Blood Diamonds

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Intro to humanities test

Which term describes the line of kings under Charlemagne? Carolingian 2. ) During the High Middle Ages, the most important center for education became the University of Paris. True 3. ) Relics were sacred religious items that became an important aspect of spiritual and economic tradition for the Church. True 4. ) Which artist is credited as being responsible for bridging the gap between the Byzantine and Renaissance styles? Ghetto 5. ) Charles the Great created a system of education known as: The 5 says 6. The Haggis Sophia is the holy site where Charles the Great was crowned. False 7. ) The Great Schism began with the election of Pope Charlemagne. False 8. ) Who was the most influential Scholastic philosopher, influenced by Aristotle philosophy? 9. ) â€Å"Exodus† refers to the Old Testament story of Moses and literally means: going out 10. ) The Great Schism was a war between England and France, primarily about land disputes, which lasted for 116 years. False 1 1 .Patriarch was the author of both the Secretes and Canterbury Tales. False 12. ) The â€Å"Summary Theological† was written by which author? Aquinas 13. ) Dante was the author of which of the following? (select all that apply) Inferno, Divine Comedy, Paradises 14. ) The New Testament Greek term for â€Å"one who is anointed† Is â€Å"Christ. † True 15. ) Which of the following are examples of early Christian symbols/imagery? (select all that apply) Fish, Anchor, Olive branch 16.The Rule of Saint Benedict was established to regulate: the papacy 17. ) Chartres, Salisbury, and Notre Dame are examples of Gothic cathedrals. True 18. ) The Abbey of Saint Denis Is considered the first example of Gothic architecture True 19. ) Which of the following are examples of literary figures from the Middle Ages? Chauncey, Dante, Bursars 20. ) Which of the following are examples of Gothic architecture? Pointed arches, gargoyles, flying buttresses, stained glass

A Plan to Decrease the Dropout Rate among School Students

A Plan to Decrease the Dropout Rate among School Students SCENERIO ABC High School has seen a dramatic increase in the number of students who are choosing to drop out of school over the past decade. The reasons are limitless. They range from failure to identify students who may be at risk of dropping out, to inadequate academic programming to accommodate at risk students, to lack of parental concern and involvement. Therefore, the Academic Council has developed a comprehensive plan that will address the issue of the student dropout rate and provide goals and actions to take to decrease the dropout rate among our high school students. For the purpose of this writing, dropout rate is defined as the rate at which students withdraw from school during grades nine through twelve and who do not attain a General Education Degree (GED). TABLE OF CONTENTS Title Scenario Table of Contents Demographics Background Statement of the Problem Members of Planning Committee: Leadership Team Initial Meeting and Future Meetings Mission Belief/Statement Paramet ers Scanning Tools SWOT Analysis Literature Review Goals Strategic Communication to Share Plan Action Teams Action Plans Communication of Results/Outcomes Future Recommendations References/Bibliography Appendix/Appendices DEMOGRAPHICS ABC High School is located at 1234 School Way, Your Town, GA; a rural area in the North Georgia mountains. The student population is comprised of the following: Enrollment 1997 Students per Teacher Ratio 16.4:1 Economically Disadvantaged 51.3% Breakdown by Ethnicity for Students – White 84.0% Black 0.4% Hispanic 13.7% Asian/Pacific Islander 0.5% American Indian/Alaska Native 0.2% Number of students eligible for free and/or reduced meals 1116 Number of teachers 128 Degrees held by teachers Bachelor’s Degree 45.1% Master’s Degree 34.2% Master’s Degree + 30 Hours 15.3% Doctoral Degree 2.7% Description of organization Began in 1934 with 300 students and 13 teachers Eight classrooms Small library Office A partial basement housed classrooms for agriculture and science classes Description of community Businesses in area Automotive repair Carpet industry Computer and electronics Food and dining Home – indoor/outdoor Real estate Travel and recreation Business services Community services Finance Health and personal care Legal Shopping Religious entities 26 churches in ABC High School area Baptist (includes Southern Baptist, Free Will Baptist, Missionary Baptist, Independent Baptist), Methodist, Pentecostal, and Non-Denominational Other educational facilities 1 four-year college within 30 miles of ABC High School Community celebrations (what’s important in this area) Sporting events Town festivals Parent educational levels Number of people who have achieved the following levels of education: No high school 3316 Some high school 4601 Some college 3726 Associates Degree 967 Bachelor’s Degree 1321 Graduate Degree 695 BACKGROUND The dropout rate among high school students has steadily increased o ver the past decade. In several of the largest school systems across the country half of the students are dropping out (Thomas and Date, 2006). Some of the contributing factors to this increase are a lack of appropriate measures to identify students who may be at risk of dropping out, a lack of adequate and appropriate programs that will foster academic achievement for at-risk high school students, and a failure to educate parents on the importance of their participation in the education process of their child. What events have occurred over the past decade that affected the dropout rate? There are less stringent consequences for students who do not attend school, as well for parents who do not actively participate in the educational progress of their child. There is a decrease in parental involvement, due in part to mothers returning to the workforce. There is an increase in the occurrence of teen pregnancy and teen parenthood.

THE FRENCH FOREIGN LEGION Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

THE FRENCH FOREIGN LEGION - Research Paper Example Even after 182 years of its survival, the French Foreign Legion remains a much misunderstood unit in the global military scenario. Huge non-supportive behavior of French people against the United States led alliance for war against terrorism in Iraq and also their rejection to even recognize it as a global war provides only to increase the Legion’s contemporary insignificance. Legion has mainly engaged itself in very rare attempts in the domain of peacekeeping and expansion of larger national military forces since 1962, they have established and preserved a level of preparation and capability that is more than that of other specialized military establishments. Foreign French Legion remains a vital component of nation’s military infrastructure, especially after recent reorganization. King Louis Philippe came into power after King Charles X was overthrown in the result of a rebellion. King Louis Philippe was struggling with the problem soon after climbing the throne of France. That was how to address the huge number of refugees, revolutionaries and exiles coming from the bordering countries mixed up in internal uprisings. He knew the risk these foreigners can pose to his kingdom. A solution was proposed to King Louis Philippe by a self-proclaimed lieutenant general of French Army, Jean Lacroix. Lacroix had already formed a structure of foreign volunteers with designs on utilizing them in newly conquered territory of Algeria by the French army. He suggested that his force be expanded by positive recruiting all over the country side of France with pledges of handsome salary and legal status in the country. These suggestions of Jean Lacroix were approved by the King Louis Philippe as an excellent solution that was not only addressing his refugees’ problem, bu t it would also help in reducing the strive on the regular French military combating

Developing an effective classroom management plan Essay

Developing an effective classroom management plan - Essay Example A positive learning environment can only be created when this philosophy is kept in mind. At the basic level, a classroom simply comprises of a teacher and a group of students. However, a classroom cannot exist in isolation; it comes under the control of a school. Similarly, a school is also required to report to district authorities. Hence, there are multiple stakeholders acting together in this case and each has their own role to play. The role of each of these should be defined in way which maximizes the exchange of knowledge, and creates and maintains the learning environment. Moreover, these roles should also be used as the rules in effectively maintaining a positive learning environment in a K-12 classroom. Let us consider the roles and responsibilities for each of the members one by one. Teachers play the central role in a classroom. A teacher is the one who controls the entire class and it is his skills and capabilities which play a vital role in the learning environment of the class. In some cases, the teacher is the primary source of knowledge who communicates this knowledge to the students. In some cases, the teacher is merely a facilitator who assists the students in acquiring knowledge from textbooks. However, in any case, the role of teacher is indispensible. The role of the teacher should be defined in a way that he is able to effectively communicate with the students and interact with them. It should not be a merely one-sided communication, but the students should respond back. Hence, it is important that the teacher thoroughly knows what he is teaching. He should know all aspects of the topic and should be ready to answer any questions from the students relevant to the topic. Another important role of a teacher is to reward the students for their good perf ormance and punish the students for poor performance. This serves to improve the motivation of students towards the class. Moreover, he should make use of the tools and equipments, such

Modern World History - Assimilation & Exclusion in Societies Research Paper

Modern World History - Assimilation & Exclusion in Societies - Research Paper Example Burchardt et al defined social exclusion as â€Å"†¦the attempt of one group to secure for itself a privileged position at the expense of some other group through a process of subordination..† (p.2). Social exclusion has existed in so many ways and forms in societies. South East Asia generally refers to the nations east of the Indian sub-continent and west of China and the Indian Ocean islands south of these nations. It includes Burma, Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. Most of the people living in these areas speak dialects of the Austronesian family of languages and they share similar cultural practices and animist religious traits (McKay, p.429). In the 13th Century, Jewish, Christian and Muslim influences were felt in the region by traders. After the 1300s the Muslims established the Malacca which became a trading entry point and flourished in trade (McKay, 430) In 1511, the Portuguese captured Malacca and the Spanish occupied Manilla in 1571. Th is marked the beginning of world-class social exclusion in this region. The Europeans sent missionaries to convert the Southeast Asians with a view of training them to integrate into their Europeanized colonies. Mendelssohn & Marika report that the Europeans used the support of these Europeanized natives to suppress ‘inferior’ tribes. ... They were granted second grade status. (Bauer, p79) In 1599, a Dutch fleet containing large quantities of spices returned to Amsterdam and this prospect caused them to establish the Dutch East Indies Company with the intention of taking over the spice trade from the Portuguese (Kagan et al p.77). The Dutch East Indies Company became the national tool for the colonization of several islands in South East Asia by the 1700s. Britain followed with the colonization of Malaysia and some other lands in the region whilst the French took over the territory now known as Vietnam. The next thing that followed was widespread social exclusion, where white Europeans were living privileged lives on the socio-economic plane whilst the natives toiled on the farms. â€Å"In Southeast Asia, economic profit was the immediate and primary aim of the colonial enterprise. For that purpose, colonial powers tried wherever possible to work with local elites to facilitate the exploitation of natural resources. Indirect rule reduced the cost of training European administrators and had a less severe impact on the social group.† (Duiker, p36). The colonial powers forced the natives to work hard on plantations in very harsh conditions. The Europeans exported all the products, mainly palm oil and spices to Europe, which they sold for very high profit margins. Duiker reports that the South East Asian barely had enough to feed himself and his family. However, the Europeans and their ‘priyayi’ (native collaborators) enjoyed luxurious lives in Southeast Asia whilst the locals were denied rights to basic necessities like education, healthcare and justice. The main advantage of colonialism is that it set the stage for the modernization of these nations.

Ethical Decision Makin Process Speech or Presentation

Ethical Decision Makin Process - Speech or Presentation Example The father of the child is also a stakeholder because as a father, he needs to provide for his child. But in cases where the father leaves the mother, as in abandonment or a crime like rape, the father does not have any responsibility to the child as his choice. But the major stakeholder of the situation is the mother of the child. The mother is the host of the child. The fetus is a child, and it is quantified as a person for the pro-life movement and as just another organism for the pro-choice movement. The child, according to a New Jersey Superior Court, â€Å"If a fetus is a person, it is a person in very special circumstances – it exists entirely within the body of another much larger person and usually cannot be the object of direct action by another person.† With pregnancy, the mother is put at risk because childbirth is a potentially fatal process. Pregnancy also leeches the mother of her health as the fetus needs a lot of nutrients that it can’t directly get its nutrients from food. The stake is enormous for the society and the mother. The quote, â€Å"It takes a whole village to raise a child† applies here. The society is also responsible for the nurturing of the child in terms of providing the societal needs of a person: social needs, jobs, etc. The mother also has a huge stake when it comes to pregnancy and abortion. The mother, when deciding to have an abortion, would be judged as a murderer in most cases. Most mothers undergo abortion because of reasons that typically pressure the mother into choosing abortion, like her low economic status, unstable job, genetic anomalies, etc. This is because, naturally, if the mother had a lot of resources, she would not undergo abortion. Politically, the mother also has a lot of stake put on it because the debate on the legality and morality of abortion is still widely debated and the legalities of it are still very difficult to grasp, because of the moral and ethical issues associate d with it. Stage Three: The pro-abortion argument is valid because the mother has her own right on her body. It is her own and she should have the right to use her body and decide for it. Her body is being compromised because of the pregnancy. Other arguments for the pro-abortion movement is most conceptions are naturally unsuccessful and are naturally aborted within a month, making abortion natural and therefore, not criminal (because it is natural). Thus, criminalization of abortion implies criminalizing a natural act. However, anti-abortion arguments are also quite valid. They argue that a fetus is a person, and it can feel pain. When that happens, when you intentionally get rid of a person (fetus) it is murder, and therefore should be treated as a crime. The anti-abortion argument can be a bit confusing because the proponents of this argument do not really want to incriminate the mothers who decide to have abortion performed on them. These proponents actually want to incriminate the doctors who have â€Å"brainwashed† the mothers in order to get money from them. However, these are not quite convincing because if indeed it’s a crime, it is indeed murder because it is premeditated. Then again, these pro-lifers do not want extreme methods of punishment performed on the mother. For me, abortion should be legal but it should have conditions in order for it to be performed

Social Media in Brand Management and Brand Research Paper

Social Media in Brand Management and Brand - Research Paper Example However, the organization has commonly embraced the use of, facebook, Google and mobile applications as its major marketing channels (Evans, & McKee, 2010). Weinberg (2009) argues that H & M netted a huge number of followers on face-book through its publication, which states that customers can easily get a quick response on their inquiries posted on the fan page. Moreover, the organization has gone a notch higher by integrating their face-book onto other international languages. For instance, the H & M organizations face-book is intercepted by the local Chinese social platforms; Youku and Sina-Weibo hence making it easier to market the organizational products through different languages internationally. Besides, H & M has drawn a pool of over ten million fans on its face-book fan page though promotional post by encouraging customers to earn more rewards from the purchases. The above tactic enables H & M to improve on its sales volume that later translates to higher organizational turnouts. Besides, the organization runs a promotion that requests customers to post images on H & M’s fan page to win a variety of festive prices. The above consideration is a great deal that aims at drawing more attention of customers towards the organizational products. A good example is â€Å"the hashtag #HMBikeStyle." Looking at the social perspective of popularizing H &M through facebook, the organization has made much fairness by allowing people across different classes, age and cultural backgrounds within the society to have equal position towards the realization of the organizational brands. Despite the fact that facebook plays recommendable role in H & M’s marketing, its service provision is never maintained all the time thus making it difficult to give instant answers to the customers. Besides, the sales person is not in a position to meet customers directly thus making it harder to determine customer’s

Philosophical discussion with a film Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Philosophical discussion with a film - Essay Example The creation of an ideal superman and the philosophy of fighting for the good fo all and even killing for the same despite all personal feelings comprise the final theme of the movie. The ending might be controversial in some respects but the paper will defend his actions apart from relating my personal feelings regarding the same. The superman shows us a controversial philosophy of dealing with injustice with a bold face and taking the toughest decision of killing for good. The very concept behind the creation of a superman lies in something greater than human. But greater than human in what way is the main concern, i.e. should a superman be born with a bigger and wiser outlook towards life? Do we want to see him as more physically powerful than normal human beings or more psychological strong or be extremely benevolent and kind hearted which we are not capable of. We see a superman in our eyes and in our ways. My idea of a superman is someone who is extremely powerful and can easil y kill but will not kill and show his power unnecessarily. The provocation to show his power should be extremely strong in order to actually pour out his strength and go for a killing. Here the superman fits this criteria perfectly well and kills for a reason bigger than personal benefit. So here the superman is kind hearted and shows personal feelings for the loss like other human beings but he knows what is good for the world and does exactly that without being concerned about his personal gains. It is important to give ample chance to the victim for rectifying his mistakes and the superhero did the same too unlike he ormal state laws where a criminal is arrested and might be shot down without giving a fair chance for correction. So he is above the conventions and reason of human law. At this point I believe the Man of Steel satisfies the audience psychologically in being the super hero. A true hero whom people can idolize and worship and most importantly learn from under similar circumstances. This summer we got the pleasure to satisfy our fantasy instinct through the hero of the superheroes none other than Superman. Though the title Man of Steel nowhere reflects any indications of Superman in it, but the title itself re-boots the idea of the mystery and re-imagination of the background within it. This movie is the idea of a new version of the ever imaginative Superman story. Director Zack Synder tried to unfold his imagination which audience wants to see in their real life. Now there are several questions which has been arrived. Critics have various points to rate a film. This gets a first critical view in the aspect that it shows superman in a totally different aspect. The major critic that took place is that superman here is very serious, conservative, always frustrated, chiseled and handsome but not interested in any kind of romantic affairs. He is always trying to defend the planet earth from the evil eyes of Krypton another imaginary planet from where actually superman belongs to. But as he became the son of the earth and got attached with the upbringing atmosphere he now took this as a duty to protect earth from any bad force. Many critics have complained about the movie that the movie has too much action which was not actually required. But according to my point of view I will say that though it was full of action but the use of the plot was good and effective. This is because I think the director wanted to

Strategic Marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Strategic Marketing - Essay Example Business processes were reengineered by changing reward criteria and performance matrices as well as marketing activities. The idea of providing custom built solutions for the customers proved to be a handy tool for reaching customer satisfaction. Company’s emphasis also shifted to the global market where it tried to provide the business services by divesting itself on low margin industries. This enabled it to capture new markets and work towards customer satisfaction through different venues using different marketing techniques by adapting to cultural changes in different countries. Perhaps the most important competency that the company inculcated was that of becoming a brand worker ensuring to provide customized and integrated technologies to the customers even if that meant using a rival company’s product. This led to pervasive customer loyalty. IBM also bolstered its services division by acquiring a management consultancy firm that helped it to increase its business consultants worldwide. This led to the communication of company’s vision in a much effective way. 2. ... He did thorough research on the business units of the company and tried to integrate them into one so that they may follow standard procedures to create enhanced value for the customers. This move was an audacious decision as it was a contra act of the policy made by his predecessors. He also seemed to follow an adaptive approach in formulating new plans of action. This was evident when he tried to grab the opportunities to make profitable initiatives. Louis’s proactive approach towards business environment led him to gain advantage over his competitors in all respects. Louis also was apt at making bold decisions such as that of exiting the consumer market and playing in the larger business market only. Louis also viewed that IBM was a social entity at large and therefore employees and the workforce played a major role in the organisational success. That is why he took steps to reengineer the human resource management practices of the company making them more employee-centric at the basic level. In order to align the organisational performance with the proposed goals, Louis tried to focus on developing the brand concept. This later helped it to create loyal customers. He also redesigned the marketing campaigns of the firm in order to ensure that the all promotion activities boasted the same value proposition of the firm. All this shows that he was keen to follow a rigorous decision making process. In a nut shell, Louis’s style of implementation is analogous to that of a capable leader. He took bold decisions based on extensive research and tried to retain their viability. He also looked for new avenues to approach and cater through his judicious work style. 3. What are the implications

Elementary education effectiveness in Mississippi Essay Example for Free

Elementary education effectiveness in Mississippi Essay Mississippi consists of four-hundred and eighty-six thousand people living in poverty; ten percent of children belong to families that are not able to meet their needs (2005). Recent statistics show that those living in poverty are fifty-one percent African American and approximately forty-seven percent Caucasian (2005). Research has shown that the socioeconomic status of students influence the degree of success they will experience. (Donahue Grigg, 2003) Mississippi has varying degrees of reading proficiency among school districts. In the 2003-2004 school year, six districts, consisting of one elementary school, five middle schools and one high school, were identified as â€Å"in need for improvement†, based on the reading and math proficiency of its students. For the purpose of this study, only schools reflecting a lack in reading proficiency will be discussed. The U. S. Secretary of Education, Margaret Spelling announced in a November 2005 press release, â€Å"Eighty percent of the fastest-growing jobs require at least some post secondary education. Yet far too many students are leaving high school unprepared for college†. Improved student achievement can provide students better preparation for college, thus closing the achievement gap. Low socioeconomic schools, although improving, are still behind the majority of middle-to-upper class schools in America (Donahue Grigg, 2003). There are several factors to consider when looking at closing the achievement gap found in low socioeconomic schools. One factor is that â€Å"young, low-income and minority children are more likely to start school without having gained important school readiness skills, such as recognizing letters and counting† (2003). As Donahue and Grigg’s report showed, when students start school already behind others, they are likely to continue such patterns if not addressed early on. Existing studies demonstrate the problems researchers are having addressing literacy issues early on in a students academic career. Researches are trying to find appropriate strategies to combat the achievement gap with many variables which will be discussed further in detail, in the following study. Purpose of the Study The following is a detailed investigation into possible explanations of varying degrees of reading achievement found in Mississippi and what can be done to maintain a higher overall proficiency in reading among Mississippi students, while satisfying the requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. Many schools have chosen to implement a â€Å"school-wide approach† to closing the achievement gap; however, when dealing with schools consisting primarily of low-income students, there are other factors to consider when choosing a strategy. The proposed study will focus on improving reading skills in high-poverty schools found in Mississippi by comparing different techniques widely used and creating a more targeted strategy for low-income students. When deciding on an appropriate strategy for improving reading comprehension there are a few factors one must consider. The following questions will outline the factors to be researched in this study. Research Questions 1. What impact does social economic status have on the achievement gaps found in the State of Mississippi? 2. What are the contributing factors found in Mississippi schools that are demonstrating low reading scores among economically disadvantaged students? 3. Are there high-poverty schools in Mississippi which demonstrate positive improvements in reading scores? What are the strategies used? 4. How does implementing Theory into Practice (TIP) encourage positive student achievement in disadvantaged schools? Hypothesis To affectively close low socioeconomic achievement gaps in reading, strong emphasis on establishing proficient reading ability should be made in elementary school. Nature of the Study The research conducted in this study will be an investigation of existing literature regarding techniques used in improving reading skills, exemplary schools demonstrating such techniques and finally, a suggested strategy to use when applying research to low socioeconomic schools with low reading proficiency found in Mississippi school districts. Significance of the Study The significance of this study is that by identifying factors contributing to the achievement gap found in low socioeconomic school districts, as well as investigating into existing programs that have had a positive influence on reading performance scores in other high-poverty schools is that, school administrators and policy makers will have a better basis in which to improve upon existing programs and interventions that would be more financially attainable than starting new programs. The high cost of starting new programs such as; creating new assessment strategies, providing more staff and researchers as well as other costly planning and implementing variables, often times are not practical for low-economic schools. While children of today are growing up in a world where data are being revealed at an alarming rate and knowledge is simply a click away, reading plays an increasingly crucial role in society (Topping Paul, 1999). The ability to read is not only fundamental for understanding and mastery of every school subject students will encounter, but literacy also plays a critical and crucial role in students social and economic lives (Snow, Bums, Griffin, 1998). As a result, no other factor will have a greater impact on the success of students in Mississippi than their ability to read. With such an emphasis placed on the importance of reading achievement, educational leaders must clearly articulate the expectation that all students can become successful readers, while providing the most effective strategies and opportunities for students to succeed in reading and adopt lifelong reading practices. (Okpala, et al. , 2001) Definitions of Terms Action Team for Partnership- This partnership is also known as a School Improvement Team or a School Council. Although the ATP members oversee the schools partnership program, other teachers, parents, students, administrators, and community members also may lead family and community involvement activities (ATP website). Adequate Yearly Progress- AYP requires that schools hold the same high standards for all their students; regardless of racial or ethnic background, socioeconomic status and English proficiency Core Academic Subjects- These subjects include: English, language arts and reading, arts, civics, government and history, mathematics and science, foreign languages, as well as, economics and geography. Elementary School- a nonprofit institution which includes, public school, day or residential school and elementary charter schools which State law mandated elementary education. Family Literacy Services The services provided to participants on a voluntary basis that foster a positive change in families. These changes include, providing families with interactive activities between parents and child concerning literacy, teaching parents to take an active role in their children’s education, teaching self-sufficiency by providing parental literacy training, and providing education to children which is age-appropriate and prepares them for school and life experiences. Highly Qualified (in reference to public elementary or secondary school teacher) – A highly qualified teacher will possess a State certification for teaching or holds a license to teach in a particular state due to passing the State exam and is employed in a teaching position after meeting all required testing, training and educational requirements satisfactory to the State, district and school regulations. Mentoring- A responsible elder who provides positive leadership and guidance to a child as a positive role model in that child’s life. A mentor mission is to help a child to one day become a responsible adult. Minority- a group of students which do not demonstrate the majority’s characteristics, such as socioeconomic status, ethnic background or other key characteristics. Other Staff- staff found within an institution such as personnel, guidance counselors, and administration and teachers aides. Limitations In her 2005 press release Secretary Spelling said, â€Å"we all hear a lot of stories about why schools are missing Adequate Yearly Progress, but we don’t hear much about how thousands of other schools are making it and closing the achievement gap†. This study is limited by location; its main concentration being primarily on Mississippi schools, programs and outcomes. The primary research method is investigating existing literature, as such; there is substantial literature on the failures of many schools trying to improve student achievement; however there is very little literature depicting success. One other limitation to consider is that this study focuses on reading proficiency; however; to get the most accurate depiction of a schools success is to consider all core academic subjects.

Comparative Analysis of the Movie Essay Example for Free

Comparative Analysis of the Movie Essay The movies have good story lines and scripts. Since both the movies were music and dance based, the music of the movies has been very good. Fish Tank Nowhere Boy Year of Release 2009 2010 Genre and Theme Drama Drama Storyline brief/ Narrative Based on the life of the girl who likes to go for the street dancing. Based on the life of the boy who was living with aunt and wanted to be a guitarist. Characters Leading character of the movie is the 21st century girl but she lives alone and just practices her street dance. Leading character of the movie is the boy of 21st century too but wanted to learn playing guitar and want to forget everything of his past. Locations (Shown and Shot) Mardyke Estate in Havering Liverpool and at Ealing Studios in West London Costume: Dressing Designer Culture represented Usually in the denim and T-shirt, boxers, track suits, hip-hop or street dance costumes. Jane Petrie Present culture Sophisticated dressing as per the role requirement of a guitarist and usually in proper uniform like school uniform or formal school uniform. Juliar Day Present culture. Settings of the movie This was the art movie and based on dance. The girl lived with mother and sister. This movie was also the art movie but based on instrument playing. Single family of Aunt and John was the main setting. Attitude of leading characters towards the world In this movie, Mia lives isolated from the world and she only do practice of her street dancing in her house. John live with his aunt and enjoy the social culture like going out on trips, parties etc with friends. Mode of enjoyment of the leading characters Mia only likes to dance so she enjoys that. Johnson likes to play guitar and he only like to do that. Similarity The movie was based on an art form, teenager or youth oriented. The characters wanted to learn particular dance form. She saw a street dancer which become source of inspiration This movie was also based on art teenager or youth oriented. The character wanted to learn particular music. He attended a show which became his source of inspiration for learning and playing Guitar. Difference The movie is female oriented, where the comparatively new dance form of Street dancing has been focused. In this movie, the leading character wanted to learn guitar and enjoyed playing Guitar the most and was excellent with that. His passion for Guitar has made him practice as much as he could perform much beyond his age like professionals. Conclusion In both the movies, the main aspect was to show the life of the teenage girl and a boy that how the society deals with. In Fish Tank, Mia was the girl who got admired by the street dancers who were performing and in Nowhere Boy also, John got admired from the guitarist who can be able to play much better than the band. And in both the movies, director had shown clearly that the future is influenced by the past. So Mia got tensed in the movie Fish Tank as she heard that Connor had left them and in Nowhere Boy, John was also got irritated due to his past. These movies was generally built for the young generation people as they already have pressure of studies and their hobbies and what they want to be in their life. Society also provide pressure to them which result in making pressure in the mind of the child and due to this many children left studying and they got distracted from their hobbies too. Reference British Film Industry available at http://news. bbc. co. uk/2/hi/in_depth/entertainment/2003/british_film_industry/default. stm Curran and Porter, 1993 British Cinema History, London: Weidenfeld Nicholson 9-23 Murphy, R. ed. , 2009 The British Cinema Book, London: BFI, 1-64, 65-142 Fish Tank official website http://www. michaelfassbender. org/episodesfte. html http://www. hollywoodreporter. com/hr/film-reviews/fish-tank-film-review-1003973214. story Image Fish Tank from http://www. movieroar. com/images/fish-tankpster1. jpg Nowhere Boy Movie Review http://www. futuremovies. co. uk/review. asp? ID=1110 No Where Boy movie details available at http://www. nowhereboy. co. uk/ http://www. hollywoodreporter. com/hr/film-reviews/nowhere-boy-film-review-1004031851. story.

Analysis of Open Source Content Management Systems

Analysis of Open Source Content Management Systems Chapter 1 Introduction Background Although most of us take information for granted, good information is easy to come by. Lets investigate the difference between data and information, the characteristics of good information and the process of transforming data into useful information. To make sound decisions managers need reliable, accurate data that can be transformed into information. Organisations use many methods to collect data , including survey ,interviews, documents reading and even brain-wave monitoring. Sophisticated voice activated technology is available that allows people to store data merely by speaking into a computer. Today it is widely recognized that information systems knowledge is essential for managers because most organisations need information systems to survive and prosper. Information systems can help companies to extend reach to faraway location, offer new product and services, reshape jobs and work flows, and perhaps profoundly change the way they conduct business. The past decade has seen a rigorous change in the way we understand and use Information Technology within a business context. Advancements in the field of research and development has led to technologies such as; distributed computing, content management, data mining and processing, all of which fulfil a range of business needs. The move from localised computing platforms to distributed web technologies has been caused by, among other factors, the take-up of commodity computer and network components based on faster hardware and sophisticated software. About The Project The objective of this report is to analyse and compare a specific category of open source content management systems, within the context of small to medium businesses; this specific category is about web portals. The project aims to create a comprehensive comparison which deals with the specific requirements of small to medium businesses only. Thus, providing a clear understanding of the current trends within the commercial sector and the open source community. This report involves a comparison between existing open source, web portal content management systems. The comparison is based on a set of business requirements which represent the needs of small to medium businesses, which aims to find an open source solution as an alternative to commercial solutions. Due to the nature of this subject, this report assumes that the reader has some understanding about Information Technology. Chapter 2 Content Management Content From A Business Perspective Computers where initially created to perform time-consuming or complex mathematical computations and in many ways replace human labour. Boiko (2001) describes the computer model as follows: â€Å"If you can reduce a problem to a series of simple mechanical operations on numbers and logical entities (entities that are either true of false), it is amenable to solution by a computer†. At their lowest level, computers process data. The data processed by computers at a low level is not immediately readable or understandable, because it is made to be understood by the computer only. This data is used to perform a set of operations as described above. The fact that computers are data-processing machines makes it hard to process content, which by definition is not just data. Technology has evolved over the years and computers are now required to perform computations on content while retaining their human meaning. Electronic Commerce ,Electronic Business, And Digital Relationship The changes we have just described represent new ways of conducting business electronically both inside and outside the farm that can ultimately result in the creation of digital firms. Increasingly, the internet is providing the underlying technology for these changes. The internet can link thousands of organisations into a single network creating the foundation for a vast digital marketplace. A digital market is an information system that links together many buyers and sellers to exchange information, products, services and payments. Through computers and networks, these systems function like electronic intermediaries, with lowered cost for typical marketplace transactions such as matching buyers and sellers establishing prices ordering goods and paying bills. Buyers sellers can complete purchase and sale transactions digitally regardless of their location. New Opportunities With Technology Although information systems are creating many exciting opportunities for both businesses and individuals, they are also a source of new problems, issues and challenges for managers. In this course we will learn about both the challenges and opportunities information systems pose and we will be able to use information technology to enrich our learning experience. New technologies open up far more possibilities for reproducing previously published work online than we can afford to pursue, so we have to pick and choose the most useful ones for you, our audience. The Journal would like to gather and benefit from all of the ideas, suggestions, and hard work that readers are willing to provide. Constructive technology assessment (CTA) differs from other technology assessment methods by emphasizing implementation and development of new technologies over a simple assessment of those technologies potential impact. CTA, which was developed in Denmark and the Netherlands, seeks to moderate the impact of potentially damaging technologies while taking full advantage of beneficial technologies. Nowadays, the development of integrated circuit (IC) industry and scientific researchers rely more and more on the nanofabrication technologies. Nanoimprint lithography (NIL) has been included on the ITRS lithography roadmap for 32nm, 22nm and 16nm nodes. However, there are numerous other applications for NIL. This patterning technique shows great potential in fabrication of nanostructures at all. Metadata Encapsulation Of Content Processing such content will produce the required results for the human user. Those results will contain an abstract meaning that can only be interpreted by a human user. Defining data with information and making it into content is a process similar to the operations performed in every day situations. For example, searching for a book in a library or finding a movie in a video store. Both operations have the similarity of providing information about other information. A library, offers a computerised search engine that searches through categories of â€Å"author† and â€Å"title†, while the video store may search for â€Å"actor† and â€Å"year of release†. Therefore, a room full of books may be seen as a pile of data, while the same room with a categorised search engine may be seen as real content. The books become more than just data, because they have been given a description. The method of content description is called metadata. Metadata is data about data, which defines the human aspect of content. Metadata first appeared on the web when the immense amount of data over the internet became impossible to process or to even understand. Some of the leading technologies and standards on metadata are seen. Metadata technologies are themselves based on published internet standards. This method of creating a new standard based on another existing standard is very useful within businesses in order to make the exchange of content as smooth as possible. The leading standard technologies are eXtensible Markup Language (XML), which defines the Resource Description Framework (RDF) syntax as recommended by the W3C. Building on top of metadata and XML, are a number of advanced technologies and project. Concurrent Changes Management Project completion skew occurs once the team has grown into a substantial number of developers, at which point they are all working on different parts of the project, possibly in small groups. These small groups usually work on diverse activities separated from each other or sometimes in conjunction. As a result, each group will be developing, integrating and testing their work separately, before committing their work into the complete project. These groups will also be working under different schedules. This implies that a group may be starting its work while another is getting ready to commit theirs . Structure Of The Comparison Each business has its own set of requirements for a CMS solution, which depend on various parameters such as; the size of the business, field of operation, type of managed data and target customers. It is highly unlikely that a single product will have all the required functionality. As a result, this report tries to identify potential products which are scalable and expandable. Applications Data repository Deployment Integration Revision control User interface User management Workflow Applications are about general functionality which compliment the entire CMS solution. Availability of the development API allows developers to expand the existing functionality and add custom processes per business requirements. Marketing and advertising features allow the website to display banner advertising or offer opt-in permission marketing forms. Localisation and multi-language support for all documents and processes. Time-based event functions, like scheduling. Site-wide searching engine which allows transparent searches over different content. Finally, e-commerce functionality which allows the system to perform online transactions. Data repository is about flexibility in content storage. Information is an asset to every business, proper management of the data storage can be an advantage. A CMS solution may use multiple storage methods, including a Relational DataBase Management System (RDBMS) and Network File System (NFS) or other file system based storage. Apart from the storage medium, it is also important to use a standards compliant storage format such as XML. In particular, XML provides transformation services and content validation along with the split between content, format and business logic. Deployment can be one of the most important features from a business per-spective. Medium to large scale systems use multiple servers for fault tolerance and improved availability. A CMS products ability to scale through multiple servers gives the extra advantage for reliability. Replication is also an issue, the flow of updates that go from testing into production should be able to replicate reliably and with roll back support, as discussed in section Finally, multiple output formats can increase the target audience, for example; by providing mobile phone access via SMS or WAP. Integration deals with the every day management of the system. Metadata management via content classification systems which enable arbitrary data to become useful information assets for the business. Information can be used along with 3rd party web applications, such as log analysers and spam filters. Data conversion, allows users to publish or submit data in different format from the one used to publish their data, for example PDF to HTML conversion. Integration is also about compliance with the internet standards published by the W3C such as; HTML 4.01 and XHTML 1.0/1.1. Based on those standards are the requirements for compliance with the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 chapter 50 (HMSO 1995) which came into effect in the United Kingdom. This Act enforces new rules for websites to create content which is accessible by disabled people. Standards compliance means that a CMS product must be able to generate code that is compliant with the Web Accessibility Initiative guidelines. Revision control, as seen in section 2.3.1, is about management of changes, while keeping track of known milestones and working versions of the entire web site development and content. Revision control allows users to keep track of changes, while protecting them against overlapping changes by other users. Roll back functionality gives the user a chance to return to a known working copy of data, which also makes it easy to compare changes over time. User interface is not just about the client â€Å"visual† interface. The user interface is a collection of interface features which help the user or administrator to effectively manage the system. Interface tools enhance the control of processes, some of these tools are; HTML forms, WYSIWYG content editor and document linking. The user interface should provide the choice between high and low level editing, either edit the code directly, or provide a suitable interface which generates the required code. User management is about access and control of the system. The system should allow for 3rd party authentication, such as; SQL database, LDAP, NIS/YP, PAM. In addition, the interface should provide adequate user management control, for example; system-wide user modification. Workflow is a collaboration process for the development and maintenance of business assets which involve steps such as; varied information types, cross departmental staff and functions based on a submit/review/approve steps. As seen in section 2.3.4, workflow is important to clearly define processes which perform specific functions, with various dependencies between them. These functions automate routing of information, review and finally approve changes. Chapter 3 Open Source Software Free Software This report deals with certain types of free software; open source content management systems. Therefore, it is very important to define the term free software, because the concept itself is ambiguous. A wide range of software is distributed as â€Å"free† because it does not cost anything to download or use. However the source code is not made available or the software is distributed with a restrictive license. Binary or source code distributions could be copyrighted and covered by a license agreement, which could hold a range of few to extreme restrictions, like a disclaimer of reliability. â€Å"Free software† is a matter of liberty, not price. The Open Source Model The freedom to run the program, for any purpose. The freedom to study how the program works, and adapt it to your needs. Access to the source code is a precondition for this. The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help your neighbour. The freedom to improve the program, and release your improvements to the public, so that the whole community benefits. Access to the source code is a precondition for this. Requirements of free software Restrictions on these ‘free software come with licenses which; prohibit its use or require a fee for commercial user, prohibit or limit redistribution, including redistributing modified versions. Some licenses also require redistribution of derived works to use the same license as the original product or even release the modified source code. A few licenses also discriminate against individuals or groups. The term free software is widely used in the Information Technology industry. However, its ambiguity hampers communication due to arguments over whether a particular piece of software is ‘free or not (OSI 2004). lists the rules which define the term â€Å"free software† as published by the FSF (2004). Banner Advertising Banner advertising is on a pay-per-view basis, according to the following rates: Home Page Other Pages Number of Views Cost ($US) Cost ($US) 4,000 $100 $50 10,000 $200 $100 25,000 $400 $200 75,000 $1000 $500 175,000 $2000 $1000 400,000 $4000 $2000 Either a large (46860 pixels) banner advertisement strategically placed at the top of every page on the site (or a selection of pages, at your choice), or a 120600 pixel â€Å"skyscraper† banner ad in the left hand column of every page on the site (or a selection of pages, at your choice). We can also arrange text only advertisements. A hotlink to your web site (or email address) when prospective buyers click on the ad Full on-line statistical information, by day and overall, on the number of ad exposures, and the click-through ratio for your ad We can customize a banner advertising program that targets those visitors that you wish to be exposed to by only displaying your advertisement on those selected pages on the site that best suits your product or service. We also have the capability to target ads by geographical location or by keywords. We can accept banner ads in most graphic formats, including rich media formats such as Flash. On all pages, (except where an exclusive advertising arrangement is in place, subject to negotiation) banner ads are placed on rotation with other banner advertisements. Current site statistics indicate that each visitor to the site visits approximately 5 pages per visit, so advertising is limited to a maximum of 5 advertisers on each page each with equal probability of exposure on the page. Newsletter Sponsorship/Advertising Advertising and Sponsorship opportunities our free monthly newsletter on topics of interest to Maintenance professionals around the globe. This newsletter is issued via plain text e-mail to an opt-in subscriber base numbering in the thousands, with a web version also published. Two advertising slots are currently permitted within each newsletter, and the advertisement consists of: Four lines of text in the e-mail version of the newsletter, and Four lines of text plus a banner advertisement in the web-based version of the newsletter The banner advertisement comes with full on-line, real-time statistical reporting, as for site banner advertisements (detailed above) Advertising rates depend on the number of subscribers to the newsletter. For more information on current rates, subscribers and the availability of space in future newsletters. Direct Mail To Our Opt-In Mailing List In addition to our opt-in subscriber base for the M-News newsletter, we have a further opt-in list of contacts who have expressed interest in receiving occasional e-mails containing information about maintenance-related products and services. We can issue an email to members of this list on your behalf promoting your products or services. Once again, advertising rates depend on the number of subscribers to the opt-in mailing list. For more information on current rates and the number of subscribers. General Terms And Conditions We will typically invoice you for your advertising program either shortly before completion of your advertising run, or quarterly. Payment terms are strictly 30 days on issue of invoice We can accept your payment either by check or by major credit card. We are based in Australia, and so payment in Australian dollars is preferred (and is required when paying by credit card). We will advise you of the exact Australian dollar equivalent before receiving payment from you. In general, we use the Currency Calculator /for making currency conversion calculations. Where we have concerns about your credit worthiness, we reserve the right to receive payment before commencing your advertising program. Free Redistribution â€Å"The license shall not restrict any party from selling or giving away the software as a component of an aggregate software distribution containing programs from several different sources. The license shall not require a royalty or other fee for such sale† (OSI 2004). By ensuring free redistribution, open source software is not hampered by short-term gains which would affect real long-term sales from customised versions of the software or contracted support and maintenance. Thus, a supplier may generate copies of the software and sell them or give them away without paying anyone for that privilege. As a result, many open source software can be bought on CD or DVD by paying for the cost of the medium only, since the supplier is not adding any extra costs. â€Å"The program must include source code, and must allow distribution in source code as well as compiled form. Where some form of a product is THE OPEN SOURCE MODEL not distributed with source code, there must be a well-publicised means of obtaining the source code for no more than a reasonable reproduction costpreferably, downloading via the Internet without charge. The source code must be the preferred form in which a programmer would modify the program. Deliberately obfuscated source code is not allowed. Intermediate forms such as the output of a preprocessor or translator are not allowed† (OSI 2004). To evolve and expand open source software, the source code must be available and in a modifiable state. The original or modified source code is then provided along with the software and any derived works, in order to ensure future repair or modifications. â€Å"The license must allow modifications and derived works, and must allow them to be distributed under the same terms as the license of the original software† (OSI 2004). Future software updates and maintenance of the distributed source code, as seen in section 3.2.2, has no real use if the modified software cannot be distributed. Therefore, the ability to simply modify the source code is not enough to support independent peer review and rapid evolutionary selection. Instead, it should be possible to redistribute the modified software along with the modified source code. Redistributed software can use the same license terms as the original software. Although this is not a requirement to do so but an option at the hands of the distributor. This requirement means; a license may not allow re-licensing or modification of its terms, or may allow re-licensing and sub-licensing of derived works. Chapter 4 Content Management Systems CMS Categories Content Management Systems (CMS) are not just a product or a technology. CMS is a generic term which defines a wide range of processes which underpin the â€Å"next-generation† of medium to large-scale websites (Browning Lowndes 2001). A content management process; creates, stores, modifies, retrieves and displays data, or content, as seen in chapter 2. The applications of CMS cannot be clearly defined. Even though a CMS is range of processes and managed software, the boundaries of the CMS space are blurred. The area covered by CMS overlaps with a wide range of traditional software systems, as seen in figure 4.1. As a result of this overlap of functionality, an intranet groupware system or virtual learning system can easily be implemented via the same CMS (Browning Lowndes 2001). CMS have no single interface or implementation, they are effectively designed on the requirements of each business. The implementations of CMS differ from web based to integrated server-side applications. Requirements Prerequisites Document management systems Knowledge management systems Enterprise application integration systems E-commerce solutions Web portals CMS categories implementations vary from PHP, Perl and Python. Integrated application server implementations use popular languages like Java 2 Enterprise Edition and C++. Figure 4.2 shows a visual interpretation of the structure of a typical CMS. This report does not deal with the application or use of CMS, for example; document management or virtual learning. Instead, this report takes a comparative approach to web portals only, based on their functionality from a business perspective. Web portals are websites which act as a main â€Å"point of entry† for users. They offer a range of services, for example; news section, search engine and web catalogue. Web portals are CMS solutions which offer content over the web, thus they may seem limited in functionality over traditional applications. To the contrary, due to the pervasive nature of the internet, the web has become the preferred method for content delivery (Browning Lowndes 2001). Requirements Prerequisites Although requirements on software packages vary between businesses, they still have certain common requirements. The objective of this report is to compare the widest possible selection of open source content management systems, which can be used by businesses. The most suitable CMS solutions Requirements Prerequisites Applications Deployment Workflow Versioning Integration Content User Management Data Repository Integration Authentication Services Syndication Management Link Interface User Data Repository Relational are selected based on a set of clearly defined requirements, all others have been rejected. Figure 4.3 lists these requirements. All the systems compared within this report are required to be licensed by an OSI-approved open source license, as defined in chapter 3. Open source software is widely recognised for its standards compliance, which is vital for businesses. For example, creating a website which uses proprietary data structures will hinder future expansion to new systems or technologies due to incompatibilities. Open source software are more likely to follow standards like the W3C Extensible HyperText Markup Language (XHTML) or XML specifications while ensuring they can interact with each other. Commercial software tend to be incompatible with each other in order to keep the customer hooked to a specific technology or supplier. Compatibility with the Apache HTTP server is vital. The Apache HTTP server is the most widely used web server on the internet. Netcraft (2004) reports that more than 67% of the websites on the internet are using Apache, with 4 million new hostnames growth in the first half of 2004. Chapter 5 Planning to implement MIS in the organisation: Information System An information system is a set of interrelated components that collect, process, store and distribute information to support decision making and control in an organisation. In addition to support decision making, coordination, and control, information system may also help managers and workers analyze problems and visualize complex subjects and create new products. Information systems contain information about significant people, place and things within the organisation or in the environment surrounding its. By information we mean data that have been shaped into a form that is meaningful and useful to human beings. Data is contrast are streams of raw facts representing events occurring in organisation or physical environment before they have been organised and arranged into a form that people can understand and use. Theres more growth and innovation in computing and ICT than in any other area of business. The individuals and organisations best equipped to respond to the challenge of rapidly changing technologies are those with the vision to ensure that their skills and knowledge are kept current and set in a broad educational context. Computing and ICT professionals with a strong skill set are much in demand today, and enrolling on a postgraduate computing course with the OU will keep you at the forefront of this influential discipline. Our Postgraduate Computing and ICT courses provide you with the range of innovative, practice-based courses and qualifications that you need to develop your career. We offer several certificates, diplomas and masters degrees in computing and ICT, and you can choose to study topics such as software development and management, project management, computer forensics, information security, communication technologies and networks. You dont need to have a first degree to register for a course, but you do need either previous study to the equivalent of HND level in the UK, or practical experience, which will enable study at postgraduate level. Management Data Resources Implementing a database requires widespread organisation change in the role of information, the allocation of power at senior levels, the ownership and sharing of information, patterns of organisational agreement. A database management system challenges the existing power arrangements in an organisation and for that reason often generates political resistance. In a traditional file environment each department constructed files and programs to fulfill its specific needs. Now with a database files and programs must be built that take into account the full organisations interest in data. Moving database environment can be a costly long term process,. Electronic Business, Electronic Commerce Throughout this edition we emphasize the benefits of integrating information across the enterprise, creating an information technology infrastructure in which information can be flow seamlessly from one part of the organisation to another and from the organisation to its customers, suppliers, and business partners. The emerging digital firm require this level of information integration and companies increasingly depend on such an infrastructure today to remain efficient and competitive. Internet technology has emerged as the key enabling technology for this digital integration. Chapter 6 Conclusion The internet has been introduced major changes in the way companies conduct business. It has created a dramatic drop in the cost of developing, sending and storing information while making that information more widely available. Millions of people can exchange massive amounts of information directly, instantly, for free. These requirements apply to the modified work as a whole. If identifiable sections of that work are not derived from the Program, and can be reasonably considered independent and separate works in themselves, then this License, and its terms, do not apply to those sections when you distribute them as separate works. But when you distribute the same sections as part of a whole which is a work based on the Program, the distribution of the whole must be on the terms of this License, whose permissions for other licensees extend to the entire whole, and thus to each and every part regardless of who wrote it. Reference Linux (2004), The linux kernel archives. Last access: 20-4-2004. URL: http://www.kernel.org Maglio, P. Farrell, S. (2000), Liveinfo: Adapting web experience by customization and annotation, in ‘Proceedings of the 1st International Conference on Adaptive Hypermedia and Adaptive Web-based Systems. Michelinakis, D. (2003), SotonOne project, Masters thesis, University of Southampton, Department of Electronics and Computer Science. MozillaFoundation (2004), The mozilla browser. Last

Computers In Our Society :: essays research papers

Don’t know anything about computers? Don’t think they are a big part of your life? Think again! Computers are wondrous machines that improve our lives in many areas like education, entertainment, and work.(Paragraph)The use of computers in and out of school has made improvements in the way we learn. For instance, “the use of computers in the classroom has freed up some of my time so I can give more individualized instruction to the needy,'; says Instructor Mary S. Teachemall of a local neighborhood grade school is a definite improvement over not having computers as a way of learning. Also, college students having easy access to computers for various school related tasks’ like changing complete blocks of text on a term paper in a split second, using graphics to better express a particular point or idea, and being able to tap into the world wide web where vast amounts of information is at the fingertips of the user is a marked improvement from 10 years ago. Furt hermore, the use of computers in the home has extended the hours we can learn at a higher level without the environmental pressures of school or work thereby improving the way we learn.(paragraph)Also, the use of computers has expanded our choices for entertainment. As an example, the all-American game of Monopoly can be played by a single person and a computer and the need for several people has been obsoleted is one way our choices for entertainment have been expanded. Another example of our expanding choices is that you can not only watch movies on DVD (Digital Video Disc) but re-edit them with your own sound tracks and special effects, listen to music on CD-rom’s, even manufacture your own cartoons or even your own movies all on a computer. Moreover, the ability of the computer to link a person with others from far away places where conversations without inferences are sparked and ideas are exchanged internationally is a popular selection for millions everyday as a choice for entertainment.(paragraph)I also think the working environment where computers are used is becoming more and more diverse. As an example, farmers have computers in their tractors hooked up to GPS (Global Positioning Satellite) systems that not only tell them where to spray their pesticides but are programmed to take care of the task for them as they drive along all because a digital image from a satellite some 23,000 miles away saw too many bugs in a certain part of one of his fields is very diverse.

Fran Dorn :: essays research papers

Fran Dorn, the host of our video, is an intellectual person who holds a special appreciation for all forms of literature. She graduated with a master’s degree in theatre from a New York school and is now an actress who enjoys reading in her spare time.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Fran views each work of literature as a gift. She states that literature is very hard to define and that although each reader must find his or her own definition of literature, we can examine how and why literature works. Throughout the video, many views on literature are offered. Fran concludes that although literature comes in many forms, it must have a written quality to it. She believes that this creates a relationship between the author and the reader of the piece. As the reader makes his or her way through a piece of literature, Fran feels new worlds are opened and the reader is enriched through the experience of literature. All literature has meaning, but it means different things to each person because we each bring in different experiences. Fran concludes that literature has great meaning because it is written not only from the author’s mind, but also from the author’s heart; the whole person is involved in writing. I feel Fran would have us regard literature in the same way that she does. Fran desires for us to consider the meaning and value in each piece. She would like us to appreciate the value of literature and to discover the joy in it that she treasures.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The critics on our videotape offer three different interpretations of Nicki Giovanni’s poem â€Å"Woman†. I found the first critic’s viewpoint to be the most reasonable, logical interpretation. Alvin Aubert, a professor of English at Wayne State University, feels that the poem was written in a satirical tone with an emphasis on how women are not taken seriously in the world today. However, he also concludes that at the end of the poem, the woman has decided to accept this. Even though she is not taken seriously as a woman, she will still continue to be a woman.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I agree with Aubert’s point of view because I feel there is evidence in the poem to support his interpretation. Throughout the poem, each time the woman wanted to be something, the man rejected that role for her, thus not taking her seriously, nor recognizing her value in that rule. Fran Dorn :: essays research papers Fran Dorn, the host of our video, is an intellectual person who holds a special appreciation for all forms of literature. She graduated with a master’s degree in theatre from a New York school and is now an actress who enjoys reading in her spare time.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Fran views each work of literature as a gift. She states that literature is very hard to define and that although each reader must find his or her own definition of literature, we can examine how and why literature works. Throughout the video, many views on literature are offered. Fran concludes that although literature comes in many forms, it must have a written quality to it. She believes that this creates a relationship between the author and the reader of the piece. As the reader makes his or her way through a piece of literature, Fran feels new worlds are opened and the reader is enriched through the experience of literature. All literature has meaning, but it means different things to each person because we each bring in different experiences. Fran concludes that literature has great meaning because it is written not only from the author’s mind, but also from the author’s heart; the whole person is involved in writing. I feel Fran would have us regard literature in the same way that she does. Fran desires for us to consider the meaning and value in each piece. She would like us to appreciate the value of literature and to discover the joy in it that she treasures.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The critics on our videotape offer three different interpretations of Nicki Giovanni’s poem â€Å"Woman†. I found the first critic’s viewpoint to be the most reasonable, logical interpretation. Alvin Aubert, a professor of English at Wayne State University, feels that the poem was written in a satirical tone with an emphasis on how women are not taken seriously in the world today. However, he also concludes that at the end of the poem, the woman has decided to accept this. Even though she is not taken seriously as a woman, she will still continue to be a woman.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I agree with Aubert’s point of view because I feel there is evidence in the poem to support his interpretation. Throughout the poem, each time the woman wanted to be something, the man rejected that role for her, thus not taking her seriously, nor recognizing her value in that rule.

Heart of Darkness - Outline :: essays research papers

Marlow stands on the Thames River and remarks that the land he and his   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  comrades is standing on was once a place of darkness and an uncivilized   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  wilderness  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Through nostalgia he remembers an incident from his past when he commanded a   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  steamboat on the Congo River.  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  He talks about the Company’s chief accountant who first mentions Kurtz to him.  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The accountant tells him that Kurtz supplies more ivory for the company than   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  everyone else combined.  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Marlow’s interests in Kurtz is perked.  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Marlow discovers that the steamer he is supposed to command has been destroyed   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  in a wreck.  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  He meets the local manager who mentions Kurtz in conversation.  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  He tells Marlow that Kurtz is ill and he must get to Kurtz swiftly and bring him   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  back for medical treatment.  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Marlow speaks with a brick maker who admires and envies Kurtz.  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Marlow eavesdrops on a conversation between the manager and uncle. He learns   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  that the manager resents Kurtz.  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Three months pass. Marlow and a crew set sail towards Kurtz’s location.  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Fifty miles before Kurtz’s station, they discover a hut bearing wood for the   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  steamboat and message to proceed with caution.  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Two days later they awaken to an attack by the savages. The helmsman is killed.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Kurtz blows the steamboat whistle to frighten away the savages. Dumps dead   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  helmsman’s body overboard so cannibals don’t get any ideas about eating him.  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  They arrive at the Inner Station. Greeted by a Russian that takes care of Kurtz.  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Through conversation with the Russian, they learn that Kurtz has not been the   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  most upstanding and moral person. He’s been abusive to the natives.  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Kurtz appears, carried on a stretcher.  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  They carry Kurtz onboard the steamboat.  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The manager tells Marlow he disapproves of Kurtz.  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Russian makes a visit to Marlow, tells him that Kurtz ordered the attack on   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  their vessel that killed their helmsman.  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Kurtz escapes and swims ashore. Marlow goes after him and cuts him off.  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  They make a departure, savages show up, Marlow blows whistle and scares them   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  away again.

Positive And Negative Effects Of Gaming

Video games are frowned upon by parents as time-wasters, and worse, some education experts think that these games corrupt the brain. Violent video games are easily blamed by the media and some experts as the reason why some young people become violent or commit extreme anti-social behavior. But many scientists and psychologists find that video games can actually have many benefits – the main one is making kids smart. Video games may actually teach kids high-level thinking skills that they will need in the future.Positive Effects of Video Games:†¢When you play video games, it gives the brain a real workout. In many video games, the skills required to win involve abstract and high level thinking. These skills are not even taught at school. Some of the mental skills enhanced by video games include: o Following instructionso Problem solving and logic o Hand-eye coordination, fine motor and spatial skills. o Planning, resource management and logistics. o Multitasking o Quick t hinking, making fast analysis and decisions. o Accuracyo Pattern recognition o Estimating skillso Memory . o Concentration o Improved ability to rapidly and accurately recognize visual information o Teamwork and cooperation when played with others o Management†¢Video games increase your self-confidence and self-esteem as you master the games. In many games, the levels of difficulty are adjustable.As a beginner, you begin at the easy level and by constant practicing and slowly  building skills, you become confident in handling more difficult challenges. Since the cost of failure is lower, you don’t fear making mistakes. You take more risks and explore more. You can transfer this attitude to the real life.Negative Effects of Video Games:†¢Most of the bad effects of video games are blamed on the violence they contain. Children who play more violent video games are more likely to have increased aggressive thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and decreased prosocial help ing, according to a scientific study (Anderson & Bushman, 2001). The effect of video game violence in kids is worsened by the games’ interactive nature. In many games, kids are rewarded for being more violent. The act of violence is done repeatedly. The child is in control of the violence and experiences the violence in his own eyes (killings, kicking, stabbing and shooting).This active participation, repetition and reward are effective tools for learning behavior. Indeed, many studies seem to indicate that violent video games may be related to aggressive behavior (such as Anderson & Dill, 2000; Gentile, Lynch & Walsh, 2004). However, the evidence is not consistent and this issue is far from settled. Many experts including Henry Jenkins of Massachusetts Institute of Technology have noted that there is a decreased rate of juvenile crime whch coincides with the popularity of games such as Death Race, Mortal Kombat, Doom and Grand Theft auto.He concludes that teenage players are able to leave the emotional effects of the game behind when the game is over. Indeed there are cases of teenagers who commit violent crimes who also spend great amount of time playing video games such as those involved in the Columbine and Newport cases. It appears that there will always be violent people, and it just so happen that many of them also enjoy playing violent video games. †¢Too much video game playing makes your kid socially isolated. Also, he may spend less time in other activities such as doing homework, reading, sports, and interacting with the family and friends.†¢Some video games teach kids the wrong values. Violent behavior, vengeance and aggression are rewarded. Negotiating and other nonviolent solutions are often not options. Women are often portrayed as weaker characters that are helpless or  sexually provocative.†¢Games can confuse reality and fantasy.†¢Academic achievement may be negatively related to over-all time spent playing video g ames. Studies have shown that the more time a kid spends playing video games, the poorer is his performance in school. (Anderson & Dill, 2000; Gentile, Lynch & Walsh, 2004). A study by Argosy University's Minnesota School on Professional Psychology found that video game addicts argue a lot with their teachers, fight a lot with their friends, and score lower grades than others who play video games less often. Other studies show that many game players routinely skip their homework to play games, and many students admitted that their video game habits are often responsible for poor school grades.†¢Although some studies suggest that playing video games enhances a child’s concentration, other studies, such as a 2012 paper published in Psychology of Popular Media Culture, have found that games can hurt and help children's attention issues — improving the ability to concentrate in short bursts but damaging long-term concentration. †¢Video games may also have bad eff ects on some children’s health, including obesity, video-induced seizures. and postural, muscular and skeletal disorders, such as tendonitis, nerve compression, carpal tunnel syndrome. †¢When playing online, your kid can pick up bad language and behavior from other people, and may make your kid vulnerable to online dangers.†¢A study by the Minneapolis-based National Institute for Media and the Family suggests that video games can be addictive for kids, and that the kids' addiction to video games increases their depression and anxiety levels. Addicted kids also exhibit social phobias. Not surprisingly, kids addicted to video games see their school performance suffer. †¢Kids spending too much time playing video games may exhibit impulsive behavior and have attention problems. This is according to a new study published in the February 2012 issue of the Journal of Psychology and Popular Media Culture. For the study, attention problems were defined as difficulty eng aging in or sustaining behavior to reach a goal.