Sunday, September 15, 2019

Why Did the Us Introduce Marshall Aid

Why did the US introduce Marshall Aid? The main reason why the US introduced Marshall Aid was to prevent the spread of Communism. In 1946 almost the whole of Eastern Europe was Communist, this was due to the actions of Stalin, he wanted to build up a line of countries around Russia and use them as a â€Å"buffer zone† to protect the USSR from being attacked. Britain had troops in Greece and was fighting a Civil War against the Communists in fear that it too would fall under Stalin's Communist rule.The USA stepped in when the British announced that they could no longer afford to keep their troops in Greece, Truman feared that the whole of Eastern Europe would become Communist (the idea of Communism was very popular in times of hardship, the communists believed that the wealth of the richest people should be shared out among the poor) so he agreed to pay for military supplies, weapons, economic aid and British troops to be sent to Greece and Turkey.The USA's aid soon became know n as The Truman Doctrine. This was the idea that communism should not be allowed to grow and gain territory, and that it was America's ‘duty' to fight for liberty. It was agreed that they would send resources to any Government that was threatened by communism. The Truman Doctrine was significant as it divided the world, showing that Capitalism and Communism were in opposition, which suggested that the East and the West could no longer co-operate.This emphasised the many difference between them. The Marshall Plan started the Truman Doctrine in June 1947, when it was announced that $17 billion should be given to Europe to help rebuild their inefficient economy and prevent the spread of communism. For the USA, Marshall Aid was introduced to make the idea of Capitalism appear more appealing, it was also introduced to try and prevent communism spreading.This now highlights how terrified they were of Communism and to what extent they would go to prevent it influencing the whole of E urope. For the countries in Europe that received aid through the Marshall Plan it was seen as a way of rebuilding their economies and preventing communism in their own country.

Saturday, September 14, 2019

Investigate differing learning styles of an AVCE second year student group Essay

1. Abstract This report investigates differing learning styles of an AVCE second year student group. Firstly the report provides a critical account of the context of the course; it’s provision and relevant information about the learners and how some aspects of learning theory can be applied within the delivery of the Project Management module. Taking into account the theoretical issues a scheme of work, lesson plans and teaching material was prepared for the project management module, which I am unit leader for next semester. The second part of the report provides a critical review of the scheme of work and lesson plans and justifies the learning strategies used. It explains how individual needs and support issues have been addressed and considered when planning and delivering a lesson. The report concludes with an evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of the sessions. 2. Table of Contents 1. Abstract 1 2. Table of Contents 2 3. Terms of Reference 3 4. Understanding and Managing the Learning Process 4 4.1 Introduction 4 4.2 Factors influencing the ability and desire to learn 4 4.2.1 The Course Provision and Group Members 4 4.3 Theories of Learning 5 4.4 Relevance of Bloom’s Classification of the cognitive domain within the learning process of AVCE students 7 4.5 Aims, objectives and outcomes of the scheme of work, lesson plans and learning materials in relation to the cognitive learning taxonomy 10 4.6 Teaching and learning strategies deployed in the development of the project management unit 12 4.7 The importance of language, literacy and numeracy 13 4.8 Evaluation of teaching and learning strategies 13 4.9 Evaluation of learning materials used 14 4.10 Evaluation of Student Learning 14 4.11 Strengths and weaknesses of the sessions 15 5. References 16 6. Bibliography 17 Appendix A Scheme Of Work†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..18 Appendix B Lesson Plans†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.19 Appendix C Teaching materials†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..21 Appendix D Presentation Slides †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..22 3. Terms of Reference This report is intended to satisfy the requirements of an assignment that has been set as part of an In-Service PGCE in Education. A group of learners will be selected that I am currently teaching and relevant information about these learners will be provided along with some of the factors influencing (positively or negatively) their learning. An account will be given of the main features of one or more theories of learning, which seem to you to be relevant to these learners. As a result a scheme of work and lesson plans will be prepared and delivered. The report will conclude with an evaluation of the scheme of work and lesson plans and how the experience will affect future practice. 4. Understanding and Managing the Learning Process 4.1 Introduction Understanding and managing the learning process is key to enhancing the teaching and learning experience. In order to achieve this goal research was undertaken into relevant learning theories and factors that influenced the ability and desire to learn. The knowledge gained was then applied to the planning and delivery of curriculum to students enrolled on the Advanced Vocational Certificate in Education (AVCE) at Wakefield College studying. The report includes a critical review of the scheme of work, lesson plans and learning materials designed to meet the learning objectives and outcomes of the course. 4.2 Factors influencing the ability and desire to learn Some of the factors that influence the ability and the desire to learn of a group of students on the second year of an AVCE in ICT at Wakefield College have been examined in order that the learning process can be understood and therefore more effectively managed. 4.2.1 The Course Provision and Group Members The Project Management module is one of 12 units that are studied as part of the AVCE for students at Wakefield College. Students on the course are aged between 17 to 19 and most have achieved GCSE results at mainly Grade D and Grade E. The group of consists of 14 students and of these a cross section were selected to discuss their aspirations and motivations. To keep the identities of the following students confidential, students have been addressed A to E respectively: Student A came into the college with poor GCSE results and had to complete the foundation course before undertaking the GNVQ Intermediate in IT. During this time she was diagnosed dyslexic and since has received support for exams and her dyslexia tendencies are taken into account during delivery on the units. She contributes well verbally in group discussions, however she is always reluctant to type or write down information whilst being observed by other students or class tutor. Her motivation to succeed is exceptional which has led to outstanding achievements on her first year of AVCE. She has applied for IT courses at several universities and now awaiting offers. She is employed part time at a local solicitor’s and has been offered sponsorship to continue to study for a degree in computing. Student B is a close friend of Student A and also completed a GNVQ Intermediate in IT with above average grades, he now wishes to eventually obtain a degree in a computer related subject by studying for his HND in Computing at Wakefield and then topping up to the Sunderland University BSC in Computing. His preference is to complete a good proportion of work at home, which he does to a high standard, however this often leads to him distracting other members of the group during class time. This impacts on other students who do not have the commitment to work at home for example student C. Student C again started at Intermediate level and achieved adequate grades, however his levels of concentration are poor, he is easily distracted and he often fails to complete his work. This is a concern as he is planning to progress onto the HND Computing course and will need to prove that he has the motivation and the ability to cope with the workload. He has worked part time in the computing section of Staples and shows a good understanding of hardware issues but struggles with the application side of computing and completing course work. He appears to be more ‘hands on’ student rather than academic. Student D has chosen to do a computer related course to increase his prospects of employment in the computing field. He intends to continue his studies at Wakefield College in order to achieve a BSC in computing. Although not academically brilliant he is a very conscientious and independent worker who tries exceptionally hard to succeed and consequently achieves good grades. He work part time as a window cleaner. Student E is the girlfriend of Student D and initially chose to do a computer related course to increase her prospects of employment and has no intention of progressing to University. The fact that she receives Education Maintenance Award (EMA) is the key motivation for attending the course and she gives the impression that doing this course is better than doing nothing. She lacks enthusiasm for the subject matter and at times the only thing that keeps her on track is the help and support she receives from her boyfriend. 4.3 Theories of Learning Evidence suggests there are many theories of learning often one theory contradicting another, this is substantiated by Reece (2000, p.69) who claims â€Å"that for every piece of research that tells us to do something a particular way, there is another piece that suggests, not necessarily the opposite, but a different way†. This report concentrates on some theories on learning styles and learning taxonomies and how these can be applied to understanding and managing the learning process of a group of AVCE students. 4.3.1 Learning Styles There is strong evidence to suggest that students learn in several different ways and planning to deliver curriculum to the AVCE group must consider the four main learning styles identified by Honey and Mumford (1986): Activists – enjoy the present, like the immediate experience and respond to short-term issues. Reflectors – prefer to think about things and explore all aspects before coming to a conclusion. Theorists – like principles, theories, models and systems. Logic rules! Pragmatists – look for new ideas and are keen to experiment. The choice of learning strategies will therefore determine how much a student is motivated and a key aim must be to offer all learning styles some element within the lesson that enhances there learning experience. 4.3.2 Learning Taxonomies In addition to the recognised learning styles, learning can be separated into three main domains, psychomotor, cognitive and affective domains. Within each of these domains there are specific levels identified by Honey and Mumford, Bloom and Kolb amongst others. Taxonomies usually refer to the classification of life into similar groups, but for the purposes of Bloom, a taxonomy was described by McLeod (p. 1029) as: â€Å"†¦the science or practice of classification.† Cognitive Domain The Cognitive domain looks at the intellectual skills and abilities, considering knowledge, comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis and evaluation with knowledge being the easiest level. The cognitive domain suggests that knowledge allows someone to state something. Moving sequentially through each stage to higher levels, allows a student to learn the full range of cognitive skills i.e. to explain, apply, differentiate between, summarise and evaluate. Petty (1998, p.347) states that it is important to â€Å"†¦include the higher-order objectives in your teaching or these skills will not be developed†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Simply gaining knowledge is the first stage of learning and is the building block for the higher cognitive levels, which without such could not be reached. Encouraging the student to comprehend, apply and evaluate, enhances their learning process. For example, a student may know what a mathematical formulae is, understand that it can be used to solve some mathematical problem, but may be unable to apply it and derive an answer. Affective Domain The Affective domain is concerned with attitudes and deal with feelings and emotions. Petty (1998) suggested that this means a student has the social skills, is able to listen to, be aware of, or is able to appreciate something. Psychomotor Domain The Psychomotor domain focuses on a student’s dexterity, and is predominately physical tasks that need practice. It is similar to the cognitive domain in that it progresses from the simple to the complex where physical skills are concerned. Although all three domains could be considered appropriate to the teaching and learning experience of the AVCE group, Bloom’s taxonomy of the cognitive domain has been identified as the most relevant to the AVCE group and the theory has been studied in much greater detail and then applied to the case study. 4.4 Relevance of Bloom’s Classification of the cognitive domain within the learning process of AVCE students Bloom defined the following areas in his classification of the cognitive domain, as knowledge, comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis and evaluation. Knowledge is the ability of a student or person to be able to recall and recognise information. Child (1993) proposed that someone couldn’t operate cognitively without a basic amount of knowledge. The AVCE students have demonstrated that they have a certain level of knowledge by being accepted on to the second year of the course. Some students have more knowledge than others, which is likely due to a greater degree of application on the first year and the motivation to work at home. Some of the students appear to have a slightly wider experience of relevant computing knowledge and are able to recall and recognise information more readily. Student C who is easily distracted and often fails to complete his work does show he has quite extensive knowledge in specific IT areas that are related to his work at Staples where he deals with the computing hardware side. Comprehension is the ability to illustrate, explain or describe the reasons for something. This area of understanding can be fairly basic. All the students have a generally equal level of comprehension in the subject areas, although Student A has more difficulty explaining reasons in written report format or under exam conditions. Application is the ability to take the knowledge and comprehension of something and to utilise this in new situations. Using the mathematical formula example, knowledge is where a student is aware of or knows the formula, comprehension is the understanding that the formula can be used to solve a particular problem and application is having the ability to use the formula to actually solve it. There was evidence of prior learning being applied to a new situation whereby the knowledge gained when produced a user manual for a spreadsheet unit was applied to producing a user manual for the database unit. Also Students explained that the group work undertaken in the multi media unit was a good way of pooling knowledge and comprehension. Consequently, the project management unit I am leading will include a group project to develop a web site. The intention is to team those students who demonstrate good organisational skills with those who show an aptitude for graphical design. Group work has shown that the knowledge, comprehension and application of a group can be higher than the individuals themselves would achieve, as not everyone is a specialist in every field. Analysis is the breaking down of something into its component parts, differentiating between similar items and the ability to compare and contrast. All the students interviewed for this report were able to use the knowledge and comprehension of information they have been given and apply this to new situations. Synthesis is the ability to take the component parts and either rearrange or combine them to form a new or different whole. A particularly relevant example of analysis and synthesis is demonstrated when considering the rescheduling of tasks when a crisis situation arises during the project lifecycle. The project manager can study the critical path of the project and determine where resources can be reallocated or extra resources brought in order to ensure that the project is still delivered on time and to specification. The project plan can then be updated to produce a new schedule, which does not necessarily look like, or work in the same way as, the original. In the Project Management unit they are able to look at the scheduling of other Project plans prior to producing their coursework assignment. Synthesis will then allow them to take individual processes from this analysis and combine them as they investigate a business problem and produce a Project Management solution. For the second semester unit students will be shown how to create a project plan for the websites development, and will gain an understanding of the importance of scheduling and resource allocation. Evaluation requires judgements to be made as to what elements of the project went to plan and what lessons can be learned from the overall project experience. For example, the project manager will evaluate the finished product after implementation. This allows them to see if future projects can be managed more effectively and efficiently. Using the Project Management unit as an example, once the project plan is implemented, an evaluation of the project will allow the students to check if the product they have designed was produced as planned, to specification, within budget and timescale. Word Count 2083 4.5 Aims, objectives and outcomes of the scheme of work, lesson plans and learning materials in relation to the cognitive learning taxonomy The evidence gained during the research and interviews carried out facilitated the production of scheme of work, (Appendix A) lesson plans, (Appendix B) and learning materials (Appendix C) for the Project Management unit. The scheme of work identifies how each session builds on the previous session and each lesson plan shows evidence of how Bloom’s taxonomies has been incorporated into the learning process. The aim and objectives of the unit were to outline how to produce a project plan prior to the student producing their own project plan for the web development. Knowledge – All lecture topics have been developed on the basis that students have no prior knowledge of each stage of project management. The only assumption was the students had completed the tasks in the preceding practical session, however, not having completed the tasks should not interfere with their learning of the lecture topic. The scheme of work has been written in a way that does not penalise a student for not having grasped any particular fragment of the course, being as it is, modular in design. Each lecture consists of a PowerPoint presentation followed by a brief demonstration on the interactive whiteboard. Each week previous learning is checked prior to and often during the lecture to check the learning. building upon the week before with the subject matter progressively gaining in complexity. Comprehension – All the students will be encouraged to ask questions at any point during the presentation/demonstration if they require additional clarification. The intention is to check their comprehension by asking if they can provide examples to justify a point made and then opening up discussion to the whole group. Application – Knowledge and Comprehension will be combined when attempting the task sheets written to accompany each week’s lecture topic. These sheets are not handouts in the usual sense, each one consisting not of information for a student to refer to at a later date, but tasks that will facilitate their learning. The tasks cater for individual interpretation of the problem statements, allowing each student to develop the subject matter with their knowledge and understanding. Analysis, Synthesis and Evaluation – Students will be actively encouraged to explore alternative project management software, breaking each one down into specific functions and comparing and contrasting how well they facilitate the task of managing a project and the application limitations. There will be a requirement to evaluate the overall effectiveness of the application. 4.6 Teaching and learning strategies deployed in the development of the project management unit The project management unit was designed in line with the cognitive taxonomy described earlier. Lectures/Group discussions Students are given lectures whereby information is presented from which knowledge and comprehensive can be gained by interaction in group discussion. For Student A and Student B asking questions and providing answers to questions comes naturally as they are both confident members of the group. However Student D is a very quiet member and through a basic lack of confidence always appears reluctant to come forward therefore subtle probing is required to check his learning and ensure that he has fully understood the subject matter. One to one tuition Although Student C is usually willing to interact if directly questioned often, one to one tuition is needed as due to his lack of concentration he often lags behind the rest of the group and needs more thorough recapping of prior sessions. Whilst Student E often shows little interest in group discussions she will ask later in the practical session if she has not understood a certain element. Tasks In order to encourage students to apply knowledge and comprehension to a new situation the scheme of work includes a simple task to plan a birthday celebration and consider all the tasks involved, and the sequence with which they undertook the tasks and who would be responsible for each task. Students were then given the opportunity to apply this knowledge by completing the task sheets. Demonstration In the later weeks once the basic project management principles have been taught then students progress to using the project management software at this point demonstrations are included in the lesson plan to illustrate the use of the features of the project management tool. Students are at this point encouraged to part take in these demonstrations. One of the main problems is that students progress at varying rates throughout the unit and to ensure that this issue is addressed I have built in further complexity to stretch the more able student by for example introducing more complex scheduling and updating techniques within the project plans. This provides an opportunity for the tutor to concentrate on an individual group member without restricting the progress of others, meaning that all students will be able to feel that they have accomplished something of value in each session. However, the scheme of work does progress through a logical pattern. For example, the principles of project management precede the creation of a project plan. The students will then learn topics of progressive complexity before creating a project plan for a commercially acceptable web site. 4.7 The importance of language, literacy and numeracy In today’s environment where employers are increasingly looking graduates that possess good communication and numeracy skills it is important that these elements of teaching and learning are incorporated into lesson plans and schemes of work. Presentation skills are developed within the project management unit as students are required to present their website to their client in a professional manner by the use of a PowerPoint presentation. Report writing skills are developed, as the assignment brief requires students to produce their evidence in report format. Students are encouraged to communicate both verbally in group discussions and by written communication in the form of agendas and minutes of meeting they have held within their group and with their client. Student A who is dyslexic is supported by proof reading her assignment work prior to submission and understanding her anxieties about being watched whilst keying in information. The application of numbers within the project management unit is limited to calculating the estimated duration of a task using the Program Evaluation Review Technique, a formulae that explores the probability, i.e. optimistic duration + pessimistic duration + (3 x most likely duration) divided by 6 Other mathematical skills are using when determining the critical path of a project. 4.8 Evaluation of teaching and learning strategies Detailed study has shown that Bloom’s taxonomy is relevant to all the students I teach. In particular, recent experience teaching the AVCE group has highlighted the need for students to have both knowledge and comprehension, and in order to achieve the higher grades students must also possess the ability to apply, analyse, synthesise and evaluate. As is evident in the study, if the lower levels of learning are not achieved i.e. the knowledge and the comprehension then students will be unable to achieve the higher levels such as analysis, synthesis and evaluation. Although these higher levels are not often required to pass the AVCE unit there is an expectation that they will need be achieved if they progress to Higher Education (HE). Student A, Student B and Student D are already showing signs of reaching the higher cognitive levels however in the case of Student C and Student E there will be a strong need to build on their knowledge and subject understanding in order to become proficient in analysing, synthesising and, most importantly, evaluating their work to ensure that they succeed at any higher education qualifications they undertake. In conclusion the cognitive domain theory can easily applied to the development of the project management unit in order that students can learn to produce good project plans. 4.9 Evaluation of learning materials used As a result of doing this research, I now ensure that basic knowledge and understanding of subject matter is achieved by recapping both in group discussion and on a one to one basis with individual students. I also plan individual lessons in greater depth and look for new ways to break up the learning process into more manageable chunks, by using tasks sheets and group work and the requesting agendas and minutes are taken. I have explored the use of electronic tools such as Course Genie in order to provide a much interactive way of presenting information. I am now proficient at using the whiteboard and actively encourage students to use it during group discussions. In conclusion I feel that by gaining a good understanding of the individual needs of my student I can adapt lessons to suit. This is substantiated by Stephens and Roderick (1971) who state, â€Å"that a failure to select methods that are appropriate to the real needs and interests of the students will weaken their educational achievement† 4.10 Evaluation of Student Learning Assessment of student’s learning is two fold. Firstly work produced during each practical session, is checked and commented upon. Secondly more formal assessment takes place by marking the three assignments and feeding back on the PowerPoint presentation. As this is the first course for which I have been responsible for the complete management of the learning process, I am as yet unable to critically discuss the effectiveness of the strategies and materials. However, I am confident that the students will learn more effectively from this style of content delivery than they have from the previous project management material that was I asked to deliver last year delivered with the very limited material provided for me by previous unit leader. 4.11 Strengths and weaknesses of the sessions As the scheme of work and lessons are not planned to be delivered until 24 January 2005 the strengths and weaknesses cannot at this moment in time be reflected upion. 1556 5. References Child. D., (1993), Psychology and the Teacher, Casell Education Ltd, London. Curzon. LB., (2000), Teaching in Further Education: An Outline of Principles and Practice, Continum, London. Huddleston. P. & Unwin. L., (1997), Teaching and Learning in Further Education: Diversity and Change, Routledge, London. Petty. G., (1998), Teaching Today, Stanley Thornes, Cheltenham. Reece, Ian & Walker, Stephen (2000) Teaching, Training and Learning a practical guide 4th Edition, BEPL, Sunderland. Stephens. MD. & Roderick. GQ., (1971), Teaching Techniques in Adult Education, David & Charles, Newton Abbot. 6. Bibliography Bennett. N. & Carre. C., (ED’s), (1993), Learning to Teach, Routledge, London. Borg. WR. & Gall. MD., (1983), Educational Research: An Introduction, Longman, New York. Broadfoot. PM., (1996), Education Assessment and Society, Open University Press, Buckinghamshire. Castling. A., (1996), Competence based Teaching and Training, Macmillan, Basingstoke. Chitty. C., (ED), (1991), Post 16 Education Studies in Access and Achievement, Kogan Page, London. Cohen. L. & Manion. L., (1983), A Guide to Teaching Practice, Routledge, London. Cohen. L. & Manion. L., (1989), Research Methods in Education, Routledge, London. Cohen. L. & Manion. L., (1996), A Guide to Teaching Practice – 4th Edition, Routledge, London. Cosin. B. & Hales. M., (1983), Education Policy and Society: Theoretical Perspectives, Routledge, London. Entwistle. N., (ED), 1985, New Directions in Educational Psychology: 1 Learning and Teaching, Falmer Press, London. Freeman. R., (1993), Quality Assurance in Training and Education, Kogan Page, London. Jarvis. P., (1995), Adult and Continuing Education: Theory and Practice, Routledge, London. Minton. D., (1991), Teaching Skills in Further and Adult Education, Macmillan, Basingstoke. Murphy. R. & Torrance. H., (ED’s), (1987), Evaluating Education: Issues and Methods, Open University Press, Buckinghamshire. Reeves. F., (1995), The Modernity of Further Education, Bilston College Publications, Derbyshire. Rogers. J., (1989), Adults Learning, Open University press, Milton Keynes. Stores. E., (1994), Supervision in Teacher Education: A Counselling and Pedagogical Approach, Routledge, London. Tansley. P., (1989), Course Teams: The Way Forward in Further Education, NFER-Nelson, Windsor. Waddington. DJ., (Ed), (1985), Education Industry and Techniques, Pergamon Press, Oxford. Walklin. L., (1982), Instructional techniques and Practice, Stanley Thornes, Cheltenham

Friday, September 13, 2019

Depend on the topic Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Depend on the topic - Essay Example Yet, it pains me a lot that I, and those who look like me, my brothers, scattered around the world, suffer the same prejudice because of the physical features we inherited from Esau; linked to hatred, revenge, and murder based on the September 11, 2001 suicide attack, not to mention a few others in different parts of this world we are living in. For so long, I never felt at ease with foreigners because they made me feel they have a certain sense of fear that I am posing a threat on them. Consequently, I keep my peace and always have a longing for my home whenever I have to perform my duties and responsibilities in school or in other places. Although I have always been a lover of outdoor sports and other activities, I now feel more comfortable and would rather stay inside the house than go out with friends. It all started when I was confronted by a white young man who has been frisking me with his eyes from head to foot. Unable to move out from the queue I have been standing for some precious minutes, waiting for my turn to pay my groceries, I nervously smiled at him hoping I would make the atmosphere better. However, my efforts turned out to have flamed the stranger even more, muttering things to himself. I simply ignored this, knowing that I was in a foreign land where my people are hated for matters that we do not have any knowledge about, and because of the thought that I do not like to stoop to such a level. Gathering all the anger and hatred that he probably had for my people, he hissed his accusations at me saying, â€Å"Don’t come living with us, murderer.† Luckily, the lady in front of me was already picking her groceries so I made myself busy with mine, pretending I did not hear a word from the man who was standing beside me. Trembling from anger, I headed home after paying my groceries, pondering about the event. The questions that haunted me for years came afresh that day. Why do we have to look different?

Thursday, September 12, 2019

Evaluating 360-degree Feedback System Assignment

Evaluating 360-degree Feedback System - Assignment Example Besides the normal appraisal to determine employees’ effectiveness, the 360- degree feedback approach may serve other important purposes such as â€Å"professional development and succession planning† as it allows the management a comprehensive knowledge over its employee’s capacities. It is also applicable in determining rewards to employees, determining human resource development needs, and managing performance. Further, the approach’s implementation process is simple and only requires normal managerial skills and resources. It, for example, involves the establishment of goals, determination of participants, development of performance criteria and selection of data collection and analysis methods. These are then followed by implementation of appraisal and communication of results (Pravin, 2010). The appraisal strategy, however, has both strengths and weaknesses that must be considered before its implementation. One of its strengths is the wide information sources on whose basis employees are appraised. This increases the probability of reliable and valid results for informed decisions. It also promotes knowledge of an organization’s human resource base towards interpersonal understanding and relations. This facilitates teamwork that is the core of Creative Minds Inc. Its wide scope also reduces chances of discriminative appraisals and it facilitates identification of employees’ needs towards efficient productivity (Prakashan, 2007). The management should however not have very high expectations from the system whose design may be challenging due to its research skills needs. The approach may also be ineffective if it is not aligned with the organization’s objectives, and may have more attention on employees’ weaknesses than strengths.

Wednesday, September 11, 2019

Monarch PLC Airlines Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Monarch PLC Airlines - Essay Example Monarch Airline operates in an environment that has appreciated the advantages of technology, innovation, and rapid changes in their trading environment (Doganis 2006). Its customers have diverse interests and satisfaction levels hence serving as the main drive for change. In addition, the airline faces a lot of competition from other airlines operating within the same locality and destinations. With such a diverse and demanding environment, the airline has had to make major improvements to continue meeting the market demands. For example, to continue meeting the high demands on bookings by customers, the organization had to change from making bookings over the internet to using open skies by Navitaire. This has seen the company grow to handle large systems of operations within small timelines. It has also favored the company in protecting its information while changing swiftly to the ever-changing demands in the airline market. The survival of any business depended on how the manage ment will handle the risks since they are inevitable but manageable. Challenges and opportunities keep on changing making it hard for any company to operate in a highly competitive area. Therefore, for any business to grow, risk taking is a practice to embrace (Flouris & Yilmaz 2011). Monarch airline is not exempted in this and thus has had to face many risks. Overcoming and managing the risks has seen the company grow to where it is today. Managing risks involve balancing between rewards and losses. It entails minimizing bad outcomes and enhancing good outcomes (Thomas 2002). It comes with a preparedness to handle any misfortunes that will take place in the cause of operation. It has been proved that everybody would play on the safe side of life. This provides a shield against unplanned events that endanger the running of a company or any part in the society (Flouris & Yilmaz 2011). However, some risks are inevitable and uncertain to happen. When they happen, it is only prudent to learn how to cope with them. Uncertainties and ignorance stands as major challenges in coping with the situations. Through the authorities, the balancing act should be approached from an open point of view that will accommodate all parties involved. Risk management in any organization is perceived to be the responsibility of specific individuals. However, this should not be true since every human being by nature is a risk manger. Every person by nature is responsible to handle the nature of risk created by his or her behavior (Douglas & Wildavsky 1983). The only thing that the authority can do is to ensure that every individual within the operations of the organization are well informed of the risks involved and the possible ways out of the risks. In every organization, risk experts and safety regulators stands out as very important part in the daily running of the institution. They identify risk issues early before everybody else does that (Thomas 2002). Risk authorities estimate t he magnitude of risk and therefore advise the parties involved accordingly. However, there has been cases where many people insist in taking much risk than can be handled (Douglas & Wildavsky 1983). One could be because of ignorance and two could be lack of knowledge on how much such risks could cost the organization. Risk is

Tuesday, September 10, 2019

Taxation Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Taxation - Research Paper Example instituted the first regulated and sustainable tax system (Olmert, p. 41). Today tax systems have evolved to include a multitude of forms. There are taxes on income, property, and goods and services, with varying rates according to annual salary. The nature of such tax systems, while in many ways essential to the functioning of society, has raised a great degree of controversy. This essay considers the nature of the tax system in relation to whether taxes should be applied. From an overarching context, taxation is used by the state government to advance a variety of collective social needs. There are a variety of ways that taxation benefits society. One of the most prominent ways is through infrastructure that allows society to function at the most basic level. In these regards, there are a great many aspects of society that are necessary for the very simple tasks of operation. Taxation goes to pay for roads, interstates, traffic lights, and traffic signs (Xavier, p. 111). In additio n to specific infrastructure elements, taxation goes to pay for many utility and telecommunications processes. Furthermore, taxes fund the police and fire departments. These departments then ensure the safety and well being of society. Without these basic contributing elements then the very social order would disintegrate and society would not be able to function in the way that it currently does. Another way that taxation benefits society is through general social welfare and public works projects. In these regards, taxation functions as a sort of safety net for all members of society. Within this spectrum of consideration one recognizes that taxes contribute to elements including food stamp programs, welfare, unemployment, social security, and Medicare (Xavier, p. 111). This aspect of taxation is highly significant as it indicates that society is able to care for its sick and injured. This also creates the necessary elements required for general social well being. One considers th at recently President Obama implemented a universal health care system where members throughout society would be given the opportunity to opt into the health care program. While funding for this occurs from a variety of inputs, one of the fundamental contributing factors is general taxation. Ultimately, then this system ensures the health care of members of society that would otherwise not occur. In addition to these considerations, there are more abstract perspectives on taxation as a badge of the social good. This perspective considers that paying taxes marks an individual as a member of society. Adam Smith, the father of modern economics, is noted as saying, â€Å"Every tax, however, is, to the person who pays it, a badge, not of slavery, but of liberty† (Smith, p. 704). This perspective is largely entrenched in the notion of the social contract. As a political philosophy the social contract considers that an individual that operates within society does so as within the co nfines of a social contract. This involves not harming one’s neighbor, not committing crimes, and contributing to the general social good in a variety of ways. Taxes then constitute the ultimate articulation of the social contract as one is directly contributing their income and wealth to the general social good. This then is the recognition that taxes, above the direct social contributions

Monday, September 9, 2019

History Of Britain's Constitution Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

History Of Britain's Constitution - Essay Example The biggest powers are held by the prime minister and the cabinet. The queen holds the power to choose the prime minister and has the final say on any laws being introduced. The prime minister heads ceremonial functions and the Commonwealth. Due to the absence of a constitution in Britain, the British people are subjects as opposed to being citizens. Ceremonial dutiesThe prime minister, an appointee of the queen, and the cabinet have a lot of power. The Queen of England performs various ceremonial duties. Being the head of all Commonwealth countries, she opens all meeting she attends. Another ceremonial duty of the monarch is the opening of parliament. The Queen heads the opening of the parliament ceremony that attracts a lot of revenue from tourism.Sovereign GrantThe sovereign grant is a civil list that was developed and passed into law in 2012. The list contains money that the Queen and some of her close relatives are assigned in order to carry out public duties. The sovereign gran t costs each UK citizen up to 56 pounds annually.Royal assentThe royal equality act was given a royal assent in 2010. Previously, daughters did not have equal rights to sons. However, the royal assent to the act ended the old practice of the eldest son taking after the queen and not the eldest sister. ScandalThe royal family has been involved in various scandals. Three of the queen’s children have gotten married and divorced. Their weddings have cost the British people a lot of money in taxes.