High School s Peer Mentorship Program - 1184 Words

Weston High School’s peer mentorship program provides a constructive relationship for students with intellectual challenges that helps them navigate through the obstacles of high school. The main focus of a mentor is to help make the mentee comfortable in an environment that is exceptionally stressful for them. In the school setting, people with Autism, specifically Asperger s Syndrome, experience a multitude of issues because they might have a sensory overload and struggle to socially interact with their peers. As a mentor, you need to stay with your mentee throughout the school day and help guide them through any problems that arise, while also attempting to prevent any tantrums. The main goal of your relationship with your mentee is to†¦show more content†¦There are many ways to successfully aid them in making it through the class period, including providing the mentee with consistency by supplying them with a schedule that outlines the structure of the class. Peop le with Autism or Asperger Syndrome crave consistency, structure, and predictability and if these elements are not present, they will mentally breakdown. Likewise, there is an underlying routine for every class period, even though a new subject is constantly taught by the teachers. As a mentor, it would be beneficial to create a schedule for the mentee, so, therefore, the structure and order that they crave is evident in the classroom environment. For this reason, the student might begin to feel comfortable, which would allow them to have a greater capability to focus on the specific tasks. In addition, another way to help the mentee in the classroom setting is to break down the information that was taught or attempt to present it to them in a different manner, if they do not understand it. Students with Autism or Asperger Syndrome sometimes struggle to understand the lesson as they cannot process the way the teacher has expressed it to the class. It then might be harder for them to complete an assigned task about that topic and by breaking it down, they will be able to complete more work. Also, there are many advantages to presenting the information to them in a different manner, including

Alcohol Abuse Affects Our Society - 1836 Words

Part 3 Alcohol, from the time of our forefathers, has been in our society and the abuse of alcohol as became more aggressive and damaging than ever. Alcohol abuse affects our society from infancy to late adulthood and as a whole alcohol abuse disrupts the places where we work, our family life, and our spiritual being. The chronic use of alcohol has been an issue for many years and has a great effect on the young adults of today. Alcohol can ignite disruptions in their daily growth as productive adults and livelihood, and can lead to destruction for the young abuser. Along with the new pressures of learning how not to drink, prevention and treatment is a must for the young adult who is suffering from the abuse of alcohol. With counseling,†¦show more content†¦Before presenting the literary review, I have implemented Part 1 and Part 2 of the expected requirements for completing the paper and they are as follows: Causes Alcohol over a period of time has become an accepted drug in our society. It can be purchased over the counter in convenience stores, grocery stores, privately owned ABC stores all over the nation, and even in our neighborhoods at the next door neighbor’s house. Alcohol has always been legal since the time of the Prohibition. The Prohibition was a period of nearly fourteen years of U.S. history in which the manufacture, sale, and transportation of liquor was made illegal. However, since 1933 when alcohol became legal once again, the abuse of alcohol has slowly destroyed marriages and the lives of early adult men and women all over the world. A study completed by experts from the Independent Scientific Committee on Drugs reported, â€Å"For the young adult, alcohol ranks most harmful among a list of 20 drugs, beating out crack and heroin when assessed for its potential harm to the individual drinking, and harm to others, according to study results released by a British medical journal † (Christopher, 2012). Nevertheless, alcohol is easily assessable. The growth of the human body has been studied all over the world for years. From the studies of Sigmund Freud to Erickson, Lawrence Kohlberg s to Piaget, and countless other psychologist’s theory’s, human development can have

Jamaican History (Basic) 5th Grade Free Essays

jamaica was one a the largest sugar producing country inah the caribbean . Jamaica, the third largest Caribbean island, was inhabited by Arawak natives when it was first sighted by the second voyage of Christopher Columbus on 5 May 1494. Columbus himself was stranded on Jamaica from 1503 to 1504 during his fourth voyage. We will write a custom essay sample on Jamaican History (Basic) 5th Grade or any similar topic only for you Order Now The Spanish settled in Jamaica in 1509 and held the island against many privateer raids from their main city, now called Spanish Town, which served as capital of Jamaica from its founding in 1534 until 1872. In 1655 Jamaica was conquered by the English, although the Spanish did not relinquish their claim to the island until 1670. Jamaica became a base of operations for privateers, including Captain Henry Morgan, operating from the main English settlement Port Royal. In return these privateers kept the other colonial powers from attacking the island. Following the destruction of Port Royal in the great earthquake of 1692 refugees settled across the bay in Kingston which by 1716 had become the biggest town in Jamaica and became the capital city in 1872. Until the early 19th century Africans were captured, kidnapped, and forced into slavery to work on plantations when sugarcane became the most important export of the island. Adam Taylor’s slaves had arrived in Jamaica via the Atlantic slave trade during the same time enslaved Africans arrived in North America. During this time there were many racial tensions, and Jamaica had one of the highest instances of slave uprisings of any Caribbean island. [1] After the British crown abolished slavery in 1834, the Jamaicans began working toward independence. Since independence in 1962 there have been political and economic disturbances, as well as a number of strong political leaders How to cite Jamaican History (Basic) 5th Grade, Essay examples

Westpac Sustainability

Question: Discuss about theWestpac Sustainability. Answer: Introduction: Westpac is a large organization and for the large organizations it is important to focus on sustainability based on the internal and external factors. The Westpac sustainability reports from 2001 reflect that the company has been focusing on both internal and external stakeholders. The past sustainability reports shows that Westpac wants to have strong tie-ups with employees, customers and government (Ruggiero, 2012). For profit organizations like Westpac focus on the ultimate goal of profits is must. That is not to say for-profit organizations should ignore external stakeholders that do not have interests benefited by profits. Rather, as is the case with most things in life, a balance must be struck. According to Pedersen (2011), for-profit corporations prioritize stakeholders according to interest and need. By ranking the interests of external stakeholders in relation to higher priority stakeholders, such as stockholders, corporations are better able to balance between external, so cietal obligations and internal demands for increased profit margins (Kappmeier, 2016). By ranking all stakeholders in order of interests and alignment with organizational objectives, for-profit firms engage in true conversation with stakeholders whose views may otherwise be overlooked by the organization (Kappmeier, 2016). The resulting two-way communication may open valuable solutions to organizational problems previously unknown to organizational leadership. Feedback in any relationship is critical to coexistence. The objective of this paper is to discuss the current best practices in the existing way of sustainability reporting of Westpac and analyzes the ways of improvement. Analysis The GRI (Global Reporting Initiative) guidelines mandate companies to define content through the use of materiality, stakeholder inclusiveness, sustainability context, etc. The GRI then distinguishes quality through the reports balance, comparability, accuracy, timeliness, reliability and clarity (Kujala, 2012). The assessment of Westpac on the GRI standards would demonstrate that the company has been doing well to communicate with society and government through its annual reports, sustainability reports and corporate websites. The corporate image of Westpac is good in the Australian market and it has been able to generate trust and respect of consumers. This has been possible with the use of certain best practices in its reporting and corporate governance. One of the best practices that could be observed in the sustainability reporting of Westpac is the involvement of board of directors to define the objectives of sustainability and their involvement to achieve these goals and objectives (Keating, 2008). The board of directors is generally composed of those persons elected by the organizations shareholders. Shareholders wield power based upon their financial holdings and are more bottom-line oriented. Stakeholders possess power through their interest and influence that is held based upon stakeholder salience. Tong Anantharaman (2011) show how "stakeholders can be classified into four groups: definitive, expectant, latent, and non-stakeholders according to the attributes each stakeholder holds at the present time." those that are definitive are the owners and customers who carry a high form of influence. Giving them a place at the table would be impractical, as stakeholder salience tends to vary, however, developing a consistent system of information dissemination and gathering would be beneficial to maintain active stakeholder participation. Another best practice that is reflected in the sustainability reporting of Westpac is stakeholders management. According to Frooman (1999) to be really useful to a firm trying to manage its stakeholders, stakeholder theory must provide an account of how stakeholders try to manage a firm (p. 192). The GRI guidelines suggest that stakeholders involvement should be high to develop a strong platform of sustainability. It can be done only when the stakeholders are provided the freedom and power. It is important that the conflicting needs of stakeholders should be managed in a logical and systematic manner. The first and the most important steps to manage the conflicting needs of stakeholders would be stakeholder assessment. As a part of stakeholders analysis, Westpac should realize the high priority stakeholders. These are the stakeholders that are most important for sustainability practices and corporate governance. The next step would be to analyze the influence of different stakeholders (Boatright, 2006). It is important to mention that it is not easy to analyze the influence of various stakeholders. For Westpac, there are various internal and external stakeholders whose influence would be difficult to assess (Taran Bett, 2015). Once the management has identified the priority and influence of stakeholders, the next step is to conduct the stakeholder mapping (Wheeler Elkington, 2001). The stakeholder mapping would then be mapped with the sustainability objectives. In the dimension of stakeholder management, one of the areas of improvement or one of the recommendations for Westpac is the use of management devices to manage the conflicting needs of stakeholders. Morris (1997) presents stakeholder management devices that seek to manage conflicting needs. Morris (1997, p. 413) states that management devices such as "ethics committees on the board of directors, public affairs offices, written codes of ethics, corporate sponsorship of community functions, and employee newsletters" work to provide a means by which firms can help meet its responsibilities to several stakeholders. Morris (1997) further states that these measures work to enforce management of stakeholder needs in an external focus. While, internal focus must be gauged as well. Such focus is related to three factors, which influence individual behavior in organizations that include expectations, attitudes, and perceptions. In other words, these management devices that are implemented by an organization to manage the conflicting needs of stakeholders must be able to measured somehow internally as well. In conclusion, an organization must have internal and external focus when creating management devices to help control stakeholder needs. Another best practice that Westpac could use is the increased involvement of low-level employees in the organization. It is observed that Westpac uses the top-down approach of strategic management wherein the management and leaders would develop the sustainability goals and would spread the same to mid level management. It is recommended that the low level employees should also be included while developing and implementing any policies around sustainability and corporate reporting. The employees at various levels should be asked about issues and their expectations. Then each party should be asked to come up with an adequate and acceptable solution to the problem, which is presented. As each solution is given, then the options can be discussed and weighed and a decision can be agreed upon or tabled for further discussion depending on the situation. Kappmeier (2016) states that lack of trust is often the problem with intergroup conflict. It would also help the management of Westpac to bridge the gap between stakeholders expectations and management perceptions of stakeholders expectations. The best practice of corporate governance highlights that each stakeholder should be identified and analyzed. This is to assess the potential that exists with the stakeholder to add influence or create further obstacles. A key stakeholder that is highlighted can be very supportive towards developing strategic initiatives. The stakeholder can also bring unity to the proposal that is met with criticism. This is done through the stakeholders power, legitimacy, and urgency that are perceived based upon stakeholder salience. The best practice of corporate governance and reporting also suggests that organizations should also customer involvement. The good thing for Westpac is that it does not exclude customers from its eco system. The organization realizes that customer can give good inputs and this is a reason that the existing customers of the bank are part of the corporate reporting framework of Westpac. Conclusion The above paper discusses the best practices used by Westpac for its sustainability reporting and the areas of improvement. The good thing in the sustainability reporting of Westpac is that the company is considerate about the traditional aspects of sustainability like carbon emission, corporate social responsibility, etc. Westpac also gives due consideration to both internal and external factors. However, there is a scope of increased role of internal stakeholders (employees). The employees, especially the low-level employees, should have more voice in front of the management. It is important the sustainability should not be practiced as a top-down approach in the organization. It is also important that Westpac should consider sustainability as continuous activity. The GRI guidelines also suggest that the focus on corporate governance, reporting framework and sustainability should not be a one-time thing for organizations. In fact, organizations should always explore the use of best practices and industry standards to provide continuous value to all the stakeholders. For Westpac, it is important that the sustainability vision should be communicated to all the stakeholders of the organization. References Boatright, J. R. (2006). What's wrong-and what's right-with stakeholder management. Journal Of Private Enterprise, 21(2), 1-25. Frooman, J. (1999). Stakeholder influence strategies. Academy Of Management Review, 24(2), 191-205. Kappmeier, M. (2016). Trusting the enemyTowards a comprehensive understanding of trust in intergroup conflict. Peace And Conflict: Journal Of Peace Psychology, 22(2), 134-144. doi:10.1037/pac0000159 Keating, B., Quazi, A., Kriz, A. and Coltman, T., 2008. In pursuit of a sustainable supply chain: insights from Westpac Banking Corporation.Supply Chain Management: An International Journal,13(3), pp.175-179. Kujala, J., Heikkinen, A., Lehtimki, H. (2012). Understanding the nature of stakeholder relationships: An empirical examination of a conflict situation. Journal of Business Ethics, 109(1), 53-65. doi:10.1007/s10551-012-1379-2 Morris, S. A. (1997). Internal Effects of Stakeholder Management Devices. Journal Of Business Ethics, 16(4), 413-424 Ruggiero, S. (2012). Sustainability reports: corporate 'greenwashing' from Misfortune 500. Retrieved from: https://www.crikey.com.au/2012/05/25/sustainability-reports-corporate-greenwashing-from-misfortune-500/

Professional Project Plan

Context of the study As the number of students studying Foreign Language increases worldwide, there is need to improve their proficiency in such languages. As a matter of interest, there have been different studies, which have been looking into ways of improving learning different foreign languages.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Professional Project Plan specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In the recent past, there have been studies carried out with the aim of encouraging foreign language learning through technology in form of Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL). In the Middle East however, research on the usefulness for elementary-prep school EFL teachers to incorporate CALL in their day to day classroom activities has not yet drawn the attention of many researchers. The most interesting part of it is that, Middle East has a very unique culture and history of origin (Teh Fraser, 1995). The region is strug gling with the aim of becoming global citizen, where global and international firms and entities are in a position of prospering in the region. As a result, the region is very much committed to a population that is well educated with proficiency in international languages like English, for instance. Many teachers have worked in different kindergartens with children four and five years old. As a matter of fact, such teachers have lots of experience and also shared their ideas and approach of teaching. The problem is such teachers might not have enough teaching qualifications, as some have education background in accounting profession, rather than teaching. This issue is possible due to two main facts; the first fact is that kindergartens are preparation especially for basic academic skills. Secondly, there was no specific local higher educational institution that generates Early Childhood teachers until two years ago. Before then the assumption in the Middle East was that for one to be a kinder teacher, there is no need of special skills. There have been significant changes that have been made to improve education quality, especially at their workplace, but with all these changes, some still feel that, their aims have not been fully reached. As a result, this project plan provides a reflection of teaching profession, to find out whether teachers have practised teaching based on children’s developmental requirements.Advertising Looking for essay on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Hopefully from such reflection teachers might recognize their problems and limitations in their previous teaching practices and find good solutions while at the same time, enriching good practices. Project Rationale The study will investigate the usefulness of elementary-prep school EFL teachers to incorporate CALL in their day to day classroom activities in Middle Eastern settings. This will serve as an effort o f increasing EFL proficiency, with the aim of being the engine that will increase CALL research in Middle East. In terms of social change, the findings herein will help make teachers as well as other relevant stakeholders aware of the benefits associated with adopting Computer Assisted Language Learning. It is worth noting that if this is done in a rational and sober manner, then level of education, performance among other things will tremendously improve for the better in Middle East schools. This is very important in determining the future of our children who seek quality education, thus producing academically successful students with great hope for future success as adults and productive citizens to our society. Study objectives The main question the research proposal intends to answer is if it is useful for elementary-prep school EFL teachers to incorporate CALL in their day to day classroom activities in Middle Eastern settings? In trying to answer this major question, the proj ect will be guided by the following questions; What are the benefits of CALL in foreign language learning to learners in Middle East? Is it of beneficial for teachers to incorporate CALL in teaching student in the Middle East? What are the Middle Eastern governments’ policies towards CALL in TEFL? What are the limitations of incorporating CALL in TEFL daily activities? As a result, the main focus would be on learners and teachers attitudes towards CALL in the Middle East (elementary-prep students aged 11-13). Literature Review According to Kessler, 2007 the introduction of Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) system holds a greater potential than traditional teaching method for improving foreign language learning. Through its use, for example internet applications, activities which are considered meaningful in EFL are brought to class.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Professional Project Plan specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/pa ge Learn More When such activities combine with sounds along with texts and graphics, CALL enriches and extends the class instructional activities.  As a result, in the Middle East, parents and teachers have invested much in computer technology with the aim that it will change the experience of foreign language learning (Kessler, 2007). The use of CALL has the power of increasing of providing quality language learning experience to learners. The system also provided platforms for distance language learning, where learners can are able to view and interact with the contents of learning at any place. CALL faces a lot of limitations, â€Å"innovations in computer assisted learning rarely have been evaluated in terms of their impact on the nature of classroom learning environment as perceived by students† (Teh and Fraser, 1995: 32). This is particularly CALL under which induced technology pedagogy is looked upon as being a panacea to problems of teaching, for ins tance, inadequate chances for real life communication, student motivation, as well as the provision of authentic input. Another limitation is that, there are ethical issues which have to be taken into consideration for instance abuse of the technology, privacy matter, confidentiality among others that renders a second thought in traditional language learning methods. Such considerations have not been handled in CALL. In addition, CALL faces limitations in its applications, for instance inadequate training and unfamiliarity of the technology by both teachers and students. This has led to a lot of difficulties in the introduction of the internet language classes (Dinev Mullen, 2008). Recent studies have indicated that there is inadequate CALL presence in the programs dealing with teacher preparation in Middle East. In addition, teachers get to know about CALL from sources that are informal. As a matter of fact, most graduates are never satisfied with limited preparations that they re ceive during their studies.Advertising Looking for essay on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The perception of teachers is that CALL education has been neglected in Middle East to make them equipped with CALL knowledge and necessary experience when using the advanced technology in language classrooms. In general, very little has been done to prepare teachers with formal teaching programs, though most of them are ready to adopt the technology. This inadequate preparation is due to out dated nature of the technology they usually use in their classes (Kessler, 2007). However, more recent research show that adoption of CALL and other technology enhance learning is on the rise (Chapelle, 2001). The perception of teachers regarding CALL use has been investigated on a very limited scale, but there has been â€Å"no evidence of research showing overall attitude towards technology among educators†. According to Vodanovich Piotrowski (2004: 45), those ready to adopt the technology effectively are in most cases deterred from doing so by institutional barriers. Teachers have wel comed cyberspace technology and most of them have faith that the tool will assist learners achieve foreign language competence. On the other hand, some teachers view CALL as a very significant part of their course, and on top of that, they have a very high motivation to use CALL. It is true that students having knowledge on CALL do appreciate the use of, and value the kind of, learning that they engage by the using computers; this has given rise to high face validity for CALL. In general, studies dealing with the perception of along with the perception of learners towards use of CALL in language classes in Middle East , have concentrated on short-term usage of synchronous and asynchronous instruments that have been developed just for certain studies (Kessler, 2007). According to Al-Hajri, 2008 governments in Middle East have been deemed to be ‘enemies’ of technology use. Most of their legislatures, laws, guidelines and regulations do not favor free use of technology and media. Most of the institutions have placed laws and policies that do not encourage CALL applications in Middle East governments. Most legislation provides close control on internet usage and its applications in schools, especially CALL application. As a result, most legislation discourages CALL application in classrooms (Dinev, Mullen, 2008). How it works (methods and resources) Computer Assisted Language Learning usually entails using technology to impart knowledge; traditional forms of training are not used but when used in combination which has been shown by other researcher to be one of the best ways to go in terms of imparting skills and knowledge especially in languages, it is then termed as blended learning (Crook, 1994). E-learning typically employs internet and computers. Generally, it refers to the use of computers as well as net-work assisted transfers of knowledge and skills. The contents are shared by use of internet, audio or video tapes, satellite television, intra net, CD-ROM. Mechanisms used in CALL may entail computer-based learning (CBL) which personal computers aid in knowledge and skills transfer. In this context, it not only refers to use of computers in classrooms but also to their use in a structured setting to enhance teaching. Due to advanced technological innovations, computers have also changed from heavy and cumbersome ones to light, portable handheld ones. This can be used in the classroom or at home with or without internet connection Computer based training (CBT) refers to self paced forms of learning, usually accessible through computers or other handheld devices. Basically, this approach can be thought from the context of reading literature material online. Web Based Training (WBT) is different from CBT on the basis of how information is delivered, with WBT; internet is exclusively used in conveying the information while in CBT CD-ROM is what is employed to deliver information (Chapelle, 2001). The concepts employed in CBT i nclude use of multiple choices, drag and drop, simulation, radial button. It provides a user friendly environment that brings satisfaction as it supplements traditional training forms. Instructors can use this kind of approach to teach learners English. Computer supported collaborative learning is an innovation thought to better how instructors teach and students learn through using the latest communication technology-e-learning 2.0. Lastly, another approach termed Technology Enhanced Learning (Ellis, 1999) has the potential of helping impart knowledge through CALL. It focuses on technological support. Additionally, it is characterized with learning resources that are created, distributed, accessible, compiled and consumed in a digital manner, full of action through communication, interaction and collaboration, it is contextual in terms of time, duration, surrounding, location and people. There is active participation and goals as well as objective clearly set (Allen Morton, 1994). It is worth noting that CALL works if one or more of these approaches are used in combination. For instance, through careful evaluation, the program, can be designed in such a way that the time spends in classroom and at home behind a computer reading English for those individuals that it is not their native language yield maximum satisfaction while meeting the learning goals and objectives (Felix, 2004). Advantages of CALL According to Poole Bates, 2003 there are various advantages of adopting CALL. One notable advantage is that it will enhance just like in other subjects and curriculum increased learning. Learners will be provided with a mixed approach in acquiring knowledge and skills that will help them counter-balance the weaknesses of traditional form and pure e-learning and offer opportunity to learners to grasp more and do more assignments with frequent assessment. Convenience also comes with this kind of learning approach. Those student who do not have English as their na tive language will access the instructions and teaching in a more flexible manner. Additionally teachers need not to travel to distance geographic location to teach as they can do it from any place provided the equipment is in place. In addition, the method has also been hailed to reduce congestion in parking lots as well as reducing traffic in institutions of higher learning. This makes it easy for people to move with ease translating to saving time (Felix, 2004). On the same note, CALL has been seen to ease the pressure on limited equipments as well as the limited space in various learning institution. Unlike traditional form of teaching, and or e-learning, CALL brings the synergy of these two and ensures that there is very high level of interaction between student, students and contents, students and instructors. This usually yield positive result manifested through improved performance. The approach makes it possible for learners to post information that will fuel general educat ional rendezvous (Allen, 2003). Methodology The research employs a mixed research design method. It is important to note that theoretical study calls for deeper digging of various literatures ranging from journals, publications, books, other forms of literature and from the internet (Beiske, 2002). What this implies is that some of the data required will be collected by perusing through secondary sources of data. Qualitative research is also employed in the study; the approach seeks to contextualize the research by immersing the researcher into the study scenario as well as with the study subjects. The research question addressed during the study will be; ‘is it useful for elementary-prep school EFL teachers to incorporate CALL in their day to day classroom activities in Saudi Arabia; Middle Eastern settings? The main focus would be on learners and teachers attitudes towards CALL in the Middle East (elementary-prep students aged 11-13). Sampling strategies that will be used du ring research process when coming up with population will include careful biased sampling. This is because it will purely target materials from the library, internet and related research reports. These will be read and analyzed to provide the required data and information on the subject. It is worth noting that data to be used will come from personal reflection as a teacher. This will be done by closely tracking back of my personal teaching experiences. Personal diaries as well as journals will help in providing required data. Additionally, some data will collect from national curriculum archive which is available in Arabic. Similarly, additional data will be collected from kindergarten daily activity schedule and children language progress reports. It is evident that the reports are indeed unique to various institutions. As previously stated other data will be derived from existing literatures that can be found in the library as well as internet. Data Analysis After collecting the required data, filtering and data coding will be done; proper statistical analysis (non parametric data analysis) will be carried out to help bring out coherent meaning of the study. The analytical methods that will be used to achieve this will include correlation, regression and cross tabulation analysis. In addition chi-square analysis will be carried out to test for significance differences. While carrying out research and reducing data, I will look for links, associations as well as patterns in the topic being studied. This can be attained through various mechanisms such as analytic induction. Ideally it entails scanning or given patterns and relationships so that the researcher comes up with a general picture to fully describe what is happening. Using constant comparison is also applicable especially when dealing with grounded-theory approach. Analysis of data collected from diaries and personal experience as EFL teacher will be analyzed as raw data (Creswell, 2003). Data codin g is where researcher manages the collected data. This is done by labeling, storing as well as retrieving. Data management includes organizing data by using computers and displaying data. It is worth mentioning that appropriate statistical analysis such as hermeneutics, discourse analysis, ground theory, content analysis as well as ethnographic decision model (Bogdan Biklen, 1982). Presentation after the analysis will be done by use of tables, graphs as well as charts. Limitation and scope of the study Most, if not all research studies have limitations and in this case, the following are the limitations; Method used to collect data is purely from secondary source. There are higher chances that the gathered information might be biased and outdated. Some vital information to help answer the research questions might not be made available due to limited research on the topic. Due to financial constraint, coupled with limited time, all aspects that constitute blend learning might not b e adequately brought to light. Considering the fact that technology changes each and every day, this poses a threat because what might be brought out by the study might not adequately reflect what will happen in the near future. The complexity of the whole process of theoretical study brings with it many processes that can lead to some aspects of the topics being forgotten. This I will address by being very careful to ensure that each and every aspect in the research questions and aims are adequately addressed. Ethical Issues The project will be approved by the school Independent Review Board before data collection. Additionally, to use the data from academic progress reports, consent from the parents or guardians will be sought after. The identity of the student from the progress reports will be confidential. Similalrly the data collected will be used for the intended purpose and only shared with the research team. In addition, respondents’ views will be handled with lots o f privacy and confidentiality, and will only be used for the intended purpose alone. Timing Mileposts Stage/Event Start and end dates Drafting the project plan 6 Mar – 15 Mar 2011 Refining the project plan 20Mar – 30 Mar 2011 Searching reading the literature (Reflective teaching, DAP, methodology-analyzing data, etc) 1 Apr – 20 Apr 2011 Collect data 22 Apr – 2 May 2011 Analyzing data 4 May – 13 May 2011 Writing up professional project 14 May – 21 May 2011 Writing up Reflection on personal learning 22 May – 25 May 2011 Proofreading 27 May – 29 May 2011 Hand in the assignments 30 May 2011 References Al-Hajri, S. (2008). The Adoption of e-Banking: The Case of Omani Banks. International Review of Business Research Papers. 4(5): 120-128. Allen, T., Morton, M. (1994). Information Technology and the Corporation of the 1990s. New York: Oxford University Press. Beiske, B. (2002). Research Methods: Uses and Limi tations of Questionnaires, Interviews, and Case Studies. Manchester: University of Manchester. Bogdan, R. Biklen, S. (1982). Qualitative research for education: An introduction to theory and methods. Boston: Allyn and Bacon, Inc. Chapelle, C. (2001). Computer applications in second language acquisition. Foundations for teaching, testing and research. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Creswell, J. (2003). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed method approaches. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications. Crook, C. (1994). Computers and the Collaborative Experience of Learning. London: Routledge. Dinev, T. Mullen, M. (2008). Internet Users’ Privacy Concerns and Attitude towards Government Surveillance –An Empirical Investigation. The Journal of Strategic Information Systems. 17(3): 214-233. Ellis, R. (1999). Learning a Second Language through Interaction. Amsterdam: John Benjamins Company, Felix, U. (2004). Teaching Languages Online: Deconstructing the m yths. Australian Journal of Educational Technology, 19 (1): 118-138. Fukutake, T. Matsubara, H. (1992). Methodologies of Social Survey (in Japan). Tokyo: Yuhikaku Publishing Co. Kessler, G. (2007). Formal and Informal CALL Preparation and Teacher Attitude towards Technology. Computer Assisted Language Learning. 20(2), 173-188 Poole, G. Bates, A. (2003). Effective Teaching with Technology in Higher Education. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Teh, G. Fraser, B. (1995). Development and Validation of an Instrument for Assessing the Psychological Environment of Computer-Assisted Learning Classrooms. Journal of Educational Computing Research. 12(1): 177-193. Vodanovich, S. Piotrowski, C. (2004). Faculty Attitudes towards Web-Based Instructions May Not BE enough: limited use and obstacles to implementation. Journal of Educational Technology Systems. 33(1): 309-318 This essay on Professional Project Plan was written and submitted by user Sons of the Tiger to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

My Criteria For Choosing Movies essays

My Criteria For Choosing Movies essays With the presumption that whatever you view becomes you, and my fathers constant admonishing that everything I do has to eventually lead me to heaven, my criteria for choosing a film to watch has been stricter than most. To illustrate what I mean, most films last between an hour and a half and two hours, time which can be spent doing something far more productive and worthwhile. Also, films, many times, have the power to persuade and, in some instances, change a persons perception of life and reality. Now, that can be good or bad. To sum it all up, my general yardstick for measuring films is that films have to do more than just while away my time for them to be worth watching. In fact, I give them the responsibility to teach me truths about the world, truths of which I would otherwise be ignorant, whether it has to do with plants, animals, history, astronomy, politics or human relations. Following up on that yardstick, I eventually came up with a set of criteria for choosing a particular film over another. Since my first contact with most newly released films, more often than not, occurs when I first see its trailer on television, what I learn about the film from the trailer is my very first criterion for choosing a film to watch. In watching a trailer, I examine many factors, the genre, the content, and the rating being the factors I examine most often. At the beginning of a trailer the rating of the film is stated. This is probably the most crucial factor in my decision to watch or not to watch that particular film, a film rated G being more desirable than one with an R rating. If a movie was rated R, unless it was totally appalling, I might continue to watch the trailer, but dont count on seeing me at the theatre or the video store renting it. Unlike the R rated film which receives outright rejection, a film with a PG-13 rating or below would be subject to further scrutiny. ...

Business Plan Master Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Business Plan Master - Case Study Example Furthermore, Ms. Thomas feels that her enthusiasm towards the task will enable her become a successful sole proprietor. However, there seems to be some drawbacks in that she has a dispute with her husband with whom they have separated but this does not seem to deter from achieving her goals. Ms. Thomas has never been an entrepreneur and therefore she does not have any records to indicate that she has engaged in business before. Financially, Ms.Thomas seems to have some financial commitment because as indicated, she has had a bank account for ten years. In her business proposal, she has left out some essential information, which would assist her in the in understanding the kind of business she wants to engage in. A business plan is also evaluated by looking at one's ability to run a business. In business, it involves one's ability to manage resources. From Ms. Thomas history, she has little or no experience that she can use to manage her business. This would be very challenging to her because, in order to run a business well, one needs to have knowledge that will assist her in the management of the physical, human and financial resources. Due to the fact that this is the first time that she is engaging in business, she may not have any business documents to support her claim that she has the ability to keep financial records. In this case, if requested by the bank to show the business records, then, she would not have any to show since this is one requirement that a bank would ask for when one is requesting for a business loan. Management would also be evaluated in a business plan. This would be done in terms of assessing the quality of the key personnel that she would employ the relevance of decision makers and also the level of education and training displayed by the key personnel. In Ms. Thomas proposal, she does not explain in any way in which the personnel would be recruited to assess their credibility in terms of offering quality service to the clients. In this case, she would not be in a position to know if the key personnel are helping her in making relevant decisions in the business. The purpose of a business should also be analyzed in a business plan. One needs to explain why a banking facility is needed, whether the facility will be based on serving the customers, whether it would be used for trading purposes or for purchasing fixed assets. Ms. Thomas proposal clearly outlines the purposes for which she would use the facility. For instance, she would request a mortgage from the bank to buy fixtures, fittings and stock and also in the acquiring of a premise. In business plans, an analysis is done on amounts. In this case, one has to balance between the customers stake versus the bank. Ensuring that all costs have been included and that they are correct would do this. When analyzing amount, one needs to ensure that the customers' money is injected into the business before the bank lends it money. In the case of Ms. Thomas proposal, she has stated that she would give all her customers priorities but she has not included the costs that would be incurred in running the business. Furthermore, her business is new so she does not have any money from sales that is essential to show to the banks that she indeed has a business that is going on and

International law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

International law - Essay Example Despite existence of the political, global and territorial differences the whole world is considered as a global village and such concept mainly enhances the idea of universal brotherhood. At the same time in the context of trade, cultural intercourse, the idea of globalization plays a major part. In this context it needs mentioning that no matter how much the globalization aspect seems positive and flawless but at the same time it includes several lacunas. In this global society also the superior nations are finding an opportunity to show their aggression, to inflict oppressive approaches towards the other nations, their people and their economy. The rate of crime has also increased to a great extent and most of the criminal, after committing the criminal deeds flee to other nations to seek shelter. As administrative system of a particular nation does not have the power to exercise the hold over other jurisdictions, the fear of being caught is reduced to a great extent for those cri minals. At the same time economic aggression is also taking a brutal shape. According to modern international treaties in the post World War II situation it has not been possible for the nations to exaggerate the power of politics to express their imperialistic mentality. Thus, those nations have adopted the procedure of economic aggression through which a superior nation can enjoy economic hold over the other nation through trade relationship. Thus, the importance has also been realized by legal scholars that there must be some kind of restraints that prevent one nation to become havoc over the other. These are some of the typical situation; rather problems at the international level that generated the emergence of this new discipline of legal jurisdiction: International Law. Legal and scholars of jurisprudence have attempted to provide definition of the International Law in different

Managing and Controlling Ethics Programs Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Managing and Controlling Ethics Programs - Essay Example An effective ethics program creates a competitive advantage, enhances performance, increases profits, and ensures the attainment of the business goals. Ethically, the ethics program reduces misconduct, improves decision-making, and improves ethical awareness. Most specifically, an effective business ethics program should be formal to engage the operations, marketing, human resource, and all the other units of a business. However, it is clear that to design and implement an effective ethics program, a lot of management and control is necessary. Indeed, since businesses have different scope and have different goals, any business adopts ethic programs that are reasonable and effective to specific businesses. As such, it is the manadate of the management to ensure the design and implementation of an effective ethics program. In managing and controlling an effective business ethics program, the organization must have the relevant resources. Most specifically, the organization must have qu alified and ethical leaders and managers. This will guarantee quality, professionalism, and effective design, management, implementation, and control of all ethical practices in the organization. The organization must also have a business environment that fosters ethical behaviour in the organization. The management has the mandate to ensure that the business environment is ethical friendly and they should not compromise ethical culture in an organization. Additionally, the mangers should establish an organizational culture.

Photography

Photography Using a broad range of critical, satirical, and photographic texts, assess the cultural reception of photography in the mid nineteenth century. To answer this question fully, there must be a clear knowledge of the culture/society which birthed photography. The mid nineteenth century was a time of great technological advancement (most prominently industrial technologies) that bought with it significant cultural and social change. It is well known that photography was both embraced, but also regarded with some scepticism as to its overall purpose and usefulness in the early Victorian era. Julia F Munro (2009 pg.167) states It is now widely accepted that photography wasnt truly discovered until 1839, as it was then that Daguerre and Fox Talbot made their discoveries of early photographic processes, the daguerreotype and calotype respectively, and shared them with the world. Goldberg (1991) agrees that it was much earlier when people began to realise a need and take interest in using light as a way of taking pictures, preserving a moment accurately and mechanically. Goldberg (1991 pg.10) goes on to state that desire was abroad to catch nature in a net. Indeed as early as the late eighteenth century, devices such as the camera obscura (optical device used mainly to aid drawing) and camera lucida (a piece of technology which allowed artists the ability to precisely record contours of landscape) were rife, and captured the eye of professional and amateur artists alike. Henry Fox Talbot (1800-1877), sometimes referred to as the Grandfather of Photography, was one of many people searching for an answer to the void that existed before the conception of photography, and was most interested in its ability to record nature accurately, and pursued his development of the calotype photographic process mainly as a result of his poor ability as an artist. Talbot states is his manual The Pencil of Nature (1844) that his photography should be thought of as photogenic drawing. Talbots earliest photograph, Latticed Window although very poor quality and taken during his early experiments utilising an adapted the camera obscura, highlights his intentions as a keen scientist and mathematician to take mechanically accurate pictures. It is merely an accurate recording, a latticed window on a bright day, it serves very little artistic purpose, and is mainly a triumph of technical accuracy. Photography came to serve a much needed purpose, one that had been recognised much earlier that its first conception. Although Daguerre/Fox Talbots Victorian audience were generally a receptive and willing one, indeed ready to embrace a new and exciting technology, but they also engaged in much critical debate regarding the cultural, ethical and social impact regarding the emergence of photography. Wells (2004 p.12) states that hailed as a great technological invention, photography immediately became the subject of debates concerning its aesthetic status and social uses , Henisch (1994 pg.2) agrees stating intense controversies raged concerning its status and role. The debates related to art or technology is one still fought today, and ones which roots can obviously be found in the very early years of photography. The famous quote by Paul Delaroche (1797-1859) upon first seeing a daguerreotype photograph, from this day painting is dead, whilst an overt exaggeration, highlights a genuine fear felt by artists (especially portrait) during infantile years of photography. The daguerreotype Although accepted for its ability to record mechanically accurate images that are free of discrimination, photographys status as an art form was much less certain, and fiercely contested. Can photography be considered artistic? Charles Baudelaire (1821-1867), a French Poet artist, was a well known and very vocal critic of early photography: If photography is allowed to deputize for art, it will not be long before it has supplanted or corrupted art altogether (Baudelaire 1859 pg.297) Baudelaire suggest photography simply should not and could not supplant more traditional artistic methods. Its ability as To answer this question fully, there must be a clear knowledge of the culture/society which birthed photography. The mid nineteenth century was a time of great technological advancement (most prominently industrial technologies) that bought with it significant cultural and social change. Whilst these advancements were the cause of change, Well (2004) states a society will also invest and put time into developing new technologies in order to help satisfy previously unseen social needs. Wells (2004 pg. 12) summarises, photography was a consequence, and not a cause of culture. It was not a cause of change, but an answer to an unforeseen social need brought about by the fast evolving, and ever changing modern metropolitan lifestyle. Bibliography WELLZ, L. 2004. Photography: A critical introduction. Oxford: Routledge. CLARKE, G. 1997. The Photograph. Oxford: Oxford University Press. BAUDELAIRE, C. 1859. The Salon of 1859. Unknown. BRIGGS, A. 1998. A Victorian Portrait. London: Cassell Publishers Limited. GOLDBERG, V. 1991. The Power of Photography: How photographs changed our lives. New York: Abbeville Publishing Group. GREEN-LEWIS, J. 1996. Framing the Victorians. New York: Cornell University Press. HEINZ, K. 1994. The Photographic Experience 1839-1914. Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania State University Press. MARIEN, M. 1997. Photography and its Critics. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. MUNRO, J. F. July 2009 The Optical Stranger: Photographic anxieties in British periodical literature of the 1840s and 1850s. Journal of early popular visual culture 7(2) pp167-183.

Abortion Economics 101 :: Argumentative Persuasive Topics

Abortion Economics 101    There was a constant debate about the approval ratings for President Bill Clinton in the midst of the sex scandal. At times the ratings were higher than even before news of the scandal broke. Everyone agreed that the high ratings were linked to the strong economy. Herein lies the truth. After all, America’s strong economy wasn't built on presidential scandals, but on abortion. The greatest economic fear right is the possibility of ending abortion, and the champions of abortion happen to be President Bill Clinton and the Democratic Party    One should recall that the economy of the pre-Civil War South was built on the backs of slaves. They feared abolition, even to the point of going to war, because their whole economy would collapse without slavery. They certainly would not be able to keep the same standard of living. Today we have a similar situation. The present economy has been built on the backs of dead babies and those who support abortion fear that its abolition will mean that they will not be able to keep the same standard of living that they have grown accustomed to. Is it fair for me to make this dramatic claim? Consider the following and decide for yourself.    Imagine a family with two children, one in 7th grade and one in 10th. Mom and Dad both work, he earns 60% of their income and she earns 40 %. Mom becomes pregnant. The first issue is whether she can or will continue to work after the baby is born. If she quits, this means a 40 % cut in income right off the top. Even if she can continue to work, now there are five people to support instead of four; three to send to college instead of two; and a child living at home for eighteen more years instead of five. Now consider the nation as a whole. In the last 25 years we have killed one-third of all babies before they were born. Without abortion, whatever resources and income we have as a nation would have to be spread around over 35 million more citizens not to mention the babies the 16- to 25-year-old women would have had by now. Think of the added cost for the programs being touted now by the president in education, day care, health care, energy usage, etc.

Coriolanus is a man of action who is finally defeated by words Essay

‘Coriolanus is a man of action who is finally defeated by words.’ To what extent do you agree? There is no question that Coriolanus has, like any other tragic hero, a large flaw in his soldier personality, a weakness that could inevitably lead to his downfall. His inability with words against his ability as a warrior is a fatal combination, and this begs the question as to whether it was this one weakness or his military strengths that were ultimately the cause of his defeat. Coriolanus demonstrates right from the beginning of the play that his tactless way with words leads him to become his own worst enemy. In Act 1, Scene 1, Menenius cleverly uses the Parable of the Belly to highlight to the plebeians how fundamental Coriolanus is to their society, that he is ‘the storehouse and the shop of the whole body’ and they couldn’t get by without him. Yet immediately after the citizens have calmed down and accepted Menenius’ speech as ‘an answer’, Coriolanus enters and undoes all that Menenius has said by saying that the ‘dissentious rogues’ are ‘curs†¦hares†¦geese’ who ‘like nor peace nor war’, belittling them first through his use of animal imagery and again by implying their weak and fickle nature. His pride gives him the ability to completely disregard the impact his words will have on others and, eventually, himself, which indeed gives the impression that words, partic ularly his own, will be the destroyers of his position. However, this tendency that Coriolanus has to speak his mind without hesitation reflects his nature as a soldier and the way that it is essential to act instantly on the battlefield, as even the slightest hesitation could be disastrous. As Menenius says, ‘his heart’s his mouth’ and that his mother has ‘bred [him] i’th’wars / Since ‘a could draw a sword, and is ill-schooled / In bolted language’, which clearly shows that the reason he lacks the skill to speak like a true politician is because he has been brought up as a soldier, and soldiers need only to think of their actions and how swiftly they execute them. Communication is unimportant; what proves a fighter’s worth is his wounds not his word, whereas a statesman is the complete opposite. It is therefore apparent that whilst Coriolanus speaks irrationally and with haste in a way that is damaging towards his reputation, it is only because he is adopting his combatant natur e, the only attitude he knows. It is not only his own words, but also the words of others that exacerbate his downfall. The Tribunes in Act 3, Scene 3 manage to persuade the mob that Coriolanus is ‘a traitor to the people’ and that they should withdraw their votes and ‘banish him [their] city’. Shakespeare uses Sicinius provoking Coriolanus into a fuming rage twice to show how strongly and negatively words affect him, as Brutus and Sicinius deliberately ‘suggest the people in what hatred he still hath held them’. In Act 3, Scene 1 the Tribune uses the word ‘shall’, a very forceful word implying necessity, which angers Coriolanus and causes him to make an insulting and vicious speech in an attempt to indicate his power over them. In Act 3, Scene 3, a similar event takes place, where again Sicinius provokes Coriolanus into a furious rage by calling him a ‘traitor’. All Coriolanus’ rant manages to do is make the citizens turn against him even more and convince them to indeed ‘banish him’. This banishment does eventually lead to his death, so in this particular instance the use of words is a key factor in his defeat. Although throughout the majority of the play the tragic hero is seen as a poor public speaker, there are a few examples of words turning from being his enemy to being his friend. Act 1, Scene 4 sees Coriolanus giving a speech to ready his army for battle. Shakespeare cleverly changes his speech into verse for the first time, to highlight the change in the quality of his words and also to emphasise his persuasiveness. He also describes his soldiers as having ‘hearts more proof than shields’, a powerful metaphor designed to inspire them to fight. He treats the men as his ‘fellows’ rather than animals, as well as threatening to kill them if they don’t fight. This authoritative and influential speech made by Coriolanus emphasises the fact that he is able to use words effectively when he needs to. Act 1, Scene 6 also includes a powerful use of rhetoric by Coriolanus when he asks ‘make you a sword of me?’ which incorporates the extended metaphor of the body politic and of all the men working together, a very significant element as it is the first time this play sees the men working as one with the protagonist. These words certainly do not lead to Coriolanus’ downfall, but rather allow him to gain a prestigious title after winning a spectacular battle, demonstrating the true warrior that he is. The reason that things do start to go wrong for Coriolanus, however, is because he is not well suited to be a statesman, as well as the fact that he has to ‘stand for his place’ as consul and is forced to ask the plebeians for their votes, which in the end he does not succeed in getting. Politics are about words and battles are about actions, and Coriolanus is definitely more suited for one than he is for the other. His mother’s aspirations for him to become consul are highly ambitious, yet she ‘doubt[s] not but our Rome will cast upon thee’, whereas he ‘had rather be their servant in [his] way / Than sway with them in theirs’. This makes it apparent that Coriolanus would rather fight than speak as he does not want to be a politician, and it is the first sign of conflict between him and his mother, as well as the first sign of where things begin to take a turn for the worse. Words are evidently not only his enemy but also something that he himself is scared of, reflected in his modest behaviour, and he also says that ‘when blows have made [him] stay [he] fled from words’. He knows that he is not a good speaker and would therefore rather stay a soldier. It is strongly ironic that his greatest enemy isn’t on the battlefield but in fact much closer to home. This certainly shows that Coriolanus is a man of action, and that he is trying to avoid being defeated by words, although he does not succeed. Volumnia did not just have high ambitions for her son after winning his battle; she had been forming him through her words since he was a child to become the person that she could not be, due to the restrictions of Roman society. She ‘rejoiced in [his] absence’ when he was fighting and was ‘pleased to let him seek danger where he was like to find fame’. Honour was what mattered most to her, and her guidance had managed to lead Coriolanus astray, as she steered herself and her son through her delusional plans to make him a great leader. She counts his wounds and ‘thank[s] the gods for’t’, which is a very unaffectionate thing to do. This lack of a true maternal presence in his life is what some believe to be the leading factor that made him abandon Rome to fight alongside Aufidius after he was accused of being a traitor and ultimately what led to his death. This is then another possible example of the use of words against him as his own mother shaped him into the man he became through her words. Although Coriolanus is capable of speaking effectively and using words to his advantage when under pressure, he has essentially been brought up to be a soldier and is therefore not only a victim of the harmful words of others but also incapable of defending himself through his own speeches, which is the fatal flaw in his character that leads him to be defeated. Shakespeare clearly shows that, apart from a few exceptions, Coriolanus is certainly a man of action defeated by words. Bibliography Shakespeare, W. Coriolanus. (L. Bliss, Ed.) The New Cambridge Shakespeare. Coriolanus: Godalming College Study Guide, 2011. Godalming College.

Free Essays on FOR Affirmative ACTION

What is affirmative action? Affirmative action is defined as a tool to monitor the consequences of employment practices. Affirmative action analyses determine whether employment practices result in a diverse applicant pool. The following quote by the former United States Secretary of Labor, Robert Reich, seems to summarize the government's perception of this sensitive subject: An Affirmative Action Plan is a â€Å"careful, systematic analysis of who you’ve got, who’s out there, and how you are going to broaden opportunity. The plan creates opportunity. It’s not a quota machine. The purpose of goals and timetables in Affirmative Action Plans is to get employers to cast a wider net to find qualified applicants.† Throughout the history of the United States of America the intense and controversial view of "equality" has been a hot topic. With that in mind, our founding fathers of this great country set forth the three theories of what every citizen should be entitled to; freedom, order and equality. Their perception of what equality meant has taken on many different definitions as we as a society have evolved and changed. As a human being and especially as a citizen of the United States of America, I believe that civil rights are a very intricate part of our existence. When those rights are violated, a person tends to feel betrayed and persecuted due to their color, race, religion or personal beliefs. Therefore, the context of affirmative action seems to play a part in the balance of equality. In 1954, the Supreme Court issued a controversial ruling in the case of Brown vs. The Board of Education. The Court ruled that the concept of "separate, but equal facilities established on the basis of race" be deemed unconstitutional. Since racism and indifference had restricted rights for blacks, executive orders issued by presidents in the 1950s and 1960s established the concept of anti-discrimination measures to guarantee fair... Free Essays on FOR Affirmative ACTION Free Essays on FOR Affirmative ACTION What is affirmative action? Affirmative action is defined as a tool to monitor the consequences of employment practices. Affirmative action analyses determine whether employment practices result in a diverse applicant pool. The following quote by the former United States Secretary of Labor, Robert Reich, seems to summarize the government's perception of this sensitive subject: An Affirmative Action Plan is a â€Å"careful, systematic analysis of who you’ve got, who’s out there, and how you are going to broaden opportunity. The plan creates opportunity. It’s not a quota machine. The purpose of goals and timetables in Affirmative Action Plans is to get employers to cast a wider net to find qualified applicants.† Throughout the history of the United States of America the intense and controversial view of "equality" has been a hot topic. With that in mind, our founding fathers of this great country set forth the three theories of what every citizen should be entitled to; freedom, order and equality. Their perception of what equality meant has taken on many different definitions as we as a society have evolved and changed. As a human being and especially as a citizen of the United States of America, I believe that civil rights are a very intricate part of our existence. When those rights are violated, a person tends to feel betrayed and persecuted due to their color, race, religion or personal beliefs. Therefore, the context of affirmative action seems to play a part in the balance of equality. In 1954, the Supreme Court issued a controversial ruling in the case of Brown vs. The Board of Education. The Court ruled that the concept of "separate, but equal facilities established on the basis of race" be deemed unconstitutional. Since racism and indifference had restricted rights for blacks, executive orders issued by presidents in the 1950s and 1960s established the concept of anti-discrimination measures to guarantee fair...

Competitor or Competition Focused

Competitor or Competition Focused If you’re competitor-focused, you have to wait until there is a competitor doing something. Being customer-focused allows you to be more pioneering. ~Jeff Bezos All too often we watch what all the other writers are doing in both writing and marketing, then try to snare which gimmick we can copy to work for us. Writing and self-promoting based upon our competition. I dare say the majority of early writers dont start off that way. Most want nothing more than for readers to flock to their story and gobble it up. Its probably why they started writing in the first place . . . to share a tale. However, reality sets in quick and harsh. Readers already have an abundance of reading material. So how can struggling writers be seen, heard, or better yet, read with so much competition? As a result, writers then gravitate to those more successful in the field, emulating the ads, the touring, the whatever-else they are doing. It becomes all about the numbers . . . yet the numbers arent that easy to come Then we commiserate with other writers. We join organizations, newsletters, Facebook groups comprised of writers, to learn how to be a more successful writer. But we have limited hours in the day. What goes lacking is the communication with potential readers. We forget were supposed to be customer-focused instead of competitor-focused. The goal is to reach out to where readers are:Â  libraries, schools, book fairs, radio, podcasts, niche organizations, maybe even your local paper. If you write romance, where do these souls tend to collect both in person and online? Ditto any other genre or subgenre. Do not stray from your reader being right up front in your writing world. Do not forget you are feeding them, educating them, entertaining them, using your talents to be the best you can be for them. Slowly and steadily, keep reaching out, respecting and adoring them. Readers are your market, not your competitors.

Sustainability and Built Enviornment Assignment

Sustainability and Built Enviornment - Assignment Example While several sustainable construction materials are now available, the criteria used to choose either of the same is informed by the desire to strike a delicate balance between the growing needs of the world today and the need to minimize the negative impacts that would emanate from such initiatives both to resources and to the environment. From the perspective of the environment, the building materials used have a direct impact on the energy consumption, the emission of carbon dioxides, how much waste materials are generated, the natural resources used, water consumption as well as how the utilization of such materials directly affects the health of the persons around the area. The first criteria that would be used in choosing a sustainable building material are the ability of the material to be recycled. Taking an example of steel, it is a building material that is recyclable for an indefinite time without necessarily suffering any losses in terms of quality. Steel can, for instance, be recycled 100 percent. However, for purposes of building, steel materials can be recycled i.e. used from one building to another to a degree of about 98%. There is, therefore, an economic loop that is sustained by the intrinsic quality inherent in the steel itself. Today, it is estimated that all over the world, recycled steel make up to about 40% of the total ferrous material in the steel industry. Mostly, such materials are used in the electrical furnace procedures and other processes like the blast oxygen furnace that play a role in generating building materials and even in direct construction processes. Through recycling, there are a significant cost reduction processes meaning that it can be sustained for a long time.

Computer Physical Security Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Computer Physical Security - Essay Example Biometric characteristics are exclusively individual; therefore making such characteristics a basis of user identification provides high reliability of protection. So we may define a biometric system as 'a pattern recognition system which recognizes a user by determining the authenticity of a specific physiological or behavioral characteristic possessed by the user'2. The tests made by the International Computer Security Association (ICSA) have allowed to issue certificates to rather limited number of systems of biometric identification. It is necessary to notice that six products certificated by the ICSA have been selected as a result of the careful analysis from a plenty of models. In the manual 'Biometric Industry Product Guide' issued by the ICSA, there is a description of 170 systems, allowing to make identification of users on basis of their unique physical parameters. Many independent users, including representatives of the ICSA, appreciate certified systems at their true value. The majority of biometric systems operate in the following way: the digital mark of a fingerprint, an iris or a voice is stored in the system database. A person, who is going to get access to a computer network, enters his/her own personal biometric information into the system by means of a microphone, a scanner of finger-prints or other devices. The received data are compared with the sample, which is kept in the database. Let us consider the mostly used biometric systems of computes access control.FINGERPRINT RECOGNITION Recently the dactyloscopy has attracted the attention as a biometric parameter, which quite possibly will become the most popular in the future. Already now the application of this technology has received wide circulation in Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) used by police throughout all territory of the USA and more than in other 30 countries of the world. In the USA devices of access control based on fingerprint identification are established in military institution, including the Pentagon. Among the advantages of fingerprint scanners are simplicity, usability and reliability. Though the percent of erroneous negative identification is about 3 %, a mistake of positive access is less than one to one million. All process of identification lasts no more than several seconds and does not demand any efforts from those, who use the given system of access. Nowadays such systems are made in the size of less than a pack of cards. The certain disadvantage constraining the de velopment of the given method is the bias of a part of people, which do not wish to make the information on their fingerprints available. Thus the counterargument of developers of such equipment is the assurance that the information about papillate pattern of a finger is not stored. What is stored is only short identification code constructed on the basis of prominent features of your finger-print.HAND GEOMETRY RECOGNITION The method of identification of users by hand geometry by it's the technological structure and the level of reliability is quite comparable to the method of ident

Business legal issues. Brandon Burton, Leslie Gaines, Eric Essay

Business legal issues. Brandon Burton, Leslie Gaines, Eric Defrancisco, David Butler, Sanjeev Dube - Essay Example In this case, the mention of his disability as a concern may be construed as prejudice against the physically disabled as a class. The discrimination is made more apparent by the fact that the position being applied for is a managerial one, a job that requires more of mental skills rather than physical capabilities. There may be instances, however, when it is proper to express concern that physical disability may get in the way of the discharge of the duties of the position. When the job requires physical dexterity and the application of manual skills, then clearly the situation of a paraplegic will be a hindrance to the discharge of the function. There are many such instances when the specification of physical attributes for a particular job is accepted as normal and regular, such as requiring airplane attendants to be of a certain minimum height to be able to reach overhead baggage compartments, or ballet dancers to be male to fulfill a particular dance role. Ethnicity or racial or igins may sometimes be necessary for assignment in certain parts of the world, to reduce the threat of personal risk to the individual, or to increase the company’s acceptance in that culture. ... (2012). â€Å"Dallas company sued for disability discrimination.† Retrieved from: http://www.houstonemploymentlawattorney.com/2012/06/dallas-company-sued-for-disability-discrimination.shtml Response to the post of Student 2: Leslie Gaines Reading through the original report of the case, it is mentioned that the company believes the claims to be baseless, â€Å"but will investigate them thoroughly.† What is happening in this case, or at least what the company wants to portray, is that the assignment of non-whites to lower-paid â€Å"back of the house duties† (if it is true) is the decision of the local branch management and is not a policy of top management. In either case, the company has a duty of restitution to the non-whites, not only in monetary terms, but in terms of restoring their dignity and self-esteem. Then if indeed the branch management is culpable, then they should be dealt with by the top executive, together with articulation of a clear statement ag ainst discriminating practices (Daft & Marcic, 2012). It is clear that the company does not claim that the restaurant is trying to maintain a high-end image so it does not assign non-Caucasians as servers; it is the plaintiffs who allege this (Wildeboer, 2012). Had this been the defense of the firm – that it seeks to maintain an image – then it would be tantamount to an admission, and the force of the law should be brought to bear upon it for racial discrimination. Nor does the report say the 26 plaintiffs were qualified. If they are, the firm should be held accountable by the principle of command responsibility. However, it must first be proven that there are and have been absolutely no non-white servers, and that all non-whites, despite being qualified for the front-end, are summarily

Smart Grid Resolution, London Waste Dump Site and Maladroits Cosmetics Essay Example for Free

Smart Grid Resolution, London Waste Dump Site and Maladroits Cosmetics Essay One of the benefits of investing in this $100 million project includes rerouting power around bottlenecked lines. This allows Xcel Energy to deliver electricity to areas in Boulder that have a very high demand that the previous conventional electrical grid was unable to service effectively. This smart-grid system also enables Xcel Energy to detect and reduce power outages, identify false alarms more quickly and read customer meters remotely. This in return will lead to a reduction in the number of times the service crews are sent out to those locations, thus making the service crews more productive. Combining the efficiency of the smart-grid electrical system and the reduction of outages will allow Xcel Energy to capture cost-savings more appropriately. Additionally, this electrical smart-grid allows customers to monitor their individual power use reducing household usage by up to 30% in some cases, thereby enhancing customer satisfaction. Although this may lead to a decrease in revenue for Xcel Energy, the smart-grid system enables integration of renewable generation, an increase in overall system efficiency, a more robust electrical system and an ability to recover under-utilized and wasted energy. We can’t say for sure, but this may actually benefit Xcel Energy in the long-run as they will recover lost revenue through their decreased operational costs using the smart-grid electrical system. What conflicts do you suspect might have occurred between all the different stakeholders in this project? In any project there are four main stakeholders. This includes Client, Parent Organization, Project Team and the Public. In the case of Xcel Energy’s smart-grid project, both the client and public would be the population of Boulder, CO. The Parent Organization is Xcel Energy and the project team includes representatives from Accenture consulting for engineering, energy industry consultants, leading technologists, business leaders and IT experts. Accenture provides consulting solutions in many major industrial sectors. According to the text, Accenture consulting for engineering was hired. Additionally, IT experts were also brought onto the team. Accenture provides IT solutions as part of their consulting portfolio so there may be some conflict between the two parties due to their different backgrounds and methods of doing business. Also security and privacy were of utmost importance to protect intellectual property, so it is in the best interests of the project team and the parent organization to control how much information they gave to the public and local media. However, the latter of the two recipients may have wanted more information, specifically, how this affects their electricity costs and demands in the long run causing another source of conflict. Internally, members of the project team will experience conflict caused by belonging to two different teams – their project team and functional team. Often, the head of the teams are two different people with different motives and goals, and the members have the responsibility to report to both and are therefore pulled in two different directions. The members of the project team experience almost total conflict as they compete for project resources and leadership roles. This is caused in part by the different backgrounds, attitudes and biases of each member. This would be especially apparent in the Xcel project where members from many different companies and departments are brought together, each with a unique way of accomplishing the tasks and work packages of the project. Turning London’s Waste Dump into the 2012 Olympics Stadium Which of the â€Å"triple constraints† seems to be the uppermost here? Which constraints was Crockford trading between? The text says Crockford â€Å"quickly† assembled a project team of over 1000 individuals in order to meet the mid-2011 completion date. A constant referral to time is also observed. The start date of construction was noted as May 2008 and although there was a delay due to re-designing the roof, the text ends by stating that the project was still on track to be completed by mid-2011. Therefore, Schedule is the triple constraint uppermost here. The design team for the 2012 Olympics Stadium planned a highly-compact field of play requiring a steel-beamed roof and on discovering that the steel-beamed roof as designed would create turbulence on the compact field, a lighter, more flexible roof was redesigned, which was made in part from recycled materials. This roof required less steel and cost less than the initial steel-beamed roof designed. Thus, Crockford traded between the Scope (Required Deliverables) and the Cost (Budget limit). Was the life cycle for this project S-shaped, J-shaped, or something else? Considering just the purpose of the river dredging as a project itself, what was the shape of its life cycle? The completion of London’s 2012 Olympic Stadium consisted of selecting the project team (consisting of over 1000 members), cleaning up the chosen site, design of the stadium, construction, delays and finally construction until completion. Therefore, the project life-cycle most likely followed a stretched S-shape curve similar to housing construction projects. The S-shaped curve is categorized by a slow start, followed by a quick build-up and a slow finish. This is a result of the changing levels of resources used during the successive stages of the life-cycle. The slow start in this case would be the clearing of the site and design of the stadium. Construction would also begin slowly but would quickly ramp up once all the raw materials are shipped to the location and base infrastructure completed. There is a delay (not uncommon – almost expected) when the team realizes the steel-beamed roof would create turbulence on the compact field. Finally, construction will slow down as specialized parts are ordered for the final touches (luxury spectator rooms, confectionary stands etc). The river dredging project followed a J-shaped curve. This is characterized by a slow start followed by an exponential increase in project completion over time. Moreover, the expenditure of resources has little correlation with overall progress. The team removed 30,000 tons of silt, gravel and garbage from the river. Getting the cranes and other heavy machinery used to remove garbage from the river would take time, but once there, they can quickly and effectively remove the waste from the river. Were there any ancillary goals for this project? What might they have been? The Olympic Delivery Authority’s goal to use recycled materials in the building of the 2012 Olympic Stadium can be considered as an ancillary goal. The use of recycled materials to build a lighter, more flexible roof creates opportunities whereby a stadium can be completely built from recycled materials in the future. An ancillary goal of making 55,000 of the 80,000 seats temporary would create a profitable stadium in the future because the cost of maintaining the area containing the seats is grossly reduced. Furthermore, a successful stadium results in a successful 2012 Olympics and ultimately increases tourism in England. Finally, Ian Crockford has greatly increased his reputation and experience as a project manager (as well as his subordinates and parent company too) which drastically increases his chances of managing future projects on this scale and beyond. Which of the project-defining factors in Section 1. 1 were active here. The project was identified as important by the Olympic Delivery Authority composed of politicians and other high-ranking members of society. The scope was clearly defined from the beginning of the project and was divided into sub-tasks to achieve the project goals. The due date of the project is also clearly defined as Mid-2011. Many interdependencies were at play such as the recycled metal from the police department and dredging of the river. The project was unique in that it had a temporary seating design, a lighter more flexible roof and designed specifically for the 2012 London Olympics. The budget was limited to ? 32 million and not unlike the Xcel Energy case detailed above; conflicts existed between the different stakeholders of the project. Therefore, all 7 of the project defining factors were active in the construction of the 2012 Olympics stadium. Maladroit Cosmetics Company Which of the three choices do you recommend and why? The third choice, that is, the company that manufactures the machines can handle the installation project for a fee close to what the installation would cost Maladroit is recommended for a number of reasons. The first being hat Maladroit becomes the customer in this transaction, and the company installing the machines would be performing the job and would have to do it according Maladroit’s specifications including any unseen delays not identified in the scope. We are also unsure of the qualifications of the members of her staff and if they capable of undertaking such a high risk project worth $4 million. Finally, she cannot handle the project informally out of office because the project is very important and she would not be able to devote as much time to the project as well as her current duties. If the project was one small machine at a total cost of $4,000, would your answer be different? Yes, we would recommend that she assigns the project to a member of her staff that could potentially be suited for a managerial role in the future. This low risk project would be an excellent test to see how well he or she is able to complete the project deliverables in a cost-effective and timely manner. Discuss the relative importance of the capital investment required versus the role of the investment in machinery. Capital investment can be defined as a commitment of the owner’s money to land, buildings or machinery. In this example, it is the commitment of the owner’s money to the installation of 6 machines worth $4million (note: the plant manager does not necessarily own the machines, rather, the shareholders or owners of the actual company do). The role of the investment in machinery is to replace the filling machines that have become obsolete within 6 months so that the company can continue to produce cosmetic products and generate revenue.

Protestant Ethic And The Spirit Of Capitalism

Protestant Ethic And The Spirit Of Capitalism Karl Heinrich Marx (Karl Marx), a philosopher, historian, sociologist, political theorist and journalist who developed the theory of Marxism. His sociological ideas have played a significant role in the understanding and development of social sciences and Marxist political movements. Marxist theories about society, politics, economy and culture signify that the culture gets progressed through dialectic of class efforts. On the other hand, Karl Emil Maximilian Max Weber (Max Weber) was another economist and sociologist of Germany who got profoundly influenced by the sociology along with its theory and research findings. He became famous for the notion in economic sociology that was completely elaborated in his book on The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism. This essay provides an insight about the concept of progress together with its comparison, by considering the opinions and views of the two sociologists depicted above. Specifically, the present essay concentrates on the cultural theorists who are interested in the process of social development as a whole and understands the concept of progress relative to this context. In the reconsideration of this concept of progress, Karl Marx (1818-1883) grew highly influential as he started attacking the dominant philosophic and idealistic traditions pertaining to German Science and Philosophy with his inspection of the economies related to France, Germany and England as well as the emergence class associated to these countries. According to Marx, a man creates and reflects himself by the labour processes and develops awareness not only about himself but also his social characteristic features in relation to other individuals in the society. Nevertheless, a mans association to his labour and to himself, nature and other people was been highly disturbed through the establishment of Division of Labour as highly and well-organised means of production that subsequently resulted in mans estrangement from his own labour. This context of alienation was intensified further with the considerable development of capitalist mode of production where in which worker was fur ther divided from his dynamic labour through industrialists ownership in means of production. Thus, Marx asserts that individuals progress towards self realisation has been stymied by the development of capitalism-a structure of economic associations that utilize working mans labour in the name of proceeds (profits) and isolates man from other individuals and himself in a way through the conflict between the proleterian and bourgeois classes. But, in Marxs historical explanation, the bourgeois class development and the specific capitalistic mode of production is an obligatory step towards the category of society where the individual may once again obtain the origin for his perspective of self-realisation: communism. These enhancements of production forces, a construction of mans ability, find its restrictions in the association of power and contraindication of dominance. Thus, he meets the necessary criterion with the explanatory belief of self-realisation by his investing analysis of conflicts entrenched within social and economic construction of capitalism. In addition, Marx expands the idea of false-consciousness by recognising the class that is unable to direct their true interests associated to well-being, self realisation and exploitation. By developing consciousness among the proletarians class, the utilisation of human reason in understanding the characteristic nature and cause of exploitation as private possession of the ways of fabrication in capitalist society. Nevertheless, it can be understood that it is the subjugated use of reason, allied with Marxs philosophy of material practice that can result in the development of freedom to humans and thus assist them in achieving progress. Lastly, the use and application of human reasoning as critiques with the faith in religious salvation, can be considered as human means for transforming their materialistic social situations and commence the re-arrival of enlightenment promise of freedom, which in Marxs perspective was been impeded and succeeded by the estrangement and exploitation conditions that manifest within the capitalistic society. Contrastingly, Max Weber (1864-1920) considered seriously about the emerging dilemmas from the socio cultural and political state of affairs in Germany and criticised purely the historical materialistic concept of explanations. Within his book The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism, Weber instead depicts a more conceivable and pragmatic explanation that the materialization of capitalism owed much to the specific patterns of religious motivational explanations in Calvinism between various industrialists at that period. As these people (Calvinists) believed that gods knowledge and astuteness was immeasurable to human minds, deliverance and resistance cannot be anticipate confidently as a reward for ones inherent merits. In this uncertainty, the preachers of Calvinism can only offer their valuable suggestions in a way that expertise in ones worldly calling can be assumed to be as a spot of celestial errand. This consequential methodology of hard work, methodological planning and reinvesting profits then led to success within business and economic growth. In Webers edifying history writings, the principal theme is the rationalisation, the long-standing trend in Western societies towards considering every segment of social activity more acquiescent to calculation. He asserts that, in increasing yearn for achieving mastery over meeting human needs (by maximisation of efficiency, predictability and control) an individual drives the rationalisation process. Unlike Marx, Weber direct that rationalisation cannot advance identically and concomitantly in every sphere and instead each individual sphere is rationalised in its own specific direction that is unique and different. In the spiritual sphere, the process of rationalisation advances with the deflation and the exclusion of magic through logical expansion and the realistic descriptions of Protestantism, especially the abstinent material performances. Different to Marx, Weber describes that rationalisation i n economic sphere discovers itself in the modern bourgeois capitalism (Marx view of capitalistic progress) and the critical utilisation of reasoning in the computation of quest of yields. Additionally, Weber explains that the progress in administrative sphere can be directed only through a guided reckoning, impartiality and competence. In the intellectual sphere, progress was thought to be achieved by the aid of scientific methods, testing skills, experiential data collection because theories that are imitative through scientific reasoning supersede to those that are previously attributed to magical causes. However, this particular enlightenment ideology of motive and self realisation is distinguishable with that of Marxs view of progress and is still qualified by Weber by the rationalisation itself. Compared to Marx perspective, the rationalisation and progress according to Weber involve the positive features of effectiveness, manageability, uniformity, unavoidability and impartiality. These positive aspects of rationalisation can result in enhanced capacity, the development of capacity and power relations and thereby assists in attaining progress in each sphere depicted above. Unlike Marx, rationalisation in economic perspective as witnessed in Western Capitalism was been considered by Weber as the process of reasoning out unreasonable sentiments that hamper accrual and estimation of profit, progress and sentiments like faith, thoughtfulness solidarity and apprehension. Similarly, the rationalisation in administrative view by bureaucracy has led to dehumanisation of relationships amid of personnel surrounded by objective regulations of conduct that enhance competence, reduce prejudice and produce reliable, expected results. Moreover, the phenomenon of rationalisation in politic al perception develops a conflict with the human involvement in the form of democracy and comprises people supremacy with the influence of outside and external forces. Thus, it can be understood that Weber paints an austere picture of dehumanised relationships, where in which love, compassion and human relations are weeded out in rationalised links that promote regularity, impartiality and efficiency. Distinct to Marx, with this, Weber provides a critical analysis to the Enlightenment appeal, not only indicating the positive facets of rationalisation but also its negative implications. To conclude this interpretation of progress among the two cultural theorists, the approach of modernity, radical discontinuity and the possibility of complete self realisation were figured within the work of each theorist. Simply, it can be explained as for Marx, the progress lies in the advancement of society including economic production methods that dialectically result to its radical oust and a societal reconstruction, a revolutionary shatter from the pre-existing forms of history. Towards the other side, the split is in conventional forms of movement and organisation through rationalisation for Weber. Rather, human maturity and its development in Marxs view dictated radical variance and structural modifications, Whilst Weber view embodied an emerging tension between ideals of competence and distant relations versus unreasonable principles of human love, consideration and faith. Thus, this process of progress and rationalisation still persists for critical discussion in future as all the social practices and principles strive to conceal their embarrassment with power just in their way of changing domination.

The Falkland Islands Conflict :: Falkland Islands War Independence Essays

No one really knows who discovered the Falkland Islands. Nearly every British historian will insist that the English explorer John Davis discovered the islands in 1592(1) while Argentineans typically credit Vespucci, Magellan, or Sebald de Weert. (2) The events of January 2, 1883 are not in dispute, however. On this date, James Onslow, captain of the HMS Clio, dropped anchor just off the Falklands. The next day he went ashore and raised the British flag. (3) This action infuriated the Argentines, who had taken control of the Falklands upon receiving independence from Spain in 1816. With his imperialistic seizure of the islands, Onslow began a sequence of events that would end nearly 150 years later in war. Shortly after the invasion, the Argentine government set out four arguments in favour of their ownership of the Falklands: 1. Argentina ruled all land in the region formerly held by Spain. 2. Spain had purchased the islands from France. 3. Britain had abandoned its claim to the Falklands in a â€Å"secret† 1771 agreement. 4. Britain had abandoned its settlement in West Falkland in 1774.(4) No matter how well formed these arguments may have been, they fell on deaf ears in Britain. Lord Palmerston, the British Foreign Secretary, simply asserted that the Falklands had been British since the initial claim of sovereignty in 1765. (5) Although Argentina remained in a state of official protest, few things changed over the next 132 years. The issue was finally brought to the forefront in 1965 when the United Nations passed Resolution 2065, which called upon Britain and Argentina to come to an agreement on the issue with reasonable speed. (6) With this resolution began what came to be called the â€Å"Seventeen Year War† between the two nations. In March 1967 Britain agreed that it might be possible to cede sovereignty of the Falklands to Argentina, as long as the islanders agreed. (7) While the Argentines may have viewed this as a major concession, Britain had really given up very little. The Falkland islanders were quite resolute in their desire to remain subjects of the Queen.