Assessment in mathematics teaching in regards to the National Curriculum

â€Å" The subject of detecting what goes on in a schoolroom and reflecting on whether it is every bit good as it can be, improves the quality of a instructor ‘s ain instruction and their ability to portion it with others. † ( Mason, in Lee, 2006, p10 ) There are many methods of reflecting upon one ‘s ain work, but carried out critically and positively, all should take to an ability to better the quality of that work. The cardinal word here is â€Å" should † . Improvement will merely take topographic point if, following the contemplation, some stairss are identified and implemented to convey about betterment. It is the intent of this paper to help that contemplation and contemplation procedure. The rubric of the essay requires rating of my instruction. The word â€Å" evaluate † is taken to intend â€Å" to judge or find the significance, worth, or quality of † , as defined by Dictionary.com. The paper will measure, in a chronological order, the instruction I carried out over a two hebdomad period. In peculiar it will analyze the appraisal techniques that I employed at each phase, and will reexamine the effectivity of the appraisal. Where appropriate the paper will propose where things could hold been done better. As the rubric dictates, this paper is a contemplation upon learning that I carried out during my first arrangement, as portion of my PGCE class. As such, it refers in the most portion to personal experience and contemplations upon that experience. The paper will hence be written chiefly in the first individual, with mentions from other parties in the 3rd individual. Having considered the appraisal employed throughout the instruction, I will so see a figure of general findings, and how assessment may impact those findings.What Is Assessment and Why Is It ImportantAssessment is a portion of all of our lives from the minute we are born, as the accoucheuse places a babe on the graduated tables. It follows us through early childhood ( as female parents and wellness visitants assess what a babe can make at each phase in their development ) , into school and beyond into employment. The facet of appraisal with which this paper is concerned is the appraisal carried out within the mathematics schoolroom. The word â€Å" appraisal † is used to denote any witting activity intended to supply information about a student ‘s accomplishment or attainment. There are four chief types of appraisal, ( as defined by Weeden, Winter and Broadfoot, 2002, p19 ) Diagnostic – to place students ‘ current public presentation Formative – to help acquisition ( including equal and self appraisal ) Summational – for reappraisal, transportation and enfranchisement Appraising – to see how well instructors or establishments are executing. Of these, formative and summational appraisal will have the most focus, with consideration being given to the effects these types of appraisal have on students ‘ acquisition. Appraising appraisal is non considered within the range of this essay. Whether appraisal is good to a student ‘s acquisition or non depends on the usage to which the information gained is put. For illustration, wellness visitants may place a nutritionary demand of a immature kid which can be corrected with the appropriate input, and likewise instructors may place an educational demand of a student which they can take stairss to turn to. William ( in Weeden, Winter, Broadfoot, 2002, p29 ) suggests â€Å" all four maps of appraisal require that grounds of public presentation or attainment is elicited, is so interpreted, and as a consequence of that reading, some action is taken † . Weeden, Winter, Broadfoot ( 2002 ) besides conclude that appraisal becomes formative when the information gained is used by the instructor and student within the learning procedure. I would besides add that it requires the consequences of the appraisal to be acted upon within a short clip frame, while feedback is still relevant. Furthermore, â€Å" inventions that include beef uping the pattern of formative appraisal green goods important, and frequently significant, larning additions † . ( Black et al. 2003, p9 ) . The purpose, hence, is to guarantee that appraisal, of all types, is used formatively wherever possible.The Class That Was TaughtThe category that I taught was a Year 9 category of 20 students. Although they were classified as a lower-attaining category ( Set 3 out of 4 ) , the scope of abilities within the category and the particular demands of a few persons warrant some brief description. One male child had arrived late from Somalia and had a limited appreciation of English, but no other particular demands. Several of the students had low reading ages, typically in the age 8 – 9 scope, and were hence challenged by some word jobs. Additionally, one of these students had moved into mainstream categories at the start of twelvemonth 9, after two old ages supported by the school ‘s â€Å" nucleus programme † , and hence sometimes needed extra support as respects concentration. Four of the students in the category were on the school ‘s SEN registry as BESD, i.e. they had behavioral, emotional or societal troubles which without careful handling could take to disruption in lessons. One-half of the category entered twelvemonth 7 with a National Curriculum assessment degree of 3b or 3a, with the balance at low degree 4. By the terminal of twelvemonth 8 all were accessed at degree 4 or 5c. Several of the students moved up by merely one or two degree points during their first two old ages at Secondary school, bespeaking some cause for concern. The category was routinely supported by a Teaching Assistant, whose function was chiefly to back up the student with EAL, but besides to supply general support as required to other students.The Topic TaughtThe subject taught was Ratio and Proportion. The Scheme of Work indicated five hours of instruction, the equivalent of six 50 minute lessons, and I set about bring forthing a subject program consequently. The really first Standard which a trainee instructor must accomplish is to â€Å" hold high outlooks of kids and immature people † ( Training and Development Agency for Schools ( TDA ) , 2010 ) . With the benefit of hindsight, I can see that the word â€Å" high † in this criterion is a word that requires considerable understanding and single application to each student. At the clip, nevertheless, I took this to intend that I should anticipate all my pupils to be able to hold on the rudimentss of a given subject within a period of learning clip, determined by me, their instructor. â€Å" Low outlooks by instructors are regarded as a much bigger job than high outlooks. † ( Weeden, Winter and Broadfoot, 2002, p64 ) . Determined that my learning would non be portion of this â€Å" bigger job † , I set about my planning with high outlooks for all my students. This position was proven to be instead excessively simplistic during the instruction, but this will be elaborated upon subsequently. The subject of ratio and proportion, harmonizing to the strategy of work, is pre-dominantly a degree 5 – 6 subject, so would by necessity be disputing for most of the students. With a comparatively unfamiliar category I felt it was of import to get down by measuring how good the category would get by with some of the cardinal mathematical constructs which would be necessary for the subject. The first activity in the instruction, hence, was to re-cap fractions understanding. In peculiar, could the pupils cut down fractions to their simplest signifier, and could they happen fractions of measures? This was mostly a diagnostic appraisal, to set up a starting point for my instruction. Having established that all students had a sound appreciation of simplifying fractions, I introduced the construct of ratios and simplifying of ratios. This was followed by sharing a stated measure by a given ratio, and happening a missing measure given one measure and a ratio. The concluding instruction activity was to present the thought of proportion and to specify the difference between proportion and ratio. The subject was completed with a summational appraisal, and by self- and peer-assessment in the signifier of production of a posting. For the intents of this paper, I will concentrate chiefly on the start of the subject and the decision of the subject, and the appraisal strategies employed at these points. Some reference will be made of the interim instruction, peculiarly with mention to the effectivity or otherwise of appraisal carried out at this phase.The TeachingRe-cap FractionsMy determination to get down this subject with a re-cap of fractions was based on the similarities that I perceive between fractions and ratio. It hence seemed logical, before get downing on a new and potentially ambitious subject, to set up how much the category already knew about fractions. As claimed by Ausubel, ( in Clarke, 2005, p12 ) , â€Å" The most of import individual factor act uponing acquisition is what the scholar already knows. Determine this and learn him consequently. † Therefore, the intent of this lesson was diagnostic appraisal to be used to inform the instruction for the balance of the subject. Although diagnostic appraisal has been found to be uneffective if it is simply used for â€Å" puting † intents, it has had benefits if used to place the single acquisition demands of a student. ( Black et al. , 2003 ) . A starter activity ( of fiting braces of tantamount fractions ) indicated that the bulk of the category had an first-class appreciation of this construct. I established this by leting students to work in braces to fit the fractions, and so inquiring persons, or their spouses, for replies. I attempted to use a â€Å" no hands up † attack, as recommended by Lee ( 2006 ) , sometimes utilizing lollipop sticks to choose students to reply. â€Å" No hands up † was a new attack for the category, and many found it hard to defy seting custodies up or shouting out ( or both ) . I would hold with Lee ‘s averment that seting hands up can take to a competitory environment for some students. I would besides propose that it can take to disinterest from other students who see no demand to acquire involved. Having established that the students possessed an ability to simplify fractions, the following relevant facet of fractions was the ability to happen a fraction of a measure, e.g. A? of 36. Using mini white boards, I was able to set up that all students could work out simple measures. It was so of import to cognize the methods they had employed and to understand their idea procedures, and I used oppugning and synergistic treatment to set up students ‘ methods. As Morgan, Watson and Tikly ( 2004, p133 ) put it, â€Å" cognizing that they can bring forth the right solution is a instead dead-end piece of cognition for the instructor. It would be more helpful to happen out the restrictions of the manner they presently see the undertaking. Knowing how they see the procedure and what they say to themselves while making it, provides you with a get downing topographic point to learn them to work out more complicated jobs. † The popular method of happening A? was halving and halving once more, which led me to revise the inquiring by inquiring how to happen 1/5th of 30. This in bend led to treatment of division and generation, and through the discourse it became evident that many had troubles with times tabular arraies. As it was non my aim in this lesson to revise times tabular arraies, generation grids were made available to students who asked for them. More students asked for the grids than I had expected, which I believe was declarative of a general deficiency of assurance with mental maths. As a signifier of distinction this was effectual for those who needed the grids, but may besides hold led to others seeking an â€Å" easy option † . In the hereafter I would seek to administer such AIDSs to merely those I believed truly needed them. However, with the usage of the generation grids it was a straight-forward following measure to travel to non-unit fractions, and all students showed sensible ability to happen fractions of measures. I stated in the debut that the intent of this lesson was mostly to execute a diagnostic appraisal. As a consequence of the lesson I had gained a assurance in my students ‘ ability to manage fractions sufficiently good to come on to the following phase. I had non, nevertheless, asked my students to self-assess whether they felt the same. As a consequence, when, towards the terminal of the whole subject, I asked the students to self-assess how they felt about the assorted parts of the subject, I was surprised to detect that about all felt that they were unable to â€Å" make fractions † . It would look evident that although I believed my students had achieved the acquisition result, by the terminal of the subject they did non portion that belief. If I had instigated self-assessment during this lesson, the consequence may hold been different, but I will ne'er cognize for certain. I agree, with the suggestion of Weeden, Winter and Broadfoot ( 2002, p73 ) , that using effectu al signifiers of ego appraisal will do students â€Å" more responsible for and involved in their ain acquisition † . This is an country that I will necessitate to look to better as I move frontward into my following stage of instruction, as â€Å" it is far more valuable for pupils themselves to take part in the appraisal procedure than for instructors to be the exclusive proctors of advancement. † ( Morgan, Watson and Tikly, 2004, p134 ) . Even though the declared intent of the lesson was diagnostic appraisal, I made some effectual usage of formative appraisal during the lesson. For illustration, I used oppugning to place the students ‘ methods, and so adjusted my oppugning in response to their replies. While this was effectual, there was range for improved usage of oppugning, to examine deeper into their degree of apprehension.Ratio and ProportionThe chief instruction of ratio and proportion was spread over three lessons. Over that period we progressed from basic apprehension of the algorithms to application of the algorithms to â€Å" existent life † type jobs. As the work was spread over three lessons I was afforded the chance to reexamine the work in students ‘ books. Mindful of the research findings ( Black et al. ; Butler ; Clarke ; Thorndike ; in Stobart, 2006 ) , I restricted my marker to placing errors and doing remarks. The research of Thorndike, carried out about a hundred old ages ago, highlighted the comparative consequence of delegating classs to work, i.e. the assignment of classs taking to pupils comparing themselves against one another. This is supported by more recent research summarised by Clarke, ( 2005 ) , to boot doing a nexus to the importance of measuring attainment against the larning aims instead than against other students. My purpose in placing students ‘ errors was to be able to turn to mistakes and misconceptions in subsequent lessons. I was able to make this to some extent, but I do non hold the grounds of a follow-up appraisal to be able to corroborate whether this was wholly successful. The comment-only marker should hold been followed up by leting the pupils clip to reexamine the remarks, and re-work their replies in line with the remarks, as stressed by Black and William ( in Clarke, 2005 ) . I did non let sufficient clip for this to be done. It may besides hold been good at this phase if I had asked the students to notice for themselves on their work, as recommended by Clarke ( 2005 ) . She suggests this as a signifier of self appraisal, whereby the student, holding identified an country for betterment, would discourse the suggestion with the instructor. The in agreement betterment would so be made either in lesson clip or as a prep activity. In general, the planning of clip to let students to utilize the feedback they have received, and the subsequent appraisal of the effects, is an country of failing that I will necessitate to better if my feedback is to be genuinely formative. Another country of appraisal which I was trying to utilize during this instruction was effectual inquiring. I found a figure of troubles with effectual oppugning in this category, which may good be common across most categories. The first challenge was trying to guarantee all students were involved, without seting undue force per unit area on students who are non comfy replying inquiries in forepart of the whole category. The usage of mated activities helped in some instances, as students were able to give â€Å" squad † replies and support each other if required. Team- or pair-working is a method which I should look to widen in the hereafter, for usage with higher-order inquiries, and to promote the usage of more mathematical linguistic communication. The usage of â€Å" Study Buddies † has been shown to promote non merely mathematical talk and look, but besides peer-assessment and self-reflection ( Lee, 2006 ) . My efforts to guarantee all students were involved in replying inquiries led to some really awkward silences as I allowed the recommended ( Black et al. , 2003 ) wait-time. With one peculiarly quiet student whom I ne'er persuaded to reply a inquiry, the issue turned out to be merely one of being â€Å" afraid to acquire it incorrect † – this was a truly unfortunate state of affairs as it transpired from the terminal of topic trial that she had an first-class appreciation of the work. Not merely was her reserve making her a ill service, but the remainder of the category would besides hold benefited greatly from her part. In add-on, even if she had â€Å" got it incorrect † , this excessively would hold been of benefit. As Lee ( 2006, p26 – 27 ) states â€Å" a incorrect reply, possibly more than the â€Å" right † one, helps the instructor buttocks what further larning students need. †End of TopicAt the terminal of the subject I decided to tra nsport out two pieces of assessment – a summational trial and a brooding self-assessment. The summational trial besides included some points from the old subject I had taught this group. Its intent was to set up how good the students had remembered subjects they had been taught throughout the old six hebdomads. I was fortunate that this trial took topographic point at the start of â€Å" Christmas hebdomad † , when it was normal pattern in the school for lessons to be more relaxed. This allowed me clip to speak separately with each student, to discourse what they had done good and where they may hold had misinterpretations. I was concerned that the students were more interested in the grade they had achieved than in the feedback I was able to give them about their acquisition. Harmonizing to Weeden, Winter and Broadfoot, ( 2002, p115 ) this is non uncommon, as â€Å" the accent is ever on grade or class and seldom do students truly care about what they really achieved. † Although this was designed as a summational appraisal, I was besides able to utilize it formatively by placing a common job with algebra, and turn toing this in the last lesson of term, thereby utilizing â€Å" the wake of trials as an chance for formative work. † ( Black et al, 2003, p55 ) They besides conclude that â€Å" summational trials should beaˆÂ ¦ a positive portion of the acquisition procedure. † ( 2003, p56 ) The self-assessment took the signifier of the production of postings summarizing all they had learnt about Ratio and Proportion. The appraisal showed a assorted degree of apprehension, and ability to pass on that apprehension, within the category. One group showed an first-class apprehension and had clearly referred back to their books to guarantee that they included all the stuff right. The EAL pupil had trouble with this activity, so I encouraged him to be really ocular with his posting. Others had taken hapless notes during the instruction and struggled to remember the information – this, in itself, was a utile acquisition point for them, as they consider the quality and utility of what they write in their books. ( Two ( contrasting ) postings are included in Attachment A ) . Overall, this was an effectual drawing together of the subject, and enabled the students to self-assess their ain acquisition, as the production of postings â€Å" aˆÂ ¦ requires pupils to reflec t upon and organize their cognition in order to pass on it † ( Morgan, Watson and Tikly, 2004, p151 ) Although this self-assessment enabled students to reflect upon their acquisition, as it took topographic point at the terminal of the subject I was unable to supply an chance for students to set their contemplations into pattern. The appraisal can non hence be described as genuinely formative. An excess lesson would hold enabled the students to move upon their contemplations, thereby doing the assessment formative.General FindingsExcessively Much MaterialA repeating job with many of my lessons was trying to suit excessively much stuff into each lesson. This resulted in me travel rapidlying to â€Å" acquire through † the lesson. I therefore allowed deficient clip for examining and higher-order inquiries. This was to the hurt of my instruction and my students ‘ acquisition as â€Å" instruction is more than make fulling a kid with facts. It starts with presenting hard inquiries † ( Spendlove, 2009, p32 ) . I was losing chances, non merely to dispute and excite some of the students, but besides to measure the deepness of their apprehension and place misconceptions at an early phase.Communication and QuestioningMuch formative appraisal can be achieved by effectual communicating and oppugning. Black et al. , found effectual oppugning â€Å" aˆÂ ¦ led to richer discourse, in which the instructors evoked a wealth of information from which to judge the current apprehension of their pupils. † ( 2003, p41 ) However, many secondary school students appear to be fresh to constructive treatment in a lesson environment, and there are considerable challenges involved in altering this state of affairs, particularly if outlooks of communicating are non consistent across a school. Add to this the excess linguistic communication dimension of the â€Å" mathematics registry † as Lee ( 2006 ) calls it, and it goes some manner to explicating the trouble I had in promoting students to speak about their mathematics. While it may be disputing, the benefits of effectual communicating to pupils ‘ larning justify attempt being spent to better the quality of communicating in lessons, as â€Å" larning can non take topographic point in a vacuity and it is at its best when there is a rich bipartisan duologue between instructor and scholar and scholar and scholar. † ( Spendlove, 2004, p44 ) The countries of communicating in which students are encouraged to go involved include replying inquiries, and explicating their thoughts and methods. This can show farther troubles with the usage linguistic communication, peculiarly for students with EAL, who may happen themselves wholly excluded from the discourse. Another group of students who may hold a similar job are those for whom such communicating is unfamiliar outside school. â€Å" Children aˆÂ ¦aˆÂ ¦ . from families where English is non the first linguistic communication may be disadvantaged by trust on unwritten interaction. † ( Morgan, Watson and Tikly, 2004, p150 ) The fact that all students are larning a new mathematical linguistic communication together could be seen as a leveler for the EAL pupils, as all pupils â€Å" aˆÂ ¦need to larn how to utilize mathematical linguistic communication to make, control and show their ain mathematical significances. † ( Pimm, in Lee, 2006, p18 ) . Much of the linguistic communication will necessitate to be learnt by both EAL and non-EAL students. As a instructor purpose on promoting the usage of mathematical discourse as portion of formative appraisal in my instruction, I will necessitate to run into these challenges creatively.ExpectationsAs mentioned earlier, I set unvarying â€Å" high outlooks † for all my students, but I had given deficient consideration to the comparative nature of the word â€Å" high † . Whilst I believe that I am right to anticipate all of my students to accomplish an apprehension of what they are being taught, how fast and to what degree are things that need to be separately agreed. This so leads to the ability of students to measure their ain advancement against agreed marks and aims. I found that one student in the category ne'er did any work in the lesson until his outlook for that lesson had been separately negotiated with him. He would so bring forth some first-class work, by and large transcending my outlooks. Ollerton, ( 2003 ) relates the importance of students disputing themselves against their ain marks, instead than viing against one another, and that in such a civilization, outlook can be high but accomplishable, holding been negotiated and agreed between student and instructor.Assessment Against LevelsA trouble which has permeated my first instruction pattern has been the definition of â€Å" degrees † at which students are working. There has been an accent placed upon students being cognizant of the degree at which they are working, and being able to measure for themselves how they are come oning against those degrees. There is a danger, nevertheless, that this can take to â€Å" clicking boxes † for each point required within the degree , without needfully developing the apprehension behind the capable stuff. This is similar to the issues raised by Skemp ( 1976 ) , sing the importance of Relational Understanding as opposed to Instrumental Understanding. It is certainly possible for a student to be assessed, both by themselves and their instructors, to be working at degree 5, for illustration, while missing the relational apprehension to use their accomplishments in other countries. I tested this concern with a Year 6 student, with current maths degree ( instructor and trial ) assessed as degree 4a/5c. Without any learning about the topic of ratios ( other than a definition of the word ratio ) , this student was able to use bing mathematical cognition and apprehension to right work out ratio and proportion inquiries graded at degree 6. My twelvemonth 9 students on the other manus, while theoretically working at the same degree, and after several lessons on the topic, were unable or unwilling to utilize their accomplishments to undertake jobs which differed from 1s they had seen antecedently. ( I say unwilling, as I suspect some of their reserve was due to a deficiency of assurance in their ability to undertake more ambitious inquiries. ) So, while both the twelvemonth 6 student and the twelvemonth 9 students are assessed as working at the same degree, my belief is that the twelvemonth 6 student shows a far greater relational apprehension, while the twelvemonth 9 students show about merely instrumental apprehension. This is supported by findings which indicate â€Å" learning how to go through trials means that pupils may be able to go through even when they do non hold the accomplishments and understanding which the trial is intended to mensurate † ( Gordon and Reese in Harlen, 2006, p79 ) . The two groups come from different backgrounds and different acquisition experiences, so it is non possible to pull any decisions, other than to state that the assignment of degrees would look to give small information sing mathematical apprehension and attainment. It is possible that the twelvemonth 6 student has been encouraged to transport out more self find of mathematical constructs, an activity in which the twelvemonth 9 group were loath to prosecute. It concerns me that students are encouraged to mensurate their accomplishment by being able to click boxes instead than understand and use their mathematics. This leads to the consideration of students ‘ motive – what they want to acquire from their instruction.Motivation to LearnA uninterrupted challenge in all lessons has been promoting students to desire to larn. Pupils frequently ask the inquiry, â€Å" Why do I need to cognize this? â€Å" , and I confess to sometimes happening this a hard inquiry to reply. One of the primary countries I would seek to better in my instruction is my ability to actuate my students to larn, but first I must understand motive. There are two chief types of motive which encourage students to be in lessons ( as defined by Harlen, 2006 ) – extrinsic, where they are motivated by an external end such as deriving a making, and intrinsic, where they are motivated by the end of larning itself. â€Å" Intrinsic motive is seen as the ideal, since it is more likely to take to a desire to go on larning, than larning motivated extrinsically. † ( Harlen, 2006, p62 ) , and â€Å" intrinsic motive is associated with degrees of battle in larning that lead to conceptual apprehension and higher degree believing accomplishments † ( Kellaghan et al. , in Harlen, 2006, p63 ) . So, possibly I could hold used appraisal more efficaciously to increase the intrinsic motive of my students. The work of Harlen, ( 2006 ) identifies possible negative effects of appraisal on student motive, which mostly relate to summative appraisal and judgmental feedback. She besides goes on to depict patterns that maintain motive degrees, including affecting students in self-assessment ( Schunk ) , and the usage of feedback from regular classwork. None of this, nevertheless, leads to a decision that appraisal can assist increase intrinsic motive. Further factors need to be considered in finding whether this is the instance. There is surely grounds that formative appraisal can raise achievement degrees, as identified by Black et Al ( 2003 ) , but I do non believe that is needfully the same as raising intrinsic motive. Increased intrinsic motive is most likely to originate from bring forthing a echt involvement in what is being learnt, and hence lead to a desire to go on that larning throughout life. As Clarke ( 2005 ) claims, affecting pupils in their ain acquisition procedure has had the proved consequence of making life-long, independent scholars. Harlen ( 2006 ) describes two types of involvement – single involvement and situational involvement. Students with single involvement in mathematics will persist more and are likely to accomplish good. Sadly, nevertheless, non all students will hold single involvement. Either signifier of involvement will promote students to be involved in acquisition, so the instructor must try to make situational involvement, for illustration, through games. Having encouraged the students ‘ engagement through situational involvement, non merely will they get down to larn, but they may besides develop single involvement. One of the keys to making situational involvement is guaranting the students know what they are larning and why, and so supplying formative feedback to the student. Hence the importance of formative feedback in making involvement, taking to intrinsic motive. â€Å" no curricular inspection and repair, no instructional invention, no alteration in school administration, no toughening of criterions, no rethinking of instructor preparation or compensation will win if pupils do non come to school interested in, and committed to, larning. † ( Steinberg, in Weeden, Winter, Broadfoot, 2002, p9 ) It appears, hence, to be of critical importance that instructors use formative techniques to increase the intrinsic motive of their students to larn. At the same clip, they should avoid actions which will cut down their intrinsic motive.DecisionsThere have been several surveies over the old ages sing the impact of appraisal on students ‘ acquisition, notably the work of Black and William, at the abetment of the Assessment Reform Group. These surveies have concluded that for appraisal to raise the criterions of students ‘ attainment it must be used formatively. ( Black et al. , 2003 ) Reflecting upon my ain instruction and my students ‘ acquisition, I must admit that there are many ways in which my pattern can be improved. These include usage of higher-order inquiries, leting for self-discovery of mathematical constructs and leting clip for students to move upon feedback. It is still a duty of the instructor to fix students for external scrutinies, and to describe advancement to interested parties. As such it is necessary to strike a balance between the usage of formative appraisal to back up acquisition, and summational appraisal for coverage intents, but besides to fix students for taking external scrutinies. However, â€Å" There is ample grounds that the alterations involved ( in bettering formative appraisal ) will raise the tonss of their pupils on normal, conventional trials. † ( Black et al. , 2003, p2 ) The expression goes, â€Å" the hog does n't acquire fatter merely by being weighed † . Harmonizing to Weeden, Winter, Broadfoot, 2002, p36, Formative Assessment could be an exclusion to this regulation. In this peculiar instance, repeated and ongoing appraisal could really assist to better the quality of acquisition, if the information gleaned from the appraisal is used to do it go on.

Critical Perspectives on Accounting Essay

In this article Marcus Milne provides critical overview and analysis of literature devoted to establishing evidence for positive accounting theory in regards of corporate social disclosure. The central argument of the paper is that positive accounting theorists are trying to colonize social and environmental accounting research. The present article is empirical research and the author employs qualitative and quantitative data to support the claim that positive accounting theory of social disclosure has failed in its endeavor. The author’s purpose is to challenge the perceptions of positive accounting theory and to illustrate why efforts of theorists to social and environmental accounting has failed. The author focuses on the original work of Watts and Zimmerman and tends to present their concern and ideas with the lobbying behavior observed in US oil companies. The companies were claimed to be monopolists and self-interested politicians that had pursued mainly wealth transfers in the form of taxes and other political costs. For them, social responsibility is passing remark. The article is useful to my research topic as Milne suggests that modern businesses and companies should be more concerned with social and environmental responsibility as our world’s resources are not unlimited. The main limitation of the article is that only one original work is incorporated – the article presents one viewpoint without presenting multiple views on the problem. The author indicates that literature on positive accounting theory has failed to provide arguments for self-interested managers’ wealth maximizes. The article will be useful supplementary information for my research on social and environmental responsibility.

Business Organisational Strategy for Adelaide -

13Cabs is the taxi network service provider that operates in different regions of Australia like Hobart, Adelaide, Sydney, Newcastle and Melbourne. 13Cabs is owned by Cabcharge that operates about 7, 400 taxis throughout Australia (13cabs.com.au. 2017). The service is operated using the cab apps available in various app stores. The cab facility service has chosen the right technology in order to carry out their business they use apps to connect with the customers. The black taxis under this organisation are well known for the service provided by 13 Cabs. 13 Cabs app is the most popular Australian taxi app that has connected the largest fleet of cabs around the different regions of Australia anywhere and anytime (13cabs.com.au. 2017). 13Cabs has also won the Monash Business Awards that shows the efficiency in their business. The customer care service is always available and any smart phone user can easily get access to the service of the taxi apps. The customer service is always available and the company is well known for the service that it provides. The cabs are grouped together by the means of apps and mobile systems in order to create a large segment of taxis. The customers from the segments like Sydney, Melbourne and other regions fall under the customer segments of the cab service (13cabs.com.au. 2017). The channels used for the purpose of connecting with the customers are through the web and any apps available in android or apple phones. The key partners of 13 Cabs are ABC Taxis, Black Cabs Combined Pty Ltd, Yellow Cabs, Maxi Taxis and others (13cabs.com.au. 2017). The cab service maintains and develops the market based on ride sharing activities. The service is available in the inner city and for long journeys as well. The idea is to share the rides of the taxi among the users in order to avoid the higher rates to be paid by the consumers. The key resources are the IT platform or the software that is used for carrying out the business activity (13cabs.com.au. 2017). The idea is to utilise these resources in order to attract more consumers in the market. The company operates in more than 76 locations and has huge fleet of drivers. The cost structure is depended on the employees and the partnership that the company has to maintain with others. The fixed costs include the rent and the utilities and other costs needed for the marketing and partnership activities of the organisation. The current revenue of the company is 121, 000 AUD (13cabs.com.au. 2017). Overall comment on strategic business: The business model used by the organisation is to create a wide network that would attract the maximum number of passengers or customers (Yellowadelaide.com.au. 2017). This would definitely add to the profitability of the business. However, the business model does not consider other aspects of the business like sustainability and competitive measures to improve business activities. Environmental sustainability could be the most challenging issue faced by 13Cabs in the near future. It has been evident that greater approaches have been made towards improving the business activities that it would not cause harm to the environment. There have been no such implications in the business strategies of 13 Cabs that would support sustainability of the business and so this is the upcoming challenge faced by the organisation. The organisation needs to support the sustainability approach in the coming 3-10 years of its business. 13cabs.com.au. (2017).  13 Cabs. [online] ProductReview.com.au. Available at: https://www.productreview.com.au/p/13-cabs.html [Accessed 29 Aug. 2017]. 13cabs.com.au. (2017).  13CABS App @ 13CABS. [online] Available at: https://www.13cabs.com.au/IphoneApp [Accessed 29 Aug. 2017]. 3cabs.com.au. (2017).  Taxi Cab Service @ 13CABS. [online] Available at: https://www.13cabs.com.au/ [Accessed 29 Aug. 2017]. Yellowadelaide.com.au. (2017).  13CABS Adelaide. [online] Available at: https://www.yellowadelaide.com.au/ [Accessed 29 Aug. 2017].

Generational Differences In Fashion Industry Essay

Generational Differences In Fashion Industry - Essay Example The paper tells that fashion shopping priorities and habits affect both generations in the level of knowledge, interest, and reactions. Generation Y has higher priorities to fashions that make them look modern and more comfortable shifting their priorities to high-quality fashion and market changing the trend that affects affect fashion compared to the generation X. In this regard, Generation Y can get frustrated if their favorite retailer doesn't "get them" fails to meet their needs by producing a quality product and comfort fashion values. However, both generations careless in regard to environmental stores than rather the actual fashion merchandise. In addition, both generations prefer to shop their fashion at overcrowded stores. Furthermore, the types of shopping/retail environments that each of a generation might be the same if their respective behavioral consumption in conjunction and subjective outcome factors such as loyalty and satisfaction meet their demand and interests. On a broad front, despite Generational differences in the fashion Industry, Generation X do not mind fitting to normal are motivated to fit in identity compared to generation Y. However, each generation will develop or grow to meet their respective fashion and needs. Advertisement appeal for both generations would not change with the change in needs and growth as both generations would grow to share same things and needs. Generation X would prefer non-conformist and humorous advertisement. Generation Y is a career and goal driven generation.

Managerial Economics - Oligopoly Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Managerial Economics - Oligopoly - Essay Example This act of Holland Sweetener amounted to an attempt to dilute the monopoly and convert the US market into an oligopoly comprised of two major suppliers of Aspartame. In order to do this the major issue presented in the case study is that of pricing. Strategic pricing in order to win the major buyers so as to capture market share and maximize profits. Given the usual assumptions of an identical product, identical costs and the Bertrand variety of oligopoly in which the both Monsanto and Holland Sweetener simultaneously decide to quote the price either as high or low to Coke and Pepsi. Due to interdependence of the two sellers it becomes very important for each firm to decide strategically whether to quote a low or a high price. In Bertrand oligopoly strategy reduces to simultaneously setting prices in the hope that the competition does not change its set price. Such conflicting or non cooperating pricing strategies are increasingly being dealt with the constructs in Game Theory which not only introduced the idea that conflict could be mathematically analyzed but also provided the terminology with which to do it. Rasmussen (2001) traces the beginning of the theoretical development in field by quoting the relevant literature and by stating that the evolution of the arguments around the "Prisoner's Dilemma" construct (as in Tucker) and thereafter Nash's papers on the definition and existence of equilibrium further developed the field of the modern non-cooperative game theory. However important and simultaneous developments were taking place in cooperative game theory through the important contributions of Nash and Shapley on bargaining games and Gillies and Shapley on the core theory utilized in study of cartels. These developments are traced in several books on economics and Game Theory. (Thus if each firm acts independently, the result is a Nash equilibrium. Part of the definition of Nash equilibrium is that each player takes what the other players are doing as given when deciding what he should do; he holds their behavior constant and adjusts his to maximize his gains. But if one firm increases its output, the other firms must adjust whether they choose to or not. If they continue to charge the same price, they will find that they are selling less; if they continue to produce the same amount, the price they can sell it for will fall. The pay-off matrix from the case study can be given as in Table 1 below: Table 1: Pay-off Matrix of Monsanto and Holland Sweetener In this table Monsanto is represented as Player 1 and Holland Sweetener as the player 2.As per the assumptions the payoff have been categorized in various cells of the matrix. Player 1- Monsanto (Figures in $ Millions) Player 2- Holland SweetenerAn examination of the Table 1 reveals that following an independent strategy of pricing high Monsanto is likely to gain $300 million if Holland also priced high.However, its payoffs would plummet to $0 millions if

The development of recommendations for best practices in Value-Chain Essay

The development of recommendations for best practices in Value-Chain Integration for UK Financial Services organisations adopting Business Process Outsourcing - Essay Example ater pressures on margins which, in turn, drive the need for improved operational efficiencies; second, the need to refocus on core competencies in order to improve competitiveness and third, growing numbers of easily available and capable specialist providers. Added to this is the fact that technological advances now make it easier for business to be conducted across many locations and partnerships. It should be noted that businesses are constantly re-evaluating their strategic operations and the definition of core and non-core is consequently in a state of flux. What is viewed as core today will not necessarily be viewed as core tomorrow. Certain core activities can be outsourced if there is considerable fluctuation in demand that does not justify full time increase in head count. The decisions on outsourcing are generally strategic. Deming (1982, cited by Odindo et al, 2004) advised companies to reduce the number of suppliers. Fewer suppliers with long term commitments can improve a company’s operation. â€Å"Not having to deal with many companies helps to minimise the complexities and costs that may result from inconsistencies and variety when more than one service provider is used† (Odindo et al, 2004). Sometimes companies outsource to their competitors when the only competency to serve them is found in competitors. Odindo et al (2004) have also pointed out that outsourcing can be used to harness innovation and talent beyond the confines of a company. It is not easy or generally possible for an organisation to have all the talent required for the company to innovate. Using outsourcing providers gives a company access to the provider’s innovative capabilities. The very nature of the financial services business means that companies are suitable candidates for outsourcing and many have become highly sophisticated users of these services. Financial services companies have fewer ties to a particular geographic location than other businesses and only a small

Against the patenting genes Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Against the patenting genes - Essay Example This is essential for assessing the predisposition of the patients to cancer. Legalization of gene patents is regressive not only to the medical research but also to the independence and growth of research centers or countries other than the one to which patent protection has been provided. It is, indeed, sad, that â€Å"some genetic tests can’t be done in Canada because U.S. companies hold patents on the tests and the genes and have threatened legal action if the patents are violated by doing the tests in Canada, rather than the U.S.† (CBC News, 2014). Legalization of gene patents has resulted in patenting of a significant number of genes. There are total 30,000 genes in humans and 8,000 of them have already been patented (Wagner, 2009). This means that the number of genes that can be tested upon for identification of cure for diseases has been reduced significantly. So gene patenting should not be

Analyzing the Management Information System of an Organization Essay

Analyzing the Management Information System of an Organization - Essay Example The essay "Analyzing the Management Information System of an Organization" makes use of the HR Frames and The Political Frame to see what reasons there are for failures of the two major organizations being discussed - Senior Class Gift Committee and Bryant Senior Advisory Council, and examines the capabilities of the leaders in handling their responsibilities. The symbolic frame emphasizes the concept of culture as a central role in leadership. Leaders should know they must work simultaneously on staff needs and skills, on goals and roles and the dynamics of political power and conflict. But there is something that operates beyond all these, an intangible manifestation that reflects the ethos or climate of the university. In Bolman and Deal’s terms, â€Å"what is most important is not what happens but what it means.† In SCG and BSA’s case, this frame is portrayed by the interpersonal relationship that the officers have towards the other members and towards themse lves as well. This frame of leadership helps the leaders re-compose themselves for the sake of the whole organization’s benefit. This is the easiest issue that needs to be dealt with in Bryant University.  Meanwhile, the structural frame emphasizes the importance of formal roles and relationships. â€Å"Structures- commonly depicted by means of organizational charts - are created to fit an organization’s environment and technology†.  The focus is on organizational direction and goals.

OPERATING DEPARTMENT PRACTICE Personal Statement

OPERATING DEPARTMENT PRACTICE - Personal Statement Example This did not however give me the satisfaction I thought it would give me. That is when I reconsidered the career line I had taken by reflecting on what I really like doing. It came out clear that I have all along had great interest in Operating Department Practice, and I decided it was not too late to have a career change and do something that my heart really loves. I also love Operating Department Practice because it encourages teamwork since work is done using a multi-disciplinary team approach to achieve a common goal. The large perioperative team provides channels for constant learning and career development; therefore, one is always equipped with current information and practices. Another advantage of this line of career is that responsibility and pay depends upon further specialist skills and experience. That way, a person is encouraged to develop him/herself continuously and reward is directly proportional to hard work. One is also exposed to a wide range of other specialists such as transplant teams, special pediatric specialists, and perioperative nurses. There are also numerous opportunities for training, research, and education. Given a chance to pursue this course in your institution, I believe I will come out a competent professional in this field. I look forward into joining your

Strategy Management in Small Export Business of China Dissertation

Strategy Management in Small Export Business of China - Dissertation Example issertation would include the components of the various small business firms of China, their analysis from the strategic perspective, framing research questions for the survey, conducting a survey based on the industry, evaluating the findings obtained from the survey, drawing the conclusion and suggesting appropriate recommendations for the issues faced by the industry. Additionally the study aims at investigating the significance of internal and external business forces for small export enterprise in southeastern parts of china, and will inevitably aim at analyzing these small business’s successes and failure from the strategic management standpoint during the time period 1980 to 2012. 1.2 Background of this study China is a significantly developing country and therefore China have broad market environment, as a result there are lots of foreign companies to enter the Chinese market. These foreign capital enterprises within the original industry remains monopolized by small, medium, state-owned enterprises which lead to the strong impact of China's state-owned enterprises in some industries. In addition, international competition has developed in the Chinese market gradually. At the same time, China's domestic competition has also contributed to the globalization of market competition. Therefore, at present the production and operation of China's small enterprises have to experience and face international competition. Over the earlier 2 decades, the small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) of China have gone through more or less three development stages, together with the expansion of China’s improvement and establishment. The first stage was from the time period 1978 to the year 1992. This era had been characterized by the development of SMEs in scale and... The study aims at investigating the significance of internal and external business forces for small export enterprise in south-eastern parts of China, and will inevitably aim at analyzing these small business’s successes and failure from the strategic management standpoint during the time period 1980 to 2012. China is a significantly developing country and therefore China has a broad market environment, as a result, there are lots of foreign companies to enter the Chinese market. These foreign capital enterprises within the original industry remain monopolized by small, medium, state-owned enterprises which lead to the strong impact of China's state-owned enterprises in some industries. In addition, international competition has developed in the Chinese market gradually. At the same time, China's domestic competition has also contributed to the globalization of market competition. Therefore, at present, the production and operation of China's small enterprises have to experien ce and face international competition. Over the earlier 2 decades, the small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) of China have gone through more or less three development stages, together with the expansion of China’s improvement and establishment. The first stage was from the time period 1978 to the year 1992. This era had been characterized by the development of SMEs in scale and number. This was the result of the government’s support for and encouragement of the formation of collective, self-employed and township enterprises.

Civil disobedience Essay Example for Free

Civil disobedience Essay In Ralph Waldo Emerson’s essay â€Å"Self Reliance† and Henry David Thoreau’s essay â€Å"Civil Disobedience,† both transcendentalist thinkers speak about being individual and what reforms and changes need to be made in a conformist society. Thoreau elaborates more on the relationship between individuality and society and to break free from conformity. Meaning to take a stance and influence man to make a social change. Emerson leans more towards nature and the connection to spirituality. He exclaims that for individuality there has to be some sort of understanding of oneself to make an impact – which is the basic nature. He believes that man’s connection to nature is the most valuable source of life because nature is what links man to God, â€Å"the divine providence.† Both authors express the need for individuality in order to possess a strong moral and become whole through their transcendentalist ideals. In Emerson’s â€Å"Self-Reliance,† social responsibility is important. The meaning behind this is that there is a time in man’s life when he will finally realize that he has a purpose, a destiny, and the responsibility to achieve goals as long as there is a tap into spiritual nature. Emerson states, â€Å"The strongest man in the world is he who stands alone,† which references the belief of individualism. Emerson notes that famous men and women are often misunderstood simply because of their opinion, ideas, and thoughts; however, this misunderstanding is why they are so respected. One large point in â€Å"Self Reliance† is that humans should not conform to society but to be independent in mind. Emerson stresses that one should connect with nature to maintain peace of mind and individual mentality. In â€Å"Civil Disobedience,† Thoreau meets a man while serving time in prison who has been locked away for burning down a barn. Even so, Thoreau sees his cellmate as an honest man by simply trusting his own intuition. Furthermore, Thoreau writes, â€Å"The government is best which governs least,† in lines 2-3, which is based on the belief that people should not conform to society but stay independent and embrace their own beliefs, goals, values, and morals. Both â€Å"Self Reliance† and â€Å"Civil Disobedience† are relevant in modern society because they discourage conformity, which is a big problem in the world today. Humans tend to lean with the majority, but should be taught to stand their ground. Both essays also mention the government and the problems involved in it. Since they were written, government has not improved; it may have even worsened. Government is best when it governs least- that perspective should still be applied to today’s government. Now, the government tries to constantly control every aspect in everyone’s life, but like Thoreau states, it should allow its people to decide major issues.

The Beat Generation and on the Road Essay Example for Free

The Beat Generation and on the Road Essay Violence and Crime is rising at a steady rate, but when did America inherit its lack of safety for the average person? The answer is from the â€Å"beat† generation. Depressed and hurt from World War Two and The Great Depression the â€Å"beat† generation sparked a downfall into theft, drug and alcohol abuse, and irresponsible sex. During the late nineteen forties and early nineteen fifties it was not uncommon to see people hitchhiking on the side of the road and getting picked up. This was a time when people considered the United States of America to be safe and the average person could walk the streets without worrying about being robbed, raped or murdered. Today it is uncommon to find someone who knowingly allows their adolescent children to hitchhike across the country or sometime even walk to school on their own. The modern-day citizens of the United States of America lock their cars, their homes and even put their children on leashes. These safety precautions would seem ridiculous and silly to those born before the nineteen sixties. This over-zealous amount of safety and security can all be blamed on those who have abused the good and innocent nature that Americans have previously displayed. The beat generation stole and lied at such an increasing rate that present-day Americans must be cautious of each other and live in fear of the most despicable crimes. In the novel, On the Road by Jack Kerouac, the protagonists steal, lie and get high to fill the empty spaces in their schedule and to sooth the pains in their souls. It is through these actions that security develops and these malevolent ideas are exchanged to the youth that is living under this broke and battered generation. The beat generation, hurt by world war two, lost the trust for the average American citizen by stealing, abusing drugs and alcohol and creating broken families. The greed for others belonging and the lack of availability of wealth in the world has tempted all to steal and lie to gain for themselves. In the novel, On the Road, the protagonists are seen stealing gas, cigarettes and even cars. Dean, the narrator’s long-time friend has literally grown up on the wrong side of the tracks. His father being a bum and a drunk helped him learn how to steal and survive the cruel world that the homeless live in. â€Å"We stopped at a gas station, and there Dean and Marylou played piggyback around the tanks and Dunkel went inside and stole three packs of cigarettes without trying. We were fresh out† (Kerouac 139). Dunkel, another homeless hitchhiker is picked up by Dean, Sal and Marylou. He effortlessly steals cigarettes for them, displaying another act of theft by a homeless person. This act of theft shows the reader the lack of morality of the vagabonds in America. When any of the protagonists are confronted by the police it is at a moment in the novel when they are not breaking the law. â€Å"We had to follow the patrolman back to the station and there spent an hour waiting in the grass while they telephoned Chicago to get the owner of the Cadillac to verify our position as hired drivers. Mr. Baron said, according to the cop, ‘Yes, that is my car, but I can’t vouch for anything else those boys might have done. ’†¦Everything was straightened out and we roared on† (Kerouac 236) It is very lucky for Dean and Sal to never get into actual trouble with the cops when they are stopped by them, because they steal so much that with the modern day security system and police they would be instantly caught and hauled off to prison. It is with this lack of morality and their never-ending desires and addictions that the protagonists continue their travels, stealing and doping back and forth across America. Along with the sins of theft comes the crime of drug and alcohol abuse. Throughout the novel the protagonists drink heavily and experiment with marijuana, and Benzedrine. When the group of irresponsible citizens travels to Louisiana to visit Bull Lee they slowly damage their livers with Benzedrine. Bull Lee represents the â€Å"teacher† of the group, the one from whom they have learned their ways of life. It is to no surprise of the reader that Bull Lee is constantly strung out on Benzedrine. â€Å"That night Marylou took everything in the books; she took tea, goofballs, benny, and liquor and even asked Old Bull for a shot of M, which of course he didn’t give her; he gave her a martini. She was so saturated with elements of all kinds that she came to a standstill and stood goofy on the porch with me† (Kerouac 147-148). It is apparent that all of the protagonists abuse drugs and alcohol. This shows their need to get away from the world and leave their lives behind. Like the road, and hitchhiking, drugs help them run from their problems so that they can find happiness. This novel present’s drug and alcohol abuse as a very apparent trend in society. Because of World War Two the people of America have seen many gruesome and horrible sights, and therefore they find the need to distance themselves from society as a whole, so that they can numb the pain from their losses. It was believed for a long time that Kerouac wrote the novel On the Road while taking Benzedrine for the euphoric and creative feeling that it gave him. â€Å"For decades, in countless publications, Kerouac’s nineteen fifty-one typing session has been described as ‘Benzedrine-fueled’ and ‘Benzedrine –drenched’ and so on. This is not the likely case. In a private letter, Kerouac corrected Ginsberg when, years later, he wrote an article for Village Voice saying that Benzedrine boosted Kerouac’s typing feat. Kerouac told Ginsberg in definite terms that ‘Road was not written on benny, on coffee’ (Jack Kerouac Letter to Allen Ginsberg 184)† (Theado 15). It is not unreasonable for those to have questioned Kerouac’s sobriety during the times that he wrote On the Road. It is from this generation that we have learned that one can get high on simple prescription medicine. Along with the drugs the acts of theft can even be considered one of the ways that the protagonists create artificial euphoria for themselves. â€Å"†¦while they might steal to support their drug habits, for example, Dean ‘Stole cars for joyrides’ (Kerouac 10). The phrase â€Å"joy ride† must be understood quite literally as an experience of joy, and joy-spontaneous and unmanageable- seemed to be in scarce supply in the sad world Sal describes†(Holton 23). This sadness in the world that Sal describes, can, in their eyes, only be cured through frivolity, and mischief. Causing mayhem seems to be one of the few ways the characters in the novel can create happiness for themselves. Breaking the law makes them happy and due to this life of recklessness and law breaking, promiscuity and broken families are developed. Throughout the novel Dean and Sal sleep with many women, to satisfy their desire for feelings of euphoria. Dean is found at the end of the novel in his third marriage and having four children. Although Dean loves his children it is not enough for him to stay married to the mother of his children. Dean could not find happiness in his past marriage because he constantly feels the need to be free and unattached from the real world. This could easily be because of him being brought up in a broken family. This shows that because of peoples past lack of creating stable, conventional families, has developed an age where it is more uncommon to find a family where the husband and wife have only been married to each other. It is made clear that all of those around Dean find him irresponsible and even idiotic. Galatea brings this up to Dean by saying:†You have absolutely no regard for anybody but yourself and your damned kicks. All you think about is what’s hanging between your legs and how much money you can get out of people and then you just throw them aside†(Kerouac 194). It is most obvious that Dean is careless and reckless. This is represented by his indecency to not stay with his children and not support them until he is required, by law, to do so. His lack of stability in female acquaintances upsets his friends to the point of them not seeing him in any respected way. â€Å"Dean’s liaison with a third wife is in effect a double betrayal, a double failure. It is a betrayal of his comradely marriage to Sal, and a betrayal of the freedom of action and movement that goes with ’IT’† (Hunt 51). Dean’s promiscuity is commonly seen today, and is regarded as dangerous because of the prevalence of sexually transmitted infections. This spread of STI’s could even possibly be from the beat generation’s incredible sexual deviance. As time progresses life can only get harder for everyone because of the previous generation’s irresponsibility and carelessness. One would argue that it is irresponsible to blame anyone for society’s faults and dangers. As the human race progresses, so does its troubles. It is impossible to blame one generation for all of the troubles in America, but it is clear that the crime rate jumped after World War Two with the xplanation that breaking the law was the only way for people to find euphoria. Drug abuse and theft were, for the most part, under-the-rug subjects and not expected of the average person. Society has quickly learned that anyone can be a criminal and that it is better to be precautious of the worst crimes than to be left stunned and helpless from being too naive and trusting all. Today, The United States of America is plagued with criminals and offenders of the law so that the people have covered the country with security cameras, technological safety precautions and locked doors. The people of The United States of America have learned the hard way, to not trust their neighbors from the actions of the beat generation. It also was very unheard of to have a non-conventional family before the nineteen fifties. The divorce rate is at an all-time high, and it is because of the poor actions that people make with those around them. This was all sparked by the beat generation’s lustful relationships and impromptu marriages. The rise in promiscuity and the lack of desire to be responsible with sex post-World War Two gave the idea that it is ok to not be conventional to the future generations of America. Human beings learn from those around them, and it is not uncommon to find trends in vices through different generations in families. One’s poor decision, witnessed by youth, will likely be reflected in the future by the youth. It is with the knowledge that one’s present actions will affect the future of those around him or her that one should gain responsibility for the future. It is without a doubt that society in the United States of America has drastically changed since World War Two and even more so with the creation of the internet in the nineteen eighties. The beat generation has given society the burden of lack of trust. Through the actions of many, American society has gained the knowledge that any one person can be a criminal. Due to the abuse of drugs, and alcohol from the beat generation, it is not uncommon to find addicts and junkies throughout the streets. Society is not naive anymore to the abuse of prescription drugs and inhalers. Medicines that have helped many have been removed from modern medical practice because of those who abused them for euphoric experiences. Families are now commonly seen with variations in relations between siblings and without a traditional set of two parents. The divorce rate in The United States of America has increased to a magnanimous height. Promiscuous images are frequently seen on the television, in magazines, and on the internet. Children have grown to be unaffected by gruesome and sexual images. It is undeniable that stealing is looked down upon by many, but in the present United States of America, the children are no strangers to shoplifting. Society in America is losing its morality as time goes on. It is due to the inappropriate actions of past generations that the citizens of The United States of America have increased their security and distrust in people as a whole. The beat generation, especially, has disturbed the minds of the American people with its anarchist movements. One should ask him or herself why society is being constantly watched through security cameras, and why it is so hard to find a traditionally structured family, and why it is now dangerous to hitchhike.

Different theories of retirement and ageing

Different theories of retirement and ageing When discussing the subject of retirement, the first issue that one comes across is that of defining what retirement is, and when it occurs. According to Denton and Spencer (2009), the Oxford English Dictionary defines retirement as follows: To withdraw from office, or an official position; to give up ones business or occupation in order to enjoy more leisure or freedom (especially after having made a competence or earned a pension). They continue to add that retirement can be voluntary or involuntary; gradual or sudden; temporary or permanent. Hence, there is no one clear definition which embodies all the possible situations. In contrast, Banks and Smith (2006), argue that retirement is made up of the following characteristics; it is a sudden, rather than a gradual process, it is a permanent and voluntary choice, it equals to drawing a pension, and it is a decision made by the individual rather than cooperatively with household members. This is the concept of retirement that is adopted by most economists. In addition, retirement is a state of mind in the sense that the individual recognizes him/herself as being retired. The definition is hence a subjective one which may mean different things to different people and populations. In itself, it is a broad word which encompasses a number of different elements. For many workers, retirement is seen as an opportunity of long awaited freedom from the responsibilities and stress of employment. It brings change and marks a transition into the later life stages. It is a time of recreation and travel, and an opportunity to develop new mental and physical routines. Planning and anticipating retirement play an essential part in the lives of many workers and their families. Recently, the new phenomenon of early retirement has become increasingly more popular (Rosenkoetter Garris, 2001). Shaw and Hill (2002) stated that a commonly used definition for retirement is an age-related withdrawal from active working life. However, one has to define what constitutes an active working life. Some researchers have chosen to allow their respondents to classify themselves as to whether they are retired or not. This approach, however, has the disadvantage that the definition of retirement will not be the same for everyone as some people who are working and receiving a previous job pension may consider themselves retired whilst others who have stopped working and are taking care of grandchildren, for instance, do not consider themselves as retired. Hence, different definitions of retirement result in different retirement patterns for men and women. The authors go on to argue that as there is no single best definition for retirement, the definition should be adapted according the question being asked, therefore multiple definitions would be helpful when dealing with specific differe nces in men and womens decisions to leave the paid work force. Origins and History of Retirement In their respective works, Graebner (1980) and Costa (2000) provide a brief history on the evolution of retirement. Back in the 1850s, 77% of men who were over 65 years were still working. Not working was viewed as inappropriate and hence people worked as long as they could. In pre-industrial America, most worked in agriculture, and in this area there was no retirement. When a man became too old to do strenuous work such as ploughing, his son would usually take over whilst he shifts to less demanding chores. Before the Civil War, the elderly were viewed as valued people, for a number of reasons such as their knowledge, hard-work, moral guidance they offered and the contribution in reforming the country. As they grew older, they were still respected and played important roles in the community and families. After the Civil War, though, this began to change. The nation shifted from being primarily rural to an increasingly urban society transformed by industrialization. Unlike agricultur al workers, urban workers did not have the familial support to enable them to shift to less strenuous work as they aged. By the 1880s, the American economy relied on manufacturing, and relationships between young and old workers started to become troublesome. The idea of retirement started to develop as a means to deal with these conflicts. As industrialization grew in the United States, business and government leaders realized that they need to develop a mechanism which would stimulate economic growth whilst assisting in the replacement of less efficient older workers with cheaper, younger ones. The preferred mechanism for this was the mandatory retirement of older workers. With the introduction of machines, one began to realize that older workers were neither fast nor strong enough to operate machinery and this slowed down production. By getting older workers out of the way, the workforce would be replaced with a younger, faster, and more efficient one. Attitudes toward elderly people became increasingly negative. By the early 1900s factory owners restricted the hiring of older people and reinforced retirement policies which were mandatory in order to get rid of the ones already employed. Since many business owners were uncomfortable with the idea of getting rid of loyal older workers leaving them without any employme nt and income whatsoever, some of them offered pensions or helped to build company homes for the elderly. By the year 1920, mandatory retirement with a small pension became the preferred method for moving older workers aside. Hence, employers eliminated older workers but in the mean time felt secure that the retired worker would have enough money to survive. Without any doubt, some older workers resisted this plan. Social services were almost inexistent and retirement meant a lower standard of living. Yet, when confronted with so many retirement rules, workers found themselves forced out of their jobs so much so that by the year 1920, almost half of all white male workers over the age of 60 were no longer in the workforce. Still, older workers discovered that retiring and receiving some sort of, even if an insufficient, pension was better than being pushed aside without nothing at all. The first federal retirement legislation became known as The Railroad Retirement Act of 1935, and was a testing ground for later development. The easiest way out of chronic unemployment in the country became the retirement of all older persons; the only problem was making sure that pensions are available. Things changed once again during World War II when anyone who could went back to work. This put back the country into full employment once again. However, after the war, retirement was once again the mechanism which controlled costs and employment rates. Even though pensions became increasingly common, many retired workers remained unhappy about the idea of retirement so much so that an alarming number even refused to apply for social benefits. Hence, business and governments started to instil ideas to older workers with the idyllic thoughts of leisure, and the well-earned reward of free time at their age. This is when insurance companies started to make large profits out of life insurance policies and when sociologists formed the theories of aging. By the late 1960s, the mythology of retirement was completely assimilated into Americans minds. In the mid-1980s, mandates changed pension rules so that widows were not left without any benefits. Also, social security benefits were increased and as a result, the percent of pensioners living in poverty significantly dropped. By the 1970s and 1980s, pensions were fixed to a retirement formula which depended on the length of service and final salary of the person. This meant that a worker would not know what pension he would receive until he actually retired. To avoid all this, business shifted from traditional defined pension plans to defined contribution plans where they promised that a contribution of a certain amount would be done towards each workers pension. Benefits and Drawbacks of Retirement According to Coni, Davison, and Webster (1992), during retirement income is likely to be reduced, however occupational pensions which are becoming more common offer greater monetary security. Those who have become overly dependent on trappings of their employment may realize that their status has changed and that they miss the company of the work-place. On the other hand, retirement should be looked upon as a time of opportunity, which after all, may last for more than 30 years. If the approach towards retirement is a happy and an enthusiastic one, then it is very likely that it will live up to expectations. When it comes to learning new material, older learners usually do better due to higher motivation levels, and increased self-knowledge. The authors go on to argue that everybody has to find their own way through old age and retirement, and if one, at his or her age, feel happy and comfortable doing something, then that thing is right for him or her. When it comes to relationships , retirement may be the only time that one can truly live together with their partner since they are no longer kept apart by employment and family, even though difficulties may arise in this regard as well. Regarding fitness, one should keep in mind that the fitter one is, the less likely it is to become ill and the more likely one would make a full and swift recovery. Since the elderly are affected with degenerative changes, attention should be paid to both physical and mental fitness. Muscles waste in a sedentary lifestyle but they have the ability to redevelop and this can be achieved by doing an activity which one enjoys and gives them pleasure. These include; walking the dog, ballroom dancing, and even cultivating a garden. Mental activities should be taken up to develop and maintain the mind by learning, re-learning, or improving a foreign language. Prevention of illness is a lifelong need, and good habits must be started early and maintained throughout. A common reason for ea gerly anticipating retirement may be the wish to be freed from a strict routine inflicted by employment, which is understandable, but also inappropriate. Retirement should provide the opportunity of restructuring ones routine. This can be done by establishing enough time for physical activity, some time for learning, time for family and time for ones self. Having said all this, during retirement, one may be faced by unpleasant tasks, decisions, and situations. Therefore, fore-thinking potential problems such as loneliness, bereavement, becoming a carer, or becoming disabled, will always help to deal with such dilemmas. Windmill (1992), states that retirement can mean a loss of status, a sense of no longer being a useful society member, losing ones sense of purpose, and becoming part of the receiving end of society. However, one should understand the importance of preparing for retirement so that mental, physical, and social changes do not come by as a shock. Retirement means planning finances, doing leisure activities, and considering health and housing needs. Eliopoulos (1993) adds that retirement may be the first experience of the impact of ageing for many. It is facilitated by learning how to use, appreciate and gain satisfaction from leisure time, which is also a therapeutic outlet for life stresses. The author also mentions the stages of retirement developed by Robert Atchley in 1975, which, however, not all retirees go through: the remote phase where retirement is anticipated but preparation is seldom done; the near phase when preparation for leaving the job begins; the honeymoon phase which is the euphoric period that follows retirement; the disenchantment phase where depression may be experienced; the reorientation phase where realistic choices are considered; the stability phase when an understanding of a retirement roles is achieved and the termination phase when retirement role is lost due to illness or disability. Studies suggest this life event may be a stressful even for those experiencing health or financial issues at the time of retirement; however, those who manage to plan out their retirement are less likely to experience financial burdens. For some, retirement may mean loss of income and identity, loss of status authority, loss of purpose in life and loss of peer contacts (Miller, 1995). Retirement in Malta Locally, workers nearing the retirement age may be eligible for a retirement pension. A person would be eligible to a Contributory Retirement Pension if he or she satisfies a number of conditions; the person has reached the retirement age, 61 for males, and 60 for females, the worker has been employed or self-employed for not less than 10 year prior to retirement; the worker has paid at least 156 contributions; and that on the day of retirement, the worker has satisfied the relevant contribution conditions (Ministry of Education, Employment and the Family, 2011). The General Workers Union (2009) offers a course entitled Preparazzjoni ghall-Irtirar (Preparation for Retirement) and also houses a Pensioners Association whose major task is to attend to special and particular needs of pensioners and retired workers. It protects rights and interests, and safeguards pension levels and standard of living. Cultural, social, and educational activities are held annually and membership is open to all retired workers. Planning for Retirement According to Coni et al., (1992), we should all be planning our own retirement throughout our lives, and that even school-aged children should receive some form of instruction about the topic. This would enable younger people to have a better understanding of what ageing is and learn about some complexities of being old. Having hobbies and leisure pursuits at a young age may introduce them to activities that they enjoy. Hence, once retired, one would be able to revert to these activities. Financial planning must also start early because in order for one to have a secure retirement capital, an adequate income must firstly be assured. Unfortunately, attention also needs to be paid towards the possibility of widowhood (especially in women), and that remarriage may be an additional complication. Rosenkoetter Garris (2001), state that in a study carried out in 1989, retirement planning was the second strongest predictor of satisfaction amongst male respondents, and in another study in 1997; it was found that retirement planning correlated with positive attitudes towards retirement. By participating in pre-retirement programs or courses, one can start assessing his or her attitudes and preparedness towards retiring. These courses would be most successful if they manage to address financial and health matters. Since retirement may prove a new meaning and value to ones life, pre-retirement counseling assists individuals in their preparation. In an Australian study, it was noted that retirement may be a stressful and challenging event and that planning was directly correlated with successful adaptation. The authors conclude that post-retirement perceptions of planning most of the time may not correspond with pre-retirement preparation. In their study, more emphasis was placed of financial planning and psychosocial adjustment to their life after employment. There was a significant increase in sedentary activities with may correlate with an increased risk of health problems found in this age group, hence retirees should be encouraged not only in social interactions, but in physical activity too. Differences were found in planning according to the persons employment position, which relates to the need of developing post-retirement planning programs which are individualized to the type of worker. In their study, Phua and McNall (2008) concluded that as men age, concern about securing their finances increases and that this issue remains at top priority among people approaching retirement. The authors say that studies show that retirees eventually adjust their spending patterns according to the dynamics of their financial situation. Expectations towards marriage and having children is another issues that affects pre-retirement planning and this includes a need to resolve the conflict between saving and increased demands on financial resources that a family can require. According to Elder and Rudolph (1999), retirement satisfaction is based on both financial and non-financial variables. Results from their study indicated that attending preretirement courses and planning meetings were positively related to retirement satisfaction. Also, planning out activities correlated with an increased likelihood of retirement satisfaction. Theories of Ageing Throughout the years, scientists have been trying to develop theories of ageing in an attempt to answer questions such as Why do we age? and How do we age?. Early sociologic theories, in the 1960s, focused on adjustments of older people towards loss of roles and reference groups. Theories which are based on these themes include the disengagement, activity, and continuity theories. In 1961, Cumming and Henry published their first sociologic theory of ageing: the disengagement theory. According to this theory, a process of mutual disengagement takes place during aging where both the individual and the society in which he or she belong withdraw from each other (Redfern, 1996). This process is an inevitable one, and is governed by societys needs which dominate individual needs. This theory further states that older people desire this withdrawal, and as the social contacts of a person diminish, disengagement becomes a circular process that further limits opportunities of interaction (Miller, 1995). Another theory of ageing is the activity theory which is based on the belief that in order for one to age successfully, he or she must keep active. It was first stated by Havighurst and Albrecht in 1953 who said that social role participation is essential for positive adjustment to old age. In 1963, Havighurst and colleagues created the term activity theory. In 1972, then, it was Lemon and colleagues who formalized the theory which proposed that older people could only remain psychologically and socially fit if they remained active and that loss of roles in old age affect life satisfaction negatively. Above all, the quality of interaction is more important than the quantity of activity (Miller, 1995). The continuity (or developmental) theory was put forward by Neugarten in 1968 because none of the other theories successfully explained ageing. According to this theory, a persons coping strategies are in place long before he or she starts to age, however personality features are continuously dynamic and evolving. Therefore the best way to predict how a person will adjust to ageing is by examining how that same person has adjusted to situations throughout his or her life. This theory hence brings out the importance of the relationship between personality and successful ageing (Miller, 1995). Some other proposed theories of ageing include; the subculture theory proposed by Rose (1962, 1965), which states that old people have their own norms, beliefs, habits, and expectations and hence have their own subculture, the age stratification theory by Riley in 1972, which explains the interdependencies between age as an element of social structure and ageing and cohorts as a social process. Other theories include the person-environment fit theory and the human needs theory (Miller, 1995).

Hamlet and King Lear :: essays research papers

There are a lot of similarities in two Shakespeare stories HAMLET and KING LEAR. I guess its because of the style in which Shakes peare wrote. William Shakespeare wrote three kinds of stories: comedy, tragedy and history. Both of these books are tragedies and they are very similar tragedies. In both of these stories there is a feud going on within the family. And in both the feud is between the children and their parents or relatives. Hamlet is looking for the revenge on his uncle for killing Hamlets father and hes upset with his mother marrying the murderer. Here Lears evil daughters try to completely destroy their father. Lear calls his daughters and asks them who loves the most. Regan and Goneril lie just to get Lears land and power. Cordelia honestly answers Lear and for that is given away to France, because Lear has gone out of his mind. After Lear gives out almost all his land he realizes his wrongdoing and tries to restore his power. But now its too late, because his daughters already took away all the land. He sees how evil his daughters really are and they dont love him at all, so he curses them. Now Lear appears to be crazy from his actions, but in reality he exactly knows what is going on. Hamlet saw the ghost of his father and it told Hamlet that his uncle killed him to become the king. This shows that the person will even commit murder to get control of the country, just like we see in KING LEAR. After the ghost appeared to Hamlet, he started to act like he was crazy. But just like Lear, in reality he wasnt crazy, he was thinking of how to get back at his uncle. The endings of both stories are very similar. Besides the fact that all the main characters in both stories die, its how they die thats interesting. Because Goneril wants to get Edmund, she poisons her sister Regan. Hamlets uncle wants to poison Hamlet, but by mistake he poisoned his wife, Hamlets mother. Hamlet by mistake kills his uncle servant Polonius. Because of the death of her father Ophelia (Polonius daughter) goes insane and later kills herself. Because Gonerils plan didnt work, she kills herself. At the end there is a duel between Edgar and Edmund, where Edgar kills his bastard brother. At the end of HAMLET there is a duel between Hamlet and Polonius son, where Hamlet wins but in

Graduation Speech: Do or Do Not, There is No Try :: Graduation Speech, Commencement Address

The year 2012 marks an era of new beginnings and bold adventures. Years from now, when we look back on our senior year, we’ll remember a year of good friends, hard work and planning for the future. As graduating seniors we will create different paths to our own success. Some will choose the superhighway and some will choose the winding road — each person deciding their own level of happiness. It has been said, "To know where you are going, one must remember where you have been." Tonight, the Class of 2012 will start a new chapter, moving toward new endeavors and taking on greater challenges, making this evening the perfect time to reflect on our past here at County High School. As we look back on our senior year, we will remember it as the year the voters of Stoll passed a new school bond creating the promise of a new high school. The year our girls’ basketball team went to state, and our football team went undefeated in league. We will remember the cold, wet nights in the stands watching football; the cold, wet nights in the stands watching soccer and well, ... you get the idea. We will remember working endless nights creating our homecoming floats. Maybe not Rose Bowl Parade material, but they did manage to roll, and we had fun! Laughing at each other and laughing with each other, we have had a great time together. Let us not forget the Lawn Chair Drill Team practices at O Dark Hundred — the Tolo dance and the Senior Prom. And on a personal note, a great 18th birthday — Thanks, guys! Tonight as we go our separate ways, let’s not forget that we have the ability to be whatever we want to be. To climb mountains, to reach the stars, to stretch as far as we can imagine.

Life Is So Good by George Dawson and Richard Glaubman Essay examples --

Life Is So Good by George Dawson and Richard Glaubman Good Afternoon Ms. McCafferty, I made this appointment because I passionately believe that the book, Life is so good written by George Dawson and Richard Glaubman should be on the Carey booklist for Year 9 students. Life is so good is a magnificent part biography, part autobiography of a 103 year old black man named George Dawson who went to school to learn to read and write when he was 98 years old. George Dawson may be 103 but he can still walk without a cane and can remember his life with an uncanny ability. That is why there is so much detail in this book. Life is so good tells of his hard life from when he was only 6 years old and living on a farm in the outer region of a town called Marshall in Southern Texas. In an early c...

Smartphone Competition

Sizable market: Nowadays, more and more people tend to spend more time on telephone, from exhibit 1 we can see that each person almost spend 14 minutes on smart phones for playing games (Shane Richmond, 2012). What is more, 33% of people are playing games via smart phone and 25% people are playing games via handled devices (esa, 2012). These data indicates that more people prefer to play games on smart phones than other devices, and people are willing to spend more time on smart phones to play games.Especially, from the survey we can know that all respondents they hold smart phones, which means this market is extremely sizable based on the large users. What is more, Phantom Company is small company, which means that they do not have enough funds to create games on diverse devices, and they do not have sufficient resources and experts to create games on diverse devices. Therefore, smartphones can be the proper platform for Phantom Company to create games. Opportunistic market: Further more, if the company can focus on creating games on smart phones in Canada, the market size will be attractive.That’s because there are 10. 5 million smart phone users in Canada, the number of users may increase to 16. 4 million by 2016 (Innovation Report 2012 Trend Watch, 2012), and 60% of smart phone adults users prefer using cell phones to play games, which means that all of these user can be the potential target customers for Phantom Company. Especially, all of them are adults, they have purchasing power for the game apps, if the company can attract these people, and they can have lucrative market in the smart phone game industry. Profitable market:Based on the survey we can see that most respondents are willing to pay more money on quality games, especially most of them has purchasing power, therefore, as long as the games are attractive for these people, this smart phone market can be profitable. Competition: The smart phone game market is good news for customers, becau se it creats convenience, flexibility, and more entertainments for life. However, the fierce competition will put pressures on companies. Firstly, which brand Phantom should launch their phones. There are divers brands of phones in the arket, these brands possess diverse kinds of games on their phones, for example, Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics, HTC, Apple, Motorola, and RIM. The highest market share smartphone is Samsung, which is 26. 0%, and LG’s is 17. 7%, Apple occupy 17. 5%, Motorola is 10. 9% and HTC is 6. 2%( Eric Abent, 2012). This fact shows that Phantom should choose carefully for which brand to launch their games in order to game more people to play and have profitable market in the future. Secondly, the video game competition in Canada is fierce. There are currently 348 video game companies operating in Canada.The average Canadian Video Game Company employs 45 people, and there are more game companies in Ontario than other provinces, which mean that all of t hese companies are Phantoms’ direct competitors (Matt Hartley, 2011). Especially, there are lots of famous companies in Montreal, which means it will be tough for Phantom to compete with these mature video companies based on its scarcity of expert resources and innovation capabilities, and brand recognitions. Competitions during the industry: There are diverse competitors in the video game industry in Canada.There are three famous video game companies, where were listed top 10 video game companies in 2012. These companies are Toronto’s XMG Studio, Montreal’s Gamerizon, and Toronto’s Capybara Games (Knowlton Thomas, 2012). These companies are well-known companies that lead to high reliability and loyalty in the market. What is more, famous and big companies posse sufficient expert sources and innovation capabilities, which are the key successful factors for the video game companies. Especially, these companies have sophisticated experiences on developing m obile games in the past.Subsequently, these company posse diverse advantages, which Phantom needs and lacks. In addition, more and small companies are established these days in Canada, they are also competing with Phantom now. They may have similar capabilities with Phantom, or they may have more funds than Phantom to develop more innovative games than Phantom. These companies also threaten to Phantom’s future. Appendixes: Exhibit 1: Source: Shane Richmond, 2012 http://www. telegraph. co. uk/technology/mobile-phones/9365085/Smartphones-hardly-used-for-calls. html References Shane Richmond, June 29, 2012.Smartphones hardly used for calls. Retrieve on November 8, 2012 from: http://www. telegraph. co. uk/technology/mobile-phones/9365085/Smartphones-hardly-used-for-calls. html esa, 2012. Game player data. Retrieve on November 8, 2012 from: http://www. theesa. com/facts/gameplayer. asp Innovation Report 2012 Trend Watch, August 2012. Retrieve on November 18, 2012 from: http://www. newmediatrendwatch. com/markets-by-country/11-long-haul/45-canada? start=2 Eric Abent, November 2012. Comscore deliver mobile market share report for September 2012. Retrieve on November 8, 2012 from: http://androidcommunity. om/comscore-delivers-mobile-market-share-report-for-september-2012-20121102/ Matt Hartley, May, 2011. Canada’s gaming industry is kicking  butt. Retrieve on November 18, 2012 from: http://business. financialpost. com/2011/05/30/canadas-home-grown-video-game-industry-shines-on-international-stage/ Knowlton Thomas, March 30, 2012. Three Canadian Companies Named in Worldwide List of Top 10 Mobile Game Developers to Watch in 2012. Retrieve on November 18, 2012 from: http://www. techvibes. com/blog/three-canadian-companies-named-in-worldwide-list-of-top-10-mobile-game-developers-to-watch-in-2012-2012-03-01