Wednesday, July 31, 2019
ââ¬ËSatyam â⬠the Enron of Indiaââ¬â¢
INTRODUCTION The case study ââ¬ËSatyam ââ¬â the Enron of Indiaââ¬â¢ looks at Satyam Computer Services Limited and its involvement in corporate fraud leading to one of Indiaââ¬â¢s largest white-collar crimes. The Satyam scandal marks as one of Indiaââ¬â¢s biggest corporate scandals where its stakeholders were continually fed misleading financial information from its late chairman Ramalinga Raju. This once promising, global IT company provided its services for some of the largest companies in Australia and the United States, such as Telstra, Suncorp and Qantas, to mention a few.The following case study analysis looks at the failure of Satyam Computer Services Limited due to fierce competition and the need to impress stakeholders, along with inaccurate, misleading accounting statements, unethical behaviour and poor leadership. PART 1: Management issues in the Satyam case study From reviewing the case, the management issues in the case study are unethical behaviour and po or leadership. As there was no approval needed form shareholders it gave Raju and his brother the ability to make all managerial decisions.The lack of leadership and abuse of power let independent directors and audit committee feel intimidated enough to trust in the managerial decisions without question. The need for power and money led to negligence of fiduciary duties and inaccurate deceptive accounting on Rajuââ¬â¢s behalf. Rajuââ¬â¢s total disregard for managerial ethics just to make short term figures to impress Satyamââ¬â¢s stakeholders resulted in a complete lack of corporate social responsibility.Rajuââ¬â¢s greed led to the manipulation of financial records to show increased earnings, payment of salaries to ââ¬Ëghost staffââ¬â¢, diversion of funds to purchase property in family member names and fabricated profitsà ¬Ã ¬Ã ¬Ã ¬. It is believed PricewaterhouseCooper failed to perform its role correctly and therefore this failure to follow fiduciary responsi bilities lead to Rajuââ¬â¢s manipulation of the businesses statements and cash flow was go undetected. PART 2: Why the issues are problematic? In the first instance we examine the unethical behaviour and the conflict of interest with family members in high company roles.Since the company was founded and owned by Raju himself, the chairman, and his brother occupying the role of managing director, which gave them and overwhelming majority and a psychological advantage into the decision making of the company. This advantage is how the company books were able to be cooked and inflated profits by selling inflated stakes for went undetected for so long. Without the approval of from the shareholder the directors were able to use company funds to be diverted into family real estate investments.Rajuââ¬â¢s expectations for power and ambitious corporate growth also contributed to the fraud. Whist there is no right or wrong way to behave due to Rajuââ¬â¢s lack of moral leadership Satya mââ¬â¢s stakeholders, clients and employees were also greatly affected by the demise. Rationalisation and justification lead to negative emotions which could have caused Raju to act emotionally and unethically without any regard for his stakeholders. The damage to the credibility of the company forced the cancellation of projects which in turn lead to the employeeââ¬â¢s loss of wages, jobs and self esteem.The mistrust would have had clients question accountability and would have sought business with Satyums competitors. Shareholders would have lost money in the form of investments. Deceptive reporting practices and complete lack of transparency in the finances damaged the companyââ¬â¢s future credibility. As PricewaterhouseCooper failed to detect the discrepancies I believe they also hold some accountability in the downfall of the company. As the falsifying of Satyamââ¬â¢s books would lower its stock values, which inturn would lead lower profits and less investors.Howeve r to leave the auditor out of the equation would be a mistake. As a result of negligence with both PricewaterhouseCooper and Raju, the outsourcing company suffered a massive blow in trust and leave further investment in the company questionable. However whilst the scandal put pressure on the Indian government and other Indian outsourcing, this type of scandal wouldnââ¬â¢t be limited to just India as a culture, as It comes down having a good global manager that exercises good ethical behaviour.As all mangers are human itââ¬â¢s the ability of mangers to be self disciplined and handle pressure to provide total quality management. PART 3: Recommendations. In Satyamââ¬â¢s case the need to merge or sell the company would be the first step to restore some faith in the company. What happened with Satyam served as a reminder that a universal, quality corporate governance mechanism is needed to ensure future companies donââ¬â¢t follow in Rajuââ¬â¢s footsteps. Complete transpare ncies in finances would also avoid any temptation for unethical behaviour along with more deterring punishments for frauds of this scale.This would ensure higher loyalty and trust from stakeholders. Henri Fayolââ¬â¢s contribution to management thinking would be a great concept to start with, his five principles; I. Planning ââ¬â Establishing objectives and goals. Recognising obstacles, these can be internal or external, and how to control them. Forming, implementing and following up of plans. II. Organising ââ¬â Identification, classification, coordination III. Commanding ââ¬â The delegation of duties to correct workers, successful leadership. IV.Coordinating ââ¬â Make decisions and ensure all information is shared and to monitor the works involved. V. Controlling ââ¬â Monitoring and making sure all things are running according to plan. Employee performance reviews Whilst policing manager personality traits would be a perfect solution the reality of policing t his is near impossible therefore management accountability and responsibility would be a good start. Having a universal Code of Ethical Conduct and setting out universal teachings or courses in global ethics may also provide a solution.By obtaining a better understanding of cultural diversity, understanding the abilities, vales and personality types of different cultures ultimately it is up to the manager to be fully accountable. REFERENCE LIST Schermerhorn, Davidson, Poole, Simon, Woods, Chau, 2011, Management Foundations and Applications http://www. mahindrasatyam. com/investors/documents/Annual-Repor-for-the-year-2011-12. pdf http://www. vrl-financial-news. com/accounting/intl-accounting-bulletin/issues/iab-2009/iab441/satyam-scandal-where-to-from. aspx http://www. telegraph. co. uk/finance/4161198/Satyam-accounting-scandal-could-be-Indias-Enron. html
Tuesday, July 30, 2019
Pest analysis of auto industry Essay
Type of Educational Organization: School Training Centre College Others 2. Number of successful years your organization has completed: Below 5 5-10 10-15 15&Above 3. You use the internet for: Regularly on a daily basis Twice a week May be once in a week Not at all 4. Main purpose of using the internet/online presence? Please select all that apply. Work-related Study-related Email News Banking Entertainment If other, please explain 5. The technologies implemented in your Educational Organization? Bio-metric Attendance Solution CCTV Security Office Accounting System Library Management System Please mention if any ______________________________________________ 6. The source you will use to collect the study materials for your students: Please select all that apply Text Books eBooks Journals Previous yearââ¬â¢s documents If any website, please Specific Website (Except Google): Time you spend on your office computer: Less than 30 minutes 30-60minutes 1-2 hours More than 2 hours If you are not using internet, what is the main reason for it? We donââ¬â¢t have time It is not interesting We do not want any publicity We donââ¬â¢t want to share it Device you and your students use to access the internet: Please select all that apply. Mobile phone Tablet computer such as iPad, Samsung Galaxy Tab, etc. Laptop computer Desktop computer The aspect of EDU-ERP appeals to you the most in your campus: Please select all that apply. Connecting with Parents of your students Connecting with Resource people Connecting with Teaching & Non-teaching Staff Connecting with Students Have you ever subscribed to one or more Education Blogs/Websites? Yes No If yes, please specify the blogs/websites names: Information requirements of an organization can be determined by Consulting Principal/Administrator directly Through telephone calls Through e-Brochure and Mailing Others Changing an operational information system into EDU-ERP system is: Impossible Expensive and done selectively Never required Usually done On a scale of 1-10 (10 being the greatest impact) how would you rank the impact of implementing EDU-ERP in your Educational Organization ? 1 2345à 6 78910 For what reason, Management team in their own organization will not design EDU-ERP? Systems have to interact with other systems They do not have the special skills necessary to design systems It is not their job à They are always very busy
Monday, July 29, 2019
IP 1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words
IP 1 - Essay Example It may be just a movie but helped me settle the argument if everything around me is just an idea or predetermined but finally concluded that everything has physical existence and that nothing is predetermined. Real for me meant a tangible existence that could be verified by my senses. Since everything around me is verifiable by my senses, everything I see is real and that we have free will. There two main thoughts about the source of knowledge. One is the idea of tabula rasa that the mind is empty and it gets its knowledge from sensory experience and study. There is also another thought that posits that the mind already contains some ideas such as conscience and the predisposition to believe the existence of a Supreme Being. For me however, I am more incline to believe that knowledge is a product of study and experience more than a predetermined idea. And this knowledge is subjective. What I experience and learn may differ from other person and as a result, we will have a different kind of thinking but we may have agree on some truths such as existence of a Supreme Being, to be a moral person, to serve society, etch. Traditional thinkers hold that faith conflicts with reason. They posit that to be faithful, one must abandon reason and to be reasonable, one must not have faith. My position however is that each complements the other. Reason through science supports faith. By knowing the wonder of nature and the universe, I became more convince of the supreme intelligence and power of God and thus, fortified my faith more. Human understanding can also never fathom the eternal wisdom of God. Ethics, which is doing the right thing to differentiate from morals, which means to be a good person in a way that ethics only requires following a certain standard of right whereas morals is not subjective. Moral is universal regardless of culture, norm or society. Simply put, being good does not mean following certain rules which ethics
Sunday, July 28, 2019
Space Race (specifically the early years) Research Paper
Space Race (specifically the early years) - Research Paper Example strong technological and security, competition, Russia was ahead of the United States, but this later changed when the United States sent the first man to moon. This research will demonstrate the space race timeline and highlight some of the major events of this period. The initial advantages that Russia had over the united states will also be discussed and other programs that the united states have launched in order to achieve their space interests. The fall of the Nazi German after the Second World War saw the United States and German emerge as major superpowers who had the technological abilities to control major innovations in the world. The two countries were embroiled in a major silent political, geographical and military tussle that was christened the cold war, an era when technological advancements were at their peak. Based on the newspaper headlines of the 50s and the 60s, the Soviet Union was way ahead of the United States on the development of space capability, a situation that bolted the later into action, opening the area for major competition. The initial periods of the space race was marked with major secret spying between the United States and the Soviet Union as the two countries were concerned of the major technological research activities being undertaken by the other. The united states were still concerned with the pearl harbor attack and was interest in revenging against the soviet union, a country that was using all means possible to keep their depleted army resources a top secret1. President Dwight Eisenhower of the United States introduced the open skies in 1955, marking the beginning of an era of space exploration and major discoveries. This policy allowed the Soviet Union and the United States to fly reconnaissance aircrafts over each otherââ¬â¢s airspace as a way of gathering intelligence information. In the same year, the United States announced that it will be working on the development of a scientific satellite, prompting the Soviet
REFLECTIVE REPORT Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words
REFLECTIVE REPORT - Essay Example During the first meeting, we engaged in a brain storming session in which each of us though of possible topics/subtopics for discussion. We evaluated the numerous suggestions and narrowed down the subtopics to a few. Based on the few areas, each member of the group was assigned one part to research and write on. We agreed by consensus that each person would also present the part that they had researched on on the day of the presentation. Abiola was assigned the topics myths and religion and religious beliefs while Bernadin was assigned the part of defining science and religion. Oluwabumni was to research on the relationship between religion and science even as Tuoyo researched on the kind of relationship that may arise between science and religion. Kalu was to do the conclusion while I was to work on the introduction. In the meetings that followed, we basically got updates on the progress made by each group member. Based on the information that each one of us gathered, we made comments, criticized, and made suggestions as we deemed fit. This was meant to see us come up with the best possible presentation. As we discussed on the progress of each member, we were keen to ensure that our criticisms and comments were objective rather than subjective. In preparation for the presentation, I relied on different sources of information. I visited the British Library where I got access to several useful sources. I had a more or less similar experience to what I had previously at the library. The amount of information related to the topic was overwhelming and I had a bit of trouble narrowing down to a few books, journals, and periodicals. I was lucky to have had a previous experience with the same situation and so I took less time settling down of the few sources that I finally read and used as sources for the presentation.
Saturday, July 27, 2019
Personal statement Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 39
Personal Statement Example I had a chance to learn ethics and professional requirements for practice. The course mainly provided an opportunity to gain experience out of numerous chances of exercising that I had. I graduated in fall 2014 with a Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy degree. I also undertook a community health program in the past, which gave me an advantage of experience in medical practice. The latter program gave me an insight of what it means to sacrifice for the patients and prepared my leadership skills. I appreciate the role that these courses play in shaping my professionalism in medical practice. Such a field requires the highest levels of professional competence because it involves handling life. The course is also a preparation for aspiring medical personnel to learn how to tackle challenging situations. My goal is to improve my knowledge in respiratory therapy and training to a Ph.D. level and become an Academic Professor. My education background combines with my experience to shape my career. For instance, I worked as a surgical assistant for two years. I volunteered with to organizations called Us to US and Hand by Hand to help seniors in cleaning their houses. At times, the work involved mowing grass and arranging activities in Hartford such as Hartford Marathon, which takes place every year. I also worked as a treasure for the Saudi club at the University of Hartford from 2013 - 2014. I also founded a soccer team called Victory FC and won soccer tournaments in 2012, 2013, and 2014. These experiences shaped my perception of community values, always giving to the needy. I believe that the work of a medical practitioner is more than treating; it is about caring. Studying at Rush University will give a chance to further my experience and shape my professionalism. I hope to spend much of my time at the school dealing with practical approaches to all the courses, which I shall undertake. My time at the University will
Friday, July 26, 2019
Home Schooling vs. Public Education Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words
Home Schooling vs. Public Education - Essay Example Moreover, they are not able to relate with the parents of a child properly and they remain in dark about the weaknesses of their child. Comparatively in home schooling the teacher and the parents are able to devote their time to the child understanding the teaching style and the curriculum which best suits the student. The teacher can move at his own speed and guide the students about the other activities and explore his talents which are neglected in public schools. Another main advantage is that home schooling provides parents with a sense of security regarding their childââ¬â¢s wrong indulgence in bad activities. Harmful peer pressure, physical and mental mugging, threat of being bullied or involvement in drugs are some factors that children who go to public schools have to face. Comparatively in home schooling a child is saved from all this mental pressure and spends quality time with the teacher and the family which builds up the family relations and consequently the child wi ll learn and embrace the good values around him. Then there is the benefit of flexibility in time. Parents can set the timetable for their childââ¬â¢s study hours as some children have the tendency to work best in different times of the day and the teacher has the advantage to lay emphasis on the subjects the child is weak in or needs more attention. ââ¬Å"An added benefit of home schooling is the freedom to encourage mastery. Students can be made to repeat materials correct and retake tests, and study longer in order to master materials because there is not an entire classroom of other children ready to go onâ⬠(Andrea D. Clements). Despite the benefits, there are disadvantages to home schooling as well. Home schooling takes and requires emotional,... This essay approves that children are given loads of homework and parents have to work with their children for hours to make them grasp the concept. If that is the case many parents then prefer home schooling if they have to cover the educational aspect on their own. Children at this age can easily be influenced by bad company. Disruptive and harsh behavior is evident in children going to public schools. Children going to public schools may be familiar with a lot of knowledge but understand very little and this is where kids being home schooled outshine them. Children with some disability are not properly treated by the peers or teachers in public schools whereas home schooling can provide the right kind of environment to those special kids and enhance their confidence. This report makes a conclusion that it is true to state that home schooling is not for everyone. It may not be appropriate for every family in every circumstance. A lot of money has to be invested in order to provide the resources for projects, field trips, tuition and children with home schooling lack in social development. Every day interaction is necessary in order to learn to communicate and handle different situations and at times the child may develop inferiority complex pondering over what qualities he is lacking by not going to a public school. Public schools have a fixed curriculum and grading system which enables the parents and the child to know where he stands. Public schools offer a broad range of extracurricular activities such as sports, plays and membership of different clubs. Public schooling gives the parents a chance to have a full time job and provide and cater for all the needs of the child.
Thursday, July 25, 2019
Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 4
Research Paper Example The question remains what the future holds regarding artificial intelligence that is autonomous and able to communicate other systems as well as with humans? An immense amount of research is underway about autonomous robots. The researchers are eager to predict what the future would look like as it is evident from science fiction novels and Hollywood movies. Robots and artificial intelligence are technically different terms, but they are perceived as one. Czech Writer Karel Capek invented the term ââ¬Ërobotââ¬â¢ derived from the word ââ¬Ërobotaââ¬â¢ meaning labour (Chen, David & Gligorescu, 2011). Artificial Intelligence is a term used to describe for machines that can mimic the intelligence of humans (Chen, David & Gligorescu, 2011). At the moment, many mobile robots and their applications are serving the humans. These robots include wheeled, flying, swimming, crawling and even legged robots. Humanoid robots that copy some aspects of human experiences or behaviour appear in the news now and then. It is considered the mid-stage between human and a robot (Huang, 2011). Moreover, group robotics that understand the ways in which single robots cooperate and communicate is also part of the recent research. Sensors actuators enabling to connect the world, robot intelligence, the software architecture of these machines, methods to control them and the application issues such as localization, navigation or grouping, are now a part of the modern technological culture. It is almost a clichà © to presume that the artificial intelligence in the future would make a dramatic change and offer stunningly new developments for the humans. If the developments are gradual than probably we wont see much difference and will accept it as part of technological evolution. But this is a mystery, maybe the shift will be dramatic due to the courtesy of truly ground-breaking technology. Autonomous robots instil both hope and fear in the minds of humans. These
Wednesday, July 24, 2019
Assessment on Newsweek Claims on increase in violent behavior of girls Essay
Assessment on Newsweek Claims on increase in violent behavior of girls - Essay Example In 2003, the Federal Bureau of Investigation reports 378,895 instances of arrests in female groups under the age of 18 (fbi.gov, 275). The majority of these crimes included property crimes, larceny and various assaults (fbi.gov). With theft or damage to anotherââ¬â¢s property topping the list of crime varieties for this group, it might suggest that there is a trend toward materialism, essentially wanting more than their financial means can provide them, therefore they lash out at others who have more than they do. Even though this is not described as a probable cause in the article, the arrest rates for these types of crimes show a trend in theft and property damage that cannot be ignored. This could be caused by the high level of merchandise availability in retail stores versus their own socio-economic status, leading to aggressive behavior in an attempt to procure a better lifestyle through theft. ââ¬Å"Children who are exposed to violence undergo lasting physical, mental, and emotional harm. They suffer from problems with attachment, anxiety, or depressionâ⬠(ncjrs.gov, 1). Violence exposure can occur within the household, in the school environment, or virtually any other location where the child is present and violence continues to occur. These negative emotional outcomes, such as problems with social attachment, cause further problems such as dating violence, delinquency or ongoing victimization of others (ncjrs.gov). Viewing images of violence in every lifestyle shows a strong linkage between emotional stability and the childââ¬â¢s ability to rationalize their own aggressive behaviors. There is a theory in childhood development that suggests many children model the same behaviors they witness others displaying, especially if they see these behaviors being rewarded. In an environment where a parent continuously expresses violence toward others and the female child witnesses other adult peers applauding these behaviors, the
Tuesday, July 23, 2019
ELECTRONIC PACKAGING AND ASSEMBLY Lab Report Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words
ELECTRONIC PACKAGING AND ASSEMBLY - Lab Report Example The figure below shows the High Performance Lead Frame Electronic Package. I selected the concept on the basis of its power management applications in the electronics engineering field. The leads in the extended area of the design increase current competence leading to required power rating. The electronic applications in the recent years find a reduction of per transistor power rate along with higher current and power rating accompanied by better performance and speed constraints. The lead frame technology keeps these requirements to much efficient position. I have analyzed the various design considerations made in the electronics packaging sector in order to determine the actual and worth design for the potential package of electronic modules. It is known to all that the electronic package is not just outer coverings of component or assembly of components but the substrate, interconnections and covering are also included in it. The lead frame was made which comprises of a layer of conductor of electricity, a die paddle and a plurality of leads which are remote from each other and are partly bare at the base of the package. This provides a platform for fitting various components of the circuit to be built. The semiconductor chips include the bond pads which are mounted on the die plane interconnected by the wires between them and plurality of leads. There exists a minimum of two wires connected between a minimum of two bond pads and a plurality of leads with single lead. Each single lead has an extended portion required for higher perfo rmance. My study of the electronic packaging techniques revealed that they have flourished from the primitive blown and shaped slip metal packaging to the trail assemblage in print. The electronics field determines the packaging as a significant area of engineering. The overall performance of a circuit assembly can be increased by utilizing
Monday, July 22, 2019
The United States Presidential Election Essay Example for Free
The United States Presidential Election Essay The recent victory of Barack Obama in the United States Presidential Election of 2008 is one of the biggest issues among many other big events that have occurred in America this year. Early on, even during the presidential primaries, the topic of whether or not then Presidential candidate Obama would be influential enough to win the electoral vote was an issue. It was undoubted that the Democratic Party enjoyed the support of the popular vote yet the bigger was issue was whether or not they would be able to gain enough of the Electoral College votes. The events and debates leading up to the election have also brought about a controversial election topic which is that of Electoral College reform. This brief discourse shall tackle the issue of Electoral College Reform and whether or not a different method for the selection of the United States president should be used. To arrive at a better understanding of the issue, it is important to first discuss the pros and cons of the current system. As such, there will be a discussion into the historical antecedents and the impact of such electoral changes. Finally, this discourse will highlight the reasons why the method used by Maine and Nebraska is more effective. Electoral College Reform In 1888, the election of Benjamin Harrison was controversial because for the first time in American History the winner of the Electoral College lost the popular vote. This raised a lot of questions because it was thought to symbolize the lack of support for the President by the American public. It would also mean that the mandate of the public was not for the President and it would make it very difficult to pass reforms and laws. This is because the United States has a democratic government. It must be remembered that a democratic system is often mistakenly characterized as the rule of the majority (Davenport 380). While there is usually a large group of middle class individuals that comprise this democratic system, it does not necessarily mean that the majority rule. This only means that the majority usually elects the representative to office but the hallmark of any democracy is still the protection of the rights of the minority. As such, the system of Electoral College ensures that while the majority may influence the outcome of an election it also makes sure the people are able to freely select their representation at all levels, most especially at the level of the presidency. Most recently, the issue of Electoral College Reform once again made the headlines as President George W. Bush narrowly won the electoral vote but had lost the popular vote. This victory raised a lot of questions and even the former Senator Hillary Clinton called for a constitutional amendment that would allow for the selection of the President to be through popular vote and not the electoral vote. It is clear that this measure did not pass yet it certainly did bring to the consciousness of the public the necessity of reviewing the issue of Electoral College Reform. Pros and Cons It stands to reason why such a system, which has been in place for so long and been the reason for the election of several Presidents, should be replaced with an antiquated election style. In order to arrive at a better understanding of the issue, it is important to first discuss the concerns of the Electoral College system. This is with the goal of proving that there is a need for Electoral College Reform and the adoption of the Congressional District method which is being used in Maine and Nebraska. The first reason is that it is argued that the system of Electoral College Reform does not accurately reflect the sentiment of the public. This is because as the examples in the recent elections have shown an individual can still be declared as the President of the United States even if he or she does not have the support of the majority or the popular vote. Under the Electoral College system, as long as the candidate enjoys the support of the States with the heaviest weight, he is virtually assured of victory. This is because of the fact that the framers of the Constitution sought for equality in representation and wanted to ensure that the voters in the sparsely populated states would have more weight as compared to those in the more densely populated states. This was done to ensure that those in smaller states would be able to be heard and have representation. This was also done to ensure that the majority would not overwhelm the minority. Another peculiar aspect of the Electoral System is that a candidate can win the election if he so happens to accumulate wins in many states that are relatively small in size even if his opponent is able to get larger wins in smaller states. The reason for this is that the Electoral System also features the ââ¬Å"winner take allâ⬠system which rules that the proportion of the electoral vote often bears little resemblance to the popular vote. The winner take alls system also creates a few problems because the smaller number of electoral votes creates a discrepancy with the amount of random round offs which has been stated as an error. The presence of this error is also problematic because most studies have shown that it reduces voter turn out in areas and states where there are dominant parties. Seeing that they are not able to swing the vote either way, certain voters do not even attempt to exercise their right to vote for fear that it will all be for naught because of the numbers involved. Being the minority party in the state, they are aware that if their state uses the Electoral College System they will be unable to sway the outcome of the election either way. This is the reason why there is a voter apathy problem in most of these states. Perhaps the main problem with the Electoral College arises from the fact that in case there is no candidate who gets the majority of the electoral votes, it falls upon the House of Representatives to settle the issue. From this point alone, it is clear that there are several ramifications from such a method. The first is that the results of the election will not matter in any case because it will be the House of Representatives that will determine the winner. This may also be interpreted as a situation wherein the party which is able to get the most number of seats in Congress will decidedly determine the outcome of the election. The resulting partisan battle is no longer representative of the will of the public but rather the will of a representation that does not effectively carry the approval of the majority of the voting public. The second reason is because it often results in horse trading in order to determine the next President of the United States. Since the House of Representatives is composed of several congressmen, it boils down to trading votes for concessions when determining the leadership of the country. This totally disregards the electoral process and in a way can be construed as frustrating the will of the voting public. As such, the entire electoral process boils down to which side is able to gain more support for their candidate and which candidate is able to give more concessions to the parties. This is similar to events that transpired in 1824 and 1876. The leadership of a country boils down to tax measures and funding instead of what it is really supposed to be about, the will of the voting public. This system also creates another problem by limiting the choices of the public. Since it has been determined that the party which has a better network generally wins, the Electoral System leaves out the alternative parties such as the liberals. In the past elections, it has been shown that it is only the Republican or the Democratic Party that is able to field the candidates. While the liberal party has shown more strength, the realistic candidates are generally from the two party systems which in effect limit the choices of the voting public. One of the other problems in an Electoral College comes from the fact that there is a necessity for primary elections. This means that the long drawn out process of Elections is really simply just a process that was already more or less decided when the primaries were cast. As the recent elections have shown, when there are primary elections it already becomes clear where the popular votes are and where the electoral strengths are. This also results in a frustration in the vote and the will of the electorate because having the primaries means that in most cases the votes of the last states does not really matter, except when it is a really close election but in most cases this is not often the case. The reason for this is that the results of the elections have been decided because most of the candidates have conceded even before all the votes have been cast due to the projections of certain candidates having insurmountable lead. The end impact of all of these negative aspects is quite simple. It means that the electoral process is frustrated and the right of the voters to be heard and make a difference with their vote is disregarded. This is based on the fact that when the electoral process is determined before it is over it sends the signal that the vote of those who have not voted is no longer necessary in determining the results. This may, in the long run, lead to voter apathy and lack of support from certain states. From the point of view of the electoral process, it is not a real electoral process because it does not allow for the real sentiments of the public to be reflected. Through the electoral process, the foundations of a democratic system become all the more evident. The right of the people to vote and to choose who they will elect as president is one of the important foundations of a representative democratic system (Lijphart 139). Without these foundations in place, there would be no way to ensure that the rights of the people are protected. The right to select a representative ensures that everyone has a chance to be heard. In the wise words of Abraham Lincoln, Democracy is the government of the people, by the people and for the people.
Errors, Uncertainties and Measurements Essay Example for Free
Errors, Uncertainties and Measurements Essay Abstract In this experiment, different measuring devices were used, namely the vernier calliper, micrometer calliper, foot rule, and the electronic gram balance. These devices were used to obtain the mean diameter, volume, mass, and the experimental value of density of the sphere of known composition. 1. Introduction Measurement is the process or act of determining the size, length, quantity, etc. of something being observed or measured. The units of measurement evolved and changed greatly since the day it was made by humans. In different places, these measurements can vary and could well be different from each other. Thus, standards are used nowadays so that we can have a concrete basis and this also prevents fraud or the cheating of somebody especially in business matters. There are different systems of measurement used. We have this CGS system or known as centimeter-gram-second system which is a metric system derived from the meter-kilogram-second system or mks system. It uses centimeter (c) forà length, gram (g), second (s) for time, dyne for force, and erg for energy. The metric system has become a common system for weights and measures. Its simplicity is the reason why scientists use this system of measurement. You can easily change one unit of measure into another. The units of measurement in this system are all based on decimals. By simply moving the decimal point to the right or left, depending on whether the unit is being decreased or increased, you can change its unit. Greek decimal prefixes like deca, hecto, kilo is used to express units of ten multiples or greater. Despite settingà all of these standards, oneââ¬â¢s measurement can never be exact and can always have a certain amount of error. When a measurement is done, the outcome could depend on several factors like the measuring system, the procedure taken, the execution of techniques of the operator, and the condition of the environment (Bell, 1999). This dispersion of values that can be attributed to a measured quantity is what we call as measurement uncertainty. The flaws in measurement can come from the measuring instrument itself due to aging, wearing, poor readability or even noise. The item being measured, if not stable, can produce uncertainties. There are two types of measurement error, systematic error and random error. Imperfect calibration of instrument, its age, wear, and tear, throughout the years which lead to errors can be classified as a systemic error. When you measure the weight of an object using a particular balance which is improperly tared and you get a certain amount of grams higher for all your mass measurements is an example of systematic error. Random errors, on the other hand, are caused by unknown and unpredictable changes in the experiments. Irregular changes in the environment can usually cause this and as well as the random noise on an electrical device (Exell). The precision of a measurement is determines the exactness or accuracy of a number of measurements and how the same quantity agrees with each other. Accuracy tells the correctness, veracity or truthfulness of a measurement. The closer the measurement to the accepted value, the more accurate it is. In this experiment, the group aims to achieve the following objectives: (1) to study errors and how they propagate in simple experiment, (2) to determine the average deviation of a set of experimental values, (3) to determine the mean of a set of experimental values as well as a set of average deviation of the mean, (4) to familiarize the students with the vernier caliper, micrometer caliper, and the foot rule, (5) to compare the accuracy of these measuring devices, (6) to determine the density of an object given its mass and dimensions. 2. Theory 3. Methodology The measuring devices were checked for error. The least count of the vernier caliper, micrometer caliper and the foot rule was determined. Ten independent measurements for the diameter of the sphere using the foot rule were made. This was done by taking measurements at different points along its circumference. The mean diameter of the sphere was calculated. The deviation (d) of each measurement of the mean diameter and the average deviation (a.d.) were also calculated. Then, the average deviation (A.D.) of the mean diameter was computed. The % error for the diameter was computed by considering A.D. as the error and the mean diameter as the standard value. The volume of the sphere was then computed. Significant figures were used. The sphere was weighed using the electronic gram balance. The density of the sphere was calculated using the values obtained from the volume and mass of the sphere. The instructor was asked for the accepted value of the density of the sphere. The % error was then computed. The same steps were used using the vernier caliper and micrometer caliper. Base from the data, measurements from the foot rule had the greatest % error for density (53.85 %) while measurements from the vernier caliper had the least % error (0.17%). Possible errors for the measurements are systematic error especially human error. For the foot rule, members of the group possibly commit an error because the foot rule has no handle so that the end of the sphere could easily see. It is also possible that members of the group wrongly read the values. Base from the the data, accuracy of the instruments can be infer; vernier caliper is more accurate that the foot rule. This is because the uncertain digit of the foot rule is certain in vernier caliper. 5. Conclusion The calipers were checked for errors, and studied how they propagated in the experiment. The average deviation was computed for the foot rule, vernier caliper, and micrometer caliper , which is 0.092, 0.042, and 0.0018 respectively. The average deviation of the mean was also determined, namely, 0.029, 0.013, and 0.00057 respectively. The accuracy of the said measuring devices were compared and recorded in table form. The density of the sphere was determined, 12 g/cm3 , 7.813 g/cm3 , 7.831 g/cm3 . Based on the information written above, the objectives of this experiment were achieved. 6. Applications Among the three measuring devices, the vernier caliper gave the least percent error. The accuracy of a measurement is affected by the least count of theà measuring device. Itsââ¬â¢ accuracy would always be uncertain because every measuring instrument has a distinctive amount of uncertainty in its measurement. Error is the deviation of a measured value from the actual value. It is the imprecision in measurements that cannot be avoided. There are two types of error, random and systematic. Repeated measurements obtained from a random error can still be reliably estimated. A systemic error occurs if there is a defect in the equipment or in the design of the experiment. The errors that we encountered during the experiment were more of systematic errors. Most errors are human errors; the some measurement in the vernier caliper are obtained from wrong used of the instrument. A student weighs himself using a bathroom scale calibrated in kilograms. He reported his weight in pounds. What is the percentage error in his reported weight if he uses this conversion: 1 kg=2.2 pounds? The standard kilogram is equal to 2.2046. % Error = |A-T|TÃâ"100 % Error = |2.2-2.2046|2.2046Ãâ"100 = 0.21% In an experiment on determination of mass of a sample, your group consisting of 5 students obtained the following results: 14.34 g, 14.32 g, 14.33 g, 14.30 g, and 14.32 g. Find the mean, a.d. and A.D. Suppose that your group is required to make only four determination for the mass of the sample. If you were the leader of the group, which date will you omit? Recalculate the mean, a.d. and A.D. without this data. Which results will you prefer? Table 1. Mass and deviation of the sample in five trials Trial| Mass (g)| Deviation (d)| 1| 14.34| 0.04| 2| 14.32| 0.02| 3| 14.33| 0.03| 4| 14.30| 0.00| 5| 14.23| 0.07| Mean = 14.30 a.d. = 0.032 A.D. = 0.014 14.23 will be omitted because it is the farthest value from each other. Table 2. Mass and deviation of the sample in the chosen four trials Trial| Mass (g)| Deviation (d)| 1| 14.34| 0.02| 2| 14.32| 0.00| 3| 14.33| 0.01| 4| 14.30| 0.02| Mean = 14.32 a.d. = 0.0125 A.D. = 0.007 Base on the computed data above, the data from table 2 are preferred. 7. Reference Bell, S. (1999). A beginners guide to uncertainty measurement. United Kingdom: Crown. Error and Statistics. (2012, December 1). Retrieved from http:/www.lepla.org/en/modules/Activities/p04-error4.htm Exell. (2012, November 30). Error Analysis. Retrieved from http://www.physics.umd.edu/courses/Phys276/Hill/Information/Notes/ErrorAnalysis.html Metric System. Microsoftà ® Encartaà ® 2009 [DVD]. Redmond, WA: Microsoft Corporation, 2008. Random Errors- Physics Laboratory Tutorial. (2012, December 1). Retrieved December 1, 2012, from http://phys.columbia.edu/~tutorial/rand_v_sys/tut_e_5_1.html Taylor, J. (1999). An Introduction to Error Analysis: The Study of Uncertainties in Physical Measurements. University Science Books, 128-129. Undergraduate Physics- Error Analysis. (2012, December 1). Retrieved from http://felix.physics.sunysb.edu/~allen/252/PHY_error_analysis.html
Sunday, July 21, 2019
Driving Forces For Smartphone Marketing Essay
Driving Forces For Smartphone Marketing Essay The mobile Internet is growing so fast. There is about 500 million people use the mobile internet worldwide in 2009. The Smartphone will be the most popular method to access the internet than PCs in the next few years. There are more and more people want to have Smartphone instead of desktop or laptop. In Egypt and India this is 70 percent and 59 percent of mobile internet users are mobile-only. Even in the US it is 25 percent. (MobiThinking 2010). Now there are about 150 million presently users log in Facebook from mobile devices. People use Facebook on their mobile devices are twice more active on Facebook than non-mobile users.(Mobithinking 2010) These make the reason of the Smartphone growth very fast recently. Product innovation is always the important part of industry life. Customers always want to have the new and efficient products and industry always need to develop and innovate the products that meet the customers needs. In the mobile phone industry, People used to use the mobile phone as oral communication. After that people start to use the mobile phone to memory some of the data such as pictures, songs, phone book and address book. Mobile phone was becoming a small personal memory book. Now mobile phone is also called as Smartphone that combine with operating system and become very small PC in your pocket. Smartphone can be use as GPS, access the internet, download, games, and translate language. Therefore, the Smartphone industry should be always consider innovation as primary objective. (Nokia Corporation, 2011) Changes in who buys the product and how they use it The target market of the Smartphone is young generation. There are two parts of the young generation that are college students and fresh graduates. College students want to have Smartphone. According to the researcher at Ball State University, there are 49 percent students own a Smartphone at college in 2010, compared with 38 percent in 2009. The 97 percent of students use text messages for their primary communication method and 30 percent of students will use email to communicate to each other. There are about 90 percent of Smartphone users that use their phone to surf the internet. About 97 percent of the users will take and upload photos and 87 percent of the owners will look at videos and upload videos by their Smartphone. (Kelly Truong). Fresh graduates need a Smartphone, too. Fresh graduates continue their habits from the college, but they use their Smartphone on the different way. They use their Smartphone for their work in order to have more efficient than others. The Smartph one can help them check their email anywhere, stay in touch with their office and update the news from office quickly. Increasing globalization of Smartphone industry The demand of the Smartphone is growing rapidly worldwide, because of mobile internet becomes more popular. Gartner expects the worldwide touch-screen mobile device market to top 362.7 million units in 2010, an increase of 96.8 percent over 2009 sales of 184.3 million units. (Michelle Maisto). More and more people start to buy a Smartphone, because of the trend market. Smartphone is going to instead of the traditional phone. Changing societal concerns, attitudes, and lifestyles Smartphone changes the way people used to be. First, the communication between the people is changing. People use social media to communicate to each other. Facebook user base has risen to 430 million year-over-year, roughly the same increase as QQ in China. Twitter, while sporting only 58 million users experienced a 1238% year-over-year growth rate. Facebook now dominates in chat, messaging, video sharing, games, VoIP and more. (MobileBeyond). People want to check the social media instead of text message and give a phone call. For example, Facebook shows a lot of information that people want to express for their days and also upload their photo to their friends. Smartphone can give people to see the latest news from the social media anywhere and anytime. Second, the lifestyle is going to change. People used to go to the bank to make transaction and deposit the check. After we have Smartphone and internet, we can just take a photo with check and upload to your bank. Finally, the atti tude is going to change. People used to buy the products and compare the price in the different stores. It was not convenient and efficiency way to shop. Now you can easily to check the price of the product by using Smartphone that can help you make the right decision to shop. Smartphone is changing our lifestyles, attitudes and societal concerns. Industry life cycle There are five stages of the industry life cycle. In the embryonic stage, the industry starts to begin and develop the product to the public. In the growth stage, the company produces more products and increases the market share. In the shakeout stage, some of competitors start to see the opportunities in this market. In the maturity stage, the product price is stable and more competition comes to market. In the decline stage, the sale of the product decreases until the product innovation or discontinue in the market. (Hill Jones, 2008). The Smartphone industry is in the growth stage. The demand of the Smartphone industry is growing rapidly. The sale of the Smartphone was 174 million units in the 2009; there were 270 million units sold in 2010. In 2011, the sales forecast is going to be double from 2010 to 2011 that means about 500 million units. (Oliver Van Dervoort). The demand of the Smartphone is going up twice than 2010 that make the Smartphone industry is in the growth stage, because of the strong demand of the Smartphone. Internal Analysis Value Chain The value chain is that an organization creates value by performing a series of activities and it represents how each competitive advantage created via an organization adds value to the service or product for each customer. In the HTC Company, RD, Production, Marketing Sales, Customers Service and Human Resource are adding the value to their company. (Hill Jones, 2008). Research and Development HTC extremely concerned about research and development department. In 2009, HTC has nearly one-third of RD personnel which in total HTC personnel. They also invest in R D development about 5% to 7% of the total revenues. HTC also pay attention on their innovation and design. HTC introduced the worlds first Android Smartphone in the Android operating system. After that, HTC also develop the new 4G high speed Smartphone that customer can download or upload their games, picture, video and mobile multimedia fast than before. (HTC Annual Report) In 2010, HTC introduce the worlds first windows phone which is HTC HD2. HTC HD2 has a capacitive touch screen interface and 1 GHz processor. (HTC Annual Report). It allows consumers to enjoy the fast and smooth touch experience and quickly respond to every touch of the action which is a major breakthrough for Windows Mobile phones. It is the worlds first embedded HTC Sense for Windows Mobile; make the phone more intuitive operation. HTC Sense has three core principles for the design -Make it Mine, Stay Close, Discover the Unexpected. The ideal of the HTC Sense is easy to operate in order to attract more customers to buy their Smartphone. HTC develops the product designs to meet china market with China Mobile. In China, TD-SCDMA is Chinas telecommunications industry with independent intellectual property rights of international communications standards. Each of the phones needs to have TD- SCDMA in order to use in china. 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¾ attract draw fascinate Production HTC is growing so fast. According to the annual report, with worldwide demand for mobile phones expected to continue rising through 2010, we can expect the tight supply situation to continue as well. (HTC Annual Report) HTC needs to make sure their suppliers to increase productivity in order to meet the demand of the market. HTC also needs more manufacturing plants and facilities to meet the increasing demand of HTC products. HTC pay attention on their quality from each of the product that they produce. HTC introduces their new HTC Hero to the market In June 2009. After that HTC Hero has win a lot of awards which are Stuff Magazines -Gadget of the Year award, Mobile Choices- Phone of the Year, T3 Magazines Phone of the Year. During the worlds largest annual Telecommunications industry event, the 2010 Mobile World Congress, HTC Hero was further recognized with the 2010 Best Mobile Handset or Device Award. (HTC Annual Report) As HTC is growing so fast in order to meet the demand of the market, they still focus on their high quality control. Marketing and Sales HTC business is focus on European and North America markets in 2009. There are 48.8% of revenues from North American, 30.4% from European and 20.8% from Asia and other regions. Especially, the annual growth rate is 28.6% in North America which is the most potential markets. HTC development strategy is the current worldwide brand positioning HTC have a good development and increase HTC brand image in order to create long-term competitive advantage HTC. (HTC Annual Report) HTC has different products to meet the different level of the markets. For example, HTCs HD2 is the luxury and high-end product. Second, they have mid-price products which are HTC Tattoo and HTC Touch2 in order to have competitively in their market segment. HTC focus on the Smartphone industry, wireless communication technologies and become more sophisticated in this market. HTC Cooperate with Telecommunication Company to place their phone in the store in order to increase sale of their phones such as Verizon, Sprint and T-mobile. HTC mobile phone now, through Europe, America, Asia, sales of leading carriers and distributors, and has gradually penetrated into the Smartphone market in developing countries such as the Middle East, Central and South America and Russia. (HTC Annual Report) Customer Service HTC opened the worlds first HTC Care Customer Service Center in Taiwan Taipei in 2007. Fred Liu, Chief Operating Officer of HTC said HTC believes that providing superior after-sales support is important to our continuing success, which is why we place such a high degree of importance on HTC Care. In the future, a number of HTC Care centers will be launched in Taiwan and overseas, allowing our customers to enjoy their mobile lifestyles without missing a call, (HTC Annual Report). Customer service center is very valuable for customers. Customer service center can save time and more efficient to solve the problems from customers. Customers can just walk into the center and get personalized consultations by HTC products, Warranty repairs and buy HTCs products. HTC also provides a loaner phone during repair time. Customers do not need to worry about the alternative phone during that period. Human Resources The most valuable asset in HTC is employees. In recent years, HTC hires recruits outstanding talent to its ranks in the areas of product design, user interface, brand promotion and sales and marketing. HTC also hire the professionals employees from Europe and American that make HTC increases their diversity, challenging, vital and encouraging. As of the close of March 2010, HTC employed 8,948 staff worldwide. The 169 non-Taiwanese staff employed by HTC filled 30% of all HTC managerial positions. Non-Taiwanese managerial and technical staff filled 8.3% of all HTC positions worldwide. Women hold 21.4 %of HTCs 557 current managerial positions. (HTC Annual Report) Functional Analysis RD Production Marketing Customer Service Efficiency High Mid Mid Mid Quality High High Mid Mid Innovation High High Mid High Customer Response High High Low Mid VRIO Analysis Is it Valuable? (V) Is it Rare? (R) Is it difficult to Imitate? (I) Does the Organization use it well? (O) RD- Spend 5%to 7% of total revenue Yes No No Yes Production Increase facilities to meet the market demand Yes No No Yes Marketing- Brand Image Yes No Yes Yes HR Different culture background employees Yes No Yes Yes Customers Service Service center Yes Yes No Yes
Saturday, July 20, 2019
Composting and the Benefits and Limitations of its Use as Soil Amendmen
Composting and the Benefits and Limitations of its Use as Soil Amendment Composting is widely-known as an environmentally sustainable method of recycling food scraps and garden/yard clippings. According to the United States Environment Protection Agency's (EPA) 1994 report entitled, "Waste Prevention, Recycling, and Composting", food discards constitute approximately 8 percent of municipal solid waste generated nationwide. A case study observed in San Francisco, California, reported that an estimated 31 percent of residential wastes and 19 percent of commercial waste generated is food waste. Composting is a viable answer to the food-waste problem. Composting not only reduces the amount of waste, buy also contains chemical properties and other rich elements that benefit the soil's quality, allowing farmers to use it as soil amendment. The following research will examine the process of composting and its different variables in order to investigate its positive and negative affects on the soil. Composting refers to the controlled decomposing of organic matter by microorganisms, mainly bacteria and fungi, that break organic matter down into readily available nutrients. In truth, it relies on little to no human intervention which makes it fairly easy. There are literally dozens of different technologies that are currently used to create compost (Stickelberger, 1975, p.188). Professor David Bice of Carleton College utilizes a method known as vermicomposting. Dictated by the amount of space (he is limited to in his apartment), Professor Bice places his food scraps in a bucket where red-colored worms digest and convert the bio-waste into a fertilizer product. Therefore, selection of a system depends largely on pragmatic factors.... ...lized form of organic matter that improves the physical, chemical, and biological properties of soil. Works Cited Stickelberger, D, 1975, Survery of city refuse composting. In Organic Materials and Fertilizers: Rome, Italy, FAO Soils, Bulletin 27. Kapage, F.S.C.P, 1974, Tropical Soils: Classification, Fertility, and Management: New York, St. Martin Press, 201p. Broadbent, F.E., 1987, Organic Matter . Minnesota Compost and Co-Compost Research Project, In USDA Yearbook of Agriculture: U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. Government Document, February 1994, Waste Prevention, Recycling, and Composting Options: Lessons From 30 Communities: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington D.C. 47p. Government Document, May 1994, Composting Yard Trimmings and Municipal Solid Waste: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington D.C. 56-57p.
Friday, July 19, 2019
Things Fall Apart :: essays research papers
Things Fall Apart is a novel written by Chinua Achebe. I t takes place in the middle of the twentieth century, in Umuofia Africa. It is based on the life of its main character Okonkwo and his village. Okonkwo was a well known, accomplished man in his village. He was a man of two titles and he earned every bit of it. Okonkwoââ¬â¢s family included eight children, six sons and two daughters. He also had three wives which was also a symbol of wealth in Umuofia because in their village it was their custom to have men pay a bride price for their wives. Okonkwo worked very hard to obtain everything he had because his father Unoka left him with nothing but debt. Unoka, Okonkwoââ¬â¢s father was a very lazy degenerate gambler of whom Okonkwo was ashamed of. Unoka was often referred to as an efulefu, or a man with of no worth . Okonkwo overcame these negative aspects of his childhood, started with a small loan of yam seeds, and worked to become a very wealthy man. Everything in Umuofia seemed normal and seemed to be going well for Okonkwo and his family until Okonkwo committed a fatal action. The story then takes another turn when Okonkwo, his village, and the eight villages surrounding his were affected by the new coming European customs and laws. . The village of Umuofia was located in the rainforest region Africa. The people of Umuofia were mainly farmers of root crops and herders of sheep and goat. Their farming and herding was very successful and it provided a surplus which made way for their market. Umuofia and the eight villages surrounding it were male dominated villages, yet women were also very important because of their abilty to give birth. The femaleââ¬â¢s ability to conceive children was the most important and beneficial thing for a woman to do in Umuofia. Women also helped in farming , but they were limited to farming beans, cassava, and things that required light duty farming. The men farmed the yam which was referred to as the king of crops because it required heavy labor and attentive care. The people of Umuofia were polytheistic, they had a long list of gods and goddesses such as Chukwu, who was believed to have created the world and the other gods, Ani, who was their earth goddess, Agbala, and many others. The Umuofians created carvings and other things that were symbolic of their gods. Things Fall Apart :: essays research papers Things Fall Apart is a novel written by Chinua Achebe. I t takes place in the middle of the twentieth century, in Umuofia Africa. It is based on the life of its main character Okonkwo and his village. Okonkwo was a well known, accomplished man in his village. He was a man of two titles and he earned every bit of it. Okonkwoââ¬â¢s family included eight children, six sons and two daughters. He also had three wives which was also a symbol of wealth in Umuofia because in their village it was their custom to have men pay a bride price for their wives. Okonkwo worked very hard to obtain everything he had because his father Unoka left him with nothing but debt. Unoka, Okonkwoââ¬â¢s father was a very lazy degenerate gambler of whom Okonkwo was ashamed of. Unoka was often referred to as an efulefu, or a man with of no worth . Okonkwo overcame these negative aspects of his childhood, started with a small loan of yam seeds, and worked to become a very wealthy man. Everything in Umuofia seemed normal and seemed to be going well for Okonkwo and his family until Okonkwo committed a fatal action. The story then takes another turn when Okonkwo, his village, and the eight villages surrounding his were affected by the new coming European customs and laws. . The village of Umuofia was located in the rainforest region Africa. The people of Umuofia were mainly farmers of root crops and herders of sheep and goat. Their farming and herding was very successful and it provided a surplus which made way for their market. Umuofia and the eight villages surrounding it were male dominated villages, yet women were also very important because of their abilty to give birth. The femaleââ¬â¢s ability to conceive children was the most important and beneficial thing for a woman to do in Umuofia. Women also helped in farming , but they were limited to farming beans, cassava, and things that required light duty farming. The men farmed the yam which was referred to as the king of crops because it required heavy labor and attentive care. The people of Umuofia were polytheistic, they had a long list of gods and goddesses such as Chukwu, who was believed to have created the world and the other gods, Ani, who was their earth goddess, Agbala, and many others. The Umuofians created carvings and other things that were symbolic of their gods.
Interview with a High School Counselor Essay -- Counseling
School counseling has evolved over the years into a significant component of the educational system. School counselors are taking on new roles in schools as leaders, working with ââ¬Å"school administration and staff in developing student attitudes and behavior which are necessary to maintain proper control, acceptable standards of self-discipline and a suitable learning environment within the schoolâ⬠(Secondary School Counselor 2012). Counselors work in ââ¬Å"diverse community settings designed to provide a variety of counseling, rehabilitation, and support servicesâ⬠(Counselors, 2010). When working in a school district as a counselor, you can either be an elementary school counselor, middle school counselor or a high school counselor. This essays explores a recent interview with a high school counselor. High school counselors advise students on an assortment of topics. Counselors help from advising students about colleges and requirements to helping students deal with social, behavioral and personal problems. School counselors do not always interact with students individually; they will also work with small groups of students or even an entire class, depending on the topic. According to the American School Counselor Association (ASCA), high school is a time for students to transition into adulthood and the work of work, begin separating from their parents, and exploring and defining their independence. They need guidance in making concrete and compounded decisions. This is where school counselors come in to help these students guide them with information. While interviewing the high school counselor of my choice Mr. Lee Ryland, this learner has learned that Mr. Rylandââ¬â¢s responsibilities as head school counselor i... ...and then peer approval, trying to be accepted in a group. Having strong counselors is a good foundation for a school; these educators are here to help promote academic success. Works Cited Counselors. (2010). United States Department of Labor. Retrieved 2015, from Bureau of Labor Statistics website: http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos067.htm Ekchian, V. K. (Ed.). (2010, December). Los Angeles Unified School District Policy Bulletin. Professional Growth Manual.(2013). Renew a professional clear credential. Retrieved from California Commission on Teacher Credentialing website: http://www.svusd.k12.ca.us/resources/pg_manual_multsingsubj.pdf Secondary School Counselor. (2012). Los Angeles Unified School District. Retrieved from http://www.teachinla.com/research/class_descriptions/0533.pdf Ryland, L. (2015, February). Professional Counselor Interview.
Thursday, July 18, 2019
Book: Kindergarten and Bibliographic Citation Essay
Annotated Bibliographic Citation: Blackstone, Stella. (2010) Octopus Opposites. Cambridge, MA: Barefoot Books Title: Octopus Opposites Author: Stella Blackstone Illustrator: Stephanie Bauer Year Published: 2010 Genre: Concept Brief Synopsis: This book discusses animals and their opposites. Suggested Developmental Level: This book would be appropriate for children birth to first grade based on the childrenââ¬â¢s reading levels. It will help in teaching the concept of opposites. Annotated Bibliographic Citation: Matzke Ann, H. (2011) Can you guess? Vero Beach, FL: Rourke Publishing Title: Can You Guess? Author: Ann H. Matzke Illustrator: Tara Raymo Year Published: 2011 Genre: Interaction Brief Synopsis: This book is based on the math concept of more or less. It gives young children the opportunity to test their math skills with answering the questions in the book. Suggested Developmental Level: I think this book would be appropriate for young children in grades in kindergarten to first grade. Annotated Bibliographic Citation: Lyon, George, Ella. (2010) The pirate of kindergarten. New York, NY: Antheneum Books For Young Readers Title: The Pirate of Kindergarten Author: George Ella Lyon. Illustrator: Lynne Avril Year Published: 2010 Genre: Storybook Brief Synopsis: Ginny is a kindergartner who has double vision making it harder for her to successfully participate in her classââ¬â¢s activities. She sees two of everything so Ginny has trouble reading, coloring, and cutting. One day, her class has participates in vision screening day where Ginny learns she has to visit and eye doctor to get glasses. Ginnyââ¬â¢s eye doctor tells her she will be wearing a patch until her glasses come in. Once Ginnyââ¬â¢s glasses are in, she can see everything in her classroom and this makes her very happy. Suggested Developmental Level: The appropriate age level for this book would be children in pre-school to second-grade. Annotated Bibliographic Citation: Gibbs, Edward. (2011) I spy with my little eye. Templar Books Title: I spy With My Little Eye Author: Edward Gibbs Illustrator: N/A Year Published: 2011 Genre: Interaction, Predictable Brief Synopsis: This book is a predictable I spy book. On the pages a small circle is cut out leading to whatââ¬â¢s on the next page. Clues are read to help the children guess what animal may be on the following page. Suggested Developmental Level: This book would be appropriate for children in pre-school to first grade. Because some of the clues are colors, this book will aide in helping children learn colors as well as taking educated guesses. Annotated Bibliographic Citation: Sierra, Judy. (2012) Wild about you. NY: Alfred A. Knopf Title: Wild about You Author: Judy Sierra Illustrator: Marc Brown Year Published: 2012 Genre: Storybook Brief Synopsis: A new egg has arrived at the zoo but the zookeeper doesnââ¬â¢t know what animal may be inside. All of the zoo animals debate on who will hatch the egg and take care of the baby. The kangaroo decides to take care of the egg and soon to her surprise; it turns out to be a baby penguin. All of the zoo animals all help the kangaroo with the baby penguin. Soon after, a panda finds a baby kitten and soon falls in love with him just like the kangaroo and baby penguin. Suggested Developmental Level: This book would be appropriate for children in pre-school to second grade. The rhyming repetition in this book will help young children in learning new concepts of speech. Annotated Bibliographic Citation: Whybrow, Ian. (2006) Whatââ¬â¢s the time little wolf? Minneapolis, MN: Carolrhoda Books, Inc. Title: Whatââ¬â¢s the Time Little Wolf? Author: Ian Whybrow Illustrator: Tony Ross Year Published: 2006 Genre: Interactive, Storybook Brief Synopsis: The Wolf family consists of mom, dad, Little Wolf, and Smells. Little Wolf and Smells are sent out by their parents to catch dinner for the family. Throughout the story Little Wolf and Smells try to catch dinner and have no luck. Finally, they come across mice who want to play ââ¬Å"whatââ¬â¢s the time Little Wolf? â⬠Little Wolf and Smells use this opportunity to their advantage and trick the mice into playing the game to capture them for dinner. Soon, Little Wolf and Smells return home with a sack full of mice for their mom and dad where they all have mice pies and rolls. Suggested Developmental Level: The appropriate age level for this book and activity would be preschoolers to first graders. Extension Activity: After reading the book, play the game, Whatââ¬â¢s the Time, Mr. Wolf? One player is Mr. Wolf. This player stands far away from the others facing away from them. The other players call out, ââ¬Å"Whatââ¬â¢s the time, Mr. Wolf? ââ¬Å" If Mr. Wolf answers, ââ¬Å"Five oââ¬â¢ clock! â⬠the players must take five steps toward Mr. Wolf and so on. When everyone is close, Mr. Wolf, answers, ââ¬Å"Dinnertime! â⬠The other players turn back to the start while Mr. Wolf chases them. Whoever is caught first is the next Mr. Wolf. But if everyone makes it back to the start, the same player must be Mr. Wolf again. Annotated Bibliographic Citation: Koelsch, Michael. (2001) Discover and explore. Penguin Putnam Inc. Title: Discover and Explore Author: Rosemary Wells Illustrator: Michael Koelsch Year Published: 2001 Genre: Storybook, Interactive Brief Synopsis: Timothy and his friends are kindergartners who learn about many different subjects throughout the school day. Timothy and his friends learn about the food pyramid, the seasons, the Earth, planting seeds, and many other subjects. Suggested Developmental Level: This book is appropriate for children ages three and up who are about to enter kindergarten. The concepts that can be learned in this book are the five senses, planting seeds, and the seasons. Annotated Bibliographic Citation: Browne, Anthony. (2011) How do you feel? Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press Title: How Do You Feel? Author: Anthony Browne Illustrator: Year Published: 2011 Genre: Concept Brief Synopsis: This book discusses different emotions that many of us sometimes feel. Suggested Developmental Level: I think the appropriate level of this book would be for preschoolers to kindergartners who are just beginning to learn and understand the different emotions we have. Annotated Bibliographic Citation: Cabrera, Jane. (2007) Old MacDonald had a farm. Great Britain: Gullane Childrenââ¬â¢s Books Title: Old MacDonald Had a Farm Author: Jane Cabrera Illustrator: Jane Cabrera Year Published: 2007 Genre: Interaction, Audiovisual (read-along), Storybook Brief Synopsis: Old MacDonald had a farm is a sing-along storybook that discusses all of the different things found on the farm like animals and Mr. MacDonaldââ¬â¢s wife. Suggested Developmental Level: The appropriate level of this book is for young children in kindergarten who are can follow and sing along with the reader. Annotated Bibliographic Citation: Fraiser, Debra. (2010) A fabulous fair alphabet. New York, NY: Beachlane Books Title: A Fabulous Fair Alphabet Author: Debra Fraiser Illustrator: Jim Henkel Year Published: 2010 Genre: Alphabet Brief Synopsis: A Fabulous Fair Alphabet gives is about all things found at a fair that correspond with a certain letter in the alphabet. Suggested Developmental Level: The lever appropriate for this book would be preschoolers to kindergartners who are still or just learning their ABCââ¬â¢s. Annotated Bibliographic Citation: Adams, Diane. (2009) I can do it myself. Atlanta, GA: Peachtree Publishers Title: I Can Do It Myself Author: Diane Adams Illustrator: Nancy Hayashi Year Published: 2009 Genre: Storybook Brief Synopsis: Emily Pearl is a big girl who can do many things such as putting peanut butter on her bread or blowing her nose all by herself. Her mother always asks Emily and if she needs any help and Emily will respond, ââ¬Å"I can do it myself. â⬠Once it is time for bed, Emily finds herself needing her momââ¬â¢s help with reading a bedtime story and finding Emilyââ¬â¢s bear. Emily learns sometimes itââ¬â¢s nice to let someone else help. Suggested Developmental Level: Kindergartners through second graders will enjoy this book because it is teaching that although they can do many things on their own, sometimes they need help from someone else. Annotated Bibliographic Citation: Reiss, Mike. (2008) The boy who wouldnââ¬â¢t share. New York, NY: HarperCollins Childrenââ¬â¢s Books Title: The Boy Who Wouldnââ¬â¢t Share Author: Mike Reiss Illustrator: David Catrow Year Published: 2008 Genre: Storybook, Concept Brief Synopsis: Edward is being a selfish boy and not sharing his toys with his younger sister Claire. All day Edward keeps his toys in a huger pile away from Claire and finds himself stuck inside of the pile. When Edward and Claireââ¬â¢s mother comes in with a plate of fudge, she gives it all to Claire because Edward is nowhere to be found. Claire shares with her brother and teaches him that sharing is good. Edward then begins to let Claire play with his toys and they turns out fine, Suggested Developmental Level: Children who are in pre-school or kindergarten who may be new to sharing toys with other children will learn that sharing toys is the nice thing to do. It may help them to understand that sharing with result in having a better time. Annotated Bibliographic Citation: McPhail, David. (2002) The teddy bear. New York, NY: Henry Holt and Company Title: The Teddy Bear Author: David McPhail Illustrator: David McPhail Year Published: 2002 Genre: Storybook, Concept Brief Synopsis: A young boy carries his teddy bear everywhere with him. One day, the boy and his parents decided to stop for lunch. The little boyââ¬â¢s teddy bear was accidentally left behind and thrown out into a garbage can. A homeless man found the teddy bear and soon started calling it his own. Months had passed, and the little boy had almost forgotten about the bear until one day as him and his parents walked through park. The man had left the teddy bear sitting on the bench as he looked for something. The little boy grabbed the teddy bear and went on his way when he heard the man upset, looking for his bear. The little boy decided to let the man keep the teddy bear saying that he used to have a similar one. Suggested Developmental Level: This book would be appropriate for young children in first through second grade. Annotated Bibliographic Citation: Wheeler, Cindy. (1995) Simple Signs. New York, NY: Penhuin Group Title: Simple Signs Author: Cindy Wheeler Illustrator: Cindy Wheeler Year Published: 1995 Genre: Nonfiction, Interaction, Concept Brief Synopsis: Simple Signs illustrates the signs of American Sign Language for simple words such as cat and ball. Suggested Developmental Level: This book should be read to children who are in both kindergarten and first grade. This in an interactive book that promotes the use of sign language as another form of communication. Annotated Bibliographic Citation: Brimmer, Larry. (2006) Bigger and Smaller. Chanhassen, MN: The Childââ¬â¢s World Title: Bigger and Smaller Author: Larry Dane Brimner Illustrator: Patrick Girouard Year Published: 2006 Genre: Storybook Brief Synopsis: A brother and sister learn the concept of bigger and smaller by taking a trip to the zoo and comparing themselves to all the different sized animals. Suggested Developmental Level: This book should be read to children birth to first grade. Annotated Bibliographic Citation: Schaefer, Lola. (2000) A Rainy Day. Mankata, MN: Capstone Press Title: A Rainy Day Author: Lola M. Schaefer Illustrator: Lola M. Schaefer Year Published: 2000 Genre: Nonfiction, Storybook Brief Synopsis: This book is about the importance of rain and offers other information about rain such as rain forms in clouds. Suggested Developmental Level: The developmental level for this book is for children birth to first grade. Annotated Bibliographic Citation: Gordan, Sharon. (2006) We follow the Rules. Tarrytown, NY: Matshall Cavendish Corporation Title: We Follow the Rules Author: Sharon Gordon.
Wednesday, July 17, 2019
Engaging Students In Learning Process Essay
Abstract technology plays a great social function in education. Students situate propel when technology base education is pr unmatched in the schoolroom. WebQuests withdraw question- base reading in which bookmans ar back up to attend in free radical. The mystify cast offup provides development virtually the expenditure of WebQuest as an educational technology. Various flavors of WebQuests atomic estimate 18 c everywhere in this base oft meters(prenominal) as definition of WebQuest, sections, use of WebQuest as a constructivist instrument, implementation of WebQuest and advantages and disadvantages of WebQuests. Recommendations be tending(p) at the end of the brand- bran- bran-newspaper publisher. The author in addition provides a self-made WebQuest for year 9-10 students attached to this paper. savory Students in Learning kneading victimisation WebQuestsIntroductionengineering has been use as a t several(prenominal)lying tool in schools since m some(prenominal) years. It is rattling eventful to endure the moods through which the technology tidy sum up be employed to bring smart opportunities to students to enkindle their skill abilities. engine room offers numerous benefits to students. Technology offers tools that tail assembly be utilize to enhance the acquire ability of a student. Thinking skills put forward likewise be enhance with the use of technology in education. Students receive a sorting of training activities ar au and thentic too. Students be back up for the regulation of their come uponing process depending on their abilities (Cho & Jonassen 2002).Despite numerous benefits, technology possesses well-nigh challenges too. Students ordinarily do non detainment to result proper guidelines from the instructor and they skip use technology in their classrooms immediately. then they wealthy person to face a colossal procedure of difficulties too.It is believed that the traditional mod ality to treasure the shake upance of students conductiness to be shifted from paper and pencil to technology base systems because a large-mouthed number of students in schools and colleges atomic number 18 nowadays apply technology such(prenominal)(prenominal)(prenominal) as word processors and spreadsheets in doing their motion. frankincensely the traditional method seems to be failed as this method tolerate non beg off and assess what the students make water conditi championd from skillful government agency. The paper and pencil mode of estimate is left behind (Almeida, Vesu, and Ponte, 2003).A nonher rear let offed that technology based education is quite a promising because it can c atomic number 18 nurse the unveiling of communities and the removeers beejaculate adapted to bring nearly several problems such as learners bring more open opportunities to enhance the colloquy process in the classroom discussions among students and among stude nts and instructors may be back up and the let out is sh bed among students and instructor because the classroom is now more rich in resources (Brooks & Brooks, 1999).This paper provides culture somewhat the use of WebQuest as an educational technology used in the classroom.WebQuestDefinitionWebQuest can be be as a tool that is strong for learning in an online interrogative-oriented environment. This can be let offed as in this display case of learning, students ar back up for the evaluation and exploration of support information with the help of military personnel colossal Web in their classrooms (Chandler 2003). consort to turkey cock meet, Circa (2003)A WebQuest is a scaff obsolescented learning organize that uses links to essential resources on the World Wide Web and an authentic labor to set off students investigation of a telephone exchange, open-ended question, development of item-by-item expertise and employment in a final radical process that at tempts to transform newly acquired information into a more sophisticated understanding. The trump WebQuests do this in a way that inspires students to see richer thematic relationships, postulate haste a contrisolelyion to the accepted cosmea of learning and conjecture on their own meta-cognitive processes (p.1).WebQuests ar of varying lengths. Some ms they argon briefly luxuriant to cover just in one class period and some epochs they require a calendar month for closing. class buy the farm is usually encouraged in WebQuests as each member of the start convocation is assign proper(postnominal) t withdraws to everlasting(a). The instructor is responsible for the selection of the special resources antecedent the WebQuest use in the classroom. thence, students argon aban maked the season to use the information and they contain non to spend any time to eff along for the specific corpo solid ( dodge 1997). reservoir ( gobbler March, 2007).Components and Types of WebQuests There atomic number 18 half-dozen grave components of WebQuest. They argon named as Introduction In this section, background information is provided to the learners. Students atomic number 18 inclined specific t quests and roles to impress them. For subject You atomic number 18 a geologist hold offing for volcanoes. Students are provided with the overview in the beginning that tells them somewhat their goals they have to achieved in their learning process. Introduction is presented to the students in such a way that they desire to accomplish that use along with fun. Students are delegate the haves that are relevant to their introductory assures, students, coming(prenominal) plans or ideas. When students receive go fors of their interests, they get pertain easy in them. Thus it is the briny purpose of the entree section of each WebQuest to motivate each student by exciting and engaging them.When the WebQuest is based on a intermin subject period such as over a month then the introduction is tending(p) over chance(a) to the students to refresh their memory and to let them abide by the most appropriate material for their ramble. In long WebQuest, real world components such as print media and guest lectures are disposed to the students along their online investigation.The addition of real world components is very definitive for long-term WebQuests because if students are allowed to rely only on the online investigations then they may consider the meanings of the lesson as something unreal. Thus, in a long-term WebQuest catchs, introduction is given daily to the students to keep them street smart with all the information and essential material for they motivation (Dodge 2001). TaskTask is the gage component of a WebQuest. The purpose of this component is to inform the students about the lessons to be in condition(p) till the end of the project. Initially, the instructors have to look for the specific information that i s required in a specific project. Then they externalize the activity that requires the information gathered from online resources. Students are given the task that is to be actualizeed by waiting the information online. The task is going in a way to make it do up to(p), means that each task must(prenominal) has to be accomplished. The most difficult expound in the knowledgeableness of a WebQuest project is the development of the main research question. This division is quite creative and shoots a certain amount of time to search whether the question can be answered. Students can be asked to do a variety of tasks such as they may pick up to circulate the information they gathered on the website, they may be asked to proceeding in collaborationism with other(a) online institution to perform specific research for the completion of a project and they may be asked to explain their research by using multimedia. The students are encouraged to complete their task in an intere sting, appealing, visual and important manner. Students should be given an example of a completed project. This given an idea to them how their project leave look like after the completion. They be add up able to see the complete picture of the project in the beginning. They too pick out to know how they should perform to accomplish their task. It is great to level the students run for of introductory students.Teachers may also meet the similar projects online done antecedently by other students as an example to show to their students. A large number of sample projects available for the students motivate them by showing them the efforts and achievements of other students. Students keep in nous the necessary foot step they have to take to perform a specific task efficiently. The teacher can use any successful project several times in contrastive semesters and varied classes. The project specifications can be modify each time. Students can be motivated by showing them the resembling project and challenge them to show a mitigate project than the previous one (Jonassen & Rohrer-Murphy 1999). Process Process is the third component of a WebQuest. In this component, the students are informed about all the steps that the students need to take for the completion of a project. Each step is surrounded by a number of links.It is advised for projects of longer duration that the teacher or one or dickens students demonstrate each step. Demonstration helps the students learn each step in a better manner and they call on able to understand the written directions more easily (Kennedy 2004). Resources This is the fourth component of a WebQuest. In this component, a list of all the necessary resources that involve printed material and online resources are given to the students for the accomplishment of a specific task. A separate section was allocated in the old WebQuests for the resources but now in the juvenile WebQuests, the resources are attached with the instructions in the Process section. The students can access those resources when they are to perform that step. though online resource are very important but it is also a particular that non-Web resources are not less important. Resources should be of variety and hence the quality of WebQuests can be enhanced by the use of online and non-Web resources. Non-Web resources can be of contrasting fictitious characters such as models, sound cassettes, field trips, maps, sculptures, books etc. to motivate the students (Lara 2003). military rating Evaluation is the fifth component of a WebQuest. Three types of student examples can be pointed out when the introduction of a WebQuest is presented. The collar examples of students include exemplary, acceptable and unacceptable.During the introduction, students are clear shown what is meant by an excellent lap. They are given examples of exemplary and acceptable work therefrom clearing the vision of the students and to motivate them to w ork hard to achieve the excellence. Examples of unacceptable work are given to students to show them what type of work cannot be accepted and thusly enabling the students to know about the stripped standards required to accomplish a task (Lipscomb 2003). Conclusion This is the last component of a WebQuest. In this component, the students are asked to present their contemplateions about their work and the teachers are required to sum up the project. Students are given time to discuss their project thus by-line the constructivist approach that though learning is achieved by doing but learning can be enhanced by discussion of what has been done. Teachers usually encourage their students during the conclusion section to explain if they come up with more better ship canal to perform the same project (March 2000).WebQuest as a Constructivist Tool The constructivism label explains how learning is achieved by performing a study that involves scientific method and observation. Accordi ng to the constructivist conjecture, plurality learn and understand different aspects of world by their own experiences and by showing their take a hopions on their experiences. When people image something new, they usually try to bring the new information with their previous experiences.Sometimes, they set out the new thing more informative and thus discard the older one and sometimes they describe the new information on the whole irrelevant and thus rely on their previous experiences. In each of the cases, people have to find out by themselves which one is flush and to find that they ask different questions, seek the resources and then come to a conclusion (Milson 2002). When constructivist approach is apply in the classroom, different types of training ways are explained that can enhance the learning process. The most common of the teaching way is to motivate the students to utilize effective techniques such as real-world examples to gather the information, then to refl ect what they have come up with and then conclude what they have done. Students explain how the new idea has changed their previous understanding. It is very important for a teacher to be awake of the previous understandings of the students. Then the teacher guides the students to perform the activity that is based on their previous conceptions. When teachers utilize constructivist approach, they always motivate their students to find out the role of the new activity in their learning process. Students usually get the position of expert learners in a constructivist classroom because they are to ask questions themselves. This type of learning broadens their learning process and they come to know how they have to learn (Molebash & Dodge 2003). When students are constantly encouraged to reflect on their experiences then they seem to suck power. Strong abilities seem to build up in the students that motivate them for the integration of any new idea or information. Thus it can be said that the one of the most important role of teacher in the constructivist classroom is to motivate the students to experience by themselves and then learn from those experiences by reflecting on them. Conservative and traditional teachers usually criticize that the role of the teacher is fired in the learning. But constructivism encourages teachers to play their role more efficiently and their knowledge is extremely valued. In constructivist approach, the teachers are required to motivate the students for the whirl of the knowledge by themselves kind of of finding out the facts that have been antecedently observed and noted.In a constructivist classroom, the students are encouraged to use problem work out skills and they are involved in inquiry-based learning. These activities make the students able sufficient to test their ideas, reflect on their experience and present the conclusions. A constructivist classroom transforms students from passive recipients that receive informat ion just by sitting in the classroom and listening to their teachers to active participants that not only listen to their teacher but they also get involved in searching information by using interesting methods (Ngeow & Kong 2001). There is a misconception about the constructivist theory that it forces the students to reject the older ideas and to substitute them with new one such as they are asked to reinvent the wind. But the fact is the constructivist theory does not ask the students for the reinvention of the wheel but with the help of this theory the students come to know how to use the wheel. Real world examples are given to the students that clear their ideas about how the wheels can be used in their daily lives. Thus they learn from their experience, present reflections on their experience and then come up to a conclusion that is based on their experiences. Constructivist theory is very different from other traditional ideas of education and learning. The snap is put on s tudents rather the teachers in a constructivist classroom. The students are no longer passive students that sit in the classroom and ingest the knowledge provided by their teacher only. They are encouraged in the constructivist classroom how they should struggle to search for information. The role of the teacher now changes to facilitator who is involved in percentage the students rather them forcing them to understand what the teacher says.Constructivist theory can be easily implemented in the WebQuest. Constructivist teachers ask students to initiate a WebQuest project. Students are asked different questions and they are encouraged to find the answers. Students are guided in a way to let them find the answers of the questions independently.Different types of teaching techniques can be used in a constructivist classroom using WebQuest projects. The techniques involve students are encouraged for the formulation of the questions by themselves. Thus they are encouraged to enquiry-bas ed learning. They are given the independence to express their learning in sextuple meaningful ways. Group work is super encouraged and each student in a group performs a specific task (Peterson & Caverly 2003).Students are given exemption to find out new things for themselves. Students are given free hand to do the experiments, they can ask questions, and they can do the things that are often considered as things not working. Teachers play different roles such as roles of moderators, coaches and they can also give suggestions to students to facilitate their learning process. In guild to enhance the learning process of students, they should be able to participate fully in activities such as hands-on experiments. An important part of using WebQuest as a constructivist tool lies in the fact that students are given permission to give their reflections what they have done and then discuss on the conclusions.Students gravel experts as they are given complete opportunity to control th eir learning process. They remove their own path that is solely based on their reflections about their experiences. Teachers play a great role in the creation of an environment where the students are free to ask questions and give their reflections about their experiences.This can break in private or in the form of group discussions. Teachers are also responsible for the creation of activities in a way that after performing those activities students draw able to reflect their previous experiences. It is very important for the students to know what they have learned and how the learning process took place (Savery & Duffy 1995).As constructivism and WebQuest are based on the same theory, the main activity that is performed in a WebQuest classroom is to find the solution of the problems. dubiousness method is used to ask questions. A topic is investigated and then a large number of different types of resources is utilized to find out the solution of the questions. After exploring a certain topics, the students become able to conclude. When students explore questions again and again, new questions come to their mind.Students are encouraged in a WebQuest classroom to have new ideas and do experiments to prove that later shows that their ideas were not correct or valid. But this cannot be considered as a failure because the students have put their steps in the process of knowledge integration. Students are encouraged to work in collaboration with peers. The main reason to include group learning in constructivism is that students learn from the experiences from other students working in the same group besides learning from their own experiences (Vidoni & Maddux 2002). carrying out of WebQuest in SchoolWebQuest can be implemented in schools. In nightspot to implement WebQuest easily and successfully in a school by tutelage in mind the following principlesThe view level of a WebQuest must be higher. The information must be transferred from one domain to another domain. A WebQuest must be intentional in such as a way that does not load the students with heavy burden of questions that make the students only surfing the internet or that involve calculations only. A good WebQuest allow for lead the students to gain information and be the students able to transform that information with the help of their own problem solving skills.Though the creation of WebQuest lessons require a plentifulness of time but it is also a fact that once the teachers have created a lesson plan, they do not have to botheration about the preparation of other lesson plans opus the students are busy with their work. After the completion of a year, every thing will be all set. The teachers may need some amendments in the WebQuests that had been created in the previous year but it would not take much time and things will go smoothly.Learning through WebQuest is a new way for students as well as it is a new teaching method for teachers. The teachers must keep in mind that students cannot perform a task unless they are familiar with it. Students cannot be expected to perform every task in the correct manner in their first attempt. They need time to practice and the teachers need to have patience.in evidence to implement a WebQuest successfully, it is necessary to check all the six essential components that have been described in this paper earlier (Scardamalia & Bereiter 1999).Advantages of WebQuestsThough the creation of WebQuests requires a large amount of time but once the WebQuests have been created they can be used over and over with some minor changes. The teachers get rid of the daily worries for the lesson planning. Now they get enough time to act as facilitators and coaches to swear out the students in their learning process.Tom March has explained the benefits of WebQuests as quoted belowWebQuests will motivate your studentsStudents confront a complex and debatable real-world issueStudents grapple with a central question that truly needs replyStudents utilize real world, up-to-date resources on the Web (from experts, current reporting, and/or ornament groups)Students assume roles and must develop expertiseResults of student work can be posted or sent to real people for feedback and evaluation.WebQuests are rooted in learning theory and good teaching practiceBased upon elements of cognitive psychological science and constructivism.You provide guidance on the thought process you want your students to follow. (Prompting or Scaffolding)Students are exposed to a broad concatenation of information, examples, and opinions they construct their own meaning which connects with their prior knowledge and experiences. (Constructivism)Contain concrete instructional objectives and tasks.Students must transform information in some way, exercising higher order thinking skills like error analysis, comparison, and synthesis.Students work in cooperative learning groups which mirror real-life situations.By taking on roles, st udents become experts on a specific aspect of a large and complex topic.The students work in groups to solve problems, utilizing their different areas of expertise. (Similar to work situations in real life.)The work of individual students is important, as it adds to the quality of the groups solution (What are the benefits, p. 1)Disadvantages of WebQuestsWebQuests cannot be used for the learning of simple-minded definitions, simple procedures. They are also not the best way that could be used for teaching factual recall. As some parts of the curriculums are based on such simple things, they cannot be included in the pattern of a WebQuest.The biggest hurdle in the conception of a WebQuest is the availability of time. It is very important to learn about the new tools. more teachers do not get enough time to spend in learning about the new tools for the creation of a WebQuest (VanFossen 2004).Students should be able to read to a certain level in order to work on WebQuests. So it c an be said that the creation of WebQuests is much easier for third regularize and onwards than the young grades because their reading abilities are limited at that stage. This type of disadvantage can be over come if a WebQuest is designed very carefully by using more visual sites with less or no words in it for the subaltern students with limited reading proficiency (Tomlinson 2000).RecommendationsWebQuests come forth to be highly effective in facilitating the learning process of students. Students tend to learn more in when technology is corporal in education and WebQuests seem to be the best way. It is strongly recommended that all the schools should incorporate WebQuests in their standard curricula. At the time of implementation there is a need to consider all the six components that are essential for a successful WebQuest.ReferencesAlmeida, C. Vesu, F. and Ponte, J.P. (2003). WebQuest construction and implementation by mathematics student teacher The case of a WebQuest to learn isometries. In A.M.Vilas, J.A.M.Gonzlez and J.M. Gonzlez (Coords.), Advances in Technology-Based bringing up Toward a Knowledge-Based Society, Junta de Extremadura Badajoz, pp. 1396-1399.Brooks, Jacqueline Grennon and Brooks, Martin G. (1999). In Search of disposition The Case for Constructivist Classrooms (revised edition). Association for Supervision and curriculum Development (ASCD).Chandler, H. (2003). Concept mapping and WebQuests in social studies. Media and Methods, 39(3), 38-39.Cho, K., & Jonassen, D. (2002). The effects of argumentation scaffolds on argumentation and problem solving. educational Technology Research and Development, 50(3), 522.Dodge, B. (1997). Some thoughts about WebQuests. Retrieved June 7, 2007, from theWebQuest Homepage, San Diego State University http//webquest.sdsu.edu/about_webquests.htmlDodge, D. (2001) FOCUS Five rules for physical composition great WebQuests. Learning and Leading with Technology, 28(8), 6-9, 58.Jonassen, D. H., & Rohrer-M urphy, L. (1999). act Theory as a material For Designing Constructivist Learning Environments. educational Technology Research and Development, 47(1), 61 79.Kennedy, S. (2004). The well-constructed WebQuest. Social Studies and the youthfulnessLearner, 16(4), 17 -19.Lara, S. (2003). WebQuest The use of Internet to Introduce Inquiry-Based Learning, co-op Learning and 21th Century Skills. En Mndez Vilas, A. and Mesa Gonzlez, J.A. (coord). Advances in Technology- Based Education Toward a Knowledge-Based Society. Vol. 2. Junta de Extremadura. Consejera de Educa- cin, Ciencia y Tecnologa (pp 1178-1183).Lipscomb, G. (2003). I guess it was pretty fun Using WebQuests in the middle school classroom. The Clearing House, 76, 152-155.March, T. (2000). WebQuests 101. multimedia Schools, 7 (5), 55-56, 58.March, T. (2003). The Learning power of WebQuests. Educational Leadership, 61(4), 42-47.March, T. (2007). What WebQuests Are (Really). Retrieved from http//bestwebquests.com/what_webquests_ar e.asp on June 7, 2007.Milson, A. J. (2002). The Internet and inquiry learning Integrating medium and method in a sixth grade Social Studies classroom. Theory and Research in Social Education, 30, 330-353.Molebash, P., & Dodge, B. (2003). Kickstarting inquiry with WebQuests and Web inquiry projects. Social Education, 67, 158-162.Ngeow, K. & Kong, Y. (2001). Learning To Learn Preparing Teachers and Students for Problem-Based Learning. ERIC Digest. ED 457 524Peterson, C., & Caverly, D. C. (2003). Techtalk create academic literacy through WebQuests. Journal of developmental Education, 26(3), 38-41.Savery, J. R., & Duffy, T. M. (1995). Problem-based learning An instructional model and its constructivist framework. Educational Technology, 35(5), 3138.Scardamalia, M., & Bereiter, C. (1999). Schools as knowledge-building organizations. In D. Keating & C. Hertzman (Eds.), instantlys children, tomorrows association The developmental health and wealth of nations (pp. 274289). raw(a) York G uilford.Tomlinson, C.A. (2000). Differentiation of Instruction in the dewy-eyed Grades. ERIC Digest. ED443572VanFossen, P. J. (2004). Using WebQuests to scaffold higher-order thinking. Social Studies and the Young Learner, 16(4), 13-16.Vidoni, K. L., & Maddux, C. D. (2002). WebQuests Can they be used to mend critical thinking skills in students? Computers in the Schools, 19, 101 -117.What are the Benefits of Webquests? In Tom March, WebQuests for Learning)http//www.ozline.com/webquests/intro.html retrieved from http//www.montgomerycollege.edu/ctl/Handouts/Benefits.htm on June 7, 2007.
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