Health Promotion of the Older Adult

While previous perceptions o f health only included the physical body, health is now considered from a holistic point of v eel, encompassing the body, mind, and environment as opposed to only the absence of disease ( Chem., Hung, Line, Hang & Yang). I believe that while assessing one's health, especially that of a n older adult, the wellbeing of both the body and mind should be equally taken into considerate on. While this mindset takes on a holistic approach, I feel that it is possible to have an illness while still maintaining a degree of health.An example of this would be one who suffers from diabetes but lives an otherwise positive and productive lifestyle. My perception of health has been influenced by the examples my parents have e set Out for me. While my father put a lot of stress on the importance of the physical asps CT of health, encouraging an active lifestyle and proper nutrition, my mother taught the IM parlance of coping skills and positive environments. Both parents v iew themselves as relatively h lately and lead active lifestyles regardless of the genetically endowed illness such as heart disk ease with my ether and depression with my mother.My education is another influence of my perception of 3 health. Learning about the body and what it needs to function has made health h promotion and the maintenance of a healthy lifestyle important to me. After examining Mrs.. Hernandez case, several issues have been identified w which may impede the processes of healthy aging. Two of the issues selected for indents focus included Mrs.. Hernandez poor coping skills and poor access to necessary resources. During her assessment, Mrs..Hernandez stated that prior to the loss of her husband, she often prepared her own meals, whereas now she relies on prepackaged, and microwavable meals . Mrs.. Hernandez additionally stated that she no longer has an appetite and no longer enjoys the e taste or smell of food. These changes seem to coincide with the loss of her hu sband. Consequent entry, Mrs.. Hernandez level of health, as well as emotional well being would benefit fro m an improved level of coping skills. Mrs.. Hernandez seems to also lack active engagement in her life as a result of her poor coping skills. This is apparent in Mrs..Hernandez statement rage ding her abundance of time spent watching television as well as the little amount of it me she spends outside of her apartment. While examining limitations in Mrs.. Hernandez pr access of healthy aging, consideration Of her inaccessibility to appropriate resources is essential I. Mrs.. Hernandez stated that she obtains her food and supplies at the corner store. Immobility due to pain in her hips not only decreases her activities of daily living, but also isolates her as SSH e spends the majority of her time resting at home. A possible intervention for Mrs..Herman ex could be utilization of services that provides transportation to grocery stores, medical appointments, and social clubs. Eff ective management of her hip pain and possible physiotherapy y may also increase her physical functionality which could enable her to comfortably spend more time outside the home. 4 There are several chronological assessment tools available that cover many a aspects of healthy aging. The assessment tools that are especially pertinent to Mrs.. Here anode's current situation are the PANCAKES assessment, the family PAGE, and the GeriatricDepression scale (Toothy, Jet, Abstractors, & McCauley, 2012). PANCAKES is a comprehensive asses semen tool that incorporates the requirements needed in order to complete the activities of d lily living. This tool would help identify the needed resources and services in order to develop a p rationalized and efficient care plan. This assessment tool also helps with identifying any potent ail health and safety risks (Toothy et al. , 2012). This is especially important for Mrs.. Hernandez z as she currently resides alone. Due to the fact that Mrs..Hernand ez has recently suffered from the loss of a loved one, it is recommended that she receives a Familiarity test, which measure s the availability and quality of social supports. Using the results from this tool, a strategy cool d be implemented to help Mrs.. Hernandez develop positive relationships and ultimately, improve e On her coping skills. Finally, there is the Geriatric Depression Scale, which is used for mood measurement. This particular tool is recommended as Mrs.. Hernandez has shown signs of d oppression through her loss of appetite and level of activity.

Compare the first impressions of school we receive in ‘Hard Times’ and ‘To Sir with Love’ Essay

Charles Dickens set the play in the 1850’s during the industrial revolution in Lancashire. ‘Hard Times’ is set in a town called ‘Coaltown’ which is stricken with poverty and this is reflected in most of the town’s inhabitants-in their garb and in the way they look. There is a big rift between the rich and the poor and the rich like this arrangement. The school which the children go to is more like a military training camp, where the children are taught only facts: â€Å"Teach these boys and girls nothing but facts† â€Å"Facts alone are wanted in life† The children at this school are partitioned-boys on one side of the classroom and the girls on the other. The teachers are all male. ‘To Sir with Love’ is set in the East End of London during the 1960’s, this was a period of rebellion and change with teachers unable to punish pupils, and certain people took this opportunity to cause havoc, with the powerless teachers unable to do anything. The class in the play come from working, families and are all dressed scruffily. In Dickens Hard Times the pupils are not allowed to let their minds wonder, they are taught constantly. The classes were run by organisations and in some places there were up to a thousand pupils in one room, they are all taught at once, their age is irrelevant. The teachers are shown an amazing amount of respect and the children would never backchat or disobey any order they were given. Since there were so many children being taught the teachers addressed them by a number instead of name. The teachers in Hard Times, all dress in suites in an attempt to gain even more respect than they have-this is nearly impossible. To Sir with Love is a complete contrast the children have a choice of what to wear, even though they come from working class families, they still look like the children in Hard Times: â€Å"Those rough looking untidy children† The teachers first impression of the pupils is lazy, dirty scruffy kids, they talk in slang and at the start they act like kids always shouting and screaming: â€Å"The words bloody and bleeding were hardly ever absent from any remark† Both sexes interact constantly especially during break when they all start dancing in the hall. During classes the pupils annoy their teacher so much that he gives up teaching and throws all the text books in the bin- this is very symbolic because it is when he stops treating them as kids and starts treating them as adults. This is when the teaching moves on from teaching facts to telling them about life (e.g. how to behave, address each other, speak properly etc). The pupils and teachers in Hard Times have no personal relationship, in fact the teachers try too rid the pupils of any unwanted imagination or personality: â€Å"You are never to fancy† This basically translates to ‘you are not allowed to imagine or have your own opinions.’ According to the teachers there is only one way to live and they mould the pupils into their perfect image of person, leaving no room for argument. The relationship between pupil and teacher in ‘To Sir with Love’ changes as the play progresses, it starts off with the pupils ignoring whatever their teachers and not cooperating, this is only while he is trying to teach them facts, the main reason they shun him is because he acts and dresses like a gentleman (he is different to them). Everything changes when he throws the books away because they understand that he isn’t like their other teachers and is really like them-he has faced all the problems that they have faced-and with time they grow to respect him and almost care about him, just as he does them. Unique things happen for example the teacher gets taught about their lives and he gains an insight into why teenagers are the way they are . after he hears some of their problems he feels compassion for them. He treats them as individuals whereas in ‘Hard Times’ they are treated as objects and the teachers don’t really care about any of them . The language used in Dickens’ ‘Hard Times’ starts significantly with the title which on its own signifies a time of poverty, unemployment and a general struggle. The names of the teachers also have hidden meanings-Mr Choakumchild is one name which as soon as you say it the word ‘choke’ comes to mind-as in choking the ‘fancy’ out of his pupils. Mr Gradgrind’s name brings words like ‘hard work’ and ‘grinding’ or ‘crushing.’ As in crushing the imagination out of pupils. They speak very formal/standard English. The book often repeats that Mr. Gradgrind is â€Å"square†, this means he is dull and boring but also suggests that he is sharp, rigid and harsh, it is repeated so that you get the picture about him. As well as how â€Å"square† Mr Gradgrind is, you get the message that all that should be learnt is facts since it is shouted by the teachers so many times. The language used tells a lot about characters and how they behave/teach, for example Mr Choakumchild is said to have too much knowledge and so cannot teach as well as he could: â€Å"If he had only learned a little less how infinitely better he might have taught much more† In ‘To Sir with Love’ the characters use of language varies between each person. The teacher talks in polite, standard English. Whereas the pupils use an informal colloquial speech with an Anglo-Saxon dialect mixed in (Swearing!!). The teacher speaks with respect. He wants to help the pupils and tries to set a good example. He is well educated and wishes no harm to anybody. There are many things that are the same in both plays, yet there are also a lot of things that vary as well-the teachers all speak aristocratic whereas the pupils speak colloquially, also in both novels the teachers try to do their best to help their pupils even though they do it in many different ways.

Milgram Obedience Review Essay

â€Å"Obedience is as basic an element in the structure of social life as one can point to. Some system of authority is a requirement of all communal living, and it is only the person dwelling in isolation who is not forced to respond, with defiance or submission, to the commands of others. For many people, obedience is a deeply ingrained behavior tendency, indeed a potent impulse overriding training in ethics, sympathy, and moral conduct. The dilemma inherent in submission to authority is ancient, as old as the story of Abraham, and the question of whether one should obey when commands conflict with conscience has been argued by Plato, dramatized in Antigone, and treated to philosophic analysis in almost every historical epoch. Conservative philosophers argue that the very fabric of society is threatened by disobedience, while humanists stress the primacy of the individual conscience. The legal and philosophic aspects of obedience are of enormous import, but they say very little about how most people behave in concrete situations. I set up a simple experiment at Yale University to test how much pain an ordinary citizen would inflict on another person simply because he was ordered to by an experimental scientist. Stark authority was pitted against the subjects’ strongest moral imperatives against hurting others, and, with the subjects’ ears ringing with the screams of the victims, authority won more often than not. The extreme willingness of adults to go to almost any lengths on the command of an authority constitutes the chief finding of the study and the fact most urgently demanding explanation.† This is from ‘perils of obedience’ by Stanley milgram. I enjoyed this article.

Characteristics of the Modern Theories of International Trade Research Paper

Characteristics of the Modern Theories of International Trade - Research Paper Example Heckscher-Ohlin theory outlines the reasons for trade between countries based on the differences in resources. Comparative advantage in this case is dependent on the interaction between resources available in a certain country. According to this theory, the production technology influences relative intensity in utilization of different production factors. The theory presumes some factors in production of different goods and the implications when two countries involved in trade produce similar items (Gandolfo 1-98). This theorem explains the trade patterns with emphasis on variation of quality defining the variation in requirements. This theory has enhanced specialization where a country exports products that it  can produce rather than the products that are unsuitable for production. As a result, the countries involved will benefit from the trade within the international business environment (Gandolfo 1-98). The theory outlines two factors influencing the distribution of income. Firstly, immediate transfer of resources from a country without costs is impossible. Secondly, the difference in changes of production mix in relation to the production factors’ demand varies depending on the  industry. Another characteristic of the theory is that it points out that capital and territory are examples of specific factors, while labor acts as a mobile factor (Gandolfo 1-98). In modern business environment, any country with less land and high capital abundance is characterized by an increase in the manufactured goods and decrease in the food products because of the increase in the marginal productivity. Two countries in trade partnership have an integrated economy, and failure of one country to trade translates to equality in rate of production and consumption (Gandolfo 1-98). This theory outlines curve of relative supply that results from production possibility. On the other hand, the theory

Dissolved Oxygen Content and Fish Populations in Water Coursework

Dissolved Oxygen Content and Fish Populations in Water - Coursework Example 6. Analyze results – Assume that your experiment produces results identical to those seen in Table 4, what type of graph would be appropriate for displaying the data and why? 6. Analyze results – Assume that your experiment produces results identical to those seen in Table 4, what type of graph would be appropriate for displaying the data and why? The best type of graph to be used will be a line graph. This type of graph best illustrates trends or behavior of the dependent variable (fish) against varying oxygen levels. The line graph helps the researcher easily monitor increases and declines in the variable over time.   7. Analyze results - Graph the data from Table 4 and describe what your graph looks like (you do not have to submit a picture of the actual graph!). For oxygen levels of between 0 and 4 ppm, the graph rises steadily but for values between 4 and 12 ppm, there is a sharp rise. However, there is a significant drop between levels of 12 and 14ppm, before again showing a steady rise between levels of 14 and 18ppm.   8. Draw conclusions - Interpret the data from the graph made in Question 7.   What conclusions can you make based on the results of this graph? Based on the results, fish thrive well in water with dissolved oxygen concentrations of about 12ppm. However, when the oxygen level is raised above this level, there is no significant increase in the number of fish but instead; a drop in fish populations may be witnessed. Therefore, 12ppm is the optimal level of dissolved oxygen for fish survival.  9. Draw conclusions – Assuming that your experiment produced results identical to those seen in Table 4, would you reject or accept the hypothesis that you produced in question 3?   Explain how you determined this. If my experimental results were to be identical to the above, I would accept my hypothesis. This is because the highest population of fish is witnessed at 12ppm dissolved oxygen level. This means that any values below the 12ppm will lead and this supports my hypothesis.

Discussion President Gerge Herbert Walker Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Discussion President Gerge Herbert Walker - Essay Example It could be argued that these events came relatively early during George H.W. Bush’s presidency, and really reflect initiatives and policies of the previous president (Ronald Reagan). Two major international political initiatives that were truly spearheaded by the Bush Presidency that I have seen through my research were the military incursions into Panama and Operation Desert Storm. Whilst the actual political details of these two events are well storied, my personal impressions of the event were that they demonstrated a kind of turnaround for the United States armed forces. I recall watching an interview with Colin Powell in which he postulated that a real concern for the president was that the military incursions could expand into a second ‘Vietnam’ insofar as the nation would become involved in a prolonged un-winnable war. Ultimately the United States recognized an overwhelming military success in both incursions. After the collapse of the Soviet Union this le ft the United States in a militarily dominate position. On the negative side of the spectrum the Bush Presidency also recognized a serious downturn in the economy. Moreover, as part of his initial presidential campaign promise, Bush utilized the slogan â€Å"Read my lips, no new taxes.† As part of a compromise with the Democratic Party ultimately Bush had implemented significant new taxes which in a way tarnished his reputation.

Symbolism in The Bean Trees and Medicine River by Barbara Kingsolver Essay

Symbolism in The Bean Trees and Medicine River by Barbara Kingsolver - Essay Example She has shown innate qualities of a writer by relating to people, their plight and the situations that they get into because of the dominant society. Not only this, Barbara King also has a feel and the place for non-living objects that she so beautifully exploits to express her abstract ideas. Another novel that could be spoken about here in Medicine River by Thomas King, who too used symbols, such as people, nature, and other objects in a similar way too represent his ideas and understanding of life in general. An essay so deemed to be worthy enough for comparing the two of the most followed literature works will demonstrate how both Barbara Kingsolver and Thomas King used people, objects, and nature to bring out different meanings and ideas in their literary work. Barbara Kingsolver wrote ‘The Bean Trees’ focusing on the life of people living I low profiled cities like that of Kentucky and her prime character was the young woman named Taylor Greer. Tired of Male domina nce, she decided to head to the west in search of an ideal place that could get her away from chauvinistic nature of the society. In her journey to find solace, she met across people from several ethnicities and she also acquired a little native Indian child. The novel so intrinsically identifies and makes you feel for the original and tough experiences of the core character, Taylor Greer; her experiences through different symbols of friendship, belonging, support, and life get you to relate to some or the other incidences of life. Medicine River written by Thomas King revolves around Will, who is a Photographer by profession. Even though he thinks that he has come back to his home town of Medicine River for the rituals of her mother’s demise, he not only gets caught up in helping the community and the natives, but also manages to fall in love with a girl at the same time. Thomas King has used different symbols to demonstrate the same meanings of friendship, belongingness, su pport, and life through out the story. Both the novels center on the core theme of humanity, whether from the perspective of friends or from some one who is just a well-wisher. However, the symbolism all the more has been so dramatized that it looks nothing far from real with characters ending up meeting just when they were being expected by the readers. Lou Ann of ‘The Bean Trees’ and Harlen of ‘Medicine River’ form an intrinsic part of the novel as both have been presented as the best friends and companions of Taylor Greer and Will respectively. The characters have been so enlivened in the story that the reader can’t stop thinking about his own life experiences and remembering incidences of meeting people who played similar roles in their life to such characters. They add twists and a touch of practicality to the novel’s idea by giving it a touch of real life experiences. "Harlen Bigbear was one of the most charitable people I had ever known . No matter whom it was, Harlen would always go looking for the good in a person. And even if he couldn't find it, he assumed that it was there, buried somewhere." Harlen’s character is so presented in Medicine River that she always prefers to gossip about things that happen around in the society, especially in her community and advise Will about the good and the bad. Will enjoys her company and association even though she is mostly annoyed while talking and discussing. She often did things that even though might be not in so favor of Will’s opinion; he could sense an attachment that makes him feel good about the occasion. On the other hand, Lou Ann in ‘The Bean Trees’

Justification Report Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Justification Report - Assignment Example HP provides business with computer systems for everyday business needs, and that’s budget-friendly. †¢ Alternative B – Dell: Is an American-owned computer technology firm based in Round Rock, Texas. Dell is amongst largest technological corporations in the world. Dell sells a variety of products that could help our business such as desktops, laptops, printers, and storage devices. Dell provides businesses with deals where the more one buys the more one saves. Dell is more expensive than HP. However, both offer first-class performance. Dell has more features than Hp. For example, comparing Dell Inspiron 17R Special Edition 7720, and HP Envy 2012, Dell has Blu-ray player, Beats Audio and 1920 by 1080 screen resolutions (Low, 2014). Dell has 17 promotions. The company offers three coupon codes, 12 sales, and two free shipping coupons. In their latest offer, Dell gave out 30% coupon deals on select laptops and desktops in the last day. Dell has web and social support and phone support. They have a speedy twitter team and a useful chat service. Many customers find solutions to their problems online. However, Dell has to streamline its support site to make it easier to get live chat function (Rutherford, 2014). HP has web and social support, and phone support. Customers argue that they were satisfied with the support from HP. However, some of their customer support services like SmartFriend are very expensive. They charge almost $100 for assistance (Low, 2014). The specifications of the machine vary from HP and Dell. However, the paper will compare two laptops, HP Compaq nc6220 and Dell Latitude D610. These two laptops are somehow similar. The HP laptop has Intel Pentium M 1.6 GHz, 512 MB DDRII ram, 14.1† 1024 X 768 resolution screen, Intel media accelerator, 40GB, 5400rpm HDD, DVD/CD-ROM (Low, 2014). The Dell Latitude D610 Intel Pentium M 1.86 GHz, 1GB DDRII,

Innovation, Ethics & Change-Hypocrisy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Innovation, Ethics & Change-Hypocrisy - Essay Example The resistance change is human nature and the employees should undergo certain training to accept change. The managers are also encouraged to ensure the employees’ opinions with regard to certain changes, whether positive or negative is not held against them. This discourse is about guidance to help employees accept change within organizations. There are several reasons why various employees resist change. Some employees could be perfect in their areas of duties. For instance, an employee could choose to associate himself with other races or tribes as this could seem as a let down to his personality and even the family. Such employees will always address his peers sarcastically to discourage them from further participation. The managers should identify such employees and guide them or counsel them since such attitude could limit the overall productivity of an organization ( Kegan & Lahey 2001). Mistakes in any working organizations are to both the employees and even the managers. The global financial crisis was a mistake of the topmost leaders in the financial institutions as well as the legislators. The legislators involved despised opinions of various experts and their decisions still have an impact on the global economy to the current date. We may have the urge to accept change but there are factors called the sidetracks that may limit our abilities to embrace such changes. One of the sidetracks is the ‘forces within’ and these are our personal thoughts that encourage resistance to change. This could also be attributed to the people surrounding us. The emotional attachment could also hinder us from accepting changes, for instance, Yahoo boss turned down deal termed as one of its kind, when Microsoft was ready to buy its search engine at $22 B, in 2008.

Principles of Organization and Management Essay

Principles of Organization and Management - Essay Example They have nearly 523 branches spread all across the world. ASDA recently purchased the famous Netto stores for ?778 million, with the sole aim of gaining an upper hand in the UK retail industry. ASDA has faced several problems in the past, to the level of collecting money from various sources including their shareholders to avoid bankruptcy in 1991 and 1993. It has emerged out successfully through various leaps and bounces in the past under the guidance of great leaders like Norman Archie. ASDA’s revival using various principles of organization and management under the leadership of Norman had been studied by various experts all over the world. The paper explores the various strategies used by ASDA to overcome the cultural and economic barriers it faced during its grim past. It also lists the new set of challenges the new COO has to face in today’s highly competitive market and analyzes the scope for ASDA to overcome the new set of challenges. Literary Review ASDA was a t the brim of declaring bankruptcy when Norman Archie came into ASDA as the only applicant for the CEO position of the company. He used various strategies to ensure the company became a successful leader in the retail sector. Within a short span of time, he was able to transform a company at the brink of closing, into a highly successful one. Norman used three strategies reengineering, rewarding and doing it within a given time frame to achieve this impossible feat. Reengineering a company is no easy task. It is simply not enough to patch up the mistakes. The basic structure has to be changed completely by questioning the long time procedures (Hammer & Champy, 1993). Norman did exactly the same to ASDA. The company was highly hierarchical and the upper management used very traditional ways of management. Most of the well paid senior officers were very bureaucratic, preventing any productive changes. He simply did not go about doing the same mistakes other CEO's did. He challenged th e basic structure the company was working. He made every employee in the organization share the vision for reviving ASDA. He never stopped recruitment, treated the low level employees with respect and found out what exactly was lacking in the company. â€Å"The new view is that marketing is the science and art of finding, retaining and growing profitable customers (Kotler , 2008).† Norman reinvented the marketing strategies to increase sales. He understood the core problem in ASDA was it was trying to sell too many things without focus. He streamlined the importance to food and clothing products. His new Spice Girls branded items and marketing during the 1997 Christmas did the much expected trick, increasing their sales considerably. Time is the basic essence. It is an important variable in formulating any strategy and implementing it (Tony Morden). Norman was very clear about what he wanted to achieve at what time interval. Any company would be able to prove its mettle in th e long run. But, its real capability can be measured only when the target is achieved in a given time even under huge pressure. Norman made this magic happen in three short years starting from 1996 – 1999 quite swiftly. "You get more of the behaviour you reward. You don't get what you hope for, ask for, wish for or beg for. You get what you reward." Michael le Boeuf Norman made it a point to involve everyone in the process of reengineering and rewarded each and every behaviour he found useful or appreciable. The employees felt the

Responsibility of Ethics Essay Example for Free

Responsibility of Ethics Essay Ethical standing among community members and business persons is held in high regard.   The matter of trust needs to be had at all times so that people know that their information is safe.   When ethical issues arise, somewhere, somehow there has to be someone who is able and willing to stand up and report the unethical issue.   All professionals are bound by ethics and the responsibility to report wrong doing. In this case, the widow’s attorney is charging the widow 12-14% more than his average percentage with respects to his other clients.    Normal everyday ethics suggest that not only is he acting in bad ethics but obviously is taking advantage of this widow.   Charlie, even if not mandated by law or administrative rule, should inform the widow.   This would be the right and respectful thing to do but is Charlie mandated by any code of ethics to act on this information and inform her is the real question. Charlie, even though he is not the person creating the ethical situation, is bound by ethical codes to inform this widow at the very least but more appropriately the governing agency, of the actions of her attorney.  Ã‚   As stated in the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct for CPA’s â€Å"members should act with integrity, guided by the precept that when members fulfill their responsibility to the public, clients and employers interests are best served.† (ET Section 53 Article II—The Public Interest, ET Section 52 Article I—Responsibilities, ET Section 54 Article III—Integrity    ET Section 56 Article V—Due Care of the AICPA). The biggest ethical issue is honesty, integrity and the personal gain issues.   The attorney stands to gain a substantial amount of money, well more than what he should for his services.   The code of ethics for attorney’s alone is violated is drastic ways.   Some states have statutes on how an attorney charges their client and some rely of good ethical behavior but this aside, attorneys are to charge only what is fair and consistent with how they charge everyone else. This attorney is violating a huge public interest and the widow can file a complaint and the attorney stands to lose his liscense to practice law.   Charlie can also intervene and simply make a phone call to the governing agency as this particular information that he knows, is not bound by the confidentiality laws as this information was derived not by the widows words but by the admittance of the attorney in which there is no confidentiality as there is no client issue due to the fact that Charlie is not asking for advice and the lawyer is not giving it. Works Cited AICPA Code of Professional Conduct.   2006-2008.   http://www.aicpa.org/About/code/sec50.htm New Jersey Judiciary. Office of Attorney Ethics. 2001 http://www.judiciary.state.nj.us/oae/OAEEthicsPamphlet.pdf

Changing World Lasting Values Essay Example for Free

Changing World Lasting Values Essay You hear many tales nowadays — that the world is absurd, that everything has changed, that old moral values have died. This is all non-sense, for if you look for reality beneath the clutter of words which hide it, you will rediscover the eternal man. True values were not invented for the pleasure of senile moralists. They exist because without them, neither society nor happiness could survive. Here, then, are a few rules as old as civilization itself which remain true despite the advances of science and technology. The first is that man must live for something other than himself. The man who meditates ceaselessly about himself finds a thousand reasons to be unhappy. He has notaccomplished everything he wanted to or should have done; he has not gotten everything he thought he deserved; he has not been loved as he dreamed of being loved- But if he lives for ideals outside of himself — for his faith or his country, for his friends, his wife and family, he miraculously forgets all his petty worries. In trying to make others happy, he also makes himself happy. The veritable inner world is the veritable outer world. The second rule is that man must act. The joy of the soul is inaction. Instead of lamenting the absurdity of the world, let us try to transform our own little corner. It is not impossible. We cannot change the whole universe, but who hopes to do that? Our objective is much more simple: to do our job and do it well, to become a master at it. Each one works in his own field. I write books, the carpenter assembles my bookshelves, the policeman directs traffic, the engineer, constructs, the minister governs. All of them, kept busy at work which they know how to do well, are happy. This is so true that when people have leisure time, they keep busy with apparently useless activities such as games and sports. As for useful action, we know from experience that it is effective: an active mayor makes a city prosperous; an active priest brings vitality to a parish. Happy are those in whose eyes men look for order. The third rule is that one must believe in the power of the will. It is not true that the future is predetermined- A great man can change the course of history. Any man who has the courage and the will can change his own future. Naturally, none of us is all- powerful. Each mans freedom has its limits. Freedom lies between the border of the possible and the will. It is beyond my power to prevent war, but I can perform an act which, multiplied by millions, will be effective. It is not possible for me to win a battle, but it is up to me to be a courageous soldier. Since this limitation of the will is dependent on what one dares, one must not worry about his limitation; but do the best he can. Finally, the fourth, and most precious of all values, is faithfulness, Faithfulness to promises, contracts, to others, and to oneself. One must be among those who can be counted upon. Faithfulness is not an easy virtue. Thousand of temptations are thrown across our paths. Faithfulness in marriage, said Bernard Shaw, is no more natural to man than the cage to the tiger. Undoubtedly, faithfulness is natural. It is born of a voluntary decision, constantly renewed, which helps us to rise above our natures. But it gives us the lasting joy of being at peace with ourselves. I may forego an immediate pleasure to assure myself the great joy in the future of looking at my past without shame, but with pride. Every society in which citizens live for naught but fleeting pleasures, where men no longer trust each other, and whose members let themselves go is doomed. When Rome let go and ceased to set store by the values which made her great, she perished. When France clung to eternal values she was saved. Modern technology may change ones modes of action, but they change neither its values, the reasons for it, nor the duty of faithfulness. Thus it was in the beginning and so it will always be.

British Petroleum (BP) Strategic Change Management

British Petroleum (BP) Strategic Change Management BP is most widely associated with its fuel stations and forecourt retail operations; it also has a wide range of activities. The exploration of oils, gas, extraction, transportation, and the processing and selling of fuels. Bp has developed a low carbon energy strategy such as wind farms and solar power. BP operates the Wild Bean Cafà © brand in the UK, Europe, South Africa and Australia. The convenience store brand is also in the US. However, Wild Bean Cafà ©s are focused on quality food and coffee, having a strategy of differentiation from competitors offering poorer quality Refreshments. 1.1.1. Companys Mission The company aims to be competitive on the low pricing of its fuels, and this is evident on garage forecourts where drops in oil prices have been passed on to their consumers more rapidly than some of its competitors. In all BPs activities they seek to display some unchanging fundamental qualities, integrity, honesty, honest dealing treating everyone with respect and dignity, striving for mutual advantage and contributing to human progress. The group aims To have the best competitive corporate, operating and financial performance. To improve and to be accessible, inclusive and diverse. To engage the creative talents of their employees, and develop and apply leading Cost- effective technology and intellectual creative to enhance innovation and new ideas. To carry on its business in an environmentally responsible manner, and develop cleaner energy and renewable energy sources. The group is committed to the responsible treatment of the planets resources and to the development of sources of lower- carbon energy. BP expresses that their group value fewer than four headings Performance People and capability Health, safety and environment External relationships GROUP VALUE PERFORMANCE Compliance with the law and ethics > to comply with all applicable laws and regulations in each jurisdiction in which the group operates. All BP employees will be required to comply with the code of conduct, which prohibits illegal, corrupt or unethical practices and high standards of decency. Continuous improvement > improve continuously in pursuit of the group values by setting targets and through encouragement of our employees. Internal targets > to establish realistic and reasonable targets in the group plan. Any Progress against targets will be reported internally and analysed transparently and in a timely manner so that progress and variations can be understood voluntarily. PEOPLE AND CAPABILITY Human capability and technology > to nurture human capability and ensure that the right technology, skills, behaviours and intellectual property are available for the pursuit of the broad goals. 1.1.2. Challenges BP is currently underperforming due to TNK BP in Russia is currently experiencing power struggles between British executives running it and Russian billionaire shareholders Its safety record has been questioned The company has experienced an explosion at the Buncefield in 2005 which killed 15workers and the spill in the United States of America which caused pollution. The company has also lost consumer confidence. Financial problems Bp also has been responsible for the spill in the Gulf of Mexico (Online). TASK 1 Understand issues relating to strategic change in an organisation The importance of strategic change management in any organisation cannot be overemphasised. Change management has increasingly become a necessary business concept among business firms especially in the wake of the recent dynamic global business environment. Strategy is the direction and the scope of an organisation over the long term, which achieves advantage in a changing environment through its configuration of resources and competences with the aim of fulfilling stakeholder expectations. Strategic change management is a systematic approach to dealing with change, both from the perspective of an organisation and on the individual level including adapting to change, controlling change, and effective change. CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE GURUS Julia Bologun (2001) describes strategic change as Arising from management trends such as culture change, business process swings, empowerment and total quality. Other change initiatives are driven by the need for organisations to reposition themselves in the wake of changing competitive business conditions. Strategic change is context specific in any organisation and the way it is managed has no simple formula or universally agreed framework that will work in all cases (Bologun, 2001). Organisations have different challenges and issues that affect them and when the change process is deemed necessary to undertake, the roadmap is always different per case study. Different theorists have made attempts by giving and emphasised that strategy must be context sensitive. The culture web framework is introduced as a means of addressing the softer issues, which is a critical first step, as barriers to change must be identified. The strategy kaleidoscope will help managers to understand the change context and plan for transition. According to Gray Hampel his refered strategies as Strategic decay the notion that the value of all strategies, no matter how brilliant decays overtime. (Gray Hampel 2000) Abell.D also came up with his own understanding of strategy as Strategic windows and stressed the importance of the timing both entrance and exit of any given strategy (Abell .D 1978). Henry Mintzberg looked at the changing world around him and concluded that there are five types of strategies (Henry Mintzberg 1988) Strategy as plan Strategy as ploy Strategy as pattern Strategy as position Strategy as perspective The entire three theorists were talking about the equivalent things to which I do agree with. For an organisation such as BP to prevail in this ever changing market their strategies have to change and not stick to the same strategy for too long because it wont be as effective as it was, timing is of importance to an organisation, where and planning, of the strategy is vital. AC2.1 Examine the need for strategic change in BP All organisations are currently undergoing some type of change. Many of the organisation change programmes arising from management fads such as customs change, business process engineering, empowerment and total quality, branding, reputation. For instance BP had the need to change because of its Experience of controversies regarding business practices, environmental damage, and hazards to workers. Other large energy companies have come under fire for releasing huge amounts of greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere. For some time, BP is trying to turn a new leaf in its history book toward a more environmentally-friendly future through investments in renewable energy and a support of ethics and compliance initiatives. British Petroleum changed its name to BP and then tried to rebrand itself as Beyond Petroleum. As an organisation its important to change with time and surroundings. There is need for change because of the external and internal developments and internal factors. These factors bring attention to the organisation to formulate and implement strategies to survive in the competitive market. There is need for strategic change because it  is also necessary in order to gain competitive advantage  enables the organisation to be focused  also enables adaptability BP has been able to enjoy a large market share and gain competitive advantage over its competitors because of accepting to change with its surroundings and by learning what its customers need and want from them as a company. Change has also enabled Bp to adapt in any environment; For example the company has gone green to protect the environment and have become the big campaigners for going green and change has also enabled the organisation to be focused on what is important to their stakeholders. AC2.2 Assess the factors that are driving the driving the need for strategic change According to Johnson, Scholes, Whittington (2006) the major influence of change in organisations is categorised as six factors namely Political, Economic, Social, Technology, Environment, and Legal otherwise known as the PESTEL framework P- POLITICAL: Government stability, Taxation policy, foreign trade regulations and the social welfare policies. E-ECONOMIC: Business cycles, GNP trends, interest rates, Money supply, inflation, unemployment, and disposable income. S-SOCIO-CULTURAL: Analyzing the population demographics, income mobility, life style changes, Attitudes to work and leisure, Consumerism, levels of education. T-TECHNOLOGY: Has unleashed a process that has been called perennial gale of creative destruction.Technological change can make established products obsolete overnight and simultaneously create host new product possibilities. Thus technological change is both creative and destructive both an opportunity and a threat. E-ENVIRONMENT: specifically stands for green issues, such as pollution and waste. L-LEGAL: embraces legislative constraints or changes, such as health and safety legislation or restrictions on company mergers and acquisitions. INTERNAL The employment of a new leader. Benchmarking exercise against external organisation Senior management dissatisfaction with the status equo Employee -Management conflict. Bp has been affected by the political and the environmental aspect. It had a spill in the USA which had an intervention of the politicians. The organisation had to respond to the demands and controversy from the media, consumer and politicians of the state by changing alot of its strategies in place. BP agreed to the demands of the politicians (foreign trade regulations and social welfare policies) to compensate the residents affected by the spillage. All these problems needed Bp to change its strategies. The world is advancing in technology and for it to compete in the ever changing business world, Bp has to be ready to change and adapt to those changes. The organisation has come up with programs that can help its staff to have knowledge of the new and advancing technology; For instance they needed to improve on the machinery that they use to drill. Bp has advanced in technology by using sophisticated technologies and tried- and true techniques to be able to find oil and gas. The company also incurred a loss when they lost alot of oil in the spillage which affected their financial situation. The spillage affected their market share by its price dropping in the global market; the other factor which affected Bp was the environmental factor. The spillage polluted the water and hence affecting the residents livelihood and it also affected the wildlife. BP had to come up with a strategy to stop the spillage which resulted to large sums of money being spent. Bp has changed and responded to change by striving to secure and make sure that it isnt affecting the environment since they are big campaigners of climate change and going green. In the case of BP, management was dissatisfied with the way Tony Hayward Group Chief Executive handled the Mexico oil spillage. Tony Hayward resigned and this called for replacement of new management. A.C2.3 Assess the resource implications of the organisation not responding to change There are severe resource implications to an organisation such as BP for not responding to strategic change. The response should be implemented at the right time and BPs call to sort out the spillage needed a response at the time; had they not responded and acted as efficient as possible their reputation would have been damaged further. If BP as an organisation does not respond to change, this will affect its entire resources adversely. Human resources normally includes the Restructuring Redundancies Interviewing Hiring Training Layoffs Physical resources mainly affect the non-current assets of an organisation such as Equipment Vehicles buildings reputation Financial resources have an impact and it may also have a huge one on the Costs of training Redundancy costs Relocation costs New building Refurbishments of existing buildings For BP to manage the changes effectively, Human Resource has to implement strategies that would enhance change: Training is a vital aspect of human resource and ensuring that its members of staff and employees are well trained. The organisation bought together a project team to develop Andrew oilfield, located in the North Sea. Since discovery about 20 years earlier, attempts had been made to develop the field, but each conceptual plan floundered and Andrew had gained a reputation as being too difficult to achieve economic sanction. Bp brought in consultants who coached Bp engineers and contractors in ways of working together and think out of the box to solve Andrews technical and economic problems Interviewing is paramount for the succession of Bps organisational aims and objectives. Bp has to have the right employees in place so as to be able to compete with its competitors in the ever changing environment A.C 3.1 DEVELOPING SYSTEMS TO INVOVLE STAKEHOLDERS IN BP Stakeholder is a person, group, or organisation that has direct or indirect stake in an organisation because it can affect or be affected by the organisations actions, objectives and policies. Stakeholders in every organisation play a very important role in day to day running of an organisation. It is vital to develop a system that involves stakeholders in the planning of change. The systems need to be appropriate, applicable and workable in the organisation chosen. Most importantly concentration must be devoted to the most influential stakeholder. Stakeholders include Government, suppliers, competitors, owners, customers, unions and these can be internal stakeholders or external stakeholders. Its important for Bp to have knowledge of its business surroundings for them to identify market segments to fulfil customer need. The expectations of BP will certainly be an increase in profit maximisation, growth in market share, capital investment, high product quality and high quality performance. Systems to involve stakeholders A system is a structured collection of parts that are highly incorporated to accomplish an overall goal. The system has various inputs, which go through certain processes to generate certain outputs, which collectively, accomplish the overall required goal for the system. So a system usually brings in stakeholders to perform in different aspects to achieve organisational objectives. (Online) Configuration system An organisations configuration consists of the structure, processes and relationships in the course of which the organisation operates. The reason for configuring challenges is vital to organisational success. Functional structure- Once an organisation grows beyond a very basic level of size and complexity, it has to start dividing responsibilities. This system is based on the primary activities that have to be undertaken by an organisation such as production, finance and accounting, marketing, human resource and research and development. Convergence system- This is where previously separate industries begin to overlap in terms of activities, technologies, products and customers. (G. Johnson et al 2008) A.C3.2 Develop a change management strategy with stakeholders Management strategy is an arrangement to manage stakeholders according to the level of power and level of interest. It is a key concept for business to survive /grow by responding to any environmental changes. A strategy is the direction and scale of an organisation over the long term, which achieves advantage in a changing environment throughout its configuration of resources and competences with the aim of satisfying stakeholder expectations. STAKEHOLDER ANALYSIS (MAPPING) Stakeholder analysis helps an organisation to define whom to try to involve when designing a process of change. It also helps to determine in which way and how to include the stakeholder in the organisation. The process allows the organisation to find out whose information needs should be considered. A KEY PLAYERS Involve them Increase effort and level of interest B KEEP INFORMED Engage and update Involve C KEEP SATISFIED Lest important Communication and update D MINIMAL EFFORT Participate Increase level of interest The stakeholder analysis has two axis and four quadrants: The x axis represents influence The y axis denotes power The quadrants are: HH high high HL high low LH and LL low high and low low High power, interested people these are the people you must fully keep and make the greatest efforts to satisfy. High power, less interested people: put enough work in with people to keep them satisfied, but not so much that they become uninterested with the message. Low power, less interested people keep these people adequately informed, and talk to them to ensure that no major issues are arising. These people can often be very helpful with the detail of your project. Low power, less interested people: again, monitor these people, but do not turn them off with undue communication For the analysis to be effective the following should be carried out: Their interests, values, and concerns What sources of stakeholder power What claims they might make on the organisation Who the most important stakeholders are from the organisations perspective Map the relationship between them Identify the resultant strategic challenges A.C3.3 Evaluate the systems used to involve stakeholders in the planning of change Six steps need to be taken into consideration so as to involve stakeholders in the planning of change: Indentify: who the stakeholders are (government, customers, investors, suppliers) Prioritise: Stakeholders will have varying degrees of power, influence and interest in planning. Its important to identify, prioritise and understand the impact they will have on the decisions made. Map their profiles: This will show their different responsibility and who will have greater influence on the stakeholders. Develop an engagement strategy: one way of engaging with the stakeholder is by using a stakeholder light traffic strategy. Using the traffic light image is a useful way to flag up what strategy is appropriate with the different relationships in place at any given time. Optimise their support to make good of the support they are giving you in the planning of change. This is by ensuring that you keep those stakeholders satisfied. Monitor changes to ensure that any changes are put across to those stakeholders. Its important to give frequent updates. BP stakeholders can be involved through meetings such as the Annual general meetings where all aspects of the company are discussed with members of the BP board and Carl- Henric Syanberg as chairman. The chairman informs other stakeholders on the different plans and issues that were discussed by board and what projects they were ready to take as an organisation as an organisation. Change in Bp happens all the time and I think that out of the four systems I have picked the stakeholder analysis because it is effective and it gets involves all stakeholders and Bp is able to operate for the best intentions of its stakeholders. A.C3.4 Create a strategy for managing resistance to change In every company there are forces involved when a company decides to adopt new strategies. There are resistive and driving forces. In this case the resistive forces are those that dont want to accept any kind of change brought about in the company and sometimes there those who are in the favour of change. Its important to put in place strategies of how to manage any resistance going on in the organisation INDIVIDUAL RESISTANCE Individually, people may resist, although this is generally limited to the extent of their personal power. For those with lower power, this may include passive refusals and covert action. For those with more power, it can include open challenge and criticism. COLLECTIVE RESISTANCE When people find a common voice in organized resistance, and then their words and actions can create a significant threat to the change, even though they are individually less powerful. An organised resistance is usually a sign of a deep divide. People will not go to the bother of organizing unless they have serious issues with the change. PASSIVE RESISTANCE Passive resistance occurs where people do not take specific actions. At meetings, they will sit quietly and may appear to agree with the change. They may agree and then do nothing to fulfil their commitments. ACTIVE RESISTANCE- Occurs where people are taking specific and deliberate action to resist the change. It may be overt, with such public statements and acts of resistance, and it may be covert, such as mobilizing others to create an underground resistance movement. 1-Participation and involvement: Is a strategy which is used when dealing with key stakeholders of the organisation. Participation and involvement is usually adopted when the key stakeholders are neither keen nor interested in company matters and every time the company tries to adopt change for the benefit of the company they resist that change. Using such a strategy can be very helpful to achieve the objectives and on the other hand it is time consuming for the company. 2-Education and communication: Is a strategy which is applied when stakeholders are not aware of benefit of the strategy. Its important to educate and communicate with the stakeholders so as to get them to understand the reason for the change. The major advantage of the strategy is that the stakeholders will cooperate productively and positively. Using this strategy can be time consuming and costly too. 3-Negotiation and compromise: The strategy of negotiation and compromise take place when there is a group division. By this strategy a company convince the both groups at working together for the benefit of company. Its also promotes unity which is very good for a company. It is cost effective. The current situation for Bp Company is not good because there is division of groups. This groups are the Russian shareholder and the British shareholder. This means that there can be experiences of groups opposing each others opinions hence bringing about resistance for change. In my opinion if BP as a Company has to sustain their rank in international market then they should work together and be united as an organization. Stakeholders should be ready compromise for the benefit of the company. TASK2 AC 1.1 Discuss models of strategic changes There are many theories about how to accomplish change. Many begin with leadership and change management guru, John Kotter. A professor at Harvard Business School and world-renowned change expert, Kotter introduced eight-step change process.(Lecture Notes) Step One: Create Urgency For change to happen, it helps if the whole company really wants it. Develop a sense of urgency around the need for change. This may help you spark the initial motivation to get things moving. This isnt simply a matter of showing people poor sales statistics or talking about increased competition. Open an honest and convincing dialogue about whats happening in the marketplace and with your competition. If many people start talking about the change you propose, the urgency can build and feed on itself. Step Two: Form a Powerful Coalition Convince people that change is necessary. This often takes strong leadership and visible support from key people within your organization. Managing change isnt enough you have to lead it. Step Three: Create a Vision for Change When you first start thinking about change, there will probably be many great ideas and solutions floating around. Link these concepts to an overall vision that people can grasp easily and remember Step Four: Communicate the Vision What you do with your vision after you create it will determine your success. Your message will probably have strong competition from other day-to-day communications within the company, so you need to communicate it frequently and powerfully, and embed it within everything that you do. Step Five: Remove Obstacles If you follow these steps and reach this point in the change process, youve been talking about your vision and building buy-in from all levels of the organization. Hopefully, your staff wants to get busy and achieve the benefits that youve been promoting. Six: Create Short-term Wins Nothing motivates more than success. Give your company a taste of victory early in the change process. Within a short time frame (this could be a month or a year, depending on the type of change), youll want to have results that your staff can see. Without this, critics and negative thinkers might hurt your progress. Step seven Build on the Change Kotter argues that many change projects fail because victory is declared too early. Real change runs deep. Quick wins are only the beginning of what needs to be done to achieve long-term change. Step Eight: Anchor the Changes in Corporate Culture the market Finally, to make any change stick, it should become part of the core of your organization. Your corporate culture often determines what gets done, so the values behind your vision must show in day-to-day work. (Lecture class) Models of Strategic Change Lewins Change Management Model was developed in the 1950s by a psychologist named Kurt Lewin (Syque, 2007). According to Lewin for change to occur in an organisation he looked at three stages, which are still widely used today: unfreeze, transition, and refreeze. Unfreeze Most people tend to stay within certain comfortable zones and are usually hesitant of change. Employees tend to become comfortable in this unchanging environment and become uncomfortable when any change occurs, even if it is not a major one. To overcome this frozen state, we must initiate an unfreeze period, which is done through motivation. Motivation is important in any organisation, even when it is not changing. Transition -This period is when the change is occurring, which is a voyage and not a step. The transition period takes time because employees dislike change. This is when leadership transition period is good for the company as well as the employees. Refreeze At the end of the transitional voyage, comes the next stage refreeze. At this stage its where the company once again becomes stable. BP has encountered several problems but they have been able to change with its challenging and demanding surroundings. BP as a company has changed its strategies for it to survive in this competitive business world. As an organisation there has been need for change and it has improvised strategies, so as to adapt to this ever changing world AC1.2 Evaluate the relevance of models of strategic change to BP in the current economy All organisations are currently undergoing some type of change. Many of the organisation change programmes arising from management fads such as customs change, business process engineering, empowerment and total quality, branding, reputation. For instance BP had the need to change because of its Experience of controversies regarding business practices, environmental damage, and hazards to workers. Other large energy companies have come under fire for releasing huge amounts of greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere. For some time, BP is trying to turn a new leaf in its history book toward a more environmentally-friendly future through investments in renewable energy and a support of ethics and compliance initiatives. British Petroleum changed its name to BP and then tried to rebrand itself as Beyond Petroleum. The different models of strategic change are of relevance in the current economy because the group will be able to compete with other oil companies such as Shell strategically. These models assist on the sustainability of the group, the growth of the group and the market share by using the different models. AC1.3 Assess the value of using strategic intervention techniques in organisations Contingency Theory There are many forms of contingency theory. Contingency theories are a class of behavioural theory that challenge that there is no one best way of organising or leading and that an organisational or leadership style that is efficient in some situations may not be successful in others (Fiedler, 1964). In other words: The most favourable organisation or leadership style is dependent upon various internal and external constraints. There are also contingency theories that relate to decision making (Vroom and Yetton, 1973). The effectiveness of a decision process depends upon a number of aspects of the situation such as the importance of the decision quality and acceptance; the amount of appropriate information possessed by the leader and subordinate and the likelihood that subordinates will accept an autocratic decision or assist in trying to make a good decision if allowed to participate; the amount of disagreement among subordinates with respect to their preferred alternatives. Kurt Lewin and his colleagues did different leadership decision research in 1939 and acknowledged that there were three different styles of leadership, particularly about decision-making. Participative Style A leader who involves others in decision-making improves the perceptive of the issues involved by those who must carry out the decisions. Individuals are more committed to actions where they have been involved in the relevant decision-making. A leader will find that people are less competitive and more collaborative when they are working on united goals. When people make decisions jointly, the social commitment to one another is greater and that increases their commitment to the decision. Several people deciding collectively make better decisions than one person alone. Autocratic In this case the leader takes decisions without consulting with others. A leader makes a decision without any form of consultation. In Lewins research he found that he this type of style caused the most level of discontent. An autocratic style works when there is no requirement for any input on the decision, In style it means that the decision would not change as a result of input, and where the driving force of people to carry out subsequent actions would not be affected whether they were or were not involved in the decision-making. Management Intervention There are always teams in organisations that are there and the possibility of getting different results. No matter how dedicated a team is there will be tim

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Since its first documented use in 1943, lysergic acid diethylmide, or LSD, has grown to be one of the most potent and controversial drugs in society today. The ways in which LSD produces its effects within the brain is still unknown, and no practical use has been found for it. However, this substance has been described to give incredible insight and revelation to some of those that have taken it, although others have had frightening and nightmarish experiences. LSD is an unpredictable and possibly dangerous substance, but can and has changed the lives of many. A Swiss chemist named Dr. Albert Hoffman first produced lysergic acid diethylmide –or best Known as LSD in 1938 (Dye, p. 2). Hoffman discovered the drug while trying to synthesize a new drug for the treatment of headaches. He obtained the lysergic acid from the parasitic fungus that grows on rye plants known as ergot. From the lysergic acid, he synthesized the compound LSD. He used the compound to test for its pain killing properties on laboratory animals. Being that appeared totally ineffective, the bottle of LSD was placed on a shelf and remained untouched for five years. On April 16, 1943, Dr. Hoffman decided to do further research with the LSD compound (Dye, p. 5). While handling the drug, he accidentally ingested an unknown amount. Then he experienced the world’s first LSD trip. About eight hours later Hoffman drifted back into normal reality and the Psychedelic Revolution was born. Three days later, in an attempt to prove that the previous episode was indeed caused by the ingestion of LSD, Dr. Hoffman ingested what he thought would be a small quantity of LSD, 250 micrograms. In actuality, this is approximately five times the dosage necessary to produce heavy hallucinations in the average adult male (Solomon, p. 34). The drug produced effects that were much more intense than the first time Hoffman took the LSD. He noted that he felt unrest, dizziness, visual disturbances, a tendency to laugh at inappropriate times, and a difficulty in concentration (Dye, p.7). Dr. Hoffman’s condition improved six hours after taking the drug, although visual disturbances and distortion continued. LSD was first shipped to the United States in 1949 (Solomon, p. 54). American scientists tested LSD on animals to learn of its effects. It produced dramatic behavior changes in all animals investigated. During the 1950’s, experimentation of LSD on humans began (Solomon, p.

Compare and Contrast Billy Budd versus Bartleby Essay -- American Lite

A Comparison/Contrast Analysis of "Billy Budd" and Bartleby" Several comparisons and contrasts can be made concerning the two stories, Billy Budd and Bartleby, written by Herman Melville. The setting of the two stories reveals an interesting comparison and contrast between the British Navy on the open sea, and the famous Wall Street of New York. The comparison and contrast of characters, Billy Budd, Captain Vere, and Claggart in Billy Budd, and the `narrator' and Bartleby in Bartleby, at times are very much alike, and also very different. The conflict, climax and resolution of the two Melville stories contain similarities and differences. These two stories, on the exterior, appear to be very different, and on the interior are alike, especially if trying to analyze the stories by interpreting the symbolism that Melville may be trying to reveal in his writing. This essay will analyze the similarities and differences in Billy Budd and Bartleby. The first analysis of these stories will be comparing and contrasting the setting. To compare the setting of the two stories, much like the decline of the British naval supremacy in the world due to over-expansion, and especially mutinies, which were taking place throughout the Navy, mostly because of over worked conditions, extended enlistments, and impressments of non-volunteers, on Wall Street, there was a conflict between wage laborers and capitalists in the form of strikes and violence in the street. The conflict leads to the forming of trade unions to resist the methods of factory production and wage labor. The setting can also be compared because of the limited mention of the surroundings, until the very end when Billy Budd, after being hanged, has hi... ...tuttering. In conclusion, this essay analyzes the similarities and differences of the two stories written by Herman Melville, Billy Budd and Bartleby. The settings, characters, and endings in the two stories reveal very interesting comparisons and contrasts. The comparison and contrast also includes the interpretation of the symbolism that Melville used in his two stories. The characters, Billy and Bartleby, could even be considered autobiographical representatives of Herman Melville. Work Cited Harris, Laurie Lanzen, ed. Nineteenth Century Literature Criticism. Detroit: Gale Research, 1983. Herzberg, Max J., ed. The Reader Encyclopedia of American Literature. New York: Thomas Y. Crowell, 1962. Melville, Herman. Billy Budd, Sailor and Other Stories. Beaver, Harold, ed. Baltimore: Penguin Books, 1972.

Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein :: Isaac Newton, Albert Einstein

Albert Einstein and Isaac Newton were both the sons of farmers. Although Einstein lived in Germany and was Jewish while Newton was Catholic or Christian and lived in England. Albert taught himself geometry while Newton’s family couldn’t even read or write yet. As Newton was growing up one of his closest friend was a young man named Edmund Glaley. Isaac and Albert where both living in the 1600 are in this time period. King George was the king at this time.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Einstein hated his school and all of the German studies. In 1894 Albert family left him alone in the Army and to finished his studies. At the age of only 15 he had all of his independence. The he found out that his family had moved to Paliva. His dad worked with his dad in a factory. In 1898 Einstein met Molava and it was love at first sight. While Newton was discovering hypothesis and experimenting, so was Albert but he didn’t start until later. In collage Albert was considered lazy and stupid. Newton and Albert practically studied the same thing, but just at different times. Such as light and its colors, motion, science in general, space and the universe, gravity was a really big one. They also studied orbit and calculus. Einstein studied about being a teacher, electricity and how things worked. Newton studied telescopes, light and that the word of god is more important then chemistry.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Newton was excepted into the “society'; and then he became the head of the “society'; and that was a really big deal back then. He also publishes a book. For Einstein’s future plans he planed on marrying Molava and having children although Einstein traveled all around the world although, he was still able to keep in touch with Molava and her kids. Their names were Liza and the other kids name must have just slipped my mind. He would not have communicated with them and as much he would have liked. He soon got divorced. Then in 1919 he married his cousin named Elssa. He went to see his father one day to tell him the good news his father practically told him that he was a screw up and to go home with his family. He then died that day alone. Newton dressed very sloppily and he rarely went to bed between two and three in the morning, Newton also never married and he got little laughs about that one.

The Gift of Life

The Gift of Life by Deborah Greenspan One of the greatest miracles of modern medicine is the ability to successfully transplant human organs, such as kidneys, corneas and hearts, into human beings who would die otherwise. At this very moment, 48,000 people are waiting hopefully for organ transplants (Tenery 20). Seven of these unfortunates will die each day because there are no organs to be had (Hans 84). For them the wait is over. Today, I'm going to tell you why you should become an organ donor and perhaps save the life of one or more of these people. People whose organs don't function properly live half lives hat affect not just themselves but everyone they love as well– their children, their spouses, their mothers, fathers, family and friends. An individual whose kidneys don't function can't develop and cultivate a career. A child whose heart is weak can't get out and run with her friends. A man with a bad liver may not be able to keep his job. Thus candidates for organ do nation feel guilty. They become invalids, unable to spend quality time with those they love, and fearful of the burden they are placing on their families. Let me make this real for you. Her name was Claire. She was the mother of two small children.When her kidneys stopped functioning, she felt that her life was over. Three times a week she spent half a day in dialysis and the rest of the day recovering from the procedure. She never had any energy and was always exhausted. Her illness added 20 years to her appearance and the constant battle with the side effects of the drugs took its toll. When she became a candidate for a kidney, she was happier than she'd ever been in her life. Unfortunately, she died before an organ became available. It's too late to save Claire, or to repair her children's lives, but there is something each of us an do to help others like her. We can carry a donor card. A donor card can be carried around in your wallet. It tells doctors that if you die your organ s can be used to benefit those like Claire who need them. According to Shanteau and Harris, editors of Organ Donation and Transplantation, one donor can provide more than 12 different organs and tissues, yet other studies have found that while most people have a positive attitude toward organ donation, few actually carry donor cards. For instance, a study by the Transportation Council of Southern California found that 77 % of the respondents had a ositive attitude toward organ donation, but 1% of those same people carried donor cards. According to Mary Ellen Anton, R. N. , â€Å"Misinformation, or the lack of information, can be one of the greatest barriers to organ donation. † A common myth regarding organ donation is that organs will be taken before death has occurred. People also fear excessive costs to their families, and some also believe their religion does not support organ donation. These myths actually have little substance. Death in the form of an absence of brain a ctivity has to be established before organs are taken. There s no cost to the family of the donor, and most religions do support organ donation. It's easy enough to check with your minister, priest, or rabbi. Organ donation is an incredible gift. It can save the life of the one who receives it, but strangely, it also helps the family of the one who died. According to Ellen Heck, director of transplant services at the University of Texas, â€Å"Families have told us that donation was the one thing that helped them through the loss. † Think about this carefully. It could be your child or your best friend who needs a kidney. If more people carried donor ards Claire might be alive today, and her daughter, who is only four, might be sitting on her lap right now laughing. In closing let me recap what I've told you. People whose organs don't function properly–and they could be anyone–need you to be an organ donor. Imagine a child opens her eyes and witnesses a brillian t sunrise for the first time. Her organ donor made that possible. By donating your organs you will give the gift of life and make your own death a meaningful one. Take the literature, read it, sign it, and carry a donor card. It's the right thing to do. Thank you.

Contribution of the EYFS to young children’s development and learning

Introduction Early Year Foundation Stage (EYFS) setting is an important surrounding for young children’s development. Positive relationships are built at this stage, where children learn through respectful and caring interactions. Practitioners are also able to give priorities to main person, and respectfully react to children and their parents’ respective opinions. The enabling environment at EYFS provides children with the needed time, space and materials to express themselves through plays, investigations and explorations of new ideas (Wood and Attfield, 2005). The practitioner is able to observe, organise and plan the flow of activities. Significantly, it is at this stage where a practitioner is able to identify the difference among children in terms of unique capabilities. In essence, developmental rates for children differ, with varied interests mostly influenced by the different socio-cultural and family backgrounds. Positive interactions Young children often rely on adult ed ucators to stimulate and sustain their learning (Broadhead, Howard and Wood, 2010). One of the key goals of the EYFS is to create the ideal condition for learning to take place. EYFS also allows children to know the practitioners, thus enhancing trust and rely upon the adults for support. Studies show that â€Å"young children have their own ideas about what they wish and want to do† (Broadhead, 2010, p.29). Given freewill to choose what they want, they would passionately pursue their chosen career over those preferred by family members. Bringing children together in the EYFS programmes also provide them with the opportunity to share individual knowledge with each other. Through group plays, individual child is able to initiate their destiny, take the lead, make choices, and develop individual thinking capacity as well as new ideas. They are also keen to draw sense from things in their surroundings. The positive interaction is also observed in the manner in which children ada pt play as a form of learning. Play is recognised as an important aspect of well-being and development of children. United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Children (1989) states that play should be a fundamental commitment within the EYFS. Although the relationship between play and learning is not straightforward, research evidence suggests that different types of play â€Å"help children to learn and to become confident learners in their future lives† (Wood and Attfield, 2005, p.113). Other researches also indicate that children’s learning is enhanced when they interact with skilled adult in certain ways, thus promoting their good progress (Miller and Almon, 2009). The benefits of playful approaches to learning can never be overstated in the effective development of young children. EYFS settings are made with certain guidelines that focus on both short term and long term success. The best outcomes of children’s learning is often found in places where le arners are exposed to a myriad activities, including initiatives spearheaded by children themselves and supported by skillful adults. The interaction between young children and skilled adults at EYFS has the ability to increase adult support. Studies have indicated that too little adult interaction and support can limit a child’s learning process (Miller and Almon, 2009). Similarly, play with adults although can be rich and be full of purpose, may be full of chaos and repetitive to an extent that it limits learning and exploration among the young children. The interaction is a critical aspect that will ensure the young children get professional support even as they grow and learn. Opportunity to listen to children EYFS allows practitioners to listen to young children and understand what they should be taught. At the same time, practitioners are able to set new challenges within the context that the young children can recognise. When the children are brought together through EYFS, the practitioners are able to acknowledge individual child’s ability and be fully aware of what they can learn, thus allow them to plan and provide for every stage in the learning process (Broadhead, Howard and Wood, 2010). When relationship has been developed between young children and adult practitioners, the latter knows the right thing to engage them during play, through the use of sounds, gesture, movements or objects (QCA, 2005). The practitioner is able to judge the extent of their engagement with the children during play, and when they are ready for the introduction of new skills. Practitioners, as skillful adults, use the EYFS to support and enhance young children’s learning by selecting from po ol of strategies available and matching them according to the specific needs of the children. In the EYFS setting, decisions such as what to give children and what best ways to help them learn are made several times each day. A skillful practitioner is able to learn the children’s needs through listening to them in an EYFS setting, where they can also learn the nature of play and playfulness each child possess. Increase effective teaching Children often cherish moments when they are in control and periods when they acquire the feelings that they are autonomous in their daily learning. Neuroscience studies have shown that children are well motivated and intelligent learners who explore everything around them (Lancaster and Broadbent, 2003). Thus, when children are brought together in an EYFS, the teaching becomes more effective because the practitioners are able to build the right conditions for learning. Adults are also able to manage the pace of activities and ensure they le arn through stimulating opportunities. When balance between spontaneous plays is established, the practitioner is able to evaluate the children’s choices and achievements and provide a guiding principle of learning to increase effectiveness. It is established that â€Å"too much directed activity often deprives children of the opportunity to engage actively when learning† (Broadhead et al., 2010). EYFS practitioner can increase effective teaching by arranging time, space and activities within the daily routine programme to reflect the overall combination which significantly support wellbeing of children. A combination of child-initiated plays and adult-led playful activities allows professionals to choose the right approach that will not only enhance the developmental stage of the children but also provide individual and group support as a form of effective teaching (Miller and Almon, 2009). For example, a particular day can be set to allow free play between children w ithout any adult’s involvement. This approach provides children with the needed space, independence and relaxation. At the other end of the scale are days when short sessions are carefully planned and structured with activities that are useful when teaching specific skills. At the EYFS setting, skillful practitioners are able to impact young children positively by teaching them how to build positive identities through collaboration. Young children are also able to develop caring relationships with other people, manage and take risks, experience success, develop resilience, cope with failures, and develop ‘can-do’ attitude that is critical in the modern world’s increasing competitive environment. The high-quality provisions at EYFS are essential for children in their attempts to develop positive dispositions, which is the foundation for long-term learning success. Unique Child’s opportunity to learn Children often have different development rates, varied interests, different cultural backgrounds and unique families that define their early life experience (Rogers and Evans, 2008). EYFS themes allow them to explore these abilities, and design what fits each child according to their background. At the EYFS setting, practitioners are able to plan and structure activities that can be essential in the teaching of specific skills. This stage of teaching can benefit children with recognised special educational needs. Young children are also able to build their vocabulary and demonstrate to them how to use specific tools and equipments. Neuroscience studies show that human brains develop and function in an exploratory setting (Tovey, 2007), which is essentially offered at EYFS. The freedom to combine resources at the EYFS in many varied ways is important because of the flexibility of the cognitive development process. Unique children are able â€Å"to build pathways for thinking and lea rning, and to make connections across areas of experience in the process† (Miller and Almon, 2009). Theories of learning and development agree with the perspectives developed in brain research that learning is both individual and social, and that young children, particularly the ones with unique abilities, are not passive learners (Miller and Almon, 2009). These children drive their learning and development through selective choices on what they like, individual interests they make in these activities, the knowledge they acquire, and their motivation to do things with competence. Broadhead, Howard, and Wood (2010) observe that choices and interests of unique children are the driving forces that build knowledge, skills and understanding. For example, the children are constantly learning about themselves as well as their socio-cultural worlds when they play with other children and skillful adults Conclusion Young children learn in several ways as they grow up. First, it is recognised that children learn through play, both amongst themselves and with adults. It’s through play that children are able to explore, investigate and develop ideas. Young children also learn at the presence of other people, which allows them to develop emotional security and social skills. Through EYFS, children are able to meet these needs by being active and talking to themselves. They are also shown how to do things and how to meet physical and mental challenges, thus helping them develop lifelong learning habit. References Broadhead, P., Howard, J. and Wood E. (2010). Play and Learning in Early Childhood settings Theory and Practice, Sage, London. Lancaster, Y.P. and Broadbent, V. (2003). Listening to Young Children, Open University Press, Maidenhead. Miller, E. and Almon, J. (2009). Crisis in the Kindergarten: Why Children Need to Play in School, College Part, MD, Alliance for Children. QCA (2005). Continuing the Learning Journey: INSET Package, QCA, London (ref. QCA/05/1590). Rogers, S. and Evans, J. (2008). Inside Role-Play in Early Childhood: Education, Researching Young Children’s Perspectives. Routledge: London. Tovey, H. (2007). Playing Outdoor: Spaces and Places, Risk and Challenge. Open University Press: Maidenhead. Wood, E. and Attfield, J. (2005). Play, Learning and the Early Children Curriculum. Paul Chapman: London.

Educational psychology Essay

School children in Durban, South Africa. In formal education, a curriculum is the set of courses and their content offered at a school or university. As an idea, curriculum stems from the Latin word for race course, referring to the course of deeds and experiences through which children grow to become mature adults. A curriculum is prescriptive, and is based on a more general syllabus which merely specifies what topics must be understood and to what level to achieve a particular grade or standard. An academic discipline is a branch of knowledge which is formally taught, either at the university–or via some other such method. Each discipline usually has several sub-disciplines or branches, and distinguishing lines are often both arbitrary and ambiguous. Examples of broad areas of academic disciplines include the natural sciences, mathematics, computer science,social sciences, humanities and applied sciences. [5] Educational institutions may incorporate fine arts as part of K-12 grade curricula or within majors at colleges and universities as electives. The various types of fine arts are music, dance, and theater. [6] [edit]Preschools Main article: Preschool education The term preschool refers to a school for children who are not old enough to attend kindergarten. It is a nursery school. Preschool education is important because it can give a child the edge in a competitive world and education climate. [citation needed] While children who do not receive the fundamentals during their preschool years will be taught the alphabet, counting, shapes and colors and designs when they begin their formal education they will be behind the children who already possess thatknowledge. The true purpose behind kindergarten is â€Å"to provide a child-centered, preschool curriculum for three to seven year old children that aimed at unfolding the child’s physical, intellectual, and moral nature with balanced emphasis on each of them. †[7] [edit]Primary schools Main article: Primary education Primary school in open air. Teacher (priest) with class from the outskirts ofBucharest, around 1842. Primary (or elementary) education consists of the first 5–7 years of formal, structured education. In general, primary education consists of six or eight years of schooling starting at the age of five or six, although this varies between, and sometimes within, countries. Globally, around 89% of primary-age children are enrolled in primary education, and this proportion is rising. [8] Under the Education For All programs driven by UNESCO, most countries have committed to achieving universal enrollment in primary education by 2015, and in many countries, it is compulsory for children to receive primary education. The division between primary and secondary education is somewhat arbitrary, but it generally occurs at about eleven or twelve years of age. Some education systems have separate middle schools, with the transition to the final stage of secondary education taking place at around the age of fourteen. Schools that provide primary education, are mostly referred to as primary schools. Primary schools in these countries are often subdivided into infant schools and junior school. In India, compulsory education spans over twelve years, out of which children receive elementary education for 8 years. Elementary schooling consists of five years of primary schooling and 3 years of upper primary schooling. Various states in the republic of India provide 12 years of compulsory school education based on national curriculum framework designed by the National Council of Educational Research and Training. [edit]Secondary schools Main article: Secondary education Students working with a teacher at Albany Senior High School, New Zealand. Students in a classroom at Samdach Euv High School, Cambodia In most contemporary educational systems of the world, secondary education comprises the formal education that occurs during adolescence. It is characterized by transition from the typically compulsory, comprehensive primary education for minors, to the optional, selective tertiary, â€Å"post-secondary†, or â€Å"higher† education (e. g. university, vocational school) for adults. Depending on the system, schools for this period, or a part of it, may be called secondary or high schools, gymnasiums, lyceums, middle schools, colleges, or vocational schools. The exact meaning of any of these terms varies from one system to another. The exact boundary between primary and secondary education also varies from country to country and even within them, but is generally around the seventh to the tenth year of schooling. Secondary education occurs mainly during the teenage years. In the United States, Canada and Australia primary and secondary education together are sometimes referred to as K-12 education, and in New Zealand Year 1–13 is used. The purpose of secondary education can be to give common knowledge, to prepare for higher education or to train directly in a profession. The emergence of secondary education in the United States did not happen until 1910, caused by the rise in big businesses and technological advances in factories (for instance, the emergence of electrification), that required skilled workers. In order to meet this new job demand, high schools were created, with a curriculum focused on practical job skills that would better prepare students for white collar or skilled blue collar work. This proved to be beneficial for both employers and employees, for the improvement in human capital caused employees to become more efficient, which lowered costs for the employer, and skilled employees received a higher wage than employees with just primary educational attainment. In Europe, grammar schools or academies date from as early as the 16th century, in the form of public schools, fee-paying schools, or charitable educational foundations, which themselves have an even longer history. MLC Kx12 in Portland, Oregon [edit]Autodidacticism Main article: Autodidacticism. Autodidacticism (also autodidactism) is self-directed learning that is related to but different from informal learning. In a sense, autodidacticism is â€Å"learning on your own† or â€Å"by yourself†, and an autodidact is a self-teacher. Autodidacticism is a contemplative, absorbing process. Some autodidacts spend a great deal of time reviewing the resources of libraries and educational websites. One may become an autodidact at nearly any point in one’s life. While some may have been informed in a conventional manner in a particular field, they may choose to inform themselves in other, often unrelated areas. Notable autodidacts include Abraham Lincoln (U. S. president), Srinivasa Ramanujan (mathematician), Michael Faraday (chemist and physicist), Charles Darwin(naturalist), Thomas Alva Edison (inventor), Tadao Ando (architect), George Bernard Shaw (playwright), and Leonardo da Vinci (engineer, scientist, mathematician). [edit]Vocational Main article: Vocational education Vocational education is a form of education focused on direct and practical training for a specific trade or craft. Vocational education may come in the form of an apprenticeship or internship as well as institutions teaching courses such as carpentry, agriculture, engineering, medicine, architecture and the arts. [edit]Indigenous Main article: Indigenous education Indigenous education refers to the inclusion of indigenous knowledge, models, methods and content within formal and non-formal educational systems. Often in a post-colonial context, the growing recognition and use of indigenous education methods can be a response to the erosion and loss of indigenous  knowledge and language through the processes of colonialism. Furthermore, it can enable indigenous communities to â€Å"reclaim and revalue their languages and cultures, and in so doing, improve the educational success of indigenous students. †[9] [edit]Anarchistic free schools Main article: Anarchistic free school An anarchistic free school (also anarchist free school and free school) is a decentralized network in which skills, information, and knowledge are shared without hierarchy or the institutional environment of formal schooling. Free school students may be adults, children, or both. This organisational structure is distinct from ones used by democratic free schools which permit children’s individual initiatives and learning endeavors within the context of a school democracy, and from free education where ‘traditional’ schooling is made available to pupils without charge. The open structure of free schools is intended to encourage self-reliance, critical consciousness, and personal development. Free schools often operate outside the market economy in favor of a gift economy. [citation needed] Nevertheless, the meaning of the â€Å"free† of free schools is not restricted to monetary cost, and can refer to an emphasis on free speech and student-centred education. [citation needed] [edit]Alternative Main article: Alternative education Alternative education, also known as non-traditional education or educational alternative, is a broad term that may be used to refer to all forms of education outside of traditional education (for all age groups and levels of education). This may include not only forms of education designed for students with special needs (ranging from teenage pregnancy to intellectual disability), but also forms of education designed for a general audience and employing alternative educational philosophies and methods. Alternatives of the latter type are often the result of education reform and are rooted in various philosophies that are commonly fundamentally different from those of traditional compulsory education. While some have strong political,scholarly, or philosophical orientations, others are more informal associations of teachers and students dissatisfied with certain aspects of traditional education. These alternatives, which include charter schools, alternative schools,independent schools, homeschooling and autodidacticism vary, but often emphasize the value of small class size, close relationships between students and teachers, and a sense of community. Alternative education may also allow for independent learning and engaging class activities. [10] [edit]Special. In the past, those who were disabled were often not eligible for public education. Children with disabilities were often educated by physicians or special tutors. These early physicians (people like Itard, Seguin, Howe, Gallaudet) set the foundation for special education today. They focused on individualized instruction and functional skills. Special education was only provided to people with severe disabilities in its early years, but more recently it has been opened to anyone who has experienced difficulty learning. [11] [edit]Education through recreation The concept of education through recreation was first applied to childhood development in the 19th century. [12] In the early 20th century, the concept was broadened to include young adults but the emphasis was on physical activities. [13] Educationalist Lawrence L. P. Jacks, who was also an early proponent of lifelong learning, best described the modern concept of education through recreation in the following quotation â€Å"A master in the art of living draws no sharp distinction between his work and his play, his labour and his leisure, his mind and his body, his education and his recreation. He hardly knows which is which. He simply pursues his vision of excellence through whatever he is doing and leaves others to determine whether he is working or playing. To himself he always seems to be doing both. Enough for him that he does it well. â€Å"(Jacks, 1932). [14] Education through recreation is the opportunity to learn in a seamless fashion through all of life’s activities. [15] The concept has been revived by the University of Western Ontario to teach anatomy to medical students. [15] ————————————————- [edit]Systems of higher education Main article: Higher education. The University of Cambridge is an institute of higher learning. Higher education, also called tertiary, third stage, or post secondary education, is the non-compulsory educational level that follows the completion of a school providing a secondary education, such as a high school or secondary school. Tertiary education is normally taken to include undergraduate and postgraduate education, as well as vocational education and training. Colleges and universities are the main institutions that provide tertiary education. Collectively, these are sometimes known as tertiary institutions. Tertiary education generally results in the receipt ofcertificates, diplomas, or academic degrees. Higher education generally involves work towards a degree-level or foundation degree qualification. In most developed countries a high proportion of the population (up to 50%) now enter higher education at some time in their lives. Higher education is therefore very important to national economies, both as a significant industry in its own right, and as a source of trained and educated personnel for the rest of the economy. [edit]University systems Lecture at the Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, CTU in Prague. University education includes teaching, research, and social services activities, and it includes both the undergraduate level (sometimes referred to as tertiary education) and the graduate (orpostgraduate) level (sometimes referred to as graduate school). Universities are generally composed of several colleges. In the United States, universities can be private and independent, likeYale University, they can be public and State governed, like the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, or they can be independent but State funded, like the University of Virginia. [edit]Open Higher education in particular is currently undergoing a transition towards open education, elearning alone is currently growing at 14x the rate of traditional learning. [16] Open education is fast growing to become the dominant form of education, for many reasons such as it’s superior efficiency and results compared to traditionalist methods. [17] Cost of education has been an issue throughout history, and a major political issue in most countries today. Open education is generally significantly cheaper than traditional campus based learning and in many cases even free. Many large university institutions are now starting to offer free or almost free full courses such as Harvard, MIT and Berkeley teaming up to form edX Other universities offering open education are Stanford, Princeton, Duke, Johns Hopkins, Edinburgh, U. Penn, U. Michigan, U. Virginia, U. Washington, Caltech. It has been called the biggest change in the way we learn since the printing press. [18] Many people despite favorable studies on effectivness may still desire to choose traditional campus education for social and cultural reasons. [19] The conventional merit system degree is currently not as common in open education as it is in campus universities. Although some open universities do already offer conventional degrees such as the Open University in the United Kingdom. Currently many of the major open education sources offer their own form of certificate. Due to the popularity of open education these new kind of academic certificates are gaining more respect and equal â€Å"academic value† to traditional degrees. [20] Many open universities are working to have the ability to offer students standardized testing and traditional degrees and credentials. [citation needed] There has been a culture forming around distance learning for people who are looking to enjoy the shared social aspects that many people value in traditional on campus education that is not often directly offered from open education. [citation needed] Examples of this are people in open education forming study groups, meetups and movements such as UnCollege. [edit]Liberal arts colleges. Saint Anselm College, a traditional New England liberal arts college. A liberal arts institution can be defined as a â€Å"college or university curriculum aimed at imparting broad general knowledge and developing general intellectual capacities, in contrast to a professional, vocational, or technical curriculum. â€Å"[21] Although what is known today as the liberal arts college began in Europe,[22] the term is more commonly associated with Universities in theUnited States[citation needed]. Examples include St. John’s College, Reed College, Carleton College, and Smith College. [edit]Community colleges Main article: community colleges A nonresidential junior college offering courses to people living in a particular area. ————————————————- [edit]Technology Main article: Educational technology One of the most substantial uses in education is the use of technology. Also technology is an increasingly influential factor in education. Computers and mobile phones are used in developed countries both to complement established education practices and develop new ways of learning such as online education (a type of distance education). This gives students the opportunity to choose what they are interested in learning. The proliferation of computers also means the increase of programming and blogging. Technology offers powerful learning tools that demand new skills and understandings of students, including Multimedia, and provides new ways to engage students, such as Virtual learning environments. One such tool are virtual manipulatives, which are an â€Å"interactive, Web-based visual representation of a dynamic object that presents opportunities for constructing mathematical knowledge† (Moyer, Bolyard, & Spikell, 2002). In short, virtual manipulatives are dynamic visual/pictorial replicas of physical mathematical manipulatives, which have long been used to demonstrate and teach various mathematical concepts. Virtual manipulatives can be easily accessed on the Internet as stand-alone applets, allowing for easy access and use in a variety of educational settings. Emerging research into the effectiveness of virtual manipulatives as a teaching tool have yielded promising results, suggesting comparable, and in many cases superior overall concept-teaching effectiveness compared to standard teaching methods. [citation needed] Technology is being used more not only in administrative duties in education but also in the instruction of students. The use of technologies such as PowerPoint and interactive whiteboard is capturing the attention of students in the classroom. Technology is also being used in the assessment of students. One example is the Audience Response System (ARS), which allows immediate feedback tests and classroom discussions. [23] American students in 2001, in a computer fundamentals class taking a computer-based test Information and communication technologies (ICTs) are a â€Å"diverse set of tools and resources used to communicate, create, disseminate, store, and manage information. †[24] These technologies include computers, the Internet, broadcasting technologies (radio and television), and telephony. There is increasing interest in how computers and the Internet can improve education at all levels, in both formal and non-formal settings. [25] Older ICT technologies, such as radio and television, have for over forty years been used for open and distance learning, although print remains the cheapest, most accessible and therefore most dominant delivery mechanism in both developed and developing countries. [26] In addition to classroom application and growth of e-learning opportunities for knowledge attainment, educators involved in student affairs programming have recognized the increasing importance of computer usage with data generation for and about students. Motivation and retention counselors, along with faculty and administrators, can impact the potential academic success of students by provision of technology based experiences in the University setting. [27] The use of computers and the Internet is in its infancy in developing countries, if these are used at all, due to limited infrastructure and the attendant high costs of access. Usually, various technologies are used in combination rather than as the sole delivery mechanism. For example, the Kothmale Community Radio Internet uses both radio broadcasts and computer and Internet technologies to facilitate the sharing of information and provide educational opportunities in a rural community in Sri Lanka. [28] The Open University of the United Kingdom (UKOU), established in 1969 as the first educational institution in the world wholly dedicated to open and distance learning, still relies heavily on print-based materials supplemented by radio, television and, in recent years, online programming. [29] Similarly, the Indira Gandhi National Open University in India combines the use of print, recorded audio and video, broadcast radio and television, and audio conferencing technologies. [30] The term â€Å"computer-assisted learning† (CAL) has been increasingly used to describe the use of technology in teaching. Classrooms of the 21st century contain interactive white boards, tablets, mp3 players, laptops, etc. Wiki sites are another tool teachers can implement into CAL curricula for students to understand communication and collaboration efforts of group work through electronic means. [citation needed] Teachers are encouraged to embed these technological devices and services in the curriculum in order to enhance students learning and meet the needs of various types of learners. ————————————————- [edit]Adult Main article: Adult education Adult learning, or adult education, is the practice of training and developing skills in adults. It is also sometimes referred to as andragogy (the art and science of helping adults learn). Adult education has become common in many countries. It takes on many forms, ranging from formal class-based learning to self-directed learning and e-learning. A number of career specific courses such as veterinary assisting, medical billing and coding, real estate license,bookkeeping and many more are now available to students through the Internet. With the boom of information from availability of knowledge through means of internet and other modern low cost information exchange mechanisms people are beginning to take an attitude of Lifelong learning. To make knowledge andself improvement a lifelong focus as opposed to the more traditional view that knowledge and in particular value creating trade skills are to be learned just exclusively in youth. ————————————————- [edit]Learning modalities Students in laboratory, Saint Petersburg State Polytechnical University. There has been work on learning styles over the last two decades. Dunn and Dunn[31] focused on identifying relevant stimuli that may influence learning and manipulating the school environment, at about the same time as Joseph Renzulli[32] recommended varying teaching strategies. Howard Gardner[33] identified individual talents or aptitudes in his Multiple Intelligencestheories. Based on the works of Jung, the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and Keirsey Temperament Sorter[34] focused on understanding how people’s personality affects the way they interact personally, and how this affects the way individuals respond to each other within the learning environment. The work of David Kolb and Anthony Gregorc’s Type Delineator[35] follows a similar but more simplified approach. It is currently fashionable to divide education into different learning â€Å"modes†. The learning modalities[36] are probably the most common: * Visual: learning based on observation and seeing what is being learned. * Auditory: learning based on listening to instructions/information. * Kinesthetic: learning based on hands-on work and engaging in activities. Although it is claimed that, depending on their preferred learning modality, different teaching techniques have different levels of effectiveness,[37] recent research has argued â€Å"there is no adequate evidence base to justify incorporating learning styles assessments into general educational practice. â€Å"[38] A consequence of this theory is that effective teaching should present a variety of teaching methods which cover all three learning modalities so that different students have equal opportunities to learn in a way that is effective for them. [39]Guy Claxton has questioned the extent that learning styles such as VAK are helpful, particularly as they can have a tendency to label children and therefore restrict learning. Instruction Teacher in a classroom in Madagascar Instruction is the facilitation of another’s learning. Instructors in primary and secondary institutions are often called teachers, and they direct the education of students and might draw on manysubjects like reading, writing, mathematics, science and history. Instructors in post-secondary institutions might be called teachers, instructors, or professors, depending on the type of institution; and they primarily teach only their specific discipline. Studies from the United States suggest that the quality of teachers is the single most important factor affecting student performance, and that countries which score highly on international tests have multiple policies in place to ensure that the teachers they employ are as effective as possible. [42][43] With the passing of NCLB in the United States (No Child Left Behind), teachers must be highly qualified. A popular way to gauge teaching performance is to use student evaluations of teachers (SETS), but these evaluations have been criticized for being counterproductive to learning and inaccurate due to student  bias. [44] ————————————————- [edit]Theory Main article: Education theory Education theory can refer to either a normative or a descriptive theory of education. In the first case, a theory means a postulation about what ought to be. It provides the â€Å"goals, norms, and standards for conducting the process of education. â€Å"[45] In the second case, it means â€Å"an hypothesis or set of hypotheses that have been verified by observation and experiment. â€Å"[46] A descriptive theory of education can be thought of as a conceptual scheme that ties together various â€Å"otherwise discrete particulars. . . For example, a cultural theory of education shows how the concept of culture can be used to organize and unify the variety of facts about how and what people learn. â€Å"[47] Likewise, for example, there is the behaviorist theory of education that comes from educational psychology and thefunctionalist theory of education that comes from sociology of education. [48] ————————————————- [edit]Economics Main article: Economics of education Students on their way to school, Hakha,Chin State, Myanmar It has been argued that high rates of education are essential for countries to be able to achieve high levels of economic growth. [49] Empirical analyses tend to support the theoretical prediction that poor countries should grow faster than rich countries because they can adopt cutting edge technologies already tried and tested by rich countries. However, technology transfer requires knowledgeable managers and engineers who are able to operate new machines or production practices borrowed from the leader in order to close the gap through imitation. Therefore, a country’s ability to learn from the leader is a function of its stock of â€Å"human capital†. Recent study of the determinants of aggregate economic growth have stressed the importance of fundamental economic institutions[50] and the role of cognitive skills. [51] At the individual level, there is a large literature, generally related back to the work of Jacob Mincer,[52] on how earnings are related to the schooling and other human capital of the individual. This work has motivated a large number of studies, but is also controversial. The chief controversies revolve around how to interpret the impact of schooling. [53][54] Economists Samuel Bowles and Herbert Gintis famously argued in 1976 that there was a fundamental conflict in American schooling between the egalitarian goal of democratic participation and the inequalities implied by the continued profitability of capitalist production on the other. [55] ————————————————- [edit]History Main article: History of education Nalanda ancient center for higher learning. Plato’s academy, mosaic from Pompeii. The history of education according to Dieter Lenzen, president of the Freie Universitat Berlin 1994, â€Å"began either millions of years ago or at the end of 1770†. Education as a science cannot be separated from the educational traditions that existed before. Adults trained the young of their society in the knowledge and skills they would need to master and eventually pass on. The evolution of culture, and human beings as a species depended on this practice of transmitting knowledge. In pre-literate societies this was achieved orally and through imitation. Story-telling continued from one generation to the next. Oral language developed into written symbols and letters. The depth and breadth of knowledge that could be preserved and passed soon increased exponentially. When cultures began to extend their knowledge beyond the basic skills of communicating, trading, gathering food, religious practices, etc. , formal education, and schooling, eventually followed. Schooling in this sense was already in place in Egypt between 3000 and 500BC. [citation needed] The first large established university is thought to be Nalanda established in 427 A. D in India. [56][unreliable source? ] At its peak, the university attracted scholars and students from as far away as Tibet, China, Greece, and Persia. The first university establishments in the western world are thought to beUniversity of Bologna (founded in 1088) and later Oxford university (founded around 1096). A depiction of the University of Bologna, Italy, founded in 1088. Matteo Ricci (left) and Xu Guangqi (right) in the Chinese edition of Euclid’s Elementspublished in 1607. In the West, Ancient Greek philosophy arose in the 6th century BC. Plato was the Classical Greek philosopher, mathematician and writer of philosophical dialogues who founded the Academy in Athens which was the first institution of higher learning in the Western world. Inspired by the admonition of his mentor, Socrates, prior to his unjust execution that â€Å"the unexamined life is not worth living†, Plato and his student, the political scientist Aristotle, helped lay the foundations of Western philosophy and science. [57] The city of Alexandria in Egypt was founded in 330BC, became the successor to Athens as the intellectual cradle of the Western World. The city hosted such leading lights as the mathematician Euclidand anatomist Herophilus; constructed the great Library of Alexandria; and translated the Hebrew Bible into Greek (called the Septuagint for it was the work of 70 translators). Greek civilization was subsumed within the Roman Empire. While the Roman Empire and its new Christian religion survived in an increasingly Hellenised form in the Byzantine Empire centered at Constantinople in the East, Western civilization suffered a collapse of literacy and organization following the fall of Rome in AD 476. [58] In the East, Confucius (551-479), of the State of Lu, was China’s most influential ancient philosopher, whose educational outlook continues to influence the societies of China and neighbours like Korea, Japan and Vietnam. He gathered disciples and searched in vain for a ruler who would adopt his ideals for good governance, but his Analects were written down by followers and have continued to influence education in the East into the modern era. In Western Europe after the Fall of Rome, the Catholic Church emerged as the unifying force. Initially the sole preserver of literate scholarship in Western Europe, the church established Cathedral schools in the Early Middle Ages as centers of advanced education. Some of these ultimately evolved into medieval universities and forebears of many of Europe’s modern universities. [58] During the High Middle Ages, Chartres Cathedral operated the famous and influential Chartres Cathedral School.