Marketing $100 Laptop

Mr. Negroponte wanted to create educational opportunities for the world’s poorest children by providing each child with a low cost laptop. This laptop will have educational software to provide children with otherwise unavailable technological learning opportunities. OLPC provides an interesting vantage point from which to examine the dynamics between non-profit and for-profit competitors because of the rapid development of the low-cost laptop market. OLPC was undoubtedly the innovator in this category of low-cost laptops with their â€Å"$100 laptop† concept. However, now that for-profit companies have entered the market and released a slew of similar products, OLPC must find ways to maintain its competitive advantage. OLPC was facing some marketing challenges and some the non-marketing challenges. The $100 price for the laptops is to be achieved by operating with no profit, cutting all unnecessary frills including marketing campaigns and assembling large quantities of computers. Negroponte estimated the program will launch with a distribution of at least 5 million computers, and said he hopes to increase that number to 100 million by the second year. He predicted that as the laptop design improves, the per-unit price will go down. Marketing Challenges: †¢ Marketing a low-cost, lightweight laptop seemed contradictory to recent products that are lightweight and ultra-thin that were typically more expensive and harder to manufacture. †¢ Most children using $100 laptop would not have ready access to electricity. †¢ Consumers criticizing OLPC for discounting the value of teacher training and curriculum development using the device. †¢ Governments opting out to put its resources toward traditional method of education. †¢ Prices for the OLPC don’t seem to stay at $100 causing different price floats. †¢ Competition like Intel(for profit companies) launching its own cheaper laptop targeting developing nations as well. Offering enhanced capabilities and the ability to run version of Linux or Window XP 3. Analysis: Differentiation: Price and Technology OLPC should differentiate its product, the XO, from direct competitors such as Intel’s Classmate PC and indirect competitors in the netbook category such as Dell Mini product lines. Differentiation must be visible on three distinct levels; price, technology, and brand. Price: OLPC is currently the cost-leader in this category. The Intel Classmate PC, which is OLPC’s most direct competitor, is currently priced at $285. The OLPC’s XO is priced at $175. Since both OLPC and its competitors are serving government education programs, cost will be extremely important as a number of nations are creating bidding wars for purchasing contracts. Even though OLPC is the lowest cost offering at this point, maintaining this price advantage will become increasingly difficult as competition in the market for low-cost laptops heats up. OLPC overcame some of the challenges by keeping laptop at low-cost by outsourcing the major design work and key part of the operating systems to different countries. Technology and Innovation: OLPC had a first-mover advantage in this market as its XO offering was perhaps the first entrant into the affordable netbook category. OLPC is specialized for its market of children ages 6-12. The design and child-friendly operating system is very unique. The unique connectivity is important for rural areas with sparse communications infrastructure. The XO is built for ultimate adaptability. Even its power sources can be diversified. OLPC has done an admirable job differentiating its product from its competitors through its innovative technologies and education-specific software and hardware. Competitive Strategy: Though OLPC is a leader on price and feature set, sustaining this advantage will be extremely difficult when facing competition from the largest computer companies in the world. Thus to keep its top position, it must leverage its advantages as a non-profit organization. OLPC must create value from its non-profit status to build reputation and trust. As a non-profit, OLPC can build goodwill in ways that for-profit companies are not able. Also being a non-profit enables OLPC to finance and maintain pricing schemes that are different than the competition. In terms of cost savings, OLPC has the advantage that many companies are eager to produce components for the OLPC. For example, Microsoft has gone out of its way to create a version of Windows to run on the OLPC. This is a cost savings that competitive firms are unable to match. To exploit this advantage further, OLPC could even attract advertisement agency to advertise on their PCs to further lower the cost of each machine.

How does the author successfully engage the interest

How does the author successfully engage the interest of the reader in the relationship between Cooke and veronica and her way of life? By Maya_hunched How does the author successfully engage the interest of the reader in the relationship between Cooke and veronica and her way of life? The writer starts of by setting the background of the story † we had grown up together† this gibes us an idea of their relationship and how close they were as children.Veronica grew up to a poor family and so did Cooke but veronica's family as even poorer â€Å"her family had been even poorer than mine† this gives the reader an impression of how poor they were and saying veronica was even poorer shows how harsh the conditions were. Veronica grew up to an abusive father, Cooke describes he as â€Å"brute† meaning he was evil. This shows us Just how bad her father was.Cooke was every caring and compassionate towards Veronica † I helped her fetch water from the stream and oc casionally chopped firewood† Cooke was like veronica's only fatherly figure as her dad was never around to treat her like a daughter, the only wing keeping him from protecting her was his fear of her father â€Å"night after night I would lie awake listening to her screams, cursing myself for my own physical inadequacy' this shows he was unable to help.Veronica was very loyal to everyone in her life not Just her family, when Cooke left to go to school they were still friends Neuronal and I remained friends† she was always happy and Ignored the fact her life was not a good one â€Å"she was always pleased to see me† Veronica never got the opportunity to go to school and was curious about It UT was never Jealous of Cooke â€Å"she asked me endless questions about school and the town and what I was going to be when I grew up† she was happy for Cooke and his successes. She never seemed to new me mine† this shows she was content with her life even though she had nothing to be happy about, she didn't have loving parents to take care of her or and education nor did she have and money. Veronica and Cooke always met by the river â€Å"the day before I left we met by the stream† The river is very symbolic, the river indicates life moving on.Veronica had ere limited opportunities and Cooke new that â€Å"not that she was likely to meet any as long as she remained where she was† She wasn't educated meaning she will not meet a man Cooke was concerned about her â€Å"you can go to school and become a secretary' Veronica had no one that would ever give her advice Cooke was the only person who treated her Like she should have been. L snapped a twig and threw It very symbolic, it is met to be showing Cooke and veronica as the stick and the river as life moving on. When Cooke snaps the stick it means they were on and now he is boning on in life when she is staying where she was and is never going to get anywhere where as Cooke is allowing the river to take him places. Cooke moved on but veronica was still a part of him â€Å"l never forgot veronica† how could he forget her?After all veronica had grown up with him and been a part of his childhood. Cooke eventually returned to the village for work â€Å"on the day I left I had to force her to accept a present of some money. It was as much as I could afford, but not as much as I would have liked to have been able to give her† Cooke offers her charity, he has o force her to take it this shows veronica did not was sympathy. When he returned again we went to see veronica â€Å"it was dark inside† this indicate death or her final moments.It was very difficult for Cooke to see veronica like that â€Å"l reached for her hand and held it† he was very uneasy â€Å"I'll get you out of here, don't worry' he wanted veronica to live where as she wanted the opposite â€Å"there is nothing left for me in this world† she has lost a lot in h er life and didn't want to live anymore. When veronica died Cooke was devastated â€Å"l gathered her up in my arms† this makes us feel humanity â€Å"l cried that night for the terrible waste† shows tragedy.There is a change in speech threw out the story between the away Cooke speaks and veronica speaks † morbidly suspicious † Cooke is very complex with the way he speaks, shows he was educated. â€Å"l can't Just leave my family' Veronica uses very simple language, this shows she was not educated symbolic language â€Å"l snapped a twig and threw it in the water† this shows he was moving on and she was staying where she was. Negative diction was used † she was dead before I reached my car† By: Maya Hunched

Halloween – creative writing

Once there was a boy he was 6 years old, and his name was Michael Myers, his sister was only 15 when on one Halloween Michaels mum and dad went to a parents evening. So his sister was looking after him for the night his sister Samantha decided to invite her boyfriend round Michael had always thought that no one loved him. So he decided that tonight was the night to get revenge his sister was in her bedroom getting ready. So Michael went down stairs into the kitchen and got a very large bread knife he went upstairs his sister Samantha was brushing her long brown hair when suddenly she felt a sharp pain in the left hand side of her back. She turned to see that her brother had a Halloween mask on and he had his sister's blood all over the knife and his Halloween suit. When his Mom and Dad arrived Michael went to the door and his mom said to him â€Å"Why is there blood all over your costume†? But he didn't say why! So his mom and dad went upstairs to see where his sister was they both went into her room and saw her dead on the bed!! â€Å"Oh my god†Micheals mother yelled, Michael's dad Gavin said â€Å"What happened Michael† he never answered them, His mom went to call the police and an ambulance, she slowly picked up the phone her hand was shaking as she dialled 911, she felt sick, Gavin had hold of Michael â€Å"What happened son, did someone come in and kill Sammy† he yelled, then suddenly Michael said â€Å"No dad it was me, I killed Samantha† His dad stood there in shock! Jill† he shouted â€Å"Jill Michael killed Samantha† he muttered, â€Å"is this true Michael† she said softly â€Å"yes mom its true I killed Samantha† he yelled, just as he said it the police and ambulance arrived † A murder has been committed mam? The police officer said, â€Å"erm yes my daughter she has been murdered† Jill said sadly â€Å"Im officer Brown could you tell me what exactly happened† Officer brown said â€Å"Well Samantha was babysitting Michael whilst me and Gavin where at Michaels parents evening, and when we came back Michael was outside covered in blood with a bread knife, and next minute I went to see Samantha and she was dead† She sobbed , the officer was writing everything down , he looked at Michael . Has your son ever done this before† officer brown said, â€Å"Of course not my son isn't a murderer† she yelled â€Å"Well Michael is going have to go to a murderer unit† he said â€Å"You mean he is going to have treatment and will not be allowed out for some time† she questioned, â€Å"Yes mam that is right† officer brown said Gavin came up to officer brown and told him everything what will happen to Michael,†but why Michael why did you kill her † Jill yelled, he didn't say anything he just stared at his mom . The officer took out his phone â€Å"what is going to happen now† Gavin asked â€Å"Well sir Michael is going to be Mental hospital , we have got to get at the bottom of this† officer brown said, â€Å"well when we he come out† Gavin said â€Å"Im just going to ring the mental hospital to get Dr Campbell here to discuss the matter further† he said! Officer brown dialled Dr Campbell, â€Å"Could you come to 7865 Tulip block† Officer brown put the phone down † He will be here in 5minuites† he said, Michael, Jill and Gavin sat on the kerb questioning Michael. Shortly after Dr Campbell arrived â€Å"ok who is the victim and who has the murderer† he softly said â€Å"Well sir Samantha Myers is dead, and this young man Michael Myers killed her† Officer brown said

Marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 28

Marketing - Essay Example Electronics industry is ripe to welcome the new product that would be launched very shortly, which is customised cell phone. A marketing opportunity study was made on developing a new product for the existing market of cell phones. Cell phones of popular brands have limited features. Customers are fed up of the popular brands tactics of providing new technology features in latest range where something is always left to be desired and not fulfilled by the mobile phone companies. Only customised cell phones can be the solution to satisfy the customer needs with an innovative product with dependable services can be the best available means to capture the market well in time when the idea is still new to capture the cell phone users’ attention. What is a customisable mobile phone? A customisable mobile phone is a built-to-order phone that comes with the feature of snapping the unwanted functionality or adding the functionality as per the customer demand. It could be a GSM phone to be customised or the other. The customer will decide whether the phone should be touch screen, bar, flip or smart phone; whether it has a keyboard or the customer prefers a mobile phone without a keyboard. The customised mobile phone will offer the customers the choice to select the operating system of their choice from Google Android, apple, OS X or Microsoft and others. As per the marketing research plan, customised mobile is such an opportunity that can be instrumental in offering a cost-effective mobile phone of high quality. Customers would have the freedom to choose their preferred service provider; no need to subscribe to a particular service provider. The custom-ordered mobile would be available with warranties, after-sale service and rep air (Elgan, 2008). Under the concept of integrated marketing communication (IMC), which is a holistic approach to

The Ethics Of Online Retailing Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Ethics Of Online Retailing - Research Paper Example The first category of interactions involves disclosure statements and requests for information issued by marketers to prospective customers. These are legitimate statements and requests that aim to help businesses better tailor their products and services to their customers’ needs. Secondly, there are exchanges of information voluntarily undertaken by consumers, with the expectation that they will be subsequently contacted by the respective marketer. Third, there is the capture of information not volunteered by the consumer. Not all information gathered this way is unethical, because there is much that marketers may observe concerning consumers during the course of their transaction, but such capture must not be intrusive against the privacy of the consumer. The fourth aspect concerns information practices or the manner by which the gathered information (from both marketers and consumers) may be used by both parties. The past two decades of computer technology application has triggered a flurry of academic research concerning the proper use and abuse of the new medium. Internet capability has presented so many enticing prospects for business and especially it's marketing function that, as is often the case, the potential for use is accompanied with potential for abuse. Roman and Cuestas (2008) polled web consumers for their views about which unethical acts they have the greatest concern over. There are four such types of abusive practices, namely: security, privacy, deception and fulfillment or reliability. In the study, Roman and Cuestas (2008, p. 648) described each of the issues in the following manner: The researchers developed a rating scale by which they sought to measure the relative degree of consumers’ concern.

Mental Health Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Mental Health Law - Essay Example The practitioner is within the law if he chooses to extend the stay of the patient at the hospital provided his observations find such a recommendation necessary. The law does not expressly state whether the patient or a person close to them has a right to be consulted in the making of this decision. Section 3 is identical to section 2. The only difference is that the focus has now shifted from assessment to actual treatment. Therefore the criterion in the previous section warrants this move. The other distinction between section two and three is that the previous one deals with ‘admission’ for treatment while the latter deals with ‘detention’ for treatment. The practitioner up to this point is within the law. The detention, unlike the admission can run to a period of up to six months and can also be extended. The involvement of his sister is not a mere coincidence however. This brings the whole issue of guardianship into the picture. Guardianship is covered under section 7 of the Mental Health acc, 1983. The guardian can be an authority in social services. This is clearly the case with his sister. The section also states that the social services person can decide the residence of a person. In this case his sister’s recommendation of detention carries the day. The only question is to what extent the powers of the guardian extend. A family tug of war however emerges amidst all this regarding whether the detention should go ahead or not. However, this should not interfere with the care that the patient receives. There are violations of his rights that might be the result of family ties and even his sexual orientation. The imposition of a dress code on his part is evidence of this. The fact that his rights are not spelt out to him at the start is also evidence of violation. It seems in this case that there is on effort on the part of the medical staff to detain the

The changing of Dim Sum Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The changing of Dim Sum - Essay Example This paper will thus focus on the Dim Sum as a Chinese delicacy or food and the cultural weight and implication it bears relative to the Chinese people. Thus, just as the cultural tenets and principles of people do change, so does the Dim Sum as a delicacy and important treat of a meal (Nahm, 152). To begin with, the words Dim Sum in the loosest of translations refers to a light touch on the heart. In the past society and generations, dim sum was served as a unifying meal. This happened since the delicacy revives feelings of friendship in the good way. Just as culture is learnt and shared from one generation to the next, the dim sum as a concept has also been passed from one generation to the next (Watson and Melissa, 7). This means that even the ingredients and spices that were used to make the original dim sum are slightly different from the subsequent ones. For instance, in the ancient times, dim sum was treated in a casual manner where acquaintances, family and friends shared as an equivalent of â€Å"tea testing.† Dim sum was often served to the friends when they were waiting for the main meal, thus it was used as an appetizer. In principle, the preparation of the dim sum included spices such as prawn, chicken, dumplings, rice noodle rolls which are known as  "cheong fun† (Fung, Hung-Gay, Derrick and Yau, 19). As the times have changed, chefs and most restaurants have introduced pork and vegetables to and spice and give variety to consumers. This is aimed at responding to the people who may not be consumers of meat thus, allowing them the option of having dim sum in the form of vegetables (Alperson, 23). This has been necessitated by changing demands of the people in the society who are strict vegetarians but would still wish to enjoy their exquisite cuisine. It is important to note and mention that the traditional society did serve dim sum for the better part of the morning up to mid-afternoon. However, in the face of the changing dynamic times,

Morrisons future growth for the last few years and whats predicted for Essay

Morrisons future growth for the last few years and whats predicted for the next few years . Dalton Philips - Essay Example The Optimization Plan launched in 2006, ended up creating greater sales growth and profits higher than the market. However, more recently the December 2010 sales growth reveals only 1% increase in the sales on the occasion of Christmas which attracts far higher sales. This increase of 1% is much smaller than its rivals and point towards an alarming future of the organization (Heraldscotland, 2011). The future targets of Morrison are to expand the space of its supermarket stores up to 1.5m square feet in the coming years till January 2013. The company is spending much capital on extending its space which may be a hurdle for the future growth. The profits increased from 655m pounds in 2009 to 858m pounds in 2010 (Steiner, 2010). The profit before tax of the company has increased by 21% in 2010. The earnings per share also increased accordingly by 23% in 2010. The cash flow situation of the company is also strong if we analyze its past activities. However, the increased capital expendit ure may be questioned for the appropriateness and efficiency of such large investments. In 2009/10 the company spent 906m pounds in order to develop a new regional distribution centre and opened 45 new stores. The increased capital expenditure resulted in increased debt of the company.

Blood Pressure Woes and Which Electrolyte Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Blood Pressure Woes and Which Electrolyte - Essay Example Therefore, George tested positive for chronic renal failure. The red blood cells are abnormally low. Normal red blood cells (RBC) in men should be between 4.7 and 6.1 million cells/mcl. This sample had a low count of 3.8million cells/mcl which is below ordinary level. There is probability that some red blood cells have been discharged with the urine. Also, regular hemoglobin count in male is between13.8 to 17.2 gm/dL. The count of 11.0 gm/dl is lower than normal and could be as a result of excessive loss of water due to frequent urination. The usual Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) in a human body is around 90ml/min but in George’s case it was 45ml/min which is low. Protein which is supposed to be 80mg/dl per day is abnormally high (3g/24hr), which is a characteristic of high blood pressure. The operational nephrons in the body determine the level of filtration that takes place in the kidney hence influencing the level of GFR. Considering the level of GFR has dropped from a usual average of 90 to current 45ml/min, the percent of nephron decline is 45/90 of one hundred. This depicts a decline of 50% of the nephrons. At the end phase of kidney failure, the level of GFR goes down to 15 or extreme of zero ml/min. Also, the rate of urination declines to almost zero and all nephrons becomes nonfunctional hence the patient may have to undergo kidney transplant. George should manage sugar in the blood, and reduce level of blood pressure. For example, this can be achieved avoiding smoking and taking physical exercise regularly. This condition can be healed if George implements doctor’s advice and avoid taking food which is rich in cholesterol. Congestive heart failure is a condition where the rate of the heart beat is lower than usual. This condition may result to insufficient â€Å"oxygen and nutrients† in the body. Consequently, the kidney may react by withholding body fluid and salt resulting to clogging of

Tourism Trend Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Tourism Trend - Research Paper Example However, in recent years, Florida has been able to develop a novel niche in tourism business called Cruise Tourism. The paper focuses on this new upcoming tourism trend that is making rapid progress in Florida now. In recent years, Florida has become a major tourist destination for variety of reasons. Florida theme parks such as Busch Gardens at Tampa Bay, Magic Kingdom, SeaWorld and Typhoon Lagoon at Orlando, Epcot in Disney World offers a unique experience to the tourists. Most of the tourists make a dedicated visit to some of the theme parks in Florida. Sun shines in Tampa Bay, for almost 360 days in a year, lures tourists to come over there. Tampas only water park, Adventure Island spread in 30 acres also supplements tourists’ experiences that they never want to forget (Henthorn, 2014). It is widely known that the US economy suffered immensely due to financial crisis during 2008-2009; accordingly, American spending on leisure travel also declined. In view of the depressed economic scenario, the tourism industry had to extend Cruise tourism is going to be a future trend in Florida as disposable incomes of the people increases. As per Satchell (2013), Florida is the only state that has some of the busiest cruise ports that include Port Everglades, PortMiami, and Port Canaveral. These three ports in Florida generate around 36 percent of the total $19.6 billion business estimated nationwide. It is important to note that in 2012 almost 60% of the cruise tourists began their voyage from Florida registering a 2.6 percent increase over 2011. In 2011, 13.5 million passengers took advantage of cruise ship vacation. Port Miami and Port Everglades have become top cruise ship organizing port in Florida. Port Everglades can boast of having the worlds largest cruise ship – a 225,000-ton Royal Caribbean mega ship called the Oasis of

Managing across Cultures Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Managing across Cultures - Essay Example There are significant differences which are caused by cultural outlook when it comes to working in an organization. Values in the work place are significantly affected by culture. . A study of US multinational corporations found out that poor intercultural management skills still constitute a major management problem. (Deresky) Theories and Models of culture Different researchers and sociologists have proposed different theories about cultural dimensions. Notable amongst these are the Geert Hofstede's theory of cultural dimensions and the 7d model developed by Fons Trompenaars and Hampden-Turner. There is a growing body of research that focuses on how cultures vary. This research ranges from the pioneering efforts of Kluckhohn and Strodtbeck (1961) to the widely referenced approach of Hofstede (1980), to the recent work of Hampden-Turner and Trompenaar (1993). The Kluckhohn and Strodtbeck (Kluckhohn, 1961) model has identified six basic dimensions which cover the cultural orientation in societies. These include people's view of nature, humanity and interpersonal relationships. These also include how people view of activity and achievement; time and space. Hofstede (Hofstede G. , 1980) cultural dimensions provide a more comprehensive analysis of cultural dimensions amongst different nations and countries. He focused on 160000 managers and employers of IBM in 60 different countries and found four dimensions of cultural differences which set these countries apart from each other. These dimensions are individualism vs. collectivism, power distance, uncertainty avoidance, and masculinity vs. femininity and form the basis for work related attitudes. The most recent cultural model is that of Hampden-Turner and Trompenaar released in 1993. 15000 international managers were administered questionnaires and value differences of practitioners of capitalism were identified. These values include: universalism vs. particularism, analyzing vs. integrating, individualism vs. co mmunitarianism, inner-directed vs. outer-directed orientation, time as sequence vs. time as synchronization, achieved status vs. ascribed status, and equality vs. hierarchy. Limitations of the Hofstede model Though these models are very useful in analyzing the culture of different countries but they have certain limitations. First and the foremost the fact that the averages of that certain country do not relate to the individuals of that country and extreme variations may be possible. Thus the Hofstede model can be used as a guide to understand different cultures but is not an absolute dictation. Secondly, the data collected by all these sociologists was collected by different questionnaires and therefore limitations could also be applied to the data that was collected. And lastly since it has been considerable amount of time since that research, it is very much possible that the country's culture has changed either by external or internal influences. (Geert Hofstede cultural dimens ions) Analysis of different countries and their cross cultural differences affecting work. The two different cultures selected to analyze are the American and the Mexican culture and the problems which may arise as a result of the differences in cultural values which effect work value and habits. Remarkable differences cause problems at work when

Sensation Perception and Attention Essay Example for Free

Sensation Perception and Attention Essay Sensation, perception, and attention are crucial when working in a learning team. What we sense, how we perceive, and how attentive we are to the task at hand are all extremely important. What we sense will not always be the same thing. How we perceive an assignment or how we perceive each other will differ. The attention that we pay to detail or to each other will also differ. Sensation, perception, and attention can either be our strengths or the reason we fail. In a learning team environment, it is important to communicate with each other so that these things do not interfere with the tasks at hand. This paper reflects on each team member’s threshold for auditory stimuli, dichotic listening, the cocktail party effect, divided attention, and problems within the group related to sensory perception. As a whole, our group has a low threshold for auditory stimuli. What does this really mean? The question â€Å"What is your threshold for auditory stimuli? † is answered differently when taking into consideration distractions, environmental factors, and personal factors. Sickness, hearing loss, and tiredness can affect personal auditory thresholds. Background noise and interruptions can also affect personal auditory thresholds. Upon analyzing the answers to the question â€Å"What is your auditory stimuli? † from the members of the group, we concluded that we each work well without background noise, free from interruptions, when we are feeling well, and are well rested. Dichotic listening is studying the auditory process of individuals. It allows one to see just how much they are receiving in each ear. A good example is having simultaneous conversations with more than one individual. According to Marciela and Tanisha, they have no problem with dichotic listening. This is due to the fact that they have incorporated motherhood in dichotic listening. They both have children and can divide attention between each individual conversation. For these two women, they are able to differentiate between the children, hear what each has to say or is requesting, and are able to effectively answer them, even though they are talking at the same time. Tanisha contributes her dichotic listening skills to being a police dispatcher. An occupation as such requires good skills to best concentrate on the importance of the call while collecting and recording key information needed in order to dispatch the call properly. Charleen, Kelley, and Candace have a more difficult time with dichotic istening. It is easier for them to hear one person at a time. Multi-tasking in conversation is more difficult for them because they are unable to separate the conversations being held in each ear. Important information can be missed when trying to hear more than one person. What is being processed tends to be translated into something else. When this occurs, what is thought to be heard may not actually be what was spoken at all. It follows with people coming up and speaking to one directly or in a lecture setting. In the lecture setting, one person talks while others take notes. It becomes a personal skill to figure out the best way to hear what is being said and to properly make sure all information is being recorded. As many already know, everyone learns differently but there are still many similarities that affect how people learn. An example of this is how dividing attention can facilitate or impede an individual’s learning. In our team learning group, all of us agreed that trying to divide our attention on more than one task at a time will impede on our learning. Some of us feel that we are able to multi-task well but the fact of the matter is that multi-tasking leaves room for mistakes. Some team members felt that divided attention can also impede with memory. â€Å"Other researchers have found that working memory as a whole does seem to have a limited capacity—people cannot do and remember too many things at the same time. † (Kowalski Westen, 2011) Sometimes it may seem that multi-tasking or focusing attention on more than one task at the same time is harmless and easy to do. What is actually happening is attention is not focused at all and information is not being adequately retained. For example, one team member thought it was a good idea to listen to music while studying. She later realized that it was not a good idea when she noticed that she had stopped reading to start listening to the words of the song. She understood that the progression to complete her reading assignment was delayed because of the distraction the music caused. As a majority, Learning Team D team members concluded that dividing attention is not a productive way to learn and could cause more damage than good. Recognition and interpretation of sensory stimuli is solely based of an individual’s memory. Each individual within the team has a different sensory perception on how we work together in team form. Kelley sees a sensory perception problem in the way we can communicate with one another. She says, â€Å"The sensory problem I see within the team is that we are distracted by the inability to not communicate as a group in a group setting. We have to communicate within the forum and through email which creates the inability to concentrate at the actual task at hand. It diverts our focus not being able to be face-to-face. † Charleen agrees with Kelley and says, â€Å"Our sensory perception is lacking due to a failure to communicate properly. If we had better communication with one another then the group would be smooth sailing. Tanisha also feels, â€Å"There is no auditory processing taking place because we are not speaking to each other and all the communication is being read, which leaves each person to be responsible for understanding what all the other team members are trying to express. † Maricela recognizes that our team is filled with auditory learners. She states, â€Å"I believe that being able to elaborate on a subject as a group, and really being able to cover a subject thoroughly can help everyone understand what they must do to complete the assignment. Checking in daily can cancel out any misunderstandings about the assignments and can even help our teammates that are struggling. Candace feels like sensory perception is hard to explain because, â€Å"It is taking a lot to really break down to receive an understanding. When trying to identify the sensory perception, I came across the sensory adaptation. It’s a change in response to our stimulus. Our responses vary each time we switch over from one task to another. † Our sensory perception is like mental organization. As a team, we must work together and be on the same page to acquire positive and organized sensory perception. Everyone learns differently, whether they are auditory learners or sensation learns, even perception learners. Everyone has his or her own effective learning strategies. According to our team most of us are auditory learners meaning we need visual and auditory stimulation in order to understand the concept more effectively. Communication in the team forum allows the team members to ask questions and elaborate on the responsibilities of each individual in order to understand each assignment better. Checking into our learning teams daily helps to clear up misunderstandings about assignments and can even help our teammates that are struggling. Everyone has questions, and working as a team means we may have to answer those questions to clear up and prevent confusion. Team members can call one another if they need an answer to a question. The good thing about working in a team is we have several people to call. It is important that we each focus on what we are doing to contribute to each assignment. Each team member is responsible for a portion of each assignment and when they do not contribute their part, it hurts the team as a whole and the individual does not receive credit for the assignment. The most important rule in our team is to help our teammates by completing our portion of each assignment. Incorporating everyone’s learning requirements is easy but working as a team can be a change for everyone. Although we are individuals, we still share a common ground within our team setting. We are all auditory learners meaning we need visual and auditory learning situations. Our comfort level varies due to our perceptions being different from one another. Most of us can only focus on the task at hand and have trouble communicating in variations all at once. Through this, we were able to identify our sensory perception on how the team is facilitated. We have the same yet different views on our sensory perception, but, feel like we share a common understanding. Suggestions were implemented to give direction for the team and its assignments due. As a team, our goal is to check in daily to observe the group’s needs, ask and answer questions when needed, and do assignments in a timely manner. As a team, we are working together through our sensation, perception, and attention differences to bring to the table the best of our teamwork and assignments directed by the professor. ?

Migrants Push Pull

Migrants Push Pull This report is a summary of the presentation given in tutorial class on 2 November 2009 (Appendix 4).  Ã‚   The Push Pull factors upon migrants have occurred throughout history in all nations.   Recent events including World War 2, the establishment of the European Union (EU), economic boom in Dubai, and the growth industry of the international student in Australia. Theorists, such as Klaus Zimmermann, Michael Vogler and Ralph Rotte have helped define the push and pull forces on migration, which in turn, allows governments to identify opportunities to better manage immigration policy. Historical Population Flows UK and Australia. England is what it is today, due to several waves of immigrants.   Romans in 43AD, who took three attempts before settling in the country, then 700 to 1100AD Norwegian, Danish and Swedish immigrants, arrived as a group called the Vikings.   When King Edward died in 1066, William arrived from Normandy, killing his half-brother Harold (Battle of Hastings), and became King, also, William the Conqueror (Ouedraogo, 2009).   During the seventeenth to nineteenth centuries, as England and other countries were expanding their colonies and building on world trade routes, Australia was re-discovered and settled by Arthur Phillip in 1788.   Australias gold rush in the 1850s saw Chinese immigrants arrive in Australia.   As the gold started to run racial tensions grew among the miners.   The bombing of Darwin, Australia, by the Japanese in 1942, was the precursor for Australian politicians to increase the population by opening the doors to immigration; Populate or Perish (Time, 1952). Current Events Europe, Dubai (UAE), and Australia There are migrants, refugees and asylum seekers, currently living in camps in Calais, France, awaiting an opportunity to enter the UK (Lescure, 2009).   Reasons for their current position include the living and working opportunities in their home countries and what they can achieve in the UK.   Immigration minister, Phil Woolas, is quoted as saying that the Calais people must be illegal immigrants otherwise they would have claimed asylum in France or the first EU country they come to (Travis, 2009).   Cross-border immigration is not just a French problem, but a European and international one.   Cause for migration, as identified by the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) include fleeing violence, persecution, economic and family reasons (Lescure, 2009).   In addition, Zimmermann (1994, p. 321) identifies an EU treaty stating that four freedoms be observed; the free movement of people, capital, goods and services. Economic boom conditions not only require financial capital but also human capital.  Ã‚   Cheap workers from India and Pakistan have been allowed in to the United Arab Emirates (in particular Dubai under strict conditions) to work as building labourers to help meet this regions growth.   Workers seek better pay then are possible at home and are willing to travel to seek employment.   Despite the human factors (living conditions, wages and separation from family) associated for such migration, remittances back to the workers home country can be very valuable with Indians return US$27 billion (updated remittances table see World Bank 2008 Appendix 1). Current immigration policy in Australia is to use international students as a means of increasing the population.   With an estimated 70,000 Indian students, the economic benefit to the host community is valued at AUD$14.35 billion.   This makes International students the third largest industry in Australia (Bryant, 2009).   Prime Minister of Australia, Kevin Rudd, confirmed the importance of international students, in particular the Indian student, by saying that our Indian community has been such a vital contributor to our culture, to our life, to our food, to our music (Bryant, 2009).   Reasons behind the increasing student numbers include high quality education, affordability, internationally recognised degrees, higher job opportunities, and scenery (Maps of India.com, 2009). Push Pull Effects on Migration One of the recognised pioneers in migration theory is that of Ernest George Ravenstein in his paper titled Laws of Migration (Corbett, 2009).   Although immigration appeared to go on without any definite law (Op. Cit., p.1) Ravenstein attempted to explain and predict movement between and within nations.   The issue of migration had become more important during the nineteenth century as industrialisation was growing (Ravensteins Laws Appendix 2). From Ravensteins theory, the push pull concept was developed.   Adverse conditions in their home or source country push people out, and favourable conditions in the host country pull people in (Jrank, n.d.).   Factors that stimulate these conditions include political (skill requirement of nation, asylum seeking), economic (employment, living standards), and cultural (education, acceptance). A more economic approach to immigration push-pull theory has been illustrated by Klaus Zimmermann (1994).   He defines internal factors affecting aggregate demand that cause migration to be pull migration (Op. Cit., p. 314).   Furthermore, internal and external factors that affect the aggregate supply are considered push migration (Op. Cit., p. 315).   Where substitutability exists between foreign and domestic labour, there will be less pressure on wage inflation.   Zimmermann describes migrants as complements to native workers leading to higher native productivity and that immigrants provide a positive multiplier effect within the economy (Op. Cit., p. 327). Research by Vogler and Rotte (2000) consider the large income differentials between loess developed nations to industrialised nations, and why there has not been more migration.   Despite the socio-economic factors driving push migration, there is overwhelming migration impeding factors (Op. Cit., p. 487) that counteracts the demand pull factors.   Vogel Rotte conclude that there is an inverse u-shaped relationship between development [of lower developed countries] and migration (Op. Cit., p. 507). Impact of immigration Demand for workers for low-skilled jobs has been met partly through migration (OECD, 2008a).   This area of migration draws into consideration the effects on brain drain, remittances, as discussed above, and treatment of lesser skilled workers in the host country.   A migrant who returns to their home country will also take home acquired knowledge.   This leaves the host country seeking to replace this knowledge.   If these jobs are not filled by natives, further opportunity exists for migrants.   Remittances greatly improve the welfare of associates in the home country.   This spread of benefits allows greater transfer among more people than if immigration had not occurred (OECD 2008a, and Appendix 3). In addition to the points based system (UK Border Agency, 2009), Migration Advisory Board (MAC) and the Migration Impacts Forum (MIF),   are two UK Government departments that have been created to address the issue of satisfying skill level requirements and migration policies are the.   MAC identifies labour market shortage areas where immigration might ease skill gaps.   MIF assesses the wider, more qualitative, social implications of immigration (Byrne, 2007) (Appendix 3).   The impact on immigration during this economic crisis is likely to reverse the recent increase in labour migration.   Previous years of growth and prosperity saw labour migration address labour shortages from the aging population issues and skill shortages.   In the near future, unemployment rates are expected to reach double-digit levels and the argument is that government policy needs to be able to respond efficiently to labour market needs.   Migration is not a tap that be turned on and off at will (OECD, 2009).  Ã‚   Governments are being asked to keep their ports of entry open and not use this issue for electoral ends (ONeil, 2009). Conclusion Immigration fluctuations are related to political, economic and cultural factors that create a pull or push effect.   With greater understanding of a nations own capabilities, migration patterns should be more predictable and more correlated to their own economies and regard immigrants as an important factor of production (OECD 2008b).   Globalisation affects everyone, and correct government policies will provide solutions to not only todays conditions, but also tomorrows (OECD 2008b).   Migration is not a tap to be turned on and off at will. The creation of MAC and MIF will go a long way to promote a freer and fairer movement of people throughout the world. Word Count: 1178 References Bryant, N. (2009), Australia foreign student abuse proves expensive, BBC news online, accessed 1 November 2009, http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsnight/8242739.stm; Byrne, L., (2007), How the Migration Impacts Forum fits with Wider decision-making on immigration, UK Border Agency, accessed online 11 December 2009,   http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/managingourborders/mif/papersandagendas/21june2007/decisionmaking.pdf?view=Binary; Corbett, J. (2001), Earnest George Ravenstein: The Laws of Migration, 1885, CSISS, accessed online 1 November 2009, http://www.csiss.org/classics/content/90; Granite5, Creative websites and emarketing solutions, 2009, logo for company used on cover page, accessed online 8 December 2009 http://www.granite5.com/index.php?pageid=2; JRank n.d., Migration Theories of Migration, Marriage and Family Encyclopaedia, accessed online 1 November 2009, http://family.jrank.org/pages/1170/Migration-Theories-Migration.html; Lescure, M (2009), UNHCR returns to Calais to provide migrants, refugees with information, accessed online from the UNHCR on 1 November 2009, http://www.unhcr.org/4a3914c86.html; Maps of India.com (2009), Higher Education in Australia for Indian Students, accessed online 1 November 2009, http://business.mapsofindia.com/trade-relations/india-australia/higher-education-in-australia-for-indian-students.html; OECD (2008a), Temporary Labour Migration: An Illusory Promise?, International Migration Outlook 2008, editorial, accessed online 1 November 2009, http://oecd.org/document/3/0,3343,en_2649_33931_41241219_1_1_1_37415,00.htm; OECD (2008b), Tailor Immigration policies to future needs, says OECD, accessed online 30 October 2009, http://www.oecd.org/document/61/0,3343,en_2649_37415_41288829_1_1_1_1,00.html; OECD (2009), Addressing the Present, Preparing the Future, International Migration Outlook 2009, editorial, accessed online 1 November 2009, http://oecd.org/document/3/0,3343,en_2649_33931_43009971_1_1_1_37415,00.htm#STATISTICS; ONeil, P. (2009), Dont let economic crisis disrupt immigration: OECD, TIREC (Toronto Region Immigration employment Council), accessed online 30 October 2009, http://www.triec.ca/news/story/226; Ouedraogo, D. (2009), Immigration to UK A Brief History of Migrants: Migrants to Britain of Romans, Irish, Italians, Jews to EU visitors, suite101 online article 13 October 2009, accessed online 1 November 2009, http://ukirishhistory.suite101.com/article.cfm/immigration_to_uk_a_brief_history_of_migrants; Simon, J Sala-i-Martin, X. (1995), Comment on European Migration: Push And Pull by Zimmermann, World Bank conference 1995, accessed online 1 November 2009, http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/main?pagePK=64193027piPK=64187937theSitePK=523679menuPK=64187510searchMenuPK=64187283theSitePK=523679entityID=000009265_3970716143912searchMenuPK=64187283theSitePK=523679; Time Magazine, (1952), Australia: Populate or Perish, accessed online 11 December 2009, http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,857312,00.html; Travis, A. (2009), The Calais camps will not go away, The Guardian.co.uk, online article Tuesday 22 September 2009, accessed online 30 October 2009, http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/sep/22/calais-camps-willnot-go-away; UK Border Agency, How the points-base system works, Home Office UK Government, accessed 1 November 2009, http://www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/managingborders/managingmigration/apointsbasedsystem/howitworks; Vogler, M., Rotte, R., (2000), The effects of development on migration: Theoretical issues and new empirical evidence, Journal of Population Economics, Vol. 13 (Sep., 2000), pp. 485-508, accessed online 10 December 2009, http://www.jstor.org/stable/20007729; World Bank 2008, Migration and Remittances Factbook, Development Prospect Group World Bank, accessed online, http://econ.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/EXTDEC/EXTDECPROSPECTS/0,,contentMDK:21352016~pagePK:64165401~piPK:64165026~theSitePK:476883~isCURL:Y,00.html; Zimmermann, K.F. republished by World Bank (1995), European Migration: Push and Pull, accessed online 1 November 2009, http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/WDSContentServer/WDSP/IB/1995/03/01/000009265_3970716143908/Rendered/PDF/multi0page.pdf; Appendix 1 Top Remittance-Receiving Countries Top Remittance-Receiving Countries, 2006 Rank Total remittances (US$ billions) Total remittances (as % of GDP) 1 India* 27 Tajikistan* 36 2 China* 25.7 Moldova* 36 3 Mexico* 25 Tonga* 32 4 Philippines* 17 Kyrgyz Republic* 27 5 France* 12.5 Honduras* 26 6 Spain* 8.9 Lesotho* 24 7 Belgium* 7.2 Guyana* 24 8 Germany* 7 Lebanon* 23 9 U.K.* 7 Haiti* 22 10 Romania* 6.8 Jordan* 20 11 Bangladesh 6.4 Jamaica 18 12 Pakistan 6.1 Armenia 18 13 Indonesia 6 El Salvador 18 14 Egypt 5.9 Nepal 18 15 Morocco 5.7 Bosnia Herzegovina 17 16 Lebanon 5.5 Albania 15 17 Poland 5 West Bank Gaza 14 18 Vietnam 5 Serbia d Montenegro 13 19 Serbia Montenegro 4.9 Philippines 13 20 Colombia 4.6 Gambia, The 12 21 Brazil 4.5 Nicaragua 12 22 Guatemala 4.1 Cape Verde 10 23 Russia 4 Guatemala 10 24 Portugal 3.8 Dominican Republic 10 25 El Salvador 3.6 Kiribati 10 26 Austria 3.5 Morocco 10 27 Nigeria 3.3 Guinea-Bissau 9 28 Dominican Republic 3.2 Bangladesh 9 29 Ecuador 3.2 Uganda 9 30 Australia 3.1 Sri Lank 9 Source: World Bank Migration and Remittances Factbook 2008 (March 2008) Appendix 2 Ernest George Ravensteins laws on migration Most migrants only proceed a short distance, and toward centres of absorption; As migrants move toward absorption centres, they leave, gaps that are filled up by migrants from more remote districts, creating migration flows that reach to the most remote corner of the Kingdom.; The process of dispersion is inverse to that of absorption; Each main current of migration produces a compensating counter-current; Migrants proceeding long distances generally go by preference to one of the great centres of commerce or industry; The natives of towns are less migratory than those of the rural arts of the country; and Females are more migratory than males. Source: John Corbett, 2009, for CSISS (Centre for Spatially Integrated Social Science), online article. Appendix 3 Migrants Economic Contribution and Public Perception Strong Economics: Migration has always been a source of labour and skills in the UK, and brings substantial benefits. HMT; Immigrants also tend to be younger, better educated and work longer hours than those born in the United Kingdom. Bank of England; If it was not for immigrant labour, especially in leisure, in tourism, in agriculture, in construction, then frankly many of our businesses would not have the workers we need. Digby Jones; and Labour-market restrictions are imposing a much larger burden on the global economy than are trade restrictions. World Bank, GEP 2006 Reasons for low public confidence: Perceptions (rightly or wrongly) of pressure on jobs and services; Lack of clarity about legal and illegal migration; Hostility towards refugees and asylum seekers; and A view that there are too many immigrants. Source: UK Border Agency

Dynasties Of The Byzantine Empire History Essay

Dynasties Of The Byzantine Empire History Essay The history of the Byzantine Empire begins with the tetrarchy introduced by the Roman Emperor Diocletian in 286 CE and the founding of Constantinople as the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire in 330 CE by Constantine I. Diocletian had established a tetrarchy. The empire gets its name from Byzantium the former name Constantinople. Once Constantine changed its name to Constantinople, he did not hesitate to call it the new Rome making it more important than the waning power of Rome. When Constantine came to power he put an end to tetrarchy replacing it with hereditary succession. Although a part of the Roman Empire, the Eastern Roman Empire was more Greek than Roman. The principle language was Greek and not Latin and people adopted Christianity sooner than the Romans. Dynasties of the Byzantine empire The tradition of dynastic rulers based on hereditary succession was laid down by Constantine (324-337 CE) which continued until Emperor Justinian. This dynasty was also called the Neo Flavian dynasty as every ruler bore the name Flavian. Constantine Dynasty (306 CE to 363 CE) The Constantinian Dynasty (C. 306 CE to 361 CE) ruled over an empire covering portions of Egypt, Syria and the Balkans (considered to be covering Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Macedonia, Albania, Bulgaria, Romania, and Moldova). Emperor Valens (364-378 CE) was the patron of the Valentinian Dynasty. Constantine was a farsighted ruler who had introduced many administrative reforms to upgrade the socio-political structure of the empire. He introduced the gold solidus (coins) which stabilised the economy as it was highly prized. Mosaic of Constantine in Hagia Sophia The strategic location of Constantinople on the trade route between the East and the West overlooking the Danube River helped Constantine to use to his advantage. He strengthened the army and extended the fortifications of Constantinople making them impossible to conquer. To ward off the continuous attacks of foreigners Constantine had started a system of giving subsidies (purportedly 300kg gold annually) and also favoured merchants who traded with the Huns and other foreign groups. Constantines successors worked towards dividing the civil and military authorities which persisted until the seventh century. They further strengthened the defences of Constantinople. The Eastern Empire was spared the hardships of the West thanks to effective administration and able rulers. Under Constantine Christianity received royal patronage in the form of generous privileges by the emperor. This helped the religion to reach the masses. The Constantine Dynaty was followed by non dynastic rulers from 363 CE to 364 CE followed by the Valentian dynasty from 364 CE to 379 CE. Under Arcadius, a ruler from the Theodosian dynasty (379 to 457 CE) the Roman Empire was permanently divided to form the Western Roman Empire and the Eastern Roman Empire in 395 CE. Leonid Dynasty (457 CE to 518 CE) This dynasty was founded by Leo I (457-474 CE) who made an unsuccessful attempt to reconquering the imperial parts of North Africa. His son-in-law Zeno (474-491 CE) succeeded him as the next emperor as his own son Leo II died after serving for only one year. When the Western Roman Empire fell, Zeno was in charge in the East. Zeno tried to get back the Western Empire by sending a Gothic warrior Theodoric I as the commander-in-chief of Italy. Although Theodoric ruled as an independent king, Zeno maintained at least a nominal supremacy over the Western Empire. Justinian Dynasty (518 CE to 602 CE) Justinian I (527-656 CE) the successor to the founder of the dynasty Justin I, was perhaps the only king who embarked upon the ambitious task of uniting the Western and the Eastern Empire. Justinian brought great prosperity to his kingdom. Although an ambitious ruler, some of his policies were unpopular with the masses. This unpopularity nearly cost him his crown during the Nika Riots (532 CE). His queenTheodora encouraged him to suppress the riots rather than beat a hasty retreat. 30,000 civilians are believed to have been killed in Justinians attempt to suppress the riots. Motivating words of Queen Thoedora that prompted Justinian I to face the Nika Riots were Those who have worn the crown should never survive its loss. Never will I see the day when I am not saluted as empress.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Royalty is a fine burial shroud, or perhaps, [the royal color] Purple makes a fine winding sheet. He reclaimed the province of North Africa in 533 CE which had been lost to the Vandals. He reached as far as Italy and defeated the weak Ostrogoths. But the Ostrogoths soon rearranged themselves and came back with double force and evicted his general Belisarius. Justinian entered into a number of treaties with the neighbouring kingdoms to ward off the continuous threat of invasion. By 555 CE, Justinian had won victories in most places except the Balkan territory which was continually invaded by the Slavs. Justinian became universally famous for revising the old Roman legal code and creating the new corpus of laws popularly known as Justinians Code. The code serves as a basis for civil law even today and provides a valuable insight to historians into the concerns and activities of the later Roman Empire. Justinian was a devout Orthodox Christian which made him intolerable not only to other religions but even to differing ideologies within Christianity. He had become a patron of Christianity and has even been mentioned in the Bible as a saint. He regulated everything related to religion and law. The bishops of the Church recognised that nothing could be done without the will of the emperor. He brutally suppressed any heresy by opponents of the Church. He promoted monasticism, granting the monks many rights which were earlier considered a taboo, like owning property. He granted them the right to inherit property from private citizens and and revoked the ir right to receive solemnia or the monks right to receive gifts from the imperial treasury or from the taxes of certain provinces. He aalso prohibited confiscation of monastic estates for any reason. Justinian rebuilt the Church of Hagia Sophia which had been destroyed during the Nika Riots. It served as the principal church of the Byzantine Empire. BYZANTINE ART AND ARCHITECTURE Byzantine art was an extension of the Roman art. As Roman art itself was inspired by the Greek art, one can see similarity among the three. However Byzantine art differed with the latter two in its approach which was more abstract than realistic. The figures and figurines in the Byzantine art appear flat and one dimensional with little use of shadow to give a life-like appearance. Faces were long and narrow devoid of any reality. The sixth century was regarded as the Golden Age of Byzantine art. One can see a considerable shift in the thinking and application of art in this period. Mathematics was regarded as the highest science and Justinian had appointed Anthemius of Tralles, a mathematician, as one of Hagia Sophias architect. Anthemius described architecture as an application of geometry to solid matter. The architecture differs from the traditional style in its execution of the domes and columns. The domes are more semi-circular than the almost circular patterns found in the West. Most of the art depicts scenes from the life of Christ. One of the most important genres of Byzantine art was the icon, an image of Christ, Virgin Mary or a saint. The kings too found a place of reverence in these religious temples. MOSAICS Mosaics were more central to the Byzantine Empire than where they originated the Western Roman Empire. Mosaics were not only found in churches but in every household in the form of small icons to commemorate the life and times of Christ. Some even depicted routine life. Mosaic art was at its peak during the fifth and sixth centuries. (From left to right) Mosaic depicting daily life; an iconic mosaic from the Patmos Monastery, Greece and a Gladiator mosaic found in Cyprus Boy and Donkey, Byzantine Mosaic HAGIA SOPHIA According to historians the foundation of Hagia Sophia was laid by Constantine I. The Church was built in three phases. The first church was by Constantius II in 360 CE and the second by Theodosius II in 415 CE. During the Nika riots in 532 CE the church was burned to the ground. Justinian built the third phase which is still intact. The Hagia Sophia Museum as it stands today-the minarets were added by the OttomansJustinian was very ambitious about the Hagia Sophia church. The church was constructed so magnificently that when it was completed, he exclaimed, Solomon, I have outdone thee! He called it the Church of Holy Wisdom. He had bought the most exotic and majestic materials from all over the Roman Empire eastern as well western. The Hellenistic columns were ordered from the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, large stones from the quarries in Egypt, green marble from Thessaly, Greece; black stone from the Bosporus region, and yellow stone from Syria. Some of the few surviving mosaics from the Hagia Sophia Christ and the Virgin Mary THE BASILICA OF SAN VITALE Ravenna served as a Byzantine centre in the Italian heartland and many structures were constructed in the city. The Church of San Vitale is one of the finest examples of Byzantine art and architecture in the Western Roman Empire. Although the architect of the structure is unknown, it was sponsored by a Greek banker Julius Argentarius around 527 CE. The Church is a fine combination of Roman and Byzantine art. It has the Roman elements of archways, domes and stepped towers and the Byzantine legacy of polygonal apse (semi circular, arched space in the wall- significant to Byzantine art), pillars, columns and narrow bricks. Justinian with his soldiers and the clergy San Vitale is famous for the mosaic panels of Emperor Justinian and his queen Theodora. The mosaic of Justinian says a lot about his power and position. He is standing in the middle with soldiers to his right and the clergy on his left including Bishop Maximianus, emphasising Justinian as the leader of both church and the State. He is clad in purple, the royal colour and has a golden halo, which gives him the same status as Christ. Theodora too is depicted as a goddess, solemn and humble, carrying the chalice that holds the holy wine. She is flanked by priests on the right who are escorting her in the church and a court of ladies on the left. Theodora being escorted to the Church ANALYSE THIS! Theodora, before marrying Justinian was a public entertainer. In those days, this profession was not considered worthy of respect. According to church laws, such women were not well received. However Justinian fell madly in love with Theodora and in order to make her his queen, abrogated the law and in fact provided better protection for women offenders and created separate cells for women offenders guarded by women guards. Consider the above incident and reflect on what this incident tells us about the power that Justinian held over the Church? How has religion become a tool in the hands of the powerful? à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦abrogated the law and in fact provided better protection for womenà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Is it applicable to the present times? Support your answerwith reasons. Laws have been held to have absolute power; however they have been twisted and amended to suit ones need, usually of the powerful. In the present context have you come across any such arbitrary law? Name it/ them and explain why you feel they are arbitrary. Use your grey cellsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Beauty in Wordsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Read the following article Talking Turkeyby eminent columnist Jug Suriya describing the beauty of Istanbul, Turkey. Courtesy blog Juggle- Bandhifeaturing in the Times of India website. TURKINAMA TALK TURKEY Istanbul has witnessed the seesaw of history between East and West Bunny and i take a boat from Europe to Asia. The journey lasts 20 minutes. We are in Istanbul, and the ferry takes us from Eminonu, which is on the European side of the city, to Uskudar, which is on the Asian side, on the other shore of the Bosphorus. Istanbul formerly known as Constantinople, after the Christian emperor Constantine is the fabled meeting place of Europe and Asia, East and West. The sprawling city of 22 million people is strikingly beautiful, a challenge to the artists brush, the poets phrase. Seven low hills crouch down to the sun-spangled Sea of Marmara, flanked on one side by the Bosphorus, which links it to the Black Sea, and on the other side by the inlet of the Golden Horn. The water is so blue that it has given us the word turquoise, a colour originating in Turkey. Europe and Asia, East and West, rub shoulders in comfortable familiarity. Sleek, French-built tramcars glide noiselessly down broad thoroughfares bounded by bustling pavements where designer-ripped jeans and hijabs go hand in hand. The slender minarets of a myriad mosques conjure a communion of earth and sky, and hard rock discos coexist with dervishes whirling in Sufi ecstasy. In the Grand Bazaar in Beyazit, the fixed price rigidity of the western supermarket is made flexible and fluent by the eastern art of bargaining, for anything and everything, from carpets and spices, to 22-carat gold jewellery and cellphone cards, for the sheer pleasure of it. For what better way for customer and shopkeeper to spend the day than in spirited negotiation, over endless tiny cups of thick, treacle-sweet coffee? This co-mingling of East and West is best represented by the many-domed Ayasofya, billed as one of the most wondrous buildings in the world. Originally called Hagia Sophia, it was built in the sixth century by the Byzantine emperor Justinian and for almost a thousand years it was said to be the worlds largest Christian church. In the 15th century, after Sultan Mehmed II seized Constantinople and changed its name to Istanbul, which simply means The City, Hagia Sophia was turned into a mosque and renamed Ayasofya. Five hundred years later, Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey, made it into a museum. Ataturk often said to be Turkeys counterpart of Russias Peter the Great tried to westernise his country by making it into a secular state, introducing the Latin alphabet, and adopting the European hat as the national headgear instead of the traditional fez. Today, Ayasofya is still a museum, thronged by visitors who strain their necks to stare in wonder at the mosaic-encrusted central dome, so high that it can accommodate the Statue of Liberty. But Turkey has voted in favour of an Islamic government instead of Ataturks secular dispensation, a development which is one of the impediments to the countrys desired membership of the all-Christian European Union. East or West? The seesaw of history has yet to settle which of the two Turkey really belongs to. Or perhaps it belongs to both, and in doing so belongs to neither. For Istanbul, more than any other city, is historic proof that East and West are arbitrary geographical and cultural constructs which increasingly are becoming interchangeable with each other. Long before globalisation became a catchphrase, Istanbul that once was Constantinople was living proof of a cosmopolitan universality which underlies the cosmetic changes that history makes on the face of time. We take the ferry from Uskudar back to Eminonu, from Asia to Europe, from East to West. And were still in the same place, still in Istanbul, still in the city which could be given a name no other than The City, unique unto itself. Task If you had the choice, which city would you like to visit a city of antiquity and why? LIFE IN THE BYZANTINE EMPIRE ECONOMY AND SOCIETY The Eastern Roman Empire was the most prosperous civilisation from the beginning of the Middle Ages until the Arab invasions. Travellers and explorers described it as the most advanced civilisation of the time and were in awe of the people living in luxury with its superb architectural marvels. Constantinople was a trade haven, extending to Eurasia and North Africa. It was the primary western hub of the silk trade. From Constantinople, the silk was then exported to Egypt, Bulgaria and further west. The state controlled internal and international trade and held a monopoly over issuing coinage. The currency of the Byzantine Empire had a high value in the middle ages. Reforms initiated by Diocletian and Constantine laid the foundations for the Byzantium economy by replacing the gold aureus with the solidus and introducing the follies (coins) in bronze. Coins were minted both in the capital as well as provinces. Many mints were located in large eastern cities like Alexandria, Antioch, Co nstantinople, Kyzikos, Ravenna and Rome. Major guilds and corporations were supervised through taxation, controlling interest rates and regulating commodity prices. Non-monetary exchange of goods and services through barter was more typical to remote areas. The Byzantines had a strong hold on commercial activities. Professions were organised in guilds and no one was allowed to belong to two guilds simultaneously. Builders, by law, had to provide a ten-year guarantee of the structure they erected! Solidus of Justinian II from the seventh century Coin of Justinian I excavated in India suggesting existence of Indo-Roman trade People were engaged in a variety of professions, agriculture being the predominant occupation. The upper class mostly comprised of the aristocracy, state functionaries, senior military officers and large land owners. The middle class was made up of the merchants, skilled craftsmen and owners of medium size lands and properties while the lower class was made up of wage earners, labourers and destitute. Men occupied all the official posts in the imperial courts, bureaucracy and military. Women generally did not actively participate in trade and were confined to household duties however evidence of women engaging in weaving and spinning, working as fruit and vegetable vendors, herb gatherers and kourisses (women who dressed other womens hair employed either privately or in public baths). Women could also have the option of being physicians and midwives. Some served food in guest houses and taverns. Although women were excluded from priesthood, they had a special place in monasteries. Many nunneries in the Byzantine Empire were run by female abbots. FAMILY AND HOUSEHOLD The Byzantine society worked on the model of paterfamilias. The male exerted absolute authority and took care of the family. The families were extended family with two to three generations living together. Nuclear families existed in urban cities where traders moved and settled with their immediate family members. The woman of the family raised and cared for the children. The more liberal paterfamilias of the Roman society was reduced to the Greek idea of paternal families where daughters were kept under strict authority of the male relatives and boys were given the freedom to act independently. A woman was invariably accompanied by someone whenever she left house. Kekaumenos, a Byzantine author in his work Strategikon has said, Keep your daughters as prisoners, confined and inconspicuous. Education was limited to reading and writing. Girls got married at the age of thirteen or fourteen and the suitor was selected by the parents. Sometimes professional matchmakers helped in bringing two compatible families together and earned by taking a percentage of the dowry. Girls usually did not have a say in choosing the partner. Marriage was a formal ceremony sanctioned by the church. A woman earned respect in society through her marriage. It was important to have at least one male child. LAW AND ORDER Christianity had pervaded every facet of human life in the Byzantine Empire, including law and order. State laws received a divine sanction as the emperor was held to be Gods earthly representative and so his laws were essential for maintaining stability. An expanding body of Canonical Laws reflect the growing authority of the church. Corpus juris civilis introduced by Justinian I served as a basis for civil jurisprudence. Many later contributions like Nomos Georgikas (Farmers Law) and Rhodian Sea Law were private collections of codes pertaining to rural life and maritime activities respectively. Criminal law mainly addressed instances of theft, robbery, damage or injury to another person or property. Courts were established to deal with these matters. Punishments ranged from financial compensation, imprisonment, exile and in cases of pre-meditated murder or fatal assault death penalty was awarded. Class barriers existed in the Byzantine Empire too. Convicted elites in cases other than treason could lose their titles, personal property or get banished to a monastery or remote province, whereas public flogging, mutilation and execution were the punishments referred for the members of the lower classes. As the influence of the church grew, such punishments were avoided and banishment in monasteries became more common. The church became an asylum for personal repentance and spiritual healing. DECLINE OF THE BYZANTINE EMPIRE Decline of the Byzantine Empire was a process which lasted several centuries before the final collapse. Although there is no certain date for the beginning of the decline, historians unanimously agree that it all started with the invasion of the Arabs. The Arabs had conquered territories in the Levant (modern-day Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian territories) and Egypt by the ninth century. The loss of Egypt was a substantial blow as most of the manufactured goods and naturals resources of the Byzantine Empire came from the province. Conversely Egypt now proved to be a source of finance to the Ummayad and Abbasid Caliphates, giving them the courage and resources to expand. The Byzantine-Arab Wars crippled the empire not only monetarily but the continuous state of war drained the people of their physical and emotional strength. Between the 11th and 12th centuries, the Seljuk Turks permanently settled in Anatolia. By 1025, the whole of Asia Minor, nearly 70 per cent of the Byzantine Empire was lost to the Seljuks. The Crusades were launched partly to restore the lost glory of the Byzantine Empire but majorly to get back the holy places in and near Jerusalem. However the Crusades added to the financial burden of the Empire and became a reason for its decline. Important dates 286 CE- Founding of Constantinople by the first Constatnitne Emperor Constantine I. 306- Founding of the Constantine Empire by Emperor Constantine. 330 -founding of Constantinople as the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire. 360- First Church of Hagia Sophia built by Constantius II. 363 to 364- non dynastic rulers. 364 to 379 -Valentian dynasty. 379 to 457 Theodosian dynasty. 395- Final division of the Western and Eastern Roman Empire. 415-Second Church of Hagia Sophia built by Theodosius II. 457 Founding of the Leonid Dynasty. 518 Founding of the Justinian Dynasty by Justin I. 523- Nika Riots put down by Justinian I. 533- Justinian reclaims the province of North Africa. Use your Grey Cellsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ RECALL Describe the geographic factors that made Constantinople a centre of cultural diffusion, military defence, and trade. How were the Roman and Byzantine empires connected? What is Justinians Code? How did the Byzantine Empire help to preserve and transmit classical Greek and Roman culture and knowledge? How did Byzantine art and architecture differ from the Romans? ANALYSE Justinians Code helped establish order in the Byzantine Empire. What role do you think rules and laws play today? Given below is a law on slaves from Book I of Justinians Code. Read it carefully and answer the questions that follow; Slaves are in the power of masters, a power derived from the law of nations; for among all nations it may be remarked that masters have the power of life and death over their slaves, and that everything acquired by the slave is acquired for the master. Was it a just law? Would this law work today? Why? Justinian uses the words law of nations? Do you think the phrase is exaggerated? Why? In Grade 6, you learnt about Hammurabis Code. How does it differ from Justinians Code? Compare and contrast. Why has codification of law been an important aspect of judicial processes? EVALUATE Byzantine Empire has contributed immensely to art and architecture. In light of the statement evaluate the contribution of Byzantine art.

Essay --

These lyrics are from an 80’s rock band by the name of Toto. These words might have accurately described the feelings of those people living at the time of the birth of Jesus –people who were wondering and hoping for a change, people who were hoping to receive a gift greater than what they could give of themselves. It was only about three weeks when we celebrated the birth of Jesus in this world on the 25th of December. Along with worship, we opportunities to exchange a bunch of gifts, eating a great deal of good food, sharing conversation, potentially loading up the car and traveling from one house to another, only to reach those last days of December and beginning days of January with our tongues hanging out and sprawled out on the couch from exhaustion, and for some of us, eating too much food and/or chocolate. There may be times when we might wonder why all this needs to be done, and we begin to consider that we are really living out the Spirit of Christmas giving and sharing gifts and time with others in a very hurried way. This could be the only time we get to visit with other family, if the family is spread out over a great distance. †¦ This is the time of year when we have the opportunities to share material gifts, as well as the gift of love and care. Do we ever stop, however, to wonder about the gift of hope? Where did we leave it in the midst of our packing and preparing in those stress-filled hours before the Christmas celebration? How did we manage to overlook that precious gift of hope as we struggled through the parking lots and mobs of other shoppers at the mall? Do we feel it within ourselves as we attempt to find something to say on the 100th Christmas card, or mail the umpteenth email or facebook mess... ...before us? Our faith may waver from time to time, but we always fall back on hope – even for the most pessimistic of us – hope is what brought the Magi to the stable in Bethlehem and it also brings us to the stable, kneeling before the Christ child in our hearts and minds. Are we still willing to humble ourselves this Christmas season before this child that brought nations in conflict to their knees? Are we still willing to experience hope and not be confused and deceived by the materialism that seems to control the holiday? Just as our 80’s rock song suggests, we need to believe in the things that we need to survive. During this Christmas season, let us take the time to reflect on gives us hope each and everyday – it is truly the gift that keeps giving and giving to us – regardless of where we are on our faith journeys and our proximity to our epiphanies.

alcohol Essay -- essays papers

alcohol Substance abuse and addiction are major problems in society today. Every segment of society, regardless of race, gender, or age is affected. Some of the substances that are used grow naturally, where as others are manufactured illicitly or even legitimately in laboratories. They may be smoked, inhaled, ingested, or injected and used for social, religious, or self-medicating purposes. The substance that are abused include caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, steroids, stimulants, depressants, heroin, ANd cocaine. Substance abuse and dependence were first described as disease process in the 1960s with the introduction of Jellinek’s work on alcoholism. Dependence on alcohol and other drugs is now accepted and is classified as a psychiatric disorder. Substance abuse ranks high among serious health problems. Since 1979 illicit drug use and alcohol consumption have declined, but the widespread use of and dependence on these substance continue. Nicotine, now classified by the Food and Drug Administration as an addictive substance, is linked to more deaths annually than AIDS, cancer, and other substances combined. Alcohol is also a major social problem today. Use and abuse of alcohol are a factor in contributing to injuries and death. The cost of substance abuse is increasing in our society. Lives are lost, and loss of work productivity costs millions of dollars each year. Alcohol is a factor in 40% of all motor vehicle accidents, and alcohol and other drugs are often implicated in boating or athletic accidents. Cost include not only lives lost but also medical care, long-term services to the disabled, and increased insurance rates. Health care cost for clients use alcohol, drugs, and nicotine are estimated to be greater than $160 billion annually. It has been confirmed that there is link between violence and alcohol and other drugs. Alcohol and drugs is a factor in vandalism on college campuses, date rape, sexual assault, and domestic violence. Under the influence of alcohol and drugs, young adults are more likely to engage in unsafe sexual practices, and parents are more likely to abuse their children. Certain factors place some individuals at greater risk than others for the development of abuse and dependence. Biological, psychological, or environmental conditions may predispose a person to the development of a drug or alcohol pr... ...up influence, disciplined drug-free lifestyles; examples include Phoenix House and Day Top Village. Drinking while pregnant can cause serious damage to a new born baby. Dysmorphic Features of FAS include: Microcephaly (small head circumference below 5%) Small palpebral fissures (eye slits) Flat nasal bridge Smooth or indistinct philtrum (ridge above upper lip) Thinned upper lip Flattening of mid-face Others: epicanthal folds, low set or mildly malformed ears Counseling is a useful and effective means it can be administered on an individual basis or in family counseling. Support groups would be another effective mean to support a person with substance-related disorders and their families. There are many groups modeled on the Twelve-Step approach of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). Other groups include Narcotics Anonymous (NA), Al-Anon, Nar Anon, Children of Alcoholic Parents (CAP), Smokenders, Ala Teen. These are a few of the self help groups that can be contacted in our communities to help those who are abuser or have friends or family members who are abusers. Most of these groups are free of charge and are conducted by people who have abused and are now recovering.

Curriculum Leader as Change Agent

Curriculum Leader as Change Agent The profession of nursing is a vital part of the health care system. Any change in the system brings about change in the profession. Nursing, as a profession, continues to stand to the challenge of the times. The workplace environment for health care workers has undergone change, too. There is a wide range of continuous improvement of healthcare forces brought about by technological advances and modernization in society especially in the field of nursing curriculum. Responding to the challenge brought about by these changes in the healthcare environment and the healthcare workplace means major reforms in the delivery and management of the health care system. It means a health care workforce function as a change agent and create a preferred future for nursing Leader education and nursing practice who is ready and prepared to meet the advances of modern society and its accompanying challenges. It is for this reason that every nurse should pursue the pathway of curriculum educator. As educator leader, we are envisioned to be integrated and comprehensive approaches to health development. It endeavors to make essential goods, health and nursing education as part of the so called re-engineering Change in the healthcare system has a major impact on how, where, and even who practice nursing (Catalino, 1996). Nurses will need to get involved in decisions about where healthcare is going. They need to band together as a profession and exert potential power that they have access to politicians, physicians, hospital administrators, and insurance companies in shaping the future of their profession. Preparing nurse educator curricula must address the core of knowledge and skills essential for effectiveness and excellence in the nurse educator role and make transparent the scope and standards of nurse educator practice. Each nurse educator course specifically addresses one or more of the core competencies including curriculum design, assessment and evaluation, instructional technology, and designing systems to support change in nursing education. Nurse educator as leader and agent to change must encourage students, co workers and other professions to tell their stories, assess their strengths and weaknesses, and describe their growth and development in the educator role. This facet of nursing should engages future nurses in critical thinking, fosters creativity, and motivates them to use standards to inform their own practice. Most importantly, the Nurse Educator as leader and agent of change challenges students to reflect upon their academic preparation in each of the core competencies and prepares them to assume roles as leaders and innovators in the practice and science of nursing education. Nurse educator as innovator should also reflect on the essence of each of the competencies in their practice; select evidence that demonstrates their knowledge and abilities for each competency; and project excellence based on their learning and professional goals, on the core competencies of nurse educators. For example, facilitate learning , facilitate learner development and socialization, use assessment and evaluation strategies, participate in curriculum design and evaluation of program outcomes, function as change agent and leader, pursue continuous quality improvement in the nurse educator role, engage in scholarship, and function within the educational environment. Ultimately, sharing information about the core competencies of nurse educators challenge to develop the components of our role in all its dimensions and inspires excellence in their practice as nurse educators.

Examination Is Good or Bad for Students Essay

The news that mid-term exams have been cancelled in some primary schools recently has sparked quite a few controversies. Some people regard it as a big step in educational reform, while others question whether it is on the right track. Parents, teachers and students, the three parts involved, have all reacted a little bit pessimistically toward the new policy. Parents, always busy working to support their families, feel that they are losing an important quantified judgment for their children’s behaviour or performance at school and are more worried than relaxed about their children’s increased spare time. Most of them, I believe, prefer bookworms to idlers or addicts. Some parents have decided to pay more for after-school classes. Teachers, whose feet have been bound for a long time in teaching children, are beginning to lose their last control over the already spoilt students. How to check the teaching and learning effect? How to communicate with parents? How to keep students working hard to get good marks in the later, more important exams? Furthermore, maintaining their full work load, they are required to squeeze more of their meagre spare time to prepare additional lessons for â€Å"quality education†. On the other hand, the suddenly liberated students have to find ways to fill their time. They delay homework and sometimes become addicted to computer games or just wander the streets. Adopting a bad habit is much easier than forming a good one. Objectively, the exam itself is not bad. It is a most effective measure of a student’s knowledge, performance and ability. But people have made it into a disaster. Since when was our education caught in such a vicious circle? Textbooks have remained unchanged for many years and have become purely ornamental, while exam questions are changed from year to year. The only way to do this is to use more and more tricky questions. In fact, what we test our students on is much more difficult than what textbooks teach. To satisfy real needs, both teachers and students choose to be drowned in a sea of exercises and exams. On the other hand, years of cramming miscellaneous rules, formulae and information may have strengthened our students’ ability to imitate, memorize and take exams, but at the cost of their initiative and creativity, two of the most important qualities that a student should possess. That may well answer the question why there is no Nobel-prize winner in China. I interpret the purposes of abandoning these exams as follows: First, it is to answer the call of reducing students’ heavy burdens in their studies and return to them their happy childhood. For years, we have been appealing for students to be freed from mountains of homework and extra classes, to no avail. Students have to do that! Only through immersion in all kinds of exercises and classes can most of them get comparatively satisfying results in various exams. Therefore, the cancellation of exams is intended to remove a root cause of students’ toil and give them more play time. Second, it is to help relieve students of great pressure and protect their self-esteem. In fact, what frightens students are not exams, but the tremendous strain and high expectations behind them. Exams divide students into â€Å"good† and â€Å"bad†, leading some of them to a paradise of beautiful flowers and sweet compliments and others to a hell of bitter criticisms and severe punishments. Exams often bring parents ecstasy or plunge them into the abyss of misery. Exams determine students’ futures and are a crystallization of a single person’s success or failure and a whole family’s hope or disillusionment. Since their first school day, students have been preparing for a diversified exam. For that reason, the cancellation of exams seems to save most families from suffering. But I doubt whether the benefits could be realized – mid-term exams in primary schools are only one minor link in a whole chain of exams. Will all these exams, eg. inal-term exams, Secondary School Entrance Exams, College Entrance Exams, and broad after-school exams for certificates in social achievement be called off too? If not, students dare not shrug away their shackles and their fragile self-esteem will not last for long and their happiness is doomed to be temporary. On the other hand, if a student’s self-esteem totally depends on the cancellation of exams, it would be too weak to protect. Our society is neither an ivory tower nor a haven of peace. It is full of competition and struggles. Setbacks are inevitable and we need them to temper ourselves. Don’t be misunderstanding. I am not an exam advocator. The exam-oriented education stifles teachers as it does students. What I mean is that we cannot solve a problem by taking only a stopgap measure. The root cause lies not in exams, but in the whole educational system. The first thing we should do is to change our inherent educational ideas of talent cultivation and create an active, healthy environment of teaching and learning. It will be a long way. What we need is not the cancellation of a single exam, but an earthquake in our education.

Educational Technology Essay

Educational technology is the study and ethical practice of facilitating learning and improving performance by creating, using and managing appropriate technological processes and resources.† The term educational technology is often associated with, and encompasses, instructional theory and learning theory. While instructional technology is â€Å"the theory and practice of design, development, utilization, management, and evaluation of processes and resources for learning,† according to the Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT) Definitions and Terminology Committee,educational technology includes other systems used in the process of developing human capability. Educational technology includes, but is not limited to, software, hardware, as well as Internet applications, such as wikis and blogs, and activities. But there is still debate on what these terms mean.[3] Technology of education is most simply and comfortably defined as an array of tool s that might prove helpful in advancing student learning and may be measured in how and why individuals behave. Educational Technology relies on a broad definition of the word â€Å"technology.† Technology can refer to material objects of use to humanity, such as machines or hardware, but it can also encompass broader themes, including systems, methods of organization, and techniques. Some modern tools include but are not limited to overhead projectors, laptop computers, and calculators. Newer tools such as â€Å"smartphones† and games (both online and offline) are beginning to draw serious attention for their learning potential. Media psychology is the field of study that applies theories in human behavior to educational technology. Consider the Handbook of Human Performance Technology. The word technology for the sister fields of Educational and Human Performance Technology means â€Å"applied science.† In other words, any valid and reliable process or procedure that is derived from basic research using the â€Å"scientific method† is considered a â€Å"technology.† Educational or Human Performance Technology may be based purely on algorithmic or heuristic processes, but neither necessarily implies physical technology. The word technology comes from the Greek â€Å"techne† which means craft or art. Another word, â€Å"technique,† with the same origin, also may be used when considering the field Educational Technology. So Educational Technology may be extended to include the techniques of the educator. A classic example of an Educational Psychology text is Bloom’s 1956 book, Taxonomy of Educational Objectives.Bloom’s Taxonomy is helpful when designing learning activities to keep in mind what is expected of—and what are the learning goals for—learners. However, Bloom’s work does not explicitly deal with educational technology per se and is more concerned with pedagogical strategies. According to some, an Educational Technologist is someone who transforms basic educational and psychological research into an evidence-based applied science (or a technology) of learning or instruction. Educational Technologists typically have a graduate degree (Master’s, Doctorate, Ph.D., or D.Phil.) in a field related to educational psychology, educational media, experimental psychology, cognitive psychology or, more purely, in the fields of Educational, Instructional or Human Performance Technology orInstructional Systems Design. But few of those listed below as theorists would ever use the term â€Å"educational technologist† as a term to describe themselves, preferring terms such as â€Å"educator.†The transformation of educational technology from a cottage industry to a profession is discussed by Shurville, Browne, and Whitaker. Definition of terms Evaluation is a systematic determination of a subject’s merit, worth and significance, using criteria governed by a set of standards. It can assist an organization to assess any aim, realizable concept or proposal, or any alternative, to help in decision-making; or to ascertain the degree of achievement or value in regard to the aim and objectives and results of any such action that has been completed. Technology is the making, modification, usage, and knowledge of tools, machines, techniques, crafts, systems, methods of organization, in order to solve a problem, improve a preexisting solution to a problem, achieve a goal, handle an applied input/output relation or perform a specific function. It can also refer to the collection of such tools, machinery, modifications, arrangements and procedures. Technologies significantly affect human as well as other animal species’ ability to control and adapt to their natural environments. Educational technology is the use of technology to improve teaching and learning. the treatment of the process by which people learn, as a systematic process based on objectives, with strategies and systems to achieve them; a set of expensive tools sold to schools purporting to improve learning but not actually proven to do so information and communication technology (ICT), is often used as an extended synonym for information technology (IT), but is a more specific term that stresses the role of unified communications[1] and the integration oftelecommunications (telephone lines and wireless signals), computers as well as necessaryenterprise software, middleware, storage, and audio-visual systems, which enable users to access, store, transmit, and manipulate information. Classifications of Educational Technology When we hear the word technology today, we would immediately think of the mediated instructional materials particularly those, which are computer-based. But technology also includes the indigenous materials which have been used in the past and which have been proven as reliable. They have proven their worth especially to the teachers in the early days. According to the Equilibrium Theory of Education, the schools which are supposed to transmit accumulated knowledge and skills to students, that students are given balance of the old and new learning so that they will not lose track of the finest pedagogical culture which have been developed and accumulated all through the years. The classification of Educational Technology is divided into two which is the following: * Material Technology Material Technology is divided by two which is the lo-tech paper technology and the hi-tech mediated technology Lo-tech paper technology * It is also called traditional instructional materials; these are indigenous materials usually real objects or those that are made of paper and cardboards. They are still here to stay because not all schools are equipped with technology tools and not all teachers are ready to embrace modern technology. Hi-tech mediated technology * Often called as the mediated technology, it includes those, which are presented using media equipment or hardware. The most persuasive modern technology for teaching and learning in these contemporary times is the computer and its various applications. In fact all educational efforts are being geared toward its used. Its effectiveness in teaching and learning has been widely recognized. * Non-Material Technology This includes theories, laws, principles, methods and strategies of teaching. They evolved results of researches and studies in order to facilitate teaching and learning. Applications of Educational Technology A proper application of educational technology can result to improved sensation and perception that will lead to quality learning. Educational technology transcends geographical barriers, expose students to experiences beyond classroom, disseminate instruction across large areas and make education more accessible to more people. If Educational Technology is properly selected and used the students can do the following: * Arouse and sustain the interest and attention of the students. * Concretize concepts and ideas to promote meaningful learning. * Make learning more permanent by providing rich experiences. * Provide self-activities for independent learning. * Increase one’s vocabulary by eliminating verbalism * Promote continuity of thought * Increase the quality of learning while decreasing the time spent * Check student’s preparedness * Make learning more interactive * Choosing and applying educational technology . Evaluation in Educational Technology As education systems, in particular Technology Education, adapt to new expectations for secondary students entering an uncertain workforce, the time is appropriate to investigate the need for school facilities to meet these present demands and those that continue to change curricula. This study has been conducted in order to determine the facility requirements for the delivery of the evolving technology/manual arts curriculum in Queensland. A set of validated design criteria for evaluating technology education and vocational education settings was developed and trialed to assist the designer of such facilities to meet the needs of this area on schools designed in different eras from the 1960s to the present. A review of the published literature would indicate that little has been written on this aspect of facilities design. While related studies have been conducted in North America, they were not confined to the designing of the facilities and only had specific relevance in that coun try. An expert group consisting of prominent Queensland educators provided the impetus for developing the criteria which had been generated through a systematic search of the literature. The methodology utilised to involve the expert group was the Nominal Group Technique. After the criteria had been developed, they were validated by questionnaire through a 30% random sample of practicing heads of department across Queensland in both state and independent systems. A trial evaluation using current facilities was subsequently conducted to determine the effectiveness of the criteria in terms of teacher acceptability as well as establishing a pattern of needs for modification. Practitioners who use the facility for teaching technology education and/or vocational education could use the set of criteria to evaluate their facility in a similar manner to that of evaluating their students. Such evaluations could then become the basis for ffiture school planning and budgetary allocations as well as asset management of existing facilities. The study proved to be valuable as the validated criteria have the potential of being used as a tool by teachers to evaluate their facilities. At the systems level of operation, the criteria will provide assistance for designers, architects and teachers to prepare informal educational briefs. Such briefs would provide a consistent approach to the some times difficult task of clearly defining the function of a facility. The modem facility must meet the needs of current curriculum and be sufficiently flexible and adaptable to provide the educational requirements well into the twenty-first century. These developed criteria will gr eatly assist in this process. Overview It is a great honor for me to join in the celebration of the 100th birthday of National Taipei Teachers’ College. In the United States, this year is also the 100th anniversary of a famous march, the â€Å"Stars and Stripes Forever,† composed by the revered bandmaster, John Phillips Sousa in 1896. I learned this when I attended a band concert this fall, celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Department of Bands at Indiana University. During the concert I was thinking about what I might say today, and I realized that National Taipei Teacher’s College, the IU Department of Bands, and the â€Å"Stars and Stripes Forever† are all 100 years old this year. I plan to talk today on the topic: evaluation of use of information technology in education. First, I will discuss the use of information technology as a lever for change in educational systems and practice. Second, I will talk about the development of criteria for evaluating information technology systems in K-12 education. During 1993-95, I played a central role on a team of faculty and graduate students at Indiana University who helped develop these criteria for the National Study of School Evaluation. I will provide a brief overview of the criteria for use of information technology in K-12 education in the United States. Finally, I will share my personal philosophy on use of technology in education. Stability and Change in Education The publication of A Nation at Risk in 1983 helped to renew U.S. efforts to further improve public schooling. We have given names to these reform efforts such as: site-based management, school restructuring and educational systems design (cf. Banathy, 1991; Reigeluth, 1992; Frick, 1993). One difficulty in changing a system is that it tends to remain the same. Systems try to attain and maintain some level of stability (cf. Maccia & Maccia, 1975; 1966). The big challenge is: How can we overcome this stability in our education systems in order to make positive changes, without harming what is already good and should not be changed? One educator in Indiana has joked that the problem of getting our schools to change is like trying to change the direction of a big elephant going 100 miles per hour. Indicators of Quality Information Technology Systems in Education The National Study of School Evaluation recently published Technology: Indicators of Quality Information Technology Systems in K-12 Schools (NSSE, 1996). This publication provides: * a vision for student learning in technology through suggestions of performance indicators at the elementary, middle and high school levels, * indicators for judging how a school’s instructional system supports learning achievement in technology, and * indicators for evaluating how a school’s organizational system supports its vision. History of Educational Technology during ancient times There is no written evidence which can tell us exactly who has coined the phrase educational technology. Different educationists, scientists and philosophers at different time intervals have put forwarded different definitions of Educational Technology. Educational technology is a multifaceted and integrated process involving people, procedure, ideas, devices, and organization, where technology from different fields of science is borrowed as per the need and requirement of education for implementing, evaluating, and managing solutions to those problems involved in all aspects of human learning. Educational technology, broadly speaking, has passed through five stages. The first stage of educational technology is coupled with the use of aids like charts, maps, symbols, models, specimens and concrete materials. The term educational technology was used as synonyms to audio-visual aids. The second stage of educational technology is associated with the ‘electronic revolution’ with the introduction and establishment of sophisticated hardware and software. Use of various audio-visual aids like projector, magic lanterns, tape-recorder, radio and television brought a revolutionary change in the educational scenario. Accordingly, educational technology concept was taken in terms of these sophisticated instruments and equipments for effective presentation of instructional materials. The third stage of educational technology is linked with the development of mass media which in turn led to ‘communication revolution’ for instructional purposes. Computer-assisted Instruction (CAI) used for education since 1950s also became popular during this era. The fourth stage of educational technology is discernible by the individualized process of instruction. The invention of programmed learning and programmed instruction provided a new dimension to educational technology. A system of self-learning based on self-instructional materials and teaching machines emerged. The latest concept of educational technology is influenced by the concept of system engineering or system approach which focuses on language laboratories, teaching machines, programmed instruction, multimedia technologies and the use of the computer in instruction. According to it, educational technology is a systematic way of designing, carrying out and evaluating the total process of teaching and learning in terms of specific objectives based on research. Educational technology during the Stone Age, the Bronze Age, and the Iron Age Educational technology, despite the uncertainty of the origin of the term, can be traced back to the time of the three-age system periodization of human prehistory; namely the Stone Age, the Bronze Age, and the Iron Age. Duringthe Stone Age, ignition of fire by rubbing stones, manufacture of various handmade weapon and utensils from stones and clothing practice were some of the simple technological developments of utmost importance. A fraction of Stone Age people developed ocean-worthy outrigger canoe ship technology to migrate from one place to another across the Ocean, by which they developed their first informal education of knowledge of the ocean currents, weather conditions, sailing practice, astronavigation, and star maps. During the later Stone Age period (Neolithic period),for agricultural practice, polished stone tools were made from a variety of hard rocks largely by digging underground tunnels, w hich can be considered as the first steps in mining technology. The polished axes were so effective that even after appearance of bronze and iron; people used it for clearing forest and the establishment of crop farming. Although Stone Age cultures left no written records, but archaeological evidences proved their shift from nomadic life to agricultural settlement. Ancient tools conserved in different museums, cave paintings like Altamira Cave in Spain, and other prehistoric art, such as the Venus of Willendorf, Mother Goddess from Laussel, France etc. are some of the evidences in favour of their cultures. Neolithic Revolution of Stone Age resulted into the appearance of Bronze Age with development of agriculture, animal domestication, and the adoption of permanent settlements. For these practices Bronze Age people further developed metal smelting, with copper and later bronze, an alloy of tin and copper, being the materials of their choice. The Iron Age people replaced bronze and developed the knowledge of iron smelting technology to lower the cost of living since iron utensils were stronger and cheaper than bronze equivalents. In many Eurasian cultures, the Iron Age was the last period before the development of written scripts. Educational technology during the period of Ancient civilizations According to Paul Saettler, 2004, Educational technology can be traced back to the time when tribal priests systematized bodies of knowledge and ancient cultures invented pictographs or sign writing to record and transmit information. In every stage of human civilization, one can find an instructional technique or set of procedures intended to implement a particular culture which were also supported by number of investigations and evidences. The more advanced the culture, the more complex became the technology of instruction designed to reflect particular ways of individual and social behaviour intended to run an educated society. Over centuries, each significant shift in educational values, goals or objectives led to diverse technologies of instruction. The greatest advances in technology and engineering came with the rise of the ancient civilizations. These advances stimulated and educated other societies in the world to adopt new ways of living and governance. The Indus Valley Civilization was an early Bronze Age civilization which was located in the northwestern region of the Indian Subcontinent. The civilization was primarily flourished around the Indus River basin of the Indus and the Punjab region, extending upto the Ghaggar-Hakra River valley and the Ganges-Yamuna Doab, (most of the part is under today’s Pakistan and the western states of modern-day India as well as some part of the civilization extending upto southeastern Afghanistan, and the easternmost part of Balochistan, Iran). There is a long term controversy to be sure about the language that the Harappan people spoke. It is assumed that their writing was at least seems to be or a pictographic script. The script appears to have had about 400 basic signs, with lots of variations. People write their script with the direction generally from right to left. Most of the writing was found on seals and sealings which were probably used in trade and official & administrative work. Harappan people had the knowledge of the measuring tools of length, mass, and time. They were the first in the world to develop a system of uniform weights and measures. In a study carried out by P. N. Rao et al. in 2009, published in Science, computer scientists found that the Indus script’s pattern is closer to that of spoken words, which supported the proposed hypothesis that it codes for an as-yet-unknown language. According to the Chinese Civilization, some of the major techno-offerings from China include paper, early seismological detectors, toilet paper, matches, iron plough, the multi-tube seed drill, the suspension bridge, the wheelbarrow, the parachute, natural gas as fuel, the magnetic compass, the raised-relief map, the blast furnace, the propeller, the crossbow, the South Pointing Chariot, and gun powder. With the invent of paper they have given their first step towards developments of educational technology by further culturing different handmade products of paper as means of visual aids. Ancient Egyptian language was at one point one of the longest surviving and used languages in the world. Their script was made up of pictures of the real things like birds, animals, different tools, etc. These pictures are popularly called hieroglyph. Their language was made up of above 500 hieroglyphs which are known as hieroglyphics. On the stone monuments or tombs which were discovered and rescued latter on provides the evidence of existence of many forms of artistic hieroglyphics in ancient Egypt. Educational technology during Medieval and Modern Period Paper and the pulp papermaking process which was developed in China during the early 2nd century AD, was carried to the Middle East and was spread to Mediterranean by the Muslim conquests. Evidences support that a paper mill was also established in Sicily in the 12th century. The discovery of spinning wheel increased the productivity of thread making process to a great extent and when Lynn White added the spinning wheel with increasing supply of rags, this led to the production of cheap paper, which was a prime factor in the development of printing technology. The invention of the printing press was taken place in approximately 1450 AD, by Johannes Gutenburg, a German inventor. The invention of printing press was a prime developmental factor in the history of educational technology to convey the instruction as per the need of the complex and advanced-technology cultured society. In the pre-industrial phases, while industry was simply the handwork at artisan level, the instructional processes were relied heavily upon simple things like the slate, the horn book, the blackboard, and chalk. It was limited to a single text book with a few illustrations. Educational technology was considered synonymous to simple aids like charts and pictures. The year 1873 may be considered a landmark in the early history of technology of education or audio-visual education. An exhibition was held in Vienna at international level in which an American school won the admiration of the educators for the exhibition of maps, charts, textbooks and other equipments. Maria Montessori (1870-1952), internationally renowned child educator and the originator of Montessori Method exerted a dynamic impact on educational technology through her development of graded materials designed to provide for the proper sequencing of subject matter for each individual learner. Modern educational technology suggests many extension of Montessori’s idea of prepared child centered environment. In1833, Charles Babbage’s design of a general purpose computing device laid the foundation of the modern computer and in 1943, the first computing machine as per hi design was constructed by International Business Machines Corporation in USA. The Computer Assisted instruction (CAI) in which the computer functions essentially as a tutor as well as the Talking Type writer was developed by O.K. Moore in 1966. Since 1974, computers are interestingly used in education in schools, colleges and universities. In the beginning of the 19th century, there were noteworthy changes in the field of education. British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), right from its start of school broadcasts in 1920 had maintained rapid pace in making sound contribution to formal education. In the USA, by 1952, 20 states had the provision for educational broadcasting. Parallel to this time about 98% of the schools in United Kingdom were equipped with radios and there were regular daily programmes. Sidney L. Pressey, a psychologist of Ohio state university developed a self-teaching machine called ‘Drum Tutor’ in 1920. Professor Skinner, however, in his famous article ‘Science of Learning and art of Teaching’ published in 1945 pleaded for the application of the knowledge derived from behavioral psychology to classroom procedures and suggested automated teaching devices as means of doing so. Although the first practical use of Regular television broadcasts was in Germany in 1929 and in 1936 the Olympic Games in Berlin were broadcasted through television stations in Berlin, Open circuit television began to be used primarily for broadcasting programmes for entertainment in 1950. Since 1960, television is used for educational purposes. In 1950, Brynmor, in England, used educational technological steps for the first time. It is to be cared that in 1960, as a result of industrial revolution in America and Russia, other countries also started progressing in the filed of educational technology. In this way, the beginning of educational technology took place in 1960 from America and Russia and now it has reached England, Europe and India. During the time of around 1950s, new technocracy was turning it attraction to educations when there was a steep shortage of teachers in America and therefore an urgent need of educational technology was felt. Dr. Alvin C. Eurich and a little later his associate, Dr. Alexander J. Stoddard introduced mass production technology in America. Team teaching had its origin in America in the mid of 1950’s and was first started in the year 1955 at Harvard University as a part of internship plan. In the year 1956, Benjamin Bloom from USA introduced the taxonomy of educational objectives through his publication, â€Å"The Taxonomy of Educational Objectives, The Classification of Educational Goals, Handbook I: Cognitive Domain†.