Expectations about own work role Essay

(2 Explain expectations about own work role as expressed in relevant standards? The expectation of my work role is to understand my job description 100% in order to carry out the best care for service users this will show my competence to the job role not only that i understand how to do the job but understanding why i do it and the theory side of the job . To be able to know how to do my job correctly it is important that i read the standards of my work place which are the National Minimum Standards,the National Occupational Standards, policies and procedures and the staff hand book. These will explain the standard of work i need to do in order to work effectively and provide the best care for the individual needs of the service users. This will also show competence to my job role showing that i am taking time to read and understand how to do the job be for i put it to practice. OUTCOME 2 (1 Explain the importance of reflective practice in continuously improving the quality of service provided? Reflective practice is important when improving the quality of the service provided because nothing ever stays the same things change all the time. Change is a very big thing and new standards reflect the changes in our profession. It is important to continuously review and reflect on practises used in order to improve or change approaches to strategies and actions that can benefit the service user and the service provider to improve the service to the best standard possible. This can be done in a positive organised approach which is why there are regular supervision with the line manager, staff meetings or house meetings where if it is a private small care home service users are involved to discuss things that may have gone well or not so well, things that could have be done differently so we can work as a team to improve the situation or what could be done in the future to ma ke things better and maybe see things from a different perspective so as to understand how the service user may perceive situations. Keeping up to date with records and reviews because it will help to reflect back on what needed to be done to what has been done since the last record , review to what needs to be done next. Also completing personal development plans and risk assessments which i can  reflect back on to improve the quality or service for the needs of the service user. Keeping up to date with new developments and information is important when using reflective practice it is my job to regularly check the work setting standards just in case of new standers and to keep attending training courses and information centres to keep up to date. I can also find new information through the media like radio, television, newspapers and magazines, also the Internet can provide new information and any changes to the care sector. Any new information obtained is best discussed with manger as it may not apply to the work place. It is important to reflect on work activities and development of knowledge, skills and practise because it allows you to assess what you are doing well, identify areas where you might like or maybe need more training or guidance in to make sure you are doing your job correctly, and are meeting all standards and expectations within the care setting and following policies and procedures. It helps you think about what you are doing in the setting and to always be aware of how I work with the service users and colleagues. Reflecting on my own practice can enhance and improve my confidence and self-esteem because I can look at what I am doing well, and what I have learnt and achieved. It can also make me feel good about myself especially if I have done something with ease that I used to find difficult, if I have done something I never did well in or something that I have never tried before, this then gives me confidence to continue working. (3 Describe how own values, belief systems and e xperiences may affect working practises? We all have our own values, beliefs and experiences which makes us who we are. As a result having our own values, beliefs and experiences can affect our working practises in many ways because you may not agree with another persons values and beliefs or the other way round which can cause negative feelings with each other which will affect the way you work with each other. this can also affect the working practises because you may work more closely with the people who share similar values and beliefs as you that the people who dint, this shouldn’t be the case you should provide the same quality of care/ support for all people in the care setting, this can be more difficult that you think because most people naturally will work with people who share the same beliefs and values and not think twice about it which can result in bad practice. In a care setting it is my job to make sure that service users  understand that I accept them for who they are and what they believe in. This means that I should show an interest in their the service users lifestyle and accept them as an individual even if I don’t share their beliefs and lifestyles. For example service users with different religions and beliefs should have the right to practise their faith and celebrate their religious festivals because it may be very important to the service users. OUTCOME 3 (1 Evaluate own knowledge, performance and understanding against relevant standards? In order to evaluate my own knowledge, performance and understanding i need to be aware of my strengths and weaknesses in my work, identifying major factors that influence the way i develop and the way they affect the way i work and relate to others in the work place, this can come under reflective practice where i evaluate the way in which i work and do things. when i have pin pointed my strengths and weaknesses i don’t take the weaknesses as a negative i take them on board and find ways i can improve them to improve my performance at work. As i want to grow in my career it means i need to be up to date with all care standards of the work place and knowledge which means i will put myself forward for any training courses and do on line training courses to keep my knowledge up to date as i develop and also my understanding of where i am at, what i need to do and time scale of which to achieve t his. There are three main factors to consider when taking an approach to professional development and they are what are my goals, what do i want to achieve, how am i going to achieve it and how will i know when i have achieved it. in order to know these things i need to right a record of what i have done, what i would like to do and how long to do it in, this is setting myself goals which will help me progress in my career. it will also help me to evaluate each stage of my development. OUTCOME 4 (1 Identify sources of support for planning and reviewing own development? Sources of support for planning and reviewing my own development is having supervisions with my manger to reflect on what has happened since the last supervision, for example things that i have struggled with or things that i need to improve on. Its a time to acknowledge the strengths and weakness that me or my manager has identified and discuss how i can improve them. It  also can be a time where my manager will discuss up coming courses i may like to attend. Also my manager does a yearly appraisal which will show my achievements throughout the year my strengths, weaknesses and what i intend on achieving in the following year, also it gives my manager to write comments on how i have progressed and things i need to improve on. Also my manager and work colleagues are have expressed they they are open to offer advice if i need it and support me through any situations i find difficult to deal with. OUTCOME 5 (1 Evaluate how learning activities have affected practice? Learning is a part of everyday life we learn something new everyday or learn how to do things better. learning can affect the way we practice because if things don’t go the way we planed then we reflect on things that went wrong and do an over all evaluation of the positives and negatives of the activity and find ways we can improve it. People have different way they like to learn and being able to point out and understand the way we learn is helpful for the learning process. There is a theory called the Kolb cycle which consists of the: â ¦  Concrete experience – which can be something you do everyday or something unusual that happens because of what has happened to you or what you have done. â ¦  Reflective observation- where you reflect back and think about the situation that has happened. â ¦  Abstract conceptualisation- where you realise that there is a consistent pattern or theory that fits which you already know about and being able to work out rules about the situation. â ¦  Active experimentation- where you put in place the rules you work out if next time the same situation happens or a similar situation. This means you can evaluate both situations the one from be for and the new one with the new rules which means you will have different factors to think about and think about different thing to learn. also both situation will provide different experiences which should affect your practice in a positive way. this will also mean that the cycle should continue. In my experience i have came across a few situations that i have dealt with differently as i think about the situation and things that i could of done better. For example a service user has an eating disorder so the service user can only cope with eating certain things and certain amount of food consumption in a day. I reflected on this situation by thinking  about things i didn’t try or could try in the future. I read through the service users care plane which shows me what the serv ice user like to eat or doesn’t like to eat. I then put some meal ideas together and talked about it to the service user and have also got the service user to try new things by offering them to taste or share which has help because the service user eats allot better now than when i first started at Ty Connie.

Political Climate of the 1970’s Essay

The 1970s were times of chaotic events held over from the chaos of the 1960s. The 70s brought Americans an end to the Vietnam War and a change in the political and social perspectives, another presidency term with Richard M. Nixon, and his policies of engagement, and the Watergate scandal, leading to the first resignation of an American President. The end of the Vietnam War led to political and social fallout around the globe, especially in America. All of the chaos of the 1970s also led Americans to have a changed perspective in their government. People were beginning to notice similarities between Nixon’s policies of engagement and strategies used during the Cold War, and the aftermath of the Watergate scandal led many American’s to doubt the role of their government and its power. In 1969, Nixon built his presidential campaign on the idea of ending the Vietnam War. Early in his administration, the president outlined a foreign policy based on a â€Å"low profile† and on reductions in the U.S. role abroad. Many believe this was the reason for Nixon’s election. Fed up with the war in Vietnam, Americans were ready to get our soldiers home. Nixon considered his engagement strategy â€Å"peace with honor.† Nixon’s priority was the settlement of the Vietnam crisis while using the â€Å"peace with honor† code. Nixon found an ally in Henry Kissinger who was the Nation Security Advisor and working together to end the crisis in Vietnam. One strategy was called â€Å"Vietnamization,† a carrot on a stick method, which would to gradually move the troops away and force the South Vietnamese to fight for themselves in order to advance peace talks in Paris. (Davidson et al., 2002 pg 895) The truth of the matter is that Nixon continued with the Vietnam War for nearly four more years. Nixon’s â€Å"peace with honor† code or â€Å"policy of engagement† was similar to Truman and the Cold War. Truman used the treat of nuclear arms attacks to scare the communist bloc from expanding. When the â€Å"peace with honor† code did not work, that is when Nixon took action on an earlier threat by using troops, force, and weapons. Nixon’s policy of engagement also differs somewhat from the strategies used by others during the Cold War. Where containment assumed a bipolar world, Nixon’s policy of detente saw the world as multi-polar. (Davidson et al., 2002, p. 907) By the end of March 1973, The Vietnam War had ended. All U.S. fighting forces  had been withdrawn. (â€Å"Vietnam War,† 2007) The political and social aftermath of the Vietnam War hit America almost immediately. In July 1971, for the first year in the century, it appeared that the U.S. would import more merchandise than it exported, and consequently it faced a severe deficit in its balance of payments. A federal budget deficit of about $20 billion was projected for fiscal 1971. In August, a crisis in world monetary stability was evident, and the value of the dollar was threatened for the second time in a year. (â€Å"The Vietnam War Period,† 2007) By the end of the 1970s, the National Debt was nearly $382 billion. From spending money during the war and cutting costs to federal programs, the nation was experiencing severe recession in 40 years. This recession affected many families, which became dual income households due to necessity. The government tried to fix this spiraling problem by raising minimum wage, but with each wage increase came inflation and higher unemployment rates. To curb this growing problem, reversing his previous refusal to impose price and wage controls, Nixon announced a 3-month freeze on wages, prices, and rents. (TVWP, 2007) Before Nixon had a chance to work on changing the economic problems in America he was surrounded by the Watergate scandal. From the fall of 1973 through the summer of 1974, the evidence steadily mounted that President Nixon himself was implicated in the Watergate burglary and its attempted cover-up, and that it was indeed only one aspect of a series of lawless acts committed by the administration. As a result, by the beginning of August 1974 the president was faced with imminent impeachment. He resigned on August 9, the first president of the U.S. to do so. (TVWP, 2007) Americans have come to believe the worst about government, politics, and politicians. It didn’t start with Watergate, but Watergate turned an erosion of public confidence into a collapse. The downturn came to a climax with Watergate. Americans saw a presidency disintegrate before their eyes, criminal conspiracies at the highest level of government and a president driven out of office. The effect on public trust was immediate and dramatic. Watergate crushed the public’s faith in government. In 1974, a little more than a third of Americans — 36 percent — said they still trusted the government. (Americans in the 1950s and 1960s saw there government as successful. They had led the country out of a depression and won a World War. The 1970s did  not carry that same prestige, instead the American public saw there elected leader in the center of a severe scandal, the worst recession in 40 years, and an embarrassing loss to an un-winnable war. Since Watergate, nothing has happened to restore public trust. (Bill, 1997). By the end of the 1970s, Americans were ready for change. The Vietnam War had ended, Nixon had resigned from office, and there was a lack of trust in government officials. Many Americans believed the 1980s were going to be that time of change. Nixon was a professional politician when elected president. Since that did not fare well, there was heightened contempt in professional politics. This created a market for outsiders and non-professionals for the job of Presidency. Many Americans today still crave for the Eisenhower or Kennedy era, but not since then has there been that kind of support for an elected president. Only when special interests groups stay out of politics or presidents remember they are leading by example will that return. Lets all hope that day will be sooner rather then later. References Vietnam War. (2007). _World Almanac Encyclopedia,_ Retrieved November 19, 2007 from facts.com database. Davidson, J. W., Gienapp, W. E., Heyrman, C. L., Lytle, M. H., & Stoff, M. B. (2002). _Nations of Nations: A Concise Narrative of the American Republic_ (3rd ed.). Boston: McGraw-Hill. Bill Schneider, (1997). Cynicism Didn’t Start With Watergate. _allPolitics_. Retrieved November 19, 2007, from http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1997/ _United States of America: History–From Watergate Through the 2000 Election._ (n.d.). Retrieved November 21, 2007, from The World Almanac Encyclopedia @ FACTS.com database.

Almond Tree By Stallworthy

Almond Tree By Stallworthy Essay Poetry is often written as a result of reflecting on an intense emotional experience or a significant event. Examine the techniques used by one poet to convey the significance of an experience or an event, which gave rise to a poem, or sequence of poems. The Almond Tree by Jon Stallworthy describes through the eyes of an expectant fathers supreme emotional joy at the prospect of the birth of this child. The excitement and joy turn to despair and hopelessness when he is told that his son is a Mongol. The poem begins on an optimistic tone and the poet conveys this prospect by giving life to objects, which are normally dull and go, unnoticed; Trees of black iron and lights as green as peppermints. The poet uses a fairytale image to create a lack of realism in order to re-enforce the optimistic tone As if I were the lucky prince in an enchanted wood However the poet uses this technique further on in the poem to convey his devastation when realising the he will not be able to communicate with his son because of his disability; Never to come ashore into my kingdom speaking my language In my opinion this creates a good contrast to that of his image at the beginning of the poem. Jon Stallworthy uses a clever use of personification as another technique in order to portray his hopes The tower held up its hand the college bells shook their heads in blessing This once again stresses his anticipation and excitement at the prospect of becoming a father. The poet also uses personification as he describes the symbolic almond tree waving him. For the tree was waving me waving me upstairs As before this is in direct contrast to further on in the poem when the almond tree is once again wavin g at him; And the almond waving me down This contrast I believe conveys the significance between the two emotions that the poet is facing. When the almond tree is waving the pet up stairs his emotions lack reality. However when the Almond tree is waving him down it is a direct balance to before and he is brought back down to reality. In order to create tension as the poets excitement increases at the birth of his son the poet uses imagery and that becomes physiological as the poet recreates the process of birth by using words like; spinal, bone white and blood tide. The poet attempts to capture the rhythm of labour with Walls shuddering shuddering womb wave after wave wave after wave beat on the bone coast. This also introduces the image of the sea, which is continued throughout the poem Lashed down ship shape my son sailed from me Are both in contrast to the previous mention of ships as once again this technique portrays the poets two very different emotions. One of the more used techniques that Jon Stallworthy uses in this poem is a metaphor and he uses this technique along with imagery to convey his happiness when his son is born as he compares his new found happiness to wealth; My bright farthing coined by our love ow you enrich us He describes his son as his best poem and welcomes him to his white sheet. In my opinion this represents a new beginning however this does not last for long as he is then told that his son is a Mongol. The manner in which he is told that his son is a Mongol is straight to the point and very clinical. He uses words such as scissored and slicing which both indicate his primary bonding with his son have been cut. READ: Antigone Ismene And Haimon EssayYour son is a Mongol Is detached blunt and straight to the point and can be seen as monosyllabic. As clean as a bullet Describes how this information destroys his life. This was my first death Explains that he will experience this death more times in suffering. In order to relate the poets lack of acceptance Jon Stallworthy describes the man as having an outer body experience. The following words end in assonance, which gives the poem a slower pace. As the symbolic Almond tree brings him back to reality it begins to bud which I believe symbolises birth and life the tone becomes a more hopeful one as; Bud after bud split Is the poets rebirth and understanding growing. He sees it as beautiful labour like a mother giving birth and the trees full blossom like a ship in full sail. From this technique I think that the poet can now see himself blossom in the sense of understanding. Fathered by m son Only when he recognises this can he turn to acknowledge the son he was about to reject.

PARAPHRASE chapter 13 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

PARAPHRASE chapter 13 - Essay Example ties better than competitors perform, a firm is potentially able to create more value than its competitors do.  Frequently, strategic positions in a firm can be classified into two broad categories, namely a cost advantage or a differentiation advantage. Should a firm beat others in activities that breed superior differentiation or in activities that create reduced expenses, its strategic standing should correspond to these activities. A firm can conveniently outsource its value-added activities to other firms that can do such activities at a relatively lower cost. However, a firm should refrain from outsourcing activities which though can be performed cheaply by other firms would lead it to subject itself to considerable transactions costs and hold. Chandler holds the view that capital-intensive industries enjoy economies of scale. Industries that can produce in large quantities can achieve considerable reductions in costs. A crucial ingredient of a few firms that will control the market and be successful is if they continue producing throughout. The marketing department is charged with identifying markets, securing distribution and determining the price at which the firm can sell its increased output. There exists few natural sources of economies of scale in labor-intensive industries hence big firms have no intrinsic cost advantage over small firms. Where there are many firms and absent product differentiation, the market will be dominated by few opportunities for profits. A key function of the marketing department is to distinguish the firm’s products in the mind of the consumer.  The department turns out to be a central origin of value in the firm. Successful differentiation on the other hand is capable of turning the market monopolistically competitive or oligopolistic where image differentiation is immensely successful. Marketing steers this progression of market structure. An experience good refers to a product whose quality is only assessable after

Chiang Kai-Shek Leadership Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Chiang Kai-Shek Leadership - Research Paper Example Chiang Kai-shek passed on in 1975, after living for 88 years. For two decades, Chiang Kai-shek served as the Chinese head of state on the Chinese mainland until 1950 when he served as the president of the Republic of China in Taiwan. He was born on October 30, 1887, in a place known as Chi-Kou, Chiekang. His father was a salt merchant who died in 1886, leaving the burden of Chiang’s upbringing solely to his mother, who was his third wife. In 1905, Chiang Kai-shek went to Ningpo in pursuit of education where he decided to venture into a military career. The following year, Chiang Kai-shek traveled to Tokyo but failed to qualify for military training. This was when he decided to go back to Tokyo, where he studied at the Paoting Military Academy, after which he furthered his education at the Shikan Gakko Military Academy, in Tokyo. Kai-shek was a very close ally to fellow Chekiangese Ch’en Chi-mei, who sponsored Chiang’s entry into the controversial Sun Yat-Sen†™s revolutionary party T’ung-Meng Hui. Chiang returned to Shanghai when a revolution broke out on the 10th of October 1911, in Wuhan. Cheng returned to fight against their adversaries under Ch’en. A sequence of triumphs by the Ch’en, as well as other revolutionists in the Yangtze Valley, set the ball rolling for the installation of Sun Yat-sen as the official provisional ruler of the Chinese Republic. In 1913, there was yet another bungled second revolution in which both Chiang Kai-shek and Ch’en Ch’i-mei also fought.

Global Skills Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Global Skills - Essay Example The opportunity enabled me to gain more confidence in communicating with diverse people with an array of cultural orientation, specifically from France, aside from my native country and in America. The new insights gained from learning the French culture and language equipped me with the basic skills to increase the possibility of living in Europe and enable me to communicate with others using their language. Further, by reinforcing learning the dimensions of culture, I was able to acquire a better edge from other people of the same qualifications as mine, but without the knowledge of speaking French. Through learning intricate details of the French culture, I was fortunate to have shared interesting facts that could improve communication, interpersonal relationships and possible entry to global organizations from that country, in particular, if given the right opportunity. To reiterate, I enrolled in a French for travel class that provided basic theoretical guidelines on grammar, sy ntax and frequently used statements for daily communication. In doing so, proficiency in French was initially gained. With regular practice and continued study in higher class modules, I am sure that I would be highly proficient in the language. These skills could be applied in future plans to either live or work in Europe. The basic communication skills of learning French would be used for relevant correspondences: both speaking and writing, as one envisions working with a global organization, either in France, or with branches in Europe. As a result of learning a third language, I gained more competence and confidence to communicate with people from France or from other French speaking countries. Learning more about cultural values, traditions and practices of their particular culture honed my global skills and prepared me for future endeavors in Europe, or possible in other countries around the world. With the initiation of learning a third language, I can always opt to study oth er languages deemed appropriate and consistent with future plans to either live in a particular foreign country or to work in a global organization. Global Knowledge The lessons provided by the French for travel class, a writing intensive class, and an art class enabled me to expand knowledge encompassing geographical and socio-cultural facts in non-US countries. The theories, applications and historical concepts learned from these classes widened my understanding on diverse cultural perspectives of Europe, in particular. The knowledge gained from these activities assist in making intellectual comparative analysis between the cultural orientation of my native country, the practices, values and norms in the United States, and that of the new learning. These activities assisted in gaining expanded global knowledge of rich traditional and culture from other countries that would prepare me for future plans to work in global organizations. The classes and activities, likewise, provided e nriched information on the French culture and art history, among others, that encouraged friendships and strong interpersonal relationships from diverse students from Europe. The art history class, for instance, gave me wider perspectives and information on the evolution and components of art in Europe through time. It made me more appreciative of aesthetic value of different art forms, styles and expressions found in various media. The experiences made me appreciate contemporary generation’s open outlook and ability to embrace, accept and possibly

Understanding Public Policy Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Understanding Public Policy - Research Paper Example Policy analysis process is essential in the development phase of public policy. Based on the outcome certain measures may be recommended in order to develop a process that accounts for all needs. The policy will be adjusted based on the goals set by the public institution. Policy analysis refers to the nature in which the current measures are compared to alternative policies in an effort to ensure quality with policy implementation. Anderson (1988) indicates the need to analyze each policy at the development stage. In this case, policy implementers would be able to identify the loopholes within the proposals and work on modalities to ensure the revised policies are successfully implemented. Public policy is all about decision-making in that; different channels may be used to ascertain the viability of the policy. The final product should reflect on the recommendations made after policy analysis. The stage may compare the public demands and the proposed policy and hence make early adj ustments to meet the demands of the market. The effectiveness of any policy will be determined by the intermediate procedures put across to censor the developmental stage. Policy analysis procedures are also essential in the implementation stage. This would mean that a proper plan is executed and is in line with set goals. The procedure is essential at it works as a toll of identifying the loopholes within the plans and act as means of restructuring policies to ensure a proper execution plan is put across (Dye, 2010). The policy analysis process will compare the current public policy with existing policies. The aim would be to ascertain whether the policies are in line with the goals and objectives of a given institution.  Ã‚  

Economy and History Questions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Economy and History Questions - Essay Example As a president, this is certainly something that would require intense wisdom and counseling, knowing the gravity of its impact on humanity in general. I would most probably hold back several times and acknowledge other moral measures instead to negotiate with the enemy more rationally as I ponder on the long-term effects bombing would incur upon my countrymen who run the risk of suffering the vengeance of my enemies. If the latter decide to form allies with other nations in great power that might act and respond with conspiracy to paralyze my economy and cause anxiety at threatening my people is another aspect I suppose I need to take into significant consideration. Economy Considering all the options John Powell had in mind and the attitude of looking forward to his retirement and being consistent with his basic objective which is merely to meet the financial concerns of his family with adequacy, it would be wise to reevaluate the options and priorities with fresh insights from his children. Since Powell’s sons have had experience in PLI operations for more than two decades, they might have gained ample confidence and knowledge to determine factors that affect the growth of the company as well as how to manipulate variables in direct association to economic trend to the optimum in seeking direction that leads to remedies and recovery to generating improved revenues for the company.

The value of the US dollar Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

The value of the US dollar - Assignment Example The value of the U.S dollar to rise or fall depends on how many dollars are printed by the state treasury department. The more money they print out, the less its worth. Also, the dollar’s value rises based on the demands in relation to other currencies (Goldberg & Tille, 2008). The U.S dollar demand is mostly from the people who buy U.S. exported goods. Government issues bonds, tourists, people who purchase real estates and the U.S corporations bonds and stocks. The Federal Reserve and the central bank supply the dollar. When we buy goods from Germany, the demand for the euro rises (Goldberg & Tille, 2008). This is because when they receive cash we have less money. Floating exchange rate arises when the state allows the exchange rates to affirm by market forces and no attempts to power the exchange rate. The Falling of the U.S dollar makes travelling expenses to rise. People will need to spend more dollars to purchase foreign currency. A cheap dollar will lead to cheap exports abroad, and imports will become more

Males and Females in Peter Greenaways Films Essay Example for Free

Males and Females in Peter Greenaways Films Essay The following paper gives an overview of the movies of Peter Greenaway along with how he portrays women and men his films. The paper would be based on the roles of men and women in his three movies, drowning by numbers, the belly of an architect and the Draughtsman’s contract. One common aspect that would be discussed in his movies is that the men are usually thought of as victims and the women are presented as the true artistic creators. His Movies: Drowning by Numbers: In opposition to the background of the autumnal Suffolk seashore, three generations of women, each one given the name of Cissie Colpitts, assassinate their not good enough husbands by obscuring them in a bathtub, in the ocean, and in a swimming pool, correspondingly. In arrival for assurance for sexual favoritism, which the women at the end of the day refuse to give, the neighboring coroner, Henry Madgett (Hill), comes in agreement to endorse the casualties as unintentional, even though a minute but steadily-growing swarm of eyewitnesses and associations put stress on him to acquaint with the reality. His juvenile son, Smut, who is preoccupied with casualty and brings together animal and insect dead bodies, furthermore he considers his father must appear spotless. Factual to Madgetts and the movies fascination with games, he places up a tug-of-war from corner to corner of a waterway to come to a decision to the problem, where he and Smut connect to Cissie in opposition to their hecklers. Greenaway is an often-infuriating, one-of-a-kind filmmaker who repeatedly experiments the staying power of his spectators. A lot of experience it as not significant as the attempt to shape out his difficult to understand games, let unaccompanied their implication, exclusive of a quantity of kinky sex or run through to disappear the procedures. Drowning by Numbers provides up ample of this: a circumcision by clippers, a repeated repulsion for provisions and flesh, and various near-sickening views of decompose and pests. Still, as if paying no attention to the filmmakers mysterious propensities, the presentations are ironic, cynical, sardonic and over and over again blackly humorous, and each and every framework is crammed with detail and magnificence. Here was an unprincipled anecdote enlightened ethically, with a tough feminist implication—approximately all of the male characters breathe their last breath by means of the unconquerable Cissies scheme shimmering, as Greenaway himself has acknowledged that the superior do not obtain content and happiness, and the depraved are infrequently rebuked, and the above suspicion are for all time badly treated. Drowning by Numbers is typically concerning numbers and the means they are employed to systematize the games individuals take part in. Despite the fact that the greater part of the human relations of whichever significance is determined by unstructured requirements, we use up a large amount of our lives demanding to offer them shape. We look for examples and successions, and enjoyment in the psychosomatic language that comes into view to give explanation. We search for regulations and unavoidability, and identify relations as the competition in which people occupy themselves for the reason that these games have both, happiness and contention. Drowning by Numbers is crammed with games: those men engage in recreation with women, women with men, and jump rope, cricket, and some games out of Greenaways tremendous sleight of hand. For the most part continuous game is the one Greenaway plays with the spectator. The motion picture starts with a small woman hopping rope as she count from one to one hundred (Peter Greenaway, 100). The Bell of an Architect: In Belly of an Architect, Brian Dennehy plays the central character who considers the main beliefs of structural design will regulate the humankind. He struggles the backstabbing of dishonest classmates and environment’s attrition of both construction and body. Sooner than the film ends, he loses his architectural assignment and is lost to stomach cancer. The screen in Belly is beleaguered with scaffolding, drop fabrics, plaster, powder, and huge degeneration hallways and corridors seeping out with water and sludge, which Greenaway challenges to put together into well-designed symmetries much as his hero attempts to protect the architectural classicisms he stumbles on to be so comforting. Again, the ordering organization contained by the film surrounds it. An immature artiste is constricted to implement twelve illustrations of a sumptuous countryside residence in 17th century England. Drawn into an affectionate and passionate association with the two conniving ladies of the residence he outlines and fabricates illustrated indications of the assassination. He almost immediately discovers himself trapped in the rumble ferociousness of the over sophisticated spirits of the landed upper classes. As all the times, Peter Greenaway provides beautiful and stunning masterpieces that contemplate on the artists infatuation for order and the oppression of organizations—whether communal or artistic. This untimely Greenaway effort observes unfaithfulness and substantial weakening, all in the perspective of a demanding occupational existence. The cuckold is a renowned American designer, Stourley Kracklite, who goes to Rome to place on a demonstration in reminiscence of his male protagonist, the 18th century farsighted draftsman, Etiene Louis Boullee. Kracklite fails to remember the current to respect the ancient times, but at what cost? He pays no attention to his pregnant wife who searches for soothe in the arms of Kracklites opponent. He furthermore takes no notice of his physical condition and is influenced that his stomach’s throbbing are the consequences of his wifes efforts to exterminate him. The punishment for such fascination is the failure of his presentation— the extraordinarily obsession he gave up all other elements of his life to accomplish (Peter Greenaway, 105). The Belly of an Architect is a visual extravagance, approximately deference to the techniques and fashions of Romes structural designs, judged with skill, ability, proficiency and crammed with impenetrable and mysterious shades. The Draughtsman’s Contract: Greenaways foremost profit-making element, The Draughtsmans Contract, is the chronicle of a draughtsman who in 1694 is specially made by the woman of an enormous residence to do twelve depictions of her property. At the opening it gives the impression that hes to a certain extent in command of his lady and background, receiving them together down anywhere he desires them, till his meticulousness does him in. By painstakingly drafting the manor house and foundation, he unintentionally duplicates indications to an assassination. As expected, its perpetrators dont desire him in the region. The methodical little draughtsman fall’s a victim not to environment’s impulse but to mans ravenousness and violent behavior (Peter Greenaway, 45). The twelve drawings are at one time the evidences to the massacres and the arrangements of the motion picture. From then on, all noteworthy objects in the motion picture are revolving around the paintings that hold the clues and all the films action—the drawings and the assassinations—must be accomplished by the time movies reaches to its end. This is systematic Greenaway. Human games and their dependence on ritualistic traditions are both the area under discussion of the draughtsman’s contract and its form. As the characters get involve within the findings of the clues and murderer with each other, it brings in the the chaos of passion. Greenaway assembles his schemes and positions according to the murder and clues. The Draughtsmans Contract is thrice regarding commanding order on disorder, on mans unreasonable desires and natures predictable decompose: first, surrounded by the sequence of events; second in its structural association; and third, in the glance of the screen. Greenaway is an order-and-chaos fanatic (Amy Lawrence, 175). Conclusion: In all the movies of Peter Greenaway discussed above, one thing is very common, that the men are always shown as a powerless creature and the women are always dominating. All the films bring the women as murderers of men. In the majority of his films, Peter Greenaway has at least a suggestion of proposal that the most important rationale of women is to damage mens lives, typically with the aid of the men in query. More than any of his others, with the probable exclusion of the outstanding Drowning By Numbers, conveys a suggestion to the front, by using it as a primary message, rather than as an indication of the disentanglement of the plot. Unluckily, perhaps due to this approach, there are not a lot of subplots there, and therefore, the movie needs somewhat in difficulty, in contrast with some of his previous work. The Draughts men’s Contract came into view like a touching work of art with bright color and dazzling imagery. Though all are great movies, their schemes can be puzzling with the need of familiar dialogue and character progress. Greenaway movies are compactly and tightly weighed down with figure of speech and satisfied with metaphors, and are required to be moved towards accordingly, not with the similar state of mind that one would come close to a distinctive Hollywood motion picture, for an instance. Possibly furthermore supportive is a quotation from Greenaway himself: If you want to tell stories, be a writer, not a filmmaker.(IMDB, Pp1) References: Greenaway, Peter. 2001. The Draughtsmans Contract: The Draughtsmans Contract. Published by Distributed Art Pub, Pp 45 Greenaway, Peter. 1998. Drowning by Numbers. Published by Dis Voir, Pp 100 Greenaway, Peter. 1988. The Belly of an Architect. Published by Faber, Pp 105 Lawrence, Amy. 1997. The films of Peter Greenaway. Published by CUP Archive, Pp 175 The Internet Movie Database (IMDB), Biography for Peter Greenaway. (2008)Retrieved on 24th March ’09 from http://www. imdb. com/name/nm0000425/bio

Computer-aided learning within education

Computer-aided learning within education CAL stand for Computer Aided Learning and in many cases referred to as Computer Aided Instruction as well [Bachman, 1998]. An in depth review of the literature suggests that there is no concrete definition of CAL as such. Many researchers have explained what can be achieved by CAL and how it can be done but no one has really tried to define CAL. Computer Aided Learning in simple terms can be described as an aid or assistance towards the learning process using a computer. It is very important to note here that we are using the word aid. Here aid is important because while using computers in the learning process no attempt is being made to replace the teacher or lecturer and the computer is used as an aid only. Computer aided Learning has been promoted in a number of ways for teaching and learning purpose. Some of these include Problem Based Learning [Schor et al, 1995], teaching basic anatomy [Stanford et al, 1994], supplementing lectures and tutorials [Shannon, 1990] etc. It is important to note that CAL should not be considered as a single program or application that fulfils a certain task as desired by the user. CAL can be a single or series of programs or application which acts as an aid to the overall learning process. Historically, it was in the early fifties during the last century that human beings used any kind of electronic device to perform a mathematical calculation. As soon as this was realized a series of developments took place and soon the computer came into being. People realized the immense potential computers had and started to use it in almost every field. Researchers openly stated that the use of computer for educational purpose would change the face of education in a very short span of time. Schittek (2001) points out that it was not until august 1981, when IBM presented the microcomputer IBM PC (personal computer) that the use of computers for educational purpose started to develop. Researchers like Papert (1994) then suggested the use of classroom computers and abandon the worksheet curriculum. As a common belief the researchers in favor of CAL believed that computer had the potential to stimulate and support various educational goals. The crucial question at that time and even n ow is that which goal/s should be selected? It was very important to select the goals appropriately as the choices made would have an immense effect on the childrens minds, their learning styles and on the education process overall. The educational goals that could be achieved using computers 20 years back were limited due to technological barriers. With an exponential growth in technological breakthroughs and growing experience in using these computers for education the statements made during the last quarter of the 19th century makes a lot of sense now. Technology is no more a barrier today and it is up to the academicians to use it appropriately to meet the desired educational goals.There were many detractors for the use of computers in education as well. One of the primary reservations was the concept that computers will eventually replace the traditional teacher or lecturer. Other reasons include the reluctance to change their mindset to accommodate something new in the curricu lum. These researchers felt that computers were a challenge to the existent educational practices at the intellectual, social, economic and pragmatic levels and hence favored the traditional methods over the use of computers. The supporters of CAL argue that we never questioned the fact that blackboard or books will replace the teacher then why are we so opposed to the use of computers in education? Even today these groups of people are outnumbered by the detractors and are continuing their effort to justify the numerous advantages that computers can bring in to the educational curriculum. This is even more evident from the fact that there are today a number of CAL programs available on the market, However it seems that the development of CAL is based on the work of very few individuals rather than being a part of the facultys ICT strategies [Plasschaert et al, 1995] 1. Game-based learning: Generally, games satisfy the basic requirements of learning environments identified by Norman (1993) and can provide an engaging environment for learning. Games should provide possibilities for reflectively exploring phenomena, testing hypotheses and constructing objects.2. Computer simulations: Grimes et al.(1988) studied the effects of a textbook-based software package in two classes of the Introductory Macroeconomics course. Their results indicate no statistically significant difference in learning between the experimental (software users) and control (non-users) groups. Finally, Grimes and Wiley (1990) conducted an experiment using a textbook-based simulation package in the Introductory Macroeconomics course. Their results indicate a statistically significant difference in overall attitude and performance between students who did and did not use the simulation software.3. Animations: One particularly promising capability of computer based learning is the a bility to integrate animation as part of instruction. Authoring application programs have made animation readily accessible to any educator who has the patience to learn how to use the application (Sturman, 1998).Some other forms of Computer based instruction include Virtual Seminars/ Video conferencing, Drill and Practice and Problem Solving. The role of CAL in education is recognized and appreciated by more and more people as time passes by. CAL has taken several forms depending on the available technology available as described earlier. Hence its role in education has also varied over time. In its infancy CAL was used as a knowledge bank of questions and the students could self-assess themselves. Apart from this other computer related activities were not really adding to the learning process of the students. With the advent of multimedia the role of CAL was extended and it was used to display simulations and animations to the students which were otherwise not possible for the students too see in real-time. This was seen as one of the most important reason to include computers in the classroom lecture as far as the teachers were concerned. Apart from this the teachers and the lecturers are generally very reluctant to incorporate CAL due to several reasons as discussed by Heywood and Norman (1988). First of all they feel that the available software does not match their exact criteria to meet specific curriculum goals. Secondly it is very time consuming process for them to learn the technology first and then convert the existing material they have in CAL format. Heywood and Norman (1988) found that the second factor was not a result of added workload but was more due to the confidence in their own abilities in the use of the technology. This essentially means that while the government is actively promoting the use of CAL in the curriculum it should also lay the guideline on how to do it and train the educators in the first instance.There is little doubt about the growing importance of CAL in education as research shows that CAL can have positive influence on the student learning [Devitt and Palmer, 1998]. Devitt further added that providing study material in computer format can improve knowledge on the subject. Ideally the role of CAL in education lies in the hands of the academicians. The role that these Educators give to CAL will determine the limits of its achievement. What makes a successful CAL?Some of the main pedagogical and economical forces that have driven the push for universities and schools to adopt and incorporate computer aided learning include:Greater information access The World Wide Web has made it possible for people to access primary sources of information on demand. Mastery of this tool has become essential in order to gain access to an ever-growing body of recent and up-to-date knowledge available electronically.Greater Communication facilities Interaction between academic staff, colleagues and students can be structured and managed through electronic communications to provide greater access and flexibility (Bates 2000)The quality of teaching New technologies have gained much attention from academic staff as they perceive their use will lessen their problems of high workloads, increased student to teacher ratio and use of inexperienced staff to teach (Bates 2000). There is ample evidence that well designed multimedia software can be more effective than traditional classroom methods, where students are able to interact with the software and learn at their own pace. Integrated effectively into the classroom environment, ICTs can facilitate higher order thinking skills and develop new ways of learning (Barron Ivers, 1996; Bates, 2000)Asynchronous learning This initiative has enabled institutions to cater for a variety of students by removing the barriers of time and distance. Students who are normally geographically disadvantaged have access to a variety of resources not usually at their disposal (McNaught et al., 1999; Bates, 2000).Pedagogical Improvement and staff renewal Teaching staff are able to preset information using a variety of tools in order to better relate to the content to the concrete realities of a given field of study. Innovative hands-on learning experiences are also made possible for students through computer simulation software. Advantages of CALOne of the main advantages of Computer aided learning concerns the time, the place and the pace with which one can learn. A few more advantages of CAL identified by other researchers and authors are listed below:1. Provision of alternative teaching techniques. The computer can utilize a number of teaching methods and materials that may not be viable to use in a traditional setting. For example, a graphics display terminal using animated characters on a screen is a stimulating tool [Deaton, 1991].2. Individualized instruction. Learning is significantly more effective and efficient when instruction can be tailored to the unique needs of each learner. CAL enables students to go through specific lessons at their own pace [Semb et al, 1991].3. Ability to conduct simulations. In a national survey on the use of CAL in Dutch institutions of higher education, de Jong et al (1992) found that the most popular form of CAL was simulation. One of the reasons that simulation is so popular could be that it is the only type of CAL in which the program adds something to the curriculum that a teacher cannot offer.4. Providing instructions on demand. The computer can provide virtually unlimited accessibility to educational material. The computer’s availability is not constrained by the same factors that place a limit on a teacher’s time. Whereas a teacher is available only during specific hours, in a specific place, and usually for group lessons, a computer is available for use at all times and on an individual basis and in many places [Stern and Stern, 1983; Telfer and Probert, 1986].5. Flexibility is another reported strength of CAL (Petrides, 2002; Schrum, 2002). Petrides (2002) stated that participants reported it was easier to work in collaborative groups in an online course without rearranging everyones schedule as one might do in a traditional face-to-face course.In a study conducted by Coyner and McCann (2004), learners feedback on four cours es was taken and different advantages and challenges associated with learning and teaching online were noted. Computer-aided learning can be considered as a part of online learning. The acronym ACCOMMODATE signifies the advantages identified (Coyner and McCann, 2004).A Accessibility. Computer aided learning provides the students with access to the material 24 hours a day.C -Convenience. Students can work and study according to their own time schedule and their convenience.C Critical Thinking. Critical thinking techniques are enhanced as the students have the associated data and information available to them 24 hours a day.O Offers. Students are aware of all the components of the course and they can compare themselves with others.M Model. Future use can be enhanced with CAL.O Organization. Course can be organized much before the starting of the particular course.D Dependence. All the necessary resources are available to the students and sot he dependence on the teachers is decr eased.A Accountability. Any online course provides a lot of information about the users and so the students accountability can be checked easily.T- Technology. Students acquire good technological skills.E Encourages. Students can work in teams and it encourages more participation. Some people feel that if students spend the bulk of their time interacting with a terminal, rather than with people, they can lose touch with what others are doing and feel isolated and alienated [Telfer and Probert, 1986; Chambers and Sprecher, 1990]. Even though the costs of hardware and software have significantly decreased in the last few years, an extensive capital investment is still required for implementing and using CAL [Shlechter, 1991]. The results of several studies have shown that teachers lack time to get to know CAL programs [Cox et al, 1988], prepare and integrate CAL [DAmico, 1990], develop software, and set up or maintain equipment [Hammond et al, 1992]. Inadequate training of teachers has contributed to a lack of computer use. Training should not be about computer or technology alone but about how computers can help in teaching the subject matter [Brancum, 1992]. A survey conducted by Plomp et al (1990) revealed that the resistance of teachers against computers was a constraining factor to implementing CAL. Participants in Hara and Klings (1999) qualitative case study of a Web-based course at a major U.S. university reported lack of immediacy in getting responses back from the instructor, and as a result they felt frustrated. Recent studies indicate similar results. For example, in Vonderwells (2003) study, one reported disadvantage of an online course was the delay of immediate feedback from the instructor. Comparison of traditional learning skills and CAL skills What traditional classroom learning achieves: The teaching strategy that has been used for centuries is lecturing an expert telling the students what they should know. A teachers personal enthusiasm for a subject can be transmitted through non-verbal behaviors such as eye contact with students, voice projection, body language and story telling (Stephenson, 2001). The physical presence of the lecturer in the classroom creates a sense of responsibility to the students towards the subject and they can be provoked and stimulated by observing an expert teaching and demonstrating them. One of the major advantages of lectures is that the learners can get response to their queries there and then. While in Online learning this is not the case. Some studies have shown that students complain about the workload required by self-study in the Web-based instruction (Nachmias et al, 2000). What Computer-Aided Learning achieves Generally classroom teaching has a high teacher-to-learner ratio which leads to less interaction between teacher and learner. One to one relationship is emphasized more in Online learning than in classroom lectures. According to Tiffin Rajasingham (1995), the traditional classroom teaching means that besides organizing a place for learning, it is necessary to organize when teachers and learners meet and how they use their time. Typically, classroom instruction provides a set group of students with a set chunk of instruction on set sates for set period of time. Here one can visualize the importance of online learning by comparing the efficiency of this scenario with providing the information the individual learner wants, when the learner wants, at the pace the learner wants, for the length of time and with the frequency that suits the learner. In a study conducted at the University of Akron (Coyner McCann, 2004), several advantages of conductin g an online course were analyzed. According to their study, the learners can access the online course information at any time of the day and they can work at times/locations convenient to their lifestyle. They are no longer instructor dependent for information, resources and materials. Emphasis on threaded discussions, chats and forums encouraged learners to work together. According to a study on improving online learning (Song et al, 2004), participants reported that it was helpful not to have to travel to the campus. The ability to complete assignments and tasks at anytime was another reported strength. The benefits of CAL are many including cost-effectiveness, enhanced responsiveness to change, consistency, timely content, flexible accessibility, and providing customer value (Rosenberg, 2001). Most of the studies on the assessment of students attitudes towards online computer-aided instruction have concluded that such courses compare favorably with classroom-based instruction and enjoy high student satisfaction (Phipps Merisotis, 1999). Also some potential value can be added to online learning by providing the opportunity for guest experts from around the world to share and contribute to a class by posting excerpts of articles, statements and so on (Paulsen, 1995). According to a study conducted by Ross and Schulz (1999), it was concluded that computer aided instruction is not suitable for all learners. Studies show that some learners have difficulty adapting to computer aided learning. Hoffman and Water (1982) stated that computer aided learning is suited for individuals who have the ability to quietly concentrate, are able to pay attention to details and have an affinity to memorizing details. According to Gregorc (1985), a computer cannot represent a teacher who may be able to troubleshoot and modify the lesson according to the students needs. He adds that students who cannot meet the demands of the system are denied access to the content and goals and are vulnerable to possible psychological damage. Children can therefore become victims of a medium which is offensive to them. They are at the mercy of the machine. Also Regular lecture meetings provide structure to the working day, and some implicit information about the rate at which factual material can reasonably be covered and assimilated.Advocates of CAL claim it gives students control over when and where they learn and the pace of their learning (Smart, 1997; Adnanes Ronning, 1998). One of the main features of computer-aided Learning is its capacity to individualise instruction to meet the specific needs of the learner (Rasmussen and Davidson, 1996). According to a study conducted by Dewhurst et al (2000), Students moved more towards agreeing with the proposition that the Computer aided learning would allow them to work at their own pace, perhaps favouring their own particular learning style, and that it offered greater flexibility, enabling them to choose where and when they studied. CAL constitutes an appropriate and acceptable alternative to conventional classroom learning and the students having little previous practical experience with such learning and study approach can appropriate it readily.Whether CAL is better than traditional classroom learning is a d ebatable question. According to a study conducted by Tjaden and Martin (1995), it is important to get direction from and interact with an instructor for introductions to topics and question-answer periods. But some phases of the learning process could be carried out more efficiently, at least time wise, with the aid of a computer program, whether it be hypermedia, multimedia or simpler tutorials. Many studies have shown that many students retain a preference for a `mixed economy’ in which the CAL plays a part alongside more conventional approaches. This is called Blended Learning which is discussed in detail in the next section. A variety of teaching methods exist in this society, (lectures, audiotapes, purely online, a mixture of both online and traditional classroom teaching) and it may be possible that students choice of the best teaching method varies with their personality differences. In such a case, the teachers should use a variety of methods to cater for the differences between the students. This is not easy but it is one of the strong reasons of supporting a mixture of both computer-based and traditional classroom teaching. There is no doubt that the physical environment has a surprisingly powerful influence on teaching. But, sometimes, lectures are relatively ineffective to inspire interest in a subject and are relatively ineffective for personal and social adjustment (Bligh, 1998). Thus, it has given way to blended environment in which the large lecture theatres are equipped with networked computers through which vast range of digitized information can be accessed. Even online learning environmen t is just another physical environment with more complexity and with more use of technology. But learners are not able to accept this environment fully because apart from making possible some kinds of activities like one to one communication with many different people it also restricts some activities like spontaneous spoken conversation.At its simplest, blended learning is the integration of traditional classroom face-to-face teaching with online computer based teaching. At the same time, there is considerable complexity in its implementation with the challenge of virtually limitless design possibilities and applicability to so many contexts (Garrison Kanuka, 2004). Rosenberg (2001) emphasizes that people learn more effectively when they interact and are involved with other people participating in similar endeavors. CAL is powerful when both training and knowledge management are integrated, but even more powerful when integrated with classroom training in a learning architecture ( p. 117). He defines a learning architecture as the design, sequencing, and integration of all electronic and non-electronic components of learning to derive optimum improvement in competence and performance. Cross (2000) reports the learning process breaks down when untouched by human hands. CAL is not training by robot. Till now we have discussed about the existing technologies and its application related to CAL and how they are affecting or changing the process of education in general. In order to predict the future of CAL we need to look back at the past with two different view points, namely technological and educational. As far as technology is concerned, it is far ahead of the educational developments in terms of pedagogy. Today technology is talking in terms of virtual Universities and will soon be ready for deployment but development in educational policy to incorporate such technology is moving at a snails pace. There are many institutions that still use computers in education because they are supposed to do so as per the national curriculum. This by no means is of any help for the future of CAL and education in general. This can be primarily attributed to the difference of opinion that still exists between the educators in the use of CAL.The author of this report feels that technology is at a point where it can deliver most of the educational requirements but the problem lies in the educational process. Presently CAL is undergoing a transition from the acceptable state to the accepted state. In order to be referred as widely accepted and successful in the future, CAL has to be actively incorporated and effectively used in the curriculum to benefit and enhance the overall learning process. In February 2004, HEFCE (Higher Education funding Council for England) commissioned Glenaffric Ltd e-Learning consultants to undertake an initial analysis of the responses to consultation on the HEFCE (2004) e-learning strategy and produce a summary report. This report says: There is an overwhelming request for the strategy to emphasize blended learning approaches rather than wholly e-based learning, as this remains the most appropriate use of technology for learning in campus-based institutions. However, one response urges caution about the assumption that the currently fashionable term blended learning will be a long term concept of any value. There is still much debate about whether wholly computer aided learning will replace blended learning. Cross (2000) notes that the magic is in the mix but blended learning still has some aspects of traditional classroom learning which is often viewed as old fashioned, static and expensive to deliver.This research and discussion shows that not only is CAL of benefit to the students, but it can be used as a vital source of feedback to the lecturers if they are willing to accept it. Also CAL programs can be modified to provide greater assistance in the understanding of particular problems. CAL will definitely form an integral part of the education process in the future. Adnanes, M., Ronning, W. M. (1998). Computer-networks in education à  a better way to learn? J. Computer. Assisted Learning, 14, 148 157.Bachman, M. W. Lua, M. J. Clay, D. J. Rudney, J. D. (1998) Comparing traditional lecture vs. computer-based instruction for oral anatomy. J Dent Educ 1998: 8: 587-591.Barron, A., Ivers, K. (1996, June). An Internet Research Model. 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J., Three lessons I learned from a year of computer-based instruction. J. Comput.-based Instruct. 17, 103 109 (1990).de Jong T. et al., Computer-assisted learning in higher education in the Netherlands: a review of findings. Computers Educ. 19, 381-386 (1992).Deaton W. L. CBT and high education: issues, barriers and solutions. In Problems and Promises of Computer-based Training (Edited by Shlechter T. M.), pp. 215-231. Ablex, Norwood, N.J. (1991).Dewhurst, D. G., H. A. Macleod and T. A. M. Norris (2000). Independent student learning aided by computers: an acceptable alternative to lectures? Computers Education 35(3): 223-241.Gregorc, A. (1985). Inside Styles Beyond the Basics. Columbia, CT: Gregorc Associates.Grimes P. W., Krehbiel T. L. and Ray M. A., Microcomputer tutorials and student learning in the principles of economics course: an empirical experiment. Coffegiarr Microcompurer 6, 247-252 (1988).Grimes P. W. and Wiley T. E., The effectiveness of microcomputer simulations in the principles of economics course.Computers Educ. 14, 81-86 (1990).Hammond et al., Blocks to the effective use of information technology in higher education. Computers Edue. lg, 155-162 (1992).Hara, N., Kling, R. (1999). Students frustrations with a web-based distance education course. First Monday, 4(12). http://www.firstmonday.dk/issues/issue4_12/index.htmlHara, N., Kling, R. (2000). Students distress with a web-based distance education course. Information, Communication Society 3(4): 557-579. [Online]Available at: http://www.slis.indiana.edu/CSI/WP/wp00-01B.htmlHeywood, G. Norman, P. (1988) Problems of educational innovation: the primary teachers respo nse to using microcomputers, Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, 4, pp. 34-43Hoffman, J. L., Waters, K.(1982).Some effects of student personality on success with computer-assisted instruction.Educational Technology, 22(3),20-21.Nachmias, R., Mioduser, D., Oren, A., Ram, J. (2000). Web-supported emergent collaboration in higher education courses. Educational Technology and Society, 3(3), 94-104.Norman, D. A. (1993). Things that make us smart: Defending human attributes in the age of the machine. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley Publishing Co.Papert, S. (1994) The Childrens Machine: rethinking school in the age of the computer. London: Harvester WheatsheafPaulsen, M. F., (1995). The online report on pedagogical techniques for computer-mediated communication. Available at: http://www.hs.nki.no/~morten/cmcped.htm#bPetrides, L.A. (2002). Web-based technologies for distributed (or distance) learning: Creating learning-centered educational experiences in the higher education classroom. Int ernational Journal of Instructional Media, 29(1), 69-77.Phipps, R., Merisotis, J. (1999). Whats the difference? A review of contemporary research on the effectiveness of distance learning in higher education. Washington, DC: Institute for Higher Education Policy [On-line]. Available at: http://www.ihep.org/Pubs/PDF/Difference.pdfPlasschaert, A. J. Wilson, N. H. Cailleteau, J. G. Verdonschot, E. H.Opinions and experiences of dental students and faculty concerning computer-assisted learning. J Dent Educ 1995: 5:1034-1040.Plomp T., Pelgrum W. J. and Steerneman H. M., Influence of computer use on schools’ curriculum: limited integration. Computers Educ. 14, 159-171 (1990).Rasmussen, K., Davidson, G.V. (1996). Dimensions of learning styles and their influence on performance in hypermedia lessons. Proceedings of the World Conference on Educational Multimedia and Hypermedia, USA, 800.Rosenberg, M.J. (2001). E-Learning: strategies for delivering knowledge in the digital age. New Yo rk, NY: McGraw-Hill Companies.Ross, J. L. Schulz, R. A. (1999). Can computer-aided instruction accommodate all learners equally? British Journal of Educational Technology, 30(1), 5-24. Schittek M, Mattheos N, Lyon HC, Attstrom R. (2001) Computer assisted learning. A review. 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(1997). Educational implications of the web. Life Sciences Educational Computing, 8(1), 13 14 (Newsletter of the CTI Centre for Biology).Song, L., Singleton, E.S., Hill, J.R. Koh, M.H. (2004). Improving online learning: Student perceptions of useful and challenging characteristics. Internet and Highe r Education 7 (2004) 59-70Stanford, W. Erkonen, W. E. Cassell, M. D. Moran BD, Easley G, Carris RL, Albanese MA (1994) Evaluation of a computer-based program for teaching cardiac anatomy, Investigative Radiology 1994 Feb;29(2):248-52.Stephenson, J. (2001). Teaching Learning Online Pedagogies for new technologies. Stylus Publishing, Sterling, USA.Stern N. and Stern R. A., Computers in Society. Prentice-Hall, En

Wedding Speech Delivered by the Groom :: Wedding Toasts Roasts Speeches

Wedding Speech Delivered by the Groom On behalf of my wife and I, I would like to start by thanking Leon for his kind words†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.easily the best $10 I ever spent†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.and I’d like to thank him on behalf of everyone here today for providing the wedding feast. I would also like to thank Leon and Mindy for welcoming me into their family and their kindness and friendship since I first met them, though obviously they didn’t know me at the time else they might have locked their daughter up to keep her safe from me! And on that note I would also like to thank them for providing me with my bride without whom today would have been slightly more difficult even though the best man did offer to stand in†¦...but that’s another story. So, Leon and Mindy, thank you from the bottom of my heart. I would like to thank my own mom and Ian for their support and assistance in making today happen and for welcoming Becky into our family. I would especially like to thank my mom, not only for always being there for me but also because she has tried many times to get Becky to back out of this wedding but she did a terrible job and it went ahead anyway. So thank you so, so much. I would also like to give extra special thanks to Bill and Sarah Fuckley. Without them showing me the way forward, giving such a brilliant example of how two people who love each other should move forward together, I know that I would not have been the happiest man in the world today. So, thanks to you too. I would like to thank everyone here for coming today. I would particularly like to extend a warm welcome to Gary Wilson, a mate from childhood, who came all the way from Bermuda and has asked me to tell you he is young, free, single and filthy rich, and to tell you all that it means a lot to us both that everyone that is important to us could be here not only to celebrate our wedding day but also so that some of you could meet your new relatives – and with that goes my apologies, especially to the children and people with weak hearts in case the particularly ugly ones are scaring you as much as they do me.

Character in Henry Jamess Washington Square :: Henry James Washington Square

A Question of Character in Henry James's Washington Square After reading Henry James's Washington Square, I was left a bit curious as to why James had so many static characters in his novel. Character development is a major literary device in most works, but was almost completely ignored in this book. I say almost because Catherine's demeanor seems to, even if just to the most subtle degree, drift towards an unphilanthropic attitude. Dr. Austin Sloper, his two sisters and poor Morris Townsend remain rigidly in their roles from start to finish, even throughout the span of two decades. Fortunately, the most accomplished poet T. S. Eliot, defends James on exactly this topic in his short essay, "A Prediction." "With 'character,' in the sense in which the portrayal of character is usually expected in the English novel," Eliot writes, "he had no concern" (55). He went on to add " 'character' is only one of the ways in which it is possible to grasp at reality" (55). Eliot insists that had James been better at developing characters, his writing would have suffered in other aspects (55). Fair enough, but then I was left with a question from his 'prediction'. What then is the driving point to Washington Square? Is it the plot perhaps, or the interaction of these concrete characters? Consider the complexity, or rather lack thereof, of the action and plot. The characters are introduced and Morris Townsend meets young Catherine. They court for a short while and Dr. Sloper investigates the young man's behaviors and concludes that he doesn't like him and forbids the marriage when the idea is presented to him. He and Catherine travel to Europe while Mr. Townsend visits with Lavinia, but upon Dr. Sloper's return, leaves Catherine. Finally, some twenty years later, the doctor dies leaving none of his fortune to his daughter who is visited by Mr. Townsend one last time resulting in absolutely no consequence. If somebody told me that there was a book in which two hundred pages of plot was accurately and completely summarized in one short paragraph and character development was of no concern, I would have been most certain that what they actually had read was a screenplay for a porno. Plot was obviously not one of James' major concerns with this novel, but to his credit, implements it better than Willa Cather's Death Comes for the Archbishop. Towards the end of his essay, Eliot hit upon the magic of Washington Square.

Computers Reshaping Society :: Technology Computers Essays

Computers Reshaping Society The emergence of computers in our society as a means of the gathering and processing of information for the sorting of it has played a major role in reshaping the society it exists in. After the introduction of computers as a business, and later personal, tool, and the large-scale assimilation of such for both purposes, the computer proceeded to shape our society by its own â€Å"needs†. This reshaping took the form suiting all business and personal life of humans around the elementary component of the computer -- information. Information has become the one most important entity in our lives, far more important than most other needs, thanks to the efforts of gathering and organizing the vast amount of information that was brought about by the introduction of computers. The next obvious issue is privacy. Privacy is by definition the withholding of certain information which is of some importance to the group or individual exercising this right. It has now become however an activ e battle with the computers seeking to organize and index all aspects of our life, while we cling to the last bits of this information, to privacy, to the frontier of battle over information. It is not surprising that privacy has become the central issue in today’s â€Å"digital age†. The following is an excerpt from the US government report â€Å"Cryptography’s Role in Securing the Information Society† by the National Research Council. Today's information age requires U.S. businesses to compete on a worldwide basis, sharing sensitive information with appropriate parties while protecting that information against competitors, vandals, suppliers, customers, and foreign governments. Private law-abiding citizens dislike the ease with which personal telephone calls can be tapped, especially those carried on cellular or cordless telephones. Elements of the U.S. civilian infrastructure such as the banking system, the electric power grid, the public switched telecommunications network, and the air traffic control system are central to so many dimensions of modern life that protecting these elements must have a high priority. The federal government has an important stake in assuring that its important and sensitive political, economic, law enforcement, and military information, both classified and unclassified, is protected from foreign governments or other parties whose interests are hostile to those of the United States. As you can see, the federal government is showing great concern over the misuse of information which it hopes to try to protect by enforcing stricter guidelines on the respect of privacy (by methods of encryption). This is a clear reflection of the cultural mindset that was developed by the presence of computers.

Aristotle’s Theory of Virtue and Happiness Essay

Aristotle was one of the most respected philosophers of all time. He wrote on many subjects covering a wide range of topics; politics, psychology, metaphysics, logic and ethics. In the article â€Å"Nature of Virtue† written by Aristotle, his theory of a persons happiness and good morals is explained. I agree that a human’s goal in life is to be happy, and to live a good life but happiness and good do not come hand in hand. In this paper, I disagree with Aristotle’s proper function argument. The word happiness is a much broader term to Aristotle than what we think of. (Johnston, Para. F) By happiness he means successful, living a good life and physical well being. A fully happy life would include success for themselves, their family and descendants. The idea of good and happiness according to Aristotle is based around the proper function argument. The proper function argument is basically that every man is brought to this earth to have a function. Happiness is the main goal in someone’s life, and this comes with a function. â€Å"For all things that have a function or activity, the good and â€Å"well is thought to reside in the function. † We are not on this earth to merely live, but to do our best to live well. (Cahn 113) Something is good if it performs its proper function for example, a good movie. If you watch a movie and you think its good, than it has performed its proper function. The purpose of broccoli is to feed and give people nutrition, the purpose of a truck is to transport objects, and the purpose of one human may to be a plumber. Fixing sinks and toilets is this human’s function, and if done successfully, happiness will be achieved. â€Å"The function of humans is an activity of the soul and must act in accordance with virtue, or goodness. † A person can only be happy when they are fulfilling their function. (Cahn 114). When a person is fulfilling their function, they are eudaimon. Eudaimonia is the Greek term for happiness and living well. When someone takes part in Eudaimonia, they are taking part in â€Å"the activity of the soul in accordance with excellence, virtue or what is good for† (â€Å"The Human good and Function Argument†) In Aristotle’s view, human beings are the only species that have the potential to live a better life. He believes living well creates happiness, the final goal for human beings. Reaching a goal drives every behavior, and the goal of humans is to attain goodness and excellence. He also states that every man should pursue happiness and happiness is attainable by all people. (â€Å"Traditional Virtues and The Skeptic†. ) I disagree with these statements; being happy, and being evil can happen at the same time. For example, the Romans lived very happily even though their actions were evil. The Roman’s believed they were the most superior and advanced society yet they found pleasure and happiness in torturing and killing Christians for sport. The Roman’s lived in a world of evil, and they were undoubtedly happy. Aristotle’s objection to my example of the Romans would be that the Roman’s took their pleasure to the extreme with their lavish lifestyles, which lead to their downfall and demise. Aristotle would use his theory of the â€Å"Golden mean† to object to the Roman’s happiness. For Aristotle living life well involves â€Å"using the virtues we were intended to use, including chiefly reason, but also courage, honesty, and moderation in pursuing pleasure. † (Stevenson 67). Every good thing exists between two bad things. So anything is achievable as long as it is not taken to excess. Aristotle’s example for this is that if 10 pounds is too much for someone too eat, and 2 pounds is too little, than 6 pounds being the mean, would not be the exact amount that person should eat to be satisfied, but is something to aim towards. (Cahn 117). Aristotle’s â€Å"golden mean† says that you should not do anything to the excess, or you will only hurt yourself. â€Å"If you overindulge in physical pleasures, your health will deteriorate. † (Stevenson 67. ) In other words, the Roman’s overindulged in their pleasure, which lead to their own pain and suffering in the end. If it is true that you cannot experience goodness unless you are happy, and you cannot be happy if you take action into extremes, than it must be true that the people in poverty cannot be good. Every society has had its rise and fall in power, so does that mean that people that live on the under side of the extreme, or in Aristotle’s example, to only eat two pounds of food, can never achieve goodness because they are not happy? For example there is a poor child in Africa who is living in severe conditions, with no food, and not enough water. He is doing everything he can in pursuit of happiness. He goes to church, he helps his parents out with the family, and he is doing his best in school. However, he is hungry and living in unhappiness because of his terrible situation. Because this boy is not happy, does this mean he is not a good person? Happiness is attainable to all people, but how is happiness attainable by this boy? Living to the extreme may cause unhappiness in some situations, but it is quite often that living in moderation can lead to unhappiness as well. Moderate behavior will not always bring happiness. For example, someone who is very passionate and romantic may find that moderate behavior does not suit his or her needs. â€Å"One can not be happy if forced to control oneself in all situations of life. † (Popkin 10) A human wants to live life the way they desire, and to seize from acting how you feel does not lead to happiness. Aristotle’s theory is based around the fact that good morals come from habit. You must be taught to be good in order to be good. According to Aristotle, your characteristics come from your actions; in other words, you â€Å"become good by doing good† (Cahn 113). Under Aristotle’s theory, to be a good person, you must have been taught to be good at a young age to acquire good morals. â€Å"In order to profit from the sort of study he is undertaking, one must already have been brought up in good habits†(â€Å"Traditional Virtues and The Skeptic†. ) This means the group of people with potential to have virtue and happiness is limited. It is limited to the people who come from a family with good ethics. The only people who are going to become good, are the people who are already well on their way to be good because their family is training them to be this way. But what about the people who come from bad families? Or what about the people who were raised by ethically good families? For example, a child who was brought up by parents who had no ethics or good morals at all. The mother was a drug addict, and the father ran away while the child was at an early age. The child wasn’t taught anything about morals, and did not have a proper upbringing what so ever. Everything the child knew was learnt on his own, and he decided who he wanted to be an acted in relation to this. This child ends up being a good person, has a good job, and lives in happiness. When Aristotle makes the point that you must have had exercise in virtues, he does not have any proof that this is always true. â€Å"What Aristotle owes us, then, is an account of these traditional qualities that explains why they must play a central role in any well-lived life. † (â€Å"Traditional Virtues and The Skeptic†.), Aristotle must explain to us why being trained by a guardian is required in order to end up living a complete life. In conclusion, Aristotle’s theories are applicable in some situations, but should not be applied in all situations. You can be happy and evil at the same time; you do not have to be good in order to be happy. Aristotle objects by saying you cannot be happy and live to extremes, however you can also be happy and over indulge at the same time. It is also possible for someone to live well, have virtue and happiness even when they had not been brought up this way. They can learn on their own, characteristics can be defined by who you want to be. Aristotle says that happiness is attainable by all, but if you follow the Aristotle’s theory, you will find that happiness is limited to a certain group. Works Cited Johnston, Ian. † Lecture on Aristotle’s Nicomachaean Ethics. † Records. November 18th, 1997. http://records. viu. ca/~johnstoi/introser/aristot. htm. April 15th, 2010. Cahn Steven. â€Å"Exploring Ethics. † Aristotle: The Nature of Virtue. Ed. Steven M. Cahn. New York: Oxford University Press. 2009. Pg 113-117. â€Å"The Human Good and Function Argument. † Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Oxford: Blackwell Publishers, 2001. May 1st, 2001. http://plato. stanford. edu/entries/aristotle-ethics/#HumGooFunArg. April 15th, 2010. â€Å"Traditional Virtues and The Skeptic. † Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. N. P. May 1st, 2001. http://plato. stanford. edu/entries/aristotle-ethics/#HumGooFunArg. April 15th, 2010. Stevenson, Jay. â€Å"The Complete Idiots Guide to Philosophy. † The Golden Mean. Ed. Drew Patty. 2nd Edition. 2002. Pg 67. Popkin, Richard. â€Å"Philosophy Made Simple. † Criticism of Aristotle. Richard Popkin and A. Stroll. New York, 1993. Pg 10-11.

“Kuso Culture Can Positively Uplift the Political Participation of Adolescents.” to What Extent Do You Agree with the Above Statement?

â€Å"Kuso culture can positively uplift the political participation of adolescents. † To what extent do you agree with the above statement? With references to the above sources and your own knowledge, explain your answer. To a large extent, I agree that â€Å"kuso culture† can positively uplift the political participation of adolescents. â€Å"Kuso culture† refers to people reorganizing other people’s cultural products with creativity, creating works that are humorous and sarcastic. Most of the â€Å"kuso culture† is pictures or photos. Adolescents can freely express their views on political events.They are the â€Å"second making† of the original pictures, and some of them are just for fun. But most of them reflect the problems or policies that we are facing. For example, when the Chief Executive of Hong Kong was still in the voting period, Harry Tang was discovered that he is telling lies. He built underground Unauthorized Building Works i n his house. It is illegal. After this news published, many people started their â€Å"kuso culture†. They made pictures to satirize Harry Tang. Making ironic pictures about Harry Tang is also one of the political participations. It can let adolescents care more about policies by â€Å"kuso† pictures.Nowadays, adolescents love surfing the Internet. â€Å"Kuso culture† can be easily found on the Internet. Due to it, it is not hard to let adolescents keep in touch with the political participation. Adolescents like watching humorous pictures or video. â€Å"Kuso culture’s† pictures are humorous and easy to remember. It is also the reason why â€Å"kuso culture† is popular and adolescents would like to gain more interests in the â€Å"kuso pictures†. â€Å"Kuso culture† is like comic books. There are full of pictures with funny charters and actions. But the difference between them is the meaning of the pictures.Comic books may not meaningful but â€Å"kuso pictures† are mostly with meaning. They remind people what happened or released in that period of time. For example, iPhone 5 was released in 2012. Many people think it was just a taller version of iPhone 4S, so they make â€Å"kuso† picture of â€Å"iPhone 10†, which is more like a laser sword. It is one of the examples that â€Å"kuso pictures† tell people what was released nowadays. There are also examples of â€Å"kuso culture† about policies in Hong Kong. For example, there is a picture that has two faces — James Holmes and Barack Obama (See figure 1).It was shown that James killed 12 people, everyone freaks out. But Obama killed thousands with his foreign policy, he won Nobel Peace prize. It shows that people care about policies of their government in every country or city. Figure 1 In conclusion, as â€Å"kuso culture† is one of the political participations in order to telling people the policies of th eir government and it is easy to find on the Internet, adolescents can easily get it and read it. It will directly uplift the political participation of adolescents. Therefore, to a large extent, I agree that â€Å"kuso culture can positively uplift the political participation of adolescents.

Despite Criticisms Essay

1. Despite criticisms, the classical approach to business management is still relevant today. Discuss one example to support this statement. (25%) Classical approach on management can be in terms of three major perspective: scientific management, Bureaucracy and administrative principles, which are emphasis on purpose and formal structure, for instance, planing of work, technical requirements of organisation, principles of management, etc. Although this idea was emerged at 19th century, it does influence the management style today and some of it’s ideas are still relevant. UPS, a well-known shipping, freight and logistics company globally, which is a very good example of using classical approach to their management in nowadays business, especially in the bureaucracy aspect. UPS is not only follow the idea of Max Weber (1864 – 1920), the advocate of the idea of bureaucracy and also a sociologist, that the separation of management and ownership like many companies today, but also focus on the impersonal and rational management. UPS set out a huge amount of rules, procedures and regulations on every departments, for example, They teach their drivers 340 steps for how to deliver a package correctly, such as how to load the truck, fasten their seat belt, walk, carry their keys, etc. Strict dress code is a must: clean uniform, black or brown polished shoes with nonslip soles, no beard, no hair below the collar, no tattoo visible during deliveries, and so on. They also has well division of labour: specialized drivers, loaders, clerks, washers, sorters and maintenance personnel. All of them have to do formal record keeping, like, drivers have daily worksheets that specify performance goals and work output. When UPS want to hiring or promote employees, technical qualification is the main criterion. UPS use those impersonal management style to avoid irrationality in order to be more efficient and adaptable to change, because continuity is related to formal structure and positions rather then particular person who may leave or even die. Also, those rules and procedures provide a standard way of dealing with employees. Hence, everyone gets equal treatment, and everyone knows what the rules are, this has enabled them to become efficient as well. Although, classical approach contribute a lot in today’s management, it ignore the humanistic factory and psychological need. It may cause other problems, for instance, over relying on technical qualification ignore the human aspect, since working ability cannot only be measured by technical qualification. Moreover, If organisations lose the balance, employees may be frustrated by endless rules and red tape which may eventually lower the effectiveness. And it makes work become boring and repetitive, employees become a cog of a big machines, that would lead to high levels of absenteeism and labour turnover. That the reason why classical approach is not the mainstream of today’s management, although it’s still relevant.

Homosexulity & A sexual behavior Essay

A sexual behavior involving attraction towards individuals having the same sex is called Homosexuality. People have been wondering whether a homosexual couple should come out and tell all that they are homosexual. (Sullivan, 05) This is a great debate of present society over homosexual marriage, adoption by homosexual couples and the fight for homosexual partners to be treated the same as heterosexual partners in society‘s eyes. Homosexuality is not a disease even though it is treated as such. Homosexuality has been condemned in modern day society but was widely tolerated by the Greeks and Romans. When looking back at the history of the Greeks, Spartans and Romans , it is revealed that they were great fighters; one reason for this is because most soldiers were homosexual and their fellow soldiers were their lovers and they would do anything to save their lovers life. Homosexuality was actually encouraged by the ancient Greece which was written about in the heroic relationship between Achilles and Patroclus in the Iliad by Homer. It was thought that homosexuality would boost morale as well as bravery amongst the soldiers. The Greeks even practiced pederasty as a way of population control, education and crime reduction. It was also encouraged within the military to boost troop morale, bravery and overall fighting. Pederasty is a sexual relationship between an adolescent boy and an adult male who is not a family member. This could be referred to today as pedophilia. Some of the greatest men in history were homosexual or had homosexual tendencies such as (President) Abraham Lincoln, (artist, scientist, mathematician, engineer, inventor, anatomist, architect, writer) Leonardo da Vinci, (Greek King) Alexander the Great, (Roman Leader) Julius Caesar to name a few. According to the church and modern day society, homosexuality is wrong, Most of the religions believe that God hates homosexuals, homosexuals will never go to heaven and God destroyed Sodom because of homosexual behavior within the city. However, the church also says not hate the homosexuals but to only hate their behavior. Homosexuality is much more prevalent that one may want to admit; the figures are actually startling. ‘Alfred Kinsey‘s 1948 study of the sex lives of 5,000 white males shocked the nation: 37 percent had at least one homosexual experience to orgasm in their adult lives; an additional 13 percent had homosexual fantasies to orgasm; 4 percent were exclusively homosexual in their practices; another 5 percent had virtually no heterosexual experience; and nearly one-fifth had at least as many homosexual as heterosexual experiences. Two out of five men one passes on the street have had orgasmic sex with men’. (Nicolosi, 105) According to that study close to 80% of the male population has had or is having homosexual experiences. The reason why it is so shocking is because of the number of people that speak out against homosexuality far outweighs the 20% that supposedly is not or does not have homosexual experiences. Society ‘s misperception of a homosexual is an effeminate man that goes around talking in a feminine manner, talks about clothes or a butch woman who dresses like a man and talks like a man. However this perception is often wrong and in reality most homosexuals are people who we say are normal, our neighbors, friends, hairdressers and police. This has really opened my eyes and I am now questioning everyone around me; are they outspoken about gays because they are but they do not want to draw attention to themselves by keeping quiet so they shout the loudest? The numbers are quite astonishing which means they also may encompass any man a girl dates or even someone’s ex-husband. Is this study flawed? This means that two out of five men one may see walking down street have had some form of homosexual experience. Then question arises, should gay marriages be allowed? To date there are only two states that allow homosexuals to marry and they are the state of California and the state of Massachusetts. In 2004 Massachusetts became the first state to allow same sex couples the right to marry. California became the second state in 2008. Looking back at interracial marriages in the United States, the first state to allow interracial couple to marry was in 1948 in the state of California and it took 19 years before the U. S. Supreme Court changed the definition of marriage in 1967 and made interracial marriage available to committed couples that were in love throughout the entire country. If it was to use this as an example as to how long it will take same sex marriages to be accepted in every state, it would probably not be until 2023. In the bible it says marriage is a union between a man and a woman. Why does society cares about what other people do if it will never affect us in any way? Is homosexuality a genetic thing? It is for sure that there is a great excuse for homosexuals to use in order to brush people off and explain why they are gay. A scientific study that was conducted by a university in Ontario Canada suggested that male same sex orientation is linked to having older brothers even if they are not all rose together. They suggested that homosexuality results from an immune response to the mother to her male child in the womb. The research claims that a woman that has given birth to multiple males will be more susceptible to this abnormality. After having a male child or children sometimes the mother‘s immune response to her succeeding male pregnancies is to affect the child‘s future sexual orientation; which would be maternal anti-male antibodies on the sexual orientation of the brain. The immune response by the mother‘s body would damage the sexual differentiation of the brain of the male child in the womb which will in turn produce an abnormality in the fetus. This would conclude that homosexuality is not learned but a birth abnormality. There have not been enough studies done on this and there are no scientists that would come out and say this is definitive. (Sullivan, 305) However, after saying that homosexuality in animal world is widespread and has been well documented; this makes me rethink that there may be some validity to the genetic study above or maybe it ‘s just something that is a learned behavior in both the human and animal world. After all, it is known that animals do learn and explore different things so it may be that they learned this behavior and all others learned by example. Homosexuals believe that to have children is more about dependability and dedication, not sexual point of reference. They say that there is no valid reason behind passing the anti-homosexual adoption law by the government. Those who are against homosexual adoption believe that being adopted by parents who are living together as homosexuals, may bring out unrestrained homophobia from the rest of society. Children can be very harsh with their words and actions against others who know not how to react and defend themselves because they do not know the â€Å"normal† lifestyle in which the other children lead. They would probably be teased and tormented to no end and there is nothing anyone could to about it. If the male and female household has not been the norm for millions of years, this may not propose such a problem. The children may not even be the main problem. It is most likely that parents of male/female relationships would not allow their children to associate with gay or lesbian adopted children, and would probably create a major dispute with the school system in which they are attending school. (Mark, 3) Those who disagree with homosexual adoption also think that in response to being a child of such a lifestyle, it would encourage the children to be homosexual themselves. Whether this is true or not, I don’t know, but I do think that because that is all that they know they would most likely turn to a form of it sometime during their life ,which would in turn increase the homosexual population. This could also pose a problem for the many people who disagree with homosexuality and it is scary to think of the extremes people may take to rid or exclude this population from their lives. Think of the times of the Civil War days, when blacks were practically banned from the majority of public places because they were not the majority or the â€Å"normal† color. Could this ever happen to gays and lesbians? This is a question we must ask ourselves. I know there are laws prohibiting such acts, but there are laws discouraging many things that still go on today, like murder, sexual abuse, etc. There is nothing really stopping people from moving out of town ,taking their kids out of school, or utilizing the same public places that they share with homosexual people. There are cases where this has already happened. (Nicolosi, 104) Children have been moved to different schools because parents don’t want their child to be influenced in any way by a homosexual, or even a child of one. There is nothing to stop them from taking such actions or even actions much worse. It is hard to tell the extremes that people may go to in order to carry out their beliefs. There are several different web-sites that contained a lot of good information on homosexual adoption. First ,http://www. homes4kids. org/gay. htm is a web-site that explains some of the problems that gay and lesbian adoptive parents encounter. One of the problems that may be encountered is trying to find an agency that will work with them. A growing number of agencies are accepting applications from gay and lesbian adults, however, when the child to be adopted is a child with special needs. If the home study reveals that the applicant will be a good parent, his or her sexual orientation is immaterial. If state law does not prohibit gays and lesbians from adopting, most agencies will be willing to work with you. If you are successful in finding an agency, there are great places where you can find adoption support groups for gay and lesbian adults. One of these places is the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse, NAIC. The address and a little of their information is posted on the web-site mentioned above. Web-sites such as this one are good in my opinion because of the fact that I’m sure that people get down when they are turned away adoption agencies because of their sexual orientation, even though they know they would make fantastic parents and provide greatly for a child. Therefore,support groups may be needed at times to help individuals to keep their heads up and to keep trying until they find someone who can see it from their point of view. They may even be able to point you in the right direction in helping you to find an agency who works well with gays and lesbians wanting to adopt. This is a good site to utilize because like mentioned before, sometimes we need some assistance when we are trying to make a lifetime decision. People who have experienced such times as we may be going through are often times a lot of help and usually have a lot of information to share. This site was created by the North American Council on Adoptable Children. They are a valuable resource because they have experienced many different situations and know a lot about what the possibilities are of becoming an adoptive parent as a gay or lesbian. This particular web-site has any downfalls except that the could’ve put a few more links on it to point people to other options if these certain ones aren’t working for them. There are homosexuals in today‘s society that resist identifying themselves as homosexuals. They have homosexual encounters but have girlfriends so they do not consider themselves to be homosexual and they are mostly black college students. However alarming this may seem one can understand in the black culture homosexuality is looked down on more than in the white culture. (Gerard, 4) Like in Jamaica homosexuality is not tolerated at all, if you are found to be having a homosexual relationship whether it is men or women they are almost always stoned or hacked to death. The killers are never brought to justice since the society considers homosexuality as an immoral thing. Homosexuality is usually seen as abnormal however one should not forget that there are a number of other things too in present world that can be said as aberrant. However, a lot of individuals also believe that consenting adults are free to choose who they want to be with sexually as long as it does not include minors and we as society should not have a say in what other people do. Modern day society is way too concerned with what others do and not concerned enough with what is going on in their own household. If it does not directly affect us no one really care. Works Cited Baird, R. M. Same-sex Marriage: The Moral And Legal Debate Contemporary Issues, Prometheus Books, 2004, pg 135-150. Gerard, J. M, Aardweg. V. The Battle for Normality: A Guide for (Self)Therapy for Homosexuals. 2006, pg 1-5. http://www. religioustolerance. org/homosexu. htmhttp://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Homosexualityhttp://www. narth. com/menus/born. html . Mark. L. Homosexuality, Morality, and the Truth of Church Teaching, 2007, pg 1-4. Nicolosi. J. A ‘Parent’s Guide to Preventing Homosexuality’ IVP Books, 2002, 100-120. Rauch. J. ‘The Marriage Amendment : Constitutional issues’ , National Review, 2001, Retrieved from http://old. nationalreview. com/23jul01/letters072301. shtml. Sullivan. A. ‘Virtually Normal: An Argument about Homosexuality’, Vintage, 1996, 10-20. Sullivan. A. ‘Same-Sex Marriage: Pro and Con’ Vintage, 2004, 300-310. Sullivan. A. ‘What are homosexuals for? ’ 2010, Retrieved from http://mrglennjchs. files. wordpress. com/2010/01/sullivan. pdf