 revolutionary Paris Commune when he was designated at Paris’s arts museum (Courbet-Gustave, 2012). Reggianini’s painting â€Å"Lecture† will be posted at the conference room . The artist gained historical prominence as an affiliate of Florentine painters, enjoyed the life of bourgeoisie who devoted their lives in gaining knowledge, discourse and poetry (Reggianini , 1939). His arts embodied the mixture of reality, sensuality, sensibilities, luxury, elegance and sophistication. The interest for knowledge is fitted in corporate life where business managers ought to be constantly engaged in analysing the market and trends. Business management require an infinite interest for learning, meeting and discourse to improve operation and interrelationship with clients (Reggianini , 1939). Bouvar’s Venetian canals and architecture is an aesthetic art which arrests the significance of light to defect atmospheric effects and reflect the splendour of Venice. Artist is from St. Jean-de-Bournay in L'Isere and learned architecture at the  Ecole des Beaux-Arts  in Paris. The picturesque paintings provide a breather of the urban scene and were said as quite an interest for fine art connoisseurs. This painting will be displayed at the receiving hall to provide an illusion for guests and workers that they are outdoor although they are within the confines of the corporation and hence, can relax with its sun-inspired aesthetics. Gauguin’s Fleurs dans un vase avec partition musicale, on the other hand, will be posted adjacent or along the passage to the restroom area. This painting is among the first few paintings done by the artist and this is considered rare. A painting of flower with musical score to the restroom area will soften and ease the thoughts of the persons. The color and the effect of this painting illustrated artist’s technical proficiency which gained appreciation with fellow

Related Studies Foreign Essay Example for Free

Related Studies Foreign Essay Foreign Langer (Journal 2004 p. 76). The research team identified three types of teachers: 1. Effective teachers in effective schools; 2. Effective teachers in typical schools, and 3. Typical teachers in typical schools. In effective schools, students were â€Å"beating the odds† in test scores, and the effective teachers there found their work encouraged and sustained by a supportive school and district climate that: 1. Coordinates efforts to improve student achievement. 2. Fosters teachers participation in a variety of professional activities. 3. Creates instructional-improvement activities in ways that offer teacher a strong sense of agency. 4. Values commitment to the profession teaching. 5. Engenders caring toward students and colleagues, and 6. Fosters respect for learning as a normal part of life. Furthermore, the assumption in articles dealing with the teacher reflection is that analysis of needs, problems, change processes, feeling of efficacy, beliefs are all factors that contribute to teaches professional development, be it through enhanced cognitions or new or improved practices. Reflection is discussed and used in research in several ways. The studies in this decade centre primarily on reflection as an instrument for change and on the various ways in which reflection can be developed. A group of explicitly considers the contribution to reflection of narrative methods such as story telling (for example, about Professional Development School Experiences) and the construction of stories within professional development activities. (Breault, 2010), (Day and Leitch, 2001), (Doecke et al., 2000) and (Shank, 2006. Set in Lithuania Arl the U.S.A., the Article by Jurasaite-Harbison and Rex (2010) narrate two-year ethnographic study that looks at how teachers in three different types of schools perceive themselves as learners and how their school cultures create opportunities for teachers’ professional development. On the basis of their findings, the authors conclude that the most productive conditions for informal workplace learning is a teacher culture that encourages and values collaborative learning. Evidence shows that professional development has an impact on teachers’ beliefs and behaviors. Evidence also indicates that the relationship between teachers’ beliefs and their practice is not straightforward or simple; on the contrary, it is dialectic, â€Å"moving back and forth between change in belief and change in classroom practice† (Cobb, Wood, and Yackel, 1990; Frank et al., 1997; Thompson, 1992, in Nelson, 1999, p. 6) Wood and Bennett (2000) support this statement with the results of a study, in which a group of early childhood educators in England were helping to collect data concerning their theories of play and their relationship to practice. As a result, these educators changed their own theories or teaching practices, or even both. Similar results are reported by Kettel and Sellas (1996) in a study of the development of practical theory of student-teachers in Australia; by Kallestad and Olweus (1998) in a study involving Norwegian teachers, which shows that teachers’ professional preparation and development have a large impact on defining teachers’ goals for their students, and these goals in turn affect the teachers’ behavior in the classrooms and schools; and also by Youngs (2001). Following the examination of data assessing the effects of four different models of professional development (teachers’ networks, the use of consultants and inter-visitations, students’ assessments and school improvement plans) on teachers’ professional development and school capacity in different part of the U.S.A, Youngs found that all models generally strengthened teachers’ knowledge, skills and dispositions, and they had varied effects on other aspects of school capacity. Yet, there is still a need for more research to be done in this area. According to the latest literature, some studies have been carried out as a result of this initiative. For example, research reported by Baker and Smith (1999) identified the following characteristics of professional development as being the most effective in sustaining change in teachers: 1. A heavy emphasis on providing concrete, realistic and challenging goals; 2. Activities that include both technical and conceptual aspects of instructions; 3. Support from colleagues; 4. Frequent opportunities for teachers to witness the effects that their efforts have on students’ learning. As Ingersoll (2001) reports: â€Å"Requiring teachers to teachers to teach classes for which they have not been trained or educated harms teachers and students† (p.42). Ingersoll refers to data that show that most â€Å"out-of-field† teachers are more commonly found among first-time teachers, in low-income schools, small schools, and lower-achieving classes. Classes with â€Å"out-of-field† teachers usually generate lower student achievement. In her research, Little (2001) discovered that in restructuring schools, most of the â€Å"official time† devoted to professional development is based on the conception that professional development is a process of inspiration and goal setting where administrators have already set goals and objectives of change, and professional development activities are used to motivate teachers to strive to meet them. In summary, the professional development of teachers is a key factor in ensuring that reforms at any level are effective. Successful professional development opportunities for teachers’ have a significant positive effect on students’ performance and learning. Thus, when the goal is to increase students’ learning and to improve their performance, the professional development of teachers should be considered a key factor, and this at the time must feature as an element in a larger reform. Little (2001). Local Dr. Manila (2002) is a newly-installed principal of a public secondary school in Baguio City which ranked second to the last in the achievement test in the previous school year. As an initial step to make the school one of the best in the city she selected several teachers to undergo a professional development program that she designed, hoping to achieve the results she envisioned for the school. A year after the training, the principal expected a big improvement in the performance of their school. Unfortunately, there was no improvement in the schools’ making. It is important that you learn to decide on what training is best for and what training should come first. Professional development programs are more effective when the individual needs of teachers are taken into account. The conduct of needs assessment must consider the critical skills areas that are needed for successful performance. The strength and weaknesses of teachers in key areas that have been proven to impact directly on student achievement should be identified. In a related study entitled â€Å"Continuing Professional and Technical Education in the Philippines† by Divina Edralin, Ph.D., the author’s recommendations may also be considered in making Continuing Professional Education serves its intended purpose among professional organizations. These are: 1. Formation of a Unifying Human Resource Development Framework; 2. Review of Matrix on Continuing Education; 3. Greater access to education, training, and retraining; 4. Incentives for Professionals and Technical Workers; 5. Needs identification and assessment; 6. Effective integration of education and employment; 7. Active tripartite cooperation; and 8. Financing Scheme. Moreover, to keep Continuing Professional Education relevant to the professions, certain challenges have to be considered. Terso Tullao, Jr. 1999 (p. 32) underlines â€Å"the need to refocus CPE programs towards research, graduate education, inventions and publications†. He adds: â€Å"Professional organizations should have their own journals reviewed by national or international experts. They should also sponsor professional lectures where there distinguished members or outside experts are asked to discuss topics on their expertise. Similar to the quest of higher educational institutions to make research outputs of their professors published in international journals, professional organizations should encourage their members to publish in referred international journals. Ultimately, professionals must realize that they are the best â€Å"architects† of their personal professional development plans. They have to be more proactive and take the initiative in enhancing their competence and performance. According to Zenon Arthur S. Udani, Ph.D., 1995, on his study on â€Å"Continuing Professional Educations: Training and Developing Filipino Professionals Admist Globalization†, Professional updates which trigger build-up in knowledge and related skills more professionals to the next stage of competence-building. â€Å"As they realize that what they know and what they can do are no longer sufficient to be productive and effective professionals, competence-building becomes a more urgent concern. It calls not only for updates in professional school basic knowledge and skills, but also for education derived from pluralistic sources (continuing education for professions) found useful in assuming competence required by what professionals actually do for a living.† At the stage of competence-building, professionals, aided by their associations, would have identified their key areas of professional development and growth. Updating members of professionals associations on current issues in their field is unquestionally important. This appears to be the dominant thrust of the professional associations surveyed in this study. However, CPE in these professional associations must go beyond this stage. Competence-building and performance-enhancement must also be encouraged among the member of professional associations. Ultimately, it is the personal vision, professional drive, and sense of urgency of the individual members that would guarantee positive outcomes and improvements in professional competence and performance.

Formative Assessment For Learning

Formative Assessment For Learning Literature for many years has delivered many different meanings and definitions of what formative assessment is. Marsh (2004) believes that Formative assessment provides data about instructional units in progress and students in action. They help to develop or form the final curriculum product and help students adjust to their learning tasks through the feedback they receive Black William (1998) believe that Assessment refers to all those activities undertaken by teachers, and by the students in assessing themselves, which provide information to be used as feedback to modify the teaching and learning activities in which they are engaged. Such assessment becomes formative assessment when the evidence is actually used to adapt the teaching to meet the needs. Paul Black (2002) has also defined formative assessment as any assessment for which the priority is to server the purpose of promoting pupils learning. Formative assessment can be closely linked with Assessment for learning (AFL) . The two are very similar but have one definitive difference. Swearingen (2002) states that formative assessment is part of instruction that informs and guides teachers as they make instructional decisions. Assessment should not merely be done to students, rather it also is done FOR students to guide and enhance their learning. In Laymans terms, formative assessment is ongoing assessment to inform planning and aid in overall assessments. Assessment for learning (AFL) on the other hand has the child at the heart of it; knowing what theyre learning, how to perform effectively and assessing what they have learnt. Formative assessments promote student attainment of knowledge rather than testing a body of attained knowledge. We have to design a Curriculum that is rich with such methods of formative assessment that will result in a more student-centred approach to teaching. J Right (2010) believes that this often leads to student success. According to research and from personal experience teaching in various schools, there are many forms of formative assessment used in the classroom. Here are some:- * Observation This is one of the earliest known methods of observing nature, according to science. (Hein 1991) states that Observation in the classroom reaps benefits for not only the teacher but also the student. By observing children, teachers can identify their students verbal and non-verbal behaviour, and identify the method he/she uses to complete their work. Teachers through observation can identify areas in which students are finding challenging and provide them with corrective feedback. During all by teaching experiences in school, I have kept a Book of Observations to monitor behaviour over time. In the book I wrote the behaviour of a certain child and the method I used to help solve the matter. * Whole-Class/Group Discussion This involves discussion of open ended questions with the students by the teacher and the students with each other. The goal of whole-class discussion is to develop critical and creative thinking skills. Concept Cartoons are a very effective way of promoting these skills in Science. I will discuss this later on. Black and Wiliam 1998; Doherty 2003 believe that Discussions allow students to increase the breadth and depth of their understanding while discarding erroneous information and expanding and explicating background knowledge. * Teacher Feedback According to (Boston 2002; Ramaprasad 1983; Sadler 1989; Tunstall and Gipps (1996) The formative assessment activity helps students understanding their proficiency, and the feedback the teacher gives the student helps close the learning gap. Many researchers including Bangert-Drowns, Kulick, Morgan (1999) have written about how the more specific a teachers feedback about learners mistakes and ways in which they could improve their work, the more children improve with their learning. This type of feedback could help cater the needs of the lower ability children because the message is that children can improve their work by using the correct method rather than feel like they are unable to perform a task due to lack of ability. From practice to research it is obvious that Formative Assessment and AFL and both valuable for teacher and student. The teacher can use it to identify how learners are progression and can use this information to adjust their teaching. Students benefit from formative assessment by being able to follow specific steps to meet their objectives, spot what they are having trouble with and have specific feedback to develop their knowledge. From a pedagogic point of view it is difficult to argue against the benefits of formative assessment for both teacher and learner. For example:- * Formative assessment ensures that the learners remains focused and on task. The learners can discuss what they are learning. There is a shared learning process. * Formative assessment provides a diagnostic approach to approach to recording process and lets the learners know his/her strengths and weaknesses. * Formative assessment helps teachers with planning as it involves giving the learner specific learning intentions. * Formative assessment helps teachers design their lessons to cater for individuals or groups of learners. * Formative assessment develops learners awareness of self-assessment so that they can become more reflective and self- managing. * Boston (2002) believes that Formative assessment focuses on the childrens progression and achievement rather than focusing on the failure. Therefore motivating the learner. Formative assessment has been shown to be highly effective in raising the level of student attainment, increasing equity of student outcomes, and improving students ability to learn. http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/19/31/35661078.pdf (12.2.2011) Mathematics Assessment for Learning is an important tool for increasing the level of learning in mathematics classrooms. There are many different techniques and strategies that can be used to develop childrens learning through formative assessment and AFL. Setting achievable learning objectives through Success Criteria To develop learners knowledge learning objectives should be put into place that are realistic and achievable. These learning objectives should include a set of Success Criteria that the learners follow to reach understanding and use this understanding to solve problems. Setting learning objectives makes the learner more focused on their learning. This enables the learner to become more self critical. Learning objectives and Success criteria should be shared at the beginning of the lesson, this gives the children the goal they intend to achieve and the steps they need to follow to insure they do. Briggs, Woodfiled, Martin, Swatton (2007) define Learning Objectives as a clear statement of what is intended that children will have learnt during an activity, a lesson or a sequence of lessons. The success criteria: * are based on the objective, and should shape the teaching and modelling and provide the childrens focus while they are working * are the key focus for the teachers and childrens feedback. www.standards.dcsf.gov.uk/NationalStrategies 13.2.2011 Below is an example of a Learning Objective and Success Criteria in a Mathematics lesson: Learning Objective: To be able to identify what a good Graph needs. Success Criteria: I know what X axis is I know what Y axis is I can differentiate between the two. Working with a Partner Questions set to the children should encourage them to explore and refer back to what they have previously learnt. Children should work in partners or in small groups (this would be more for the lower ability children) to identify the correct answer. Much research has been carried to explore the response of a learner working collaboratively with a partner or in small groups. Vygotsky (1978) believes that Assessment is grounded in the theory that students learn better by collaborating and discussing concepts with peers than by constructing answers in isolation. Boe (1994) once stated that groups working in groups in the classroom should be followed by assessments in groups. He believed that it implements the ideals of democracy in the classroom. After working in groups the children could fill-in a short worksheets assessing themselves on their group work. The following method i was introduced to during my second year school based studies, teaching a year 6 class. The children could use the worksheet to assess themselves by answering the following Questions: * Did I listen to the instructions? * Did I listen to everybody in my group? * Did I help my group? * Did I stay on task throughout? * How much did I enjoy the activity? * Did I Respect the others in my group? * Next time I will.. As well as working with a partner or in a group, to improve childrens learning they should be given more time to think and answer questions. This is often referred to as thinking time or wait time. Mary Budd Rowe (1972) first came up with the concept of thinking time. After observing teachers she saw that the time between asking the question and the response rarely lasted 1.5 seconds. She noticed that the childrens answers and attitude was more positive after given more time to answer (3-4 seconds). According to research by Mary Budd Rowe (1972) many benefits came from wait time. They include:- * Increases the number of cognitive response by learner * Decreases the number of I Dont know answers and confusion In mathematics the thinking time would not be much more than 4 seconds as much of the answers are of quantity. Stahl (1985) defined think time as a distinct period of uninterrupted silence by the teacher and all students so that they both can complete appropriate information processing tasks, feelings, oral responses, and actions. Children need time to think. Research evidence shows that teachers usually allow only 0.9 seconds between asking a question and expecting an answer or even answering the question themselves. Leaving only 0.9 seconds demands that children simply react, they do not think. However if between 3 and 5 seconds is left before allowing children to answer this encourages them to provide more thoughtful answers and to analyse, synthesise and evaluate. https://www.ncetm.org.uk/public/files/725964 (12.2.2011) At the beginning of a Maths lesson, assign individual learners a partner, this could either by the person they are sitting next to or to develop their collaboration skills further they could be partnered with a random peer in the class. Through my experience teaching Key Stage 2 Children I have adopted this method grossly into my lessons. In Mathematics lessons, I often assigned children partners and asked them to record their final answers on mini white boards. From personal experience I have observed that children really like using the whiteboards in partners. I love using the small whiteboards because I get to talk to my friend and compete against the rest of the class. A boy in Year 6 Science Let us begin by asking the question, What is Science in the Primary school? In Britain, even though there are 4 different science curricula, they is an agreement that Science is used to engage interest and enjoyment in the learner by nurturing and developing curiosity and creativity. Then, when the scientific skills are imbedded, learning progresses. Claire Hodgson NFER review (2010) believes that Primary science learning is about living things, materials and phenomena. It is intended to be relevant to pupils everyday lives, helping them to learn about the world around them through hands-on investigation and exploration, with opportunities for making observations and measurements. Science is arguably the Core subject in school that incorporates the most AFL strategies. Science provides a rich opportunity for teachers and learners to develop their understanding through formative assessment and AFL. Discussion/Talk in Classroom Discussion is a key element used in science lessons to assess a childs learning. Asoko and Scott (2006) believe that, in science discussion: Language provides the fundamental means for communicating ideas, but it is also through talk, either with others or in our heads, that we can develop personal understanding. There are many methods used to promote discussion in the classroom. Concept Cartoons are very effective at this. Concept cartoons are illustrations of a question and 3 children giving different answers to the question. They are used to promote discussion between groups of children or the whole class. Keogh Naylor (1999) indicate that this method: has a positive impact on pupil motivation and may help to promote argumentation. Hodson (1998) has also listed conditions in which can further promote discussion with children. For example, the discussion topic must enthuse the children, keep them interested, it must also be problematic and relate to the childrens prior knowledge. Concept cartoons are an effective way to assess the childrens learning at the beginning of a lesson. Concept cartoons get children thinking, discussing and sharing their ideas and opinions with their peers. Keogh and Naylor (1999) said that this made the learners more active in the assessment process and helped to connect formative assessment with the learning that would follow. Harlen (2006) states that It is well known from research that learners construct their own understanding in science, based on their experience and that their ideas may be in conflict with scientifically accepted viewpoints. Elicitation is therefore very effective in Primary Science Education as it takes the learners ideas into account of the teaching. This is called a Constructivist approach to learning. Constructivism is a theory that was put forward by Piaget. It is used to explain how children know what they know. It describes problem solving being Key to childrens thinking, development and learning. There is a significant change in the learner when he/she engages in activities, discusses with peers and reflects on their learning. But what is the role of the teacher in this style of teaching? According to Brewer W (2009) the role of the teacher is to act as an expert learner who can guide students into adopting cognitive strategies such as self testing, articulating understanding, asking probing questions, and reflection. He basically states that a constructivist approach to teaching involves giving the children a Big Idea for learners to discuss, that keeps them engaged and interested and to connect prior knowledge to gain new ideas. ITCS6001 0701774 1