An introduction to search engines and web navigation Essay Example for Free

An introduction to search engines and web navigation Essay To entirely understand the importance, size and the impact that Google to the lives of many people across the world is not an easy task. To come up with a search engine found its way into the lives of millions and even and it has become part of our speech. Most people in the modern days use the term Google as verb which to make a search on the Internet. Google as matter of fact represent the biggest internet search engine in the whole world. It gives to the end user the most relevant and useful information from web pages which are over eight billion. It gets its revenue through online business advertisements. Google has launched many new products and services such as Google earth, android and Gmail. Although Google has grown rapidly and is currently dominating in the industry, it has problems too. It cannot seem to retain it staffs despite all the benefits that Google employees receive such us enjoying five star food and also the best insurance covers. The search engine giant which has held about 90 percent of the total market share for many years is known to have the highest turnover rate, with young staffs leaving for look new opportunities in other companies such as face book as they walk through the door or after spending some time. Google’s successes are not random. They are traced back to many factors which have been cautiously manipulated and managed. The management greatly fosters creativity and innovation .management has been very crucial to the success of the company despite the recent drawback of the senior employees’ turnover. Most of the senior employees have found what they are calling greener pasture such as face book. Just like the rest of the businesses Google has experienced several challenges which are related to management specifically in the human resource department. Face book has been a key poacher of employees who feel the need to shift from Google. Google is not only losing mere junior level employees, but also highly ranked innovative executives. They either go to other technology companies or start up their own companies. ( mark levene ,2013) Despite the fact that face book is far much smaller than Google as far as the employees population is concerned, Google is a giant company compared to Face book. The population factor is favorable as making an impact at Face book would be easier than at Google. It is difficult to work at a company the size of Google and make an impact. It is very hard for Google to maintain the kind of organizational culture and energy they had when they started up. It is also very difficult for Google to maintain all the employees and people they have hired since they started up. It is very important for organizations to develop a learning culture in their undertaking which allow a clear generation and exchange of ideas. It is evident that no company can manage to keep all employees with them forever. They have to move on at some point. However, in a learning organization where ideas are exchanged freely, even if one leaves, those who are left behind could grow his ideas and make it their corporate asset. The best managerial trick in the book is to keep knowledge going round the organization so that it does not leave when the owner At Google, the way of employee ranking is different .Traditionally, the product manager is usually above everyone else including the engineers. The engineers there have the final say on everything and their word is taken into account more than that of anyone else. Designers, operatives and other functions are taken to be inferior. Some move away to companies where they get big job titles that come with the expected regard. For some, they move on after spending quite a considerable amount of time at Google. After spending several years there, they feel the urge to move on and take on new adventures and challenges. Description of the company                  Google Company was founded in the year 1998, and it has developed into a big company since its formation, serving billions of people all over the world. The main headquarters of the company are located in Mountain View, California with the name GooglePlex but it has more than seventy offices in more than forty different countries. Although there are no dual offices which are similar, the visitors expect a few common characteristics (Hamen ,2011). Google company was founded by two fellows; Larry Page and Sergey Brin who met in 1995 at Stanford University, in the USA. By 1996, they had built a search engine that was originally called ‘Back Rub’ that applied links to determine the importance of individual web pages. The company was amalgamated on September 4, 1998 and had its Initial public offering (IPO) in August 19, 2004. Main success for the company has been mainly been led by the organizational culture in hiring practices. They recruit smar t and intelligent employees and mostly favor ability from experience one may have. Google Company offer products that make it rather simple for people to research for things and access them easily, as well as providing web packages for businesses and for the entire web business as well (Scott, 2008). The mission statement of the company is to organize the world’s data and facts and make it universally useful and accessible to everybody. Currently, research has shown that the company’s search engine is used by millions of people worldwide every day. Its vision entails organizing all the data in the world and creating it available and beneficial to everybody (Girard, 2008). This makes it probable for speedy searches and message winding via its mail package by the name Gmail. Their Google Chrome web is also part of the vision as it enables web browser add-ons thus opening up to fresh markets. However, despite all their technological advances and capability, the company is more ’people-centered’, for it recognizes the importance of the human resource in the accomplishment of its dream as well as long and short term aims and objectives in line with its mission. This is marked right from the commencement in the employment phase, where the company depends more on capability and shared aims and vision than experience (Scott, 2008). Employee participation and contribution is the involvement of employees in making of crucial decisions such as those as relating policy, aims or even quality and up to now there is no company could have done it better than Google. The company has taken employee involvement a mark higher by embracing the objectives and key results model in order to develop and prioritize objectives and goals. However, this model greatly involves every employee in key decision making together with implementation, and that what had led to success in recent years up to date. This model comprises: Every employee sets objectives and key results which requires all employees to come up with at least five aims and at least four outcomes from each aim for every three months, Managers and employees then have to commonly reach agreement on the set objectives and key outcomes before any step can be taken further, Evaluation of goals to employee and the management sets an achievement target of between sixty to seventy percent .The last that the model have is Decision on results whereby the management together with these employees, on evaluating the results, agree whether to proceed with these objectives for the unrealized key outcomes, or t o just establish fresh objectives. If those key outcomes are of great significance to the organization, then employees are permitted to continue with them (Girard, 2008, Scott, 2008). This model performs as a roadmap which is very essential in the logic that it keeps workers and everybody otherwise focused and working to attain what they have set out to. This keenly shifts the reliance of achieving the goals of the organization on just the other resources available to the employees, who are the active doers, not forgetting the professional employees that Google has employed. Google not only actively involves employees at the office atmosphere, but also in other leisure activities and interests. This boosts cohesion among groups and all employees as well as enhances team-building and these activities and prototypes are of great significance when it comes to applying their core business tactic (Girard, 2008). Google’s core business involves working on universal and cross-functional schemes at the heart of what they do. The cross-functional teams help to deliver perceptions to top management and managers hence controlling crucial decision-making, and undertaking and reserves on some of the serious investments of Google. This technique is however guided by ten views that the company upholds: Focus on the customer is the primary key and comes before anything else, so it is mainly considered. Google Company focus on offering the best internet search through laborious research and development. The search engine provide fast and effective access to the Internet sources thus being reliable (Frazel, 2009). Creating a web search engine that enables many people to post web links, and the objective is to bring what is of worth and helpful to the users. Not demanding to access information from your desk through developing mobile services to access information from anywhere on any type of device. Another view of the company is to show that you can make money without doing any evil deed. Ensuring that there is always more information out there meaning that Google strives to store more information for the users ( Frazel, 2009). By having many offices all over the world, it ensures that services are offered efficiently and continuously. Guaranteeing that you can be serious even without wearing suit and Google company do so allowing employees to work without having to wear suits. Stretching goals beyond the possible to ensure they get to the even higher levels by stating good is not good enough. Google Company gives a range of outfits that enables businesses of all types to work efficiently and prosper while on and off the web. These plans are the main principles that form the pillar of our own organization and have also empowered entrepreneurs and those who publish all over the world to grow their own business. The marketing and promoting programs, which assort from modest text advertisements to rich media advertisements, aid businesses discover customers, and help those who publish to create cash from their content. Google afford cloud computing products which can help organizations and businesses that save and invest money to be more fruitful (Girard, 2008). For example Google My Business is one of the services which enable customers to reach socialize with other customers across the world Google maps, Google search, and Google maps on their mobile devices without any payment. The company build products that they expect will make the web better and therefore the experience of the customers on the web improved. With merchandises such as Android and Chrome, Google Company want to create it faster and simpler for everyone to do what they want while online. Google Company is also devoted to the open web which will enable people to be involved in numerous projects in order to make it easier for web designers to participate to the online network and move the web onward. However, working hard to generate a web that is well and healthier for the surrounding by applying resources professionally and supporting renewable power. The internet network has advanced extremely since Google Company first appeared on the sight, but single entity that has n ot changed is the confidence in the infinite options of the Internet currently (Frazel, 2009). The management of Google Company is well organized in all terms and this have steadily assisted in its expansion and growth globally. Beginning with the executive officer who is the most crucial person in the company, he has contributed a lot in terms of advising his employees and managing the company. The direct communication system to the employees is done using direct mails to any of the Google Company’s front-runner and facilitated by use of Google Moderator, an invention of employee’s organization tool designed by the engineers in the company (Girard, 2008). The clue behind this innovation was that, when its employees have direct communication to make to the rest of employees in the company, or there are company-wide meetings of Google Company, any question can be answered to the employee. Through Moderator, employees can realize on hand company ideas, proposals, see the collective votes to date, create a new sequence asking for ideas that either come from their th oughts or other users they interact with in the work in an organized   topic, and during Google events or meeting. Through this system, Google company has being able to tap into the many talents of its employees and customers as possible. Company has faced a major problem with employees leaving the company for other companies like Facebook: which has been a key poacher of employees who feel the need to shift from Google. Google is not only losing mere junior level employees, but also highly ranked innovative executives. They either go to other technology companies or start up their own companies. However, top executives leaving Google and joining Facebook has become more like a trend nowadays. One of the key men at Google to leave for Facebook in recent times is Lars Rasmussen, who is the co-founder of Google maps and the Google branch in Sydney. Rasmussen left Google just two months after they had rejected his toy project, an innovation he was keen on introducing, called ‘Google Wave’. Google wave was intended to be a new technology that would boost online and social interactions via the web as well as enhance coordination (Girard 2008). Facebook is far much smaller than Google. In terms of employee population, google is a giant compared to Facebook. Google has25000 employees whereas Facebook 2000 employees. This population factor as noted by Rasmussen was favorable as making an impact at Facebook would be easier than at Google. He notes that it is difficult to work at a company the size of Google and make an impact. The energy and spirit with the Facebook workforce, as he noted, was high. Rasmussen is one of the many senior creative executives to leave Google for greener pastures where their opinions and ideas are taken seriously. Key members of the team that worked with him in the implementation of Google maps, Bret Taylor and Jim Norris, also left the company to join another known as ‘Benchmark Capitals’, where they were given better job titles. At around the same time the two left, another important executive and a third product manager to leave for Facebook Paul Kedrosky was quoted in an email liken ing his new employers to the â€Å"Google of yesterday and the Microsoft of many years ago†. He seemed content at his new workplace especially because the company executives would meet up every occasionally and accord everyone the opportunity to feed on each other’s genius. He applauded at Facebook for achieving better results with just sixty results what others elsewhere could not achieve with six hundred (Girard 2008). It is critical to recognize the fact that it is very hard for Google to maintain the kind of organizational culture and energy they had when they started up. It is also very difficult for Google to maintain all the employees and people they have hired since they started up. This is due to the many factors as well as availability of a wide range of options from other silicon entities like them, which their employees are seizing. This shifting of key important creative talent could be attributed to the changing concepts on how the new generation employees are perceiving work. The 21st generation workforce needs to feel like they ‘work with’ rather than the traditional notion of ‘working for’. The need to be involved in critical decision-making and get their opinions heard and considered is why they might tend to leave companies where employees are given responsibilities rather than taking them up. Collaborating with employees in idea generation and decision ma king processes will make them own up responsibilities and that is enough drive and motivation to work (Snell Bohlander 2013). The employee’s knowledge is no longer the management’s prerogative nor the organization’s but that of the individual employees. It is important for organizations to develop a learning culture in their organizations. This will ensure that ideas are generated and exchanged: from the original conceiver of the thought to the rest of the organization. Rasmussen left at a time when he was working on a new project that would have re-defined online interactions. He walk right out the Google door along with is idea. It is evident that no company can manage to keep all employees with them forever. They have to move on at some point. However, in a learning organization where ideas are exchanged freely, even if one leaves, those who are left behind could grow his ideas and make it their corporate asset. The best managerial trick in the book is to keep knowledge going round the organization so that it does not leave when the owner leaves. It is therefore important to forge co operation with employees so that ideas are generated, nurtured as well as grown (Snell Bohlander 2013). Many employee and top executives have left Google over the years. Below are some pf the reasons as to why they have left: Being anything else other than an engineer meant you were below everyone else. Traditionally, the product manager is usually above everyone else including the engineers. At Google, the case is different. The engineers there have the final say on everything and their word is taken into account more than that of anyone else. Designers, operatives and other functions are taken to be inferior. Some move away to companies where they get big job titles that come with the expected regard. For some, they move on after spending quite a considerable amount of time at Google. After spending several years there, they feel the urge to move on and take on new adventures and challenges. Another factor that made people leave is the feeling of disconnection especially for those in satellite offices. People like Lars Rasmussen and part of the Google wave team located in Australia left because they felt that their views and ideas were not being put into consideration by the head office at Mountain view , California, in the USA. Making a point at Google needed one to make a trip to Mountain View, which is ironical considering the massive technology they are dealing with meant to transmit information. This disconnect made them leave to places where audience is accorded. Others leave Google to go for better offers. With names like Google, Facebook and Microsoft one one’s resume is something incredible. Some will move to places like Facebook, where most of Google’s ex-employees go, because the offer is better plus the boost in resume and credentials for future employment. Lastly, some top executives will leave Google because they feel the entrepreneurial itch. The urge to start up their own enterprises acts as a drive to move away and start their own thing. Good examples are; Ev Williams who founded the social network Twitter, Dennis Crowley who founded Foursquare, Kevin Systrom the founder of Instagram and Ben Silbermann who is the founder of Pintrest. Anna Patterson, a former employee, left to even create a rival business by crating her own search engine(Girard 2013). However, this rate at which employees are defecting to rival companies can be delt with by use of the necessary theories and applying them in operations. The motivation theory of management by objectives (MBO’S) would work at Google. This means that, instead of receiving orders from above, employees will be involved in strategic decision-making especially on operations affecting their daily work. This ensures they are part of formulating goals and objectives, which will in turn drive them towards working to achieve. More innovative employees have a high likelihood of leaving jobs that do not offer them opportunity for strategic input.Employees expect growth and future promotions as well as pay hikes for doing their jobs diligently. Google should provide opportunity for growth and not ignore some ideas, as this is what will make the employee successful in his /her field. Strategic talent management is an important principle to be able to cater for the needs of the available ski llful workforce so that they can be as productive as possible (Beck, 2004). Lastly, organizational learning should be encouraged and practiced. This not only gives the employees a learning opportunity from the environment, but also from each other. Through this, employees are able to lift and better each other’s ideas with the market in mind hence there will be increased quality of products offered as well as better market reception due to the good reputation of the organization all round. A learning organization will see employees involve themselves in process improvement, setting of objectives and developing a self drive to work towards achieving the set goals and with minimum supervision. Employee turnover will thus reduce due to increased satisfaction (Argyris, 1999). Conclusion                  The culture in an organization is very crucial since it plays a huge role in whether it is healthy and happy environment to work in .In promoting and communicating the organizational culture, their acceptance and acknowledgement, can greatly motivate the work behavior and also the attitudes. For the case of Google, when the interaction of senior and junior employees is good, there will be greater contribution toward the team collaboration and communication and there is encouragement to accomplish the mission or achieve their set objective given by the organization hence enhancing job satisfaction. Despite its unbelievable employee’s turnover rate, Google continue to dominate search. The company, nevertheless, may need to take keen look at its lucrative profit and consider whether they are actually having that a great deal of an effect on employee maintenance. The outstanding adaptation that Google have has made it further ahead of its competitor. G oogle has been able to overcome many challenges which have made it to reign in the broad search kingdom. Its mission statement of is to organize the world’s data and facts and make it universally useful and accessible to everybody. Several researches are underway to determine how it is being used in the whole world daily, these researches are very crucial since they help to improve the quality of their products and service. Recommendation                  Google should encourage employee education. This not only gives the employees a learning opportunity from the environment, but also from each other. Through this, employees are able to lift and better each other’s ideas with the market in mind hence there will be increased quality of products offered as well as better market reception due to the good reputation of the organization all round. A learning organization will see employees involve themselves in process improvement, setting of objectives and developing a self drive to work towards achieving the set goals and with minimum supervision. Employee turnover will thus reduce due to increased satisfaction The motivation theory of management by objectives would work at Google. This means that, instead of receiving orders from above, employees will be involved in strategic decision-making especially on operations affecting their daily work. This ensures they are part of formulating goals and objectives, which will in turn drive them towards working to achieve. Google should offer opportunity for expansion and not disregard some ideas, since this is what will allow the employees to be victorious in their fields. Planned talent management happens to be important standard to have the ability to provide for the requirements of the available competent workforce so as they can be productive Google should create environment which encourage retention via creating more chances for professional development, involvement in decision making. It should forge cooperation with its employees so that ideas are generated, nurtured and some time grown. References Argyris, C. (1999). On organizational learning. Malden, Mass: Blackwell Business. Beck, R. C. R. C. (2004). Motivation: Theories and principles. Upper Saddle River, N.J: Pearson Education. Girard, B. (2008). The Google way: 12 management strategies to revolutionize your business. San Francisco, Calif: No Starch. Snell, S., Bohlander, G. W. (2013). Managing human resources. Mason, Ohio: South-Western. Girard, B. (2008). The Google way: 12 management strategies to revolutionize your business. San Francisco, Calif: No Starch. Frazel, M. (2009). Using Google and Google Tools in the classroom: Grades 5 up. Westminster, CA: Teacher Created Resources. Scott, V. A. (2008). Google. Westport, Conn: Greenwood Press. Levene, M. (2013). An introduction to search engines and web navigation. Hoboken, N.J: Wiley. Source document

Comparison Of Learning Theories

Comparison Of Learning Theories There are three main categories of learning theories, behaviourism, cognitivism, and constructivism. Behaviourism is concerned with observable behaviour; it classified learning as acquiring new behaviour based on environment. Cognitivism basically is concern with person thinking process. On the hand congnitivism philosophy of learning based it premise that as person reflect on past experiences they construct their own meaning of experiences and knowledge. These three theories will be discussed with some focus on their likeness and differences. Since, they all have implication to teaching and learning. Such as, keeping students thinking process in mind; looking at students responses and the consequences of those responses. Introduction There is not single set of learning theory that if devotedly followed guarantee educators perfect results in the classroom. However, the study of learning has generated much discussion for many years. It has been at the core of educational psychology. Although the importance of learning as a topic of study is agreed by psychologists; they often disagreed on the mechanics of how learning process occurred. (Wittrock, 1977) cited by (Good and Brophy 1995) defined learning as the process of acquiring relative permanent change in understanding, attitude, knowledge, information, ability and skill through experience. This paper seeks to explain congnitivism, behavioural and constructivist theorists of learning, examining the similarities and differences between the theories, gives examples of how theses theories could used in the classroom. Cognitive theories focusing on how people process information and learn. They discuss concept such as memory, problem solving and decision making. David Ausubels (1963) cognitive theory distinguishes reception learning from rote and discovery learning. It is concern with how students or persons learn large amount of meaningful material thought a verbal expository teaching method (Woolfolk1990 P. 292). He suggested that learning is based on presenting information in a hierarchical sequential, organized, manner to learners. This aid and encourage meaningful learning, connection and retention of new information. Since, information presented is usually related to previous learned subsumer. A subsumer is a concept or idea that includes others concept (Woolfolk, 1990). Simple put, for learning to become meaningful there must be a possible fit or incorporation between learners existing cognitive structure and the information to be learned. To do this Ausubel postulates that educator should always start with advance organizer. Advance organizers are simple statement used to introduce higher- level concepts to be learn. They provide a structure for new information in a general manner and covers the concepts to be learnt (Slavin, 2003). To illustrate, as a teacher I at times uses the KWL chart to teach certain topics, such as the continents. First I gave the students a KWL chart; I encourage them to record what they already knows about the continents, then want they wants to know about continents and finally what new information they learned. Therefore with knowledge of advance organizers in mind educators should be cognisant of students prior knowledge and pre-requisite capabilities should be determined before giving any instruction. When teaching new concepts teachers should incorporate and commence with advance organizers. Instructions or concepts should be integrated which will encourage integrative review, links and transfer of information. Moreover, to facilitate transfer of knowledge teachers should present information in a progressive way starting with lower- level skills before moving up to higher-level skills. Additionally, a much as possible learning material taught in one subject area should facilitate learning in another subject area. For example, students can be encouraged to make links between some English words and Spanish words or Latin words. Also, in the classroom, instructions should include both discovery and receptive teaching. To facilitate this, after given instructions teachers should follow up with questions and assessments which will provide opportunities for students to encode material in their own way and apply the concept learn. Furthermore, provide instructions in simple steps, organizing information in sequential and logical ways which will be easy to follow. This will also aid and facilitate mastery of information at each stage. This hierarchical format of giving instruction was supported by Gagnes theory. Robert Gagne (1979) has proposed a theory of instructions (Woolfolk, 1990). Gagne postulate several types of learning which needs different types of instructions. According to (Good Brophy, 1995) Gagne identified five major types of learning. They are attitudes which are internal state that influence personal choices, for example how student feel after reading a poem. Motor skills involve using your reflexes such as tying your shoes. Information entails facts and knowledge stored in the memory, for example addition and subtraction facts. Using intellectual skills that allow learners to discriminate between concrete, define concepts, and solve problems using rules. Finally, use personal ways to guide learning, acting and develop solutions to problems. Additionally, (Woolfolk, 1990) said Gagne was more interested in the quality, permanence and usefulness of students learning. To achieve this, he postulated that teacher used nine instructional events. First teachers must gain students attention. This can and should be done using a variety of approaches and methods. For example, to get my Kindergartens attention I sometimes incorporate music, drama, nursery rhymes, or poems to introduce my lessons. These are expected to grab students attention and interest since children generally like these activates. After students attention is gain, Gagne proposed that teachers communicate to learners of the objectivities of the lesson. This can be done by reviewing prerequisites, oral questioning or quizzes. Teachers can also provide demonstrations of learning products or outcomes (Slavin, 2003). For example, when teaching students how to use different shapes to build a house I will present then with a model of what they can finally make themselves. When attention is gain educators must stimulate students recall of prior learning. This involves getting students to retrieved information they have learned. Then, present the stimulus that is presenting the material to be learnt, followed by providing learning guidelines. This could be anything from guided discovery activities, explanations or demonstrations, however, information presented should be in a logical and understanding way. After doing this (Woolfolk ,1990) said learning does not stop there. Since, teachers has to insure learner demonstr ate understanding of taught information. Gagne proposed this is done by his next step which involves providing guidance to learners. Gagnes sixth instructional event involves questioning students for understanding, their responses allow teachers to evaluate learners comprehension this also provides reinforcement, feedback and assess performance, which Gagne posited as his seventh and eight instructional level. His theory indicates that after each topic is taught teachers should assess pupils performance, this can be done via formal or informal evaluation. Finally, educators must enhance retention and facilitate transfer of knowledge to other top and subject areas and real life situations. With this information in mind, educators must be mindful that different instructions are required for different learning outcomes. For example in my classroom when I want my class to identify letter a I do not focus on the letters sound but on its formation or differentiating it from others. Furthermore teachers must be purposeful in selecting instruction strategies, understanding the limitations and advantages of the strategies they choice. Additionally, strategies choice should be based on the students, content and situation of it used, for individual differences are to be considered. Likewise, lessons should commence with declaration of what and why students are required to learn the information. Additionally, Pavlovs and Skinners theory were behaviourist. Behaviourism is concern with observable and measurable aspects of human behaviour (Good Brophy, 1995). This means that their theories focused on observable, measurable behaviour. Classic conditioning is a term used to describe learning which has been acquired through experience. According to Legge Harari, 2000). Pavlov used animals mainly dogs in his experiments to demonstrated classical conditioning, he arranged for the study of salivary conditioning. The dogs he used showed a salivation response when they where offered food (unconditional stimulus). The food was offered a number of times with the sound of a buzzer (conditional stimulus). After this, the sound of the buzzer alone could produce the salivation response. This theory has some links to classroom situations. For instance, a bell ringing is used in schools to indicate the end of instruction time, recess time, or use a whistle to get students attention during physical educati on exercises. Like Pavlovs theory B. F. Skinner agreed that some human reflexive behaviour is clearly encouraged by specific stimuli. However, Skinner proposed that reflexive behaviour accounts for only a small proportion of all actions (Slavin, 2003). He proposed the use of pleasant and unpleasant consequences. He work focused on placing subjects in controlled situations and observing their behaviour. Operant conditioning is sometimes referred to as instrumental conditioning is a method of learning involving reward and punishment of behaviour (Legge Harari, 2000). Skinners theory has has some important principles, is that, behaviour changes according to its immediate consequences. Pleasant consequences strengthen behaviour, unpleasant consequences weakens it (Slavin 2003). Simple put a person will repeat a behaviour if the consequences of that behaviour is pleasing or pleasant. Slavin also, posit that pleasant consequences are call reinforcer, unpleasant consequences are called punishers. Reinfo rcers are any consequence that strengthens or increase behaviour. Reinforcers can be positive or negative and both are used to strengthen behaviour. Positive reinforces which are favorable events that are presented after the behaviour, such as, praise, grades and stickers. Negative reinforcers are unfaviourable Negative reinforcers involve the removal of an unfavorable events to strengthen a behaviour.( ww.psychology.about .com) Obviously, teacher can apply Skinners and Pavlovs theories. They can decide what behaviours they want students to emulate, and reinforce these behaviours when they occur. For example in my class when I want my students to practice raising their hand to indicate they desired to give an answer, I praise them when they do so and over time I get the desired behaviour I want. However, as teacher we must be careful not to praise or reward work that do not deserve praise. Since, students may not strive to work to their fullest capabilities. Also, after determining of the objectives teachers must analyze the task into prerequisite skills and sub-skills. Additionally, rewards for academic effort should be meaningfully, such as extra recess time, opportunities to work on the computer or extra credit on key projects. Furthermore, students should know what behaviour you desire and when students exhibit the desired behaviour and they are reinforce, you tell them why. Additionally, as educators we must ensure reinforcement is truly reinforced. For example, when presenting class rules, set up both negative and positive consequences for breaking or following the rules. Also, use cues to help establish new behaviours. Sometimes at the beginning of the school year I Call students attention to the notice board, which usually has list of material they should have or will need when official class begins. Moreover, teachers must remember to reinforce appropriate behaviour as soon as possible. For delayed reinforcement are usually less effective than immediately reinforcement. In addition, one must keep in mind anything children like can be use as an effective reinforcer, although all can not be utilize in the classroom. However, as a teacher I sometimes use what whatever practical reinforcement to motivate my students. Constructivism is a philosophy of learning founded on the premise that, by reflecting on our experiences, we construct our own understanding of the world we live in. According to Slavin (2003) it draws many of it philosophy on the work of Piaget and Vygotsky, they emphasis the social nature of learning, and both suggested the use of different abilities grouping to promote conceptual change. Jean Piaget (1896-1980), is one of the most influential child psychologies. He proposed a theory of cognitive development which has many implications on teaching and learning. In Piagets theory he viewed cognitive development on two biological tendencies organization, and adaption( Legge Harari 2004). Organization as Piaget saw it involved organising experiences and observation into cohesive systems. Adaption involves adjusting to the environment. It is a process by which individual create matches between their pervious learnt information and new information that might not exactly fit together. This is where individuals demonstrate patterns of behaviour or thinking described by Piaget as schema (Slavin 2003 P.30). This involves using two techniques assimilation and accommodation. Assimilation involved trying to understand something new by fitting it into what one already knows. For example, the first time many children see the moon they call it a ball. They are assimilating the information into their current view of the world. If the child observation does not fit into their existing schemas they accommodate or change schema. When the individual has strik e a balance between assimilation and accommodation that person has achieved equilibrium because existing schemes and change schemas now fits. Therefore, with the above information in mind teachers or educators should facilitate assimilation process by matching new learning experiences with learners existing thinking patterns. However, the match between new experiences and existing thinking scheme of learners should not be too exact, for no or little accommodation will occur. When planning teachers should create opportunities of experiences that generate novel ideas and divergence views this will require some reconstructing of thinking and belief. Also, when presenting new information to learners it is essential that this is done in a sequential and meaningful way this will facilitate organization of information and encourage learners to organize their thought into main ides, concepts and generalisation; this helps students to consider past learning in a divisive and integrated way which can becomes problem solving tools. According to (Woolfolk 1990) Piaget also postulates a stage theory. He suggested that all children regardless of factors such as race and gender go though different stages of development, and that at each stage they think qualitatively different to the stage before. In the first stage sensorimortor, (birth to 2 years) is the time when infants gain knowledge about the world though manipulating objects and innate reflexes. They learn that an object will continue to exit even if it is out of sight Woolfolk (2003). The preoperational stage (2 to 7 years) children can now use imagery based on his or her memory of previous behaviour in the same situation (Good Brophy, 2008). Preschoolers language develops at an incredible rate. However their thinking remains egocentric and central. Therefore, teachers should use visual aids whenever possible. When given instructions to preschoolers, educators can allow them to act it out as well as give them oral information and do not expect students in the preoperational stage constantly see the world from others perceptive. Moreover opportunities must be provided for group word, this facilitates co-operation, and reduce subjectivity. The next stage is the concrete operational (age 7 to 12) Children at this age are in schools they are able to solve concrete (hands on) problems (Slavin 2003). They heavily depend on concrete experiences to facilitate his or her thinking. Therefore, teacher must provide opportunities for learner in this stage to meaningfully manipulate objects. For example, when I am teaching topics such as addition or time I give student models of clocks or counter to aid their understanding. . Also, importantly students must have occasions to interact with the physical and social environment The final stage (age 12 and beyond) of cognitive development is defined by the childs ability to think abstractly and use logical hypothesis testing to solve problems. Teachers must therefore integrate new examples and illustration from previously taught lesson to extend old learning. Also provide higher level problems to engage student in critical abstract thinking. In my teaching my questions and problems are set at different levels such as requires knowledge to answer, others required comprehension skills while other may need analysis skills. Vygotsky (1896-1934) is a Russian psychologist who made significant contributions to developmental and constructivism theory. He proposes a theory of development in which he presented several key concepts Legge Harari 2004). He viewed cognitive developments as a result of a dialectical process, where a child learns through shared problem solving experiences with someone else. It is primarily through their speech that adults are assumed to transmit to children the rich body of knowledge that exists in their culture. As learning progresses, the childs own language comes to help as his or her primary tool of intellectual transformation (Slavin 2003). Another concept is his theoretical construct of the zone of proximal development (ZPD) which provides an explanation of how a child develops with the help of others (Woolfolk 2003). It is the gap between what children are already able to do and what they are not quite ready to accomplish by themselves (Slavin 2004). He explains how children develop through contact with others such as parents, teacher, siblings or a peer.The person interacting with the child undertakes most of the responsibility for guiding the problem solving, but gradually this responsibility transfers to the child. Vygotsky also posited scaffolding. It is similar to scaffolding around a building. In that, it can be removed after the need for it ends. For instance, when a child is shown how to something and has mastered the idea he or she can now complete this assignment on his or her own. Vygotskys theory can be applied to the classroom, he suggests the teachers Is important in the process of the transmission of knowledge .This means teacher must ensure information given are accurate and useful to learners. Moreover, they must provide opportunities for peer tutoring, cooperative learning arrangements among student with mix-abilities. Personally I can attest that this approach works. Since, I have successful use this in many of my lessons. Allow students to gradually take on more independent responsibilities, removing the scaffold. Teachers responsibilities are to facilitate learning, what teachers do in the classroom are important to the overall effect of students learning. Therefore, teachers endeavour to making learning occur must be his or her best efforts. In so doing teachers can draw of all of the theories discussed in the essay. However, one must be mindful that these theories ha some thins in common and differences. Behaviourism is concern about behaviour that can be observed while cognitive psychology assumes that humans have the capacity to process and organise information in their mind. It is concerned less with observable behaviour and more with the thought processes behind it. Constructivism like congnitivism focuses on thinking processes and problem solving but also considered students reactions which is an important feature of the behaviourist theory. All three discussed theories attempt to explain and describe how learning occurs and viewed education and the instructional process as a whole. However, behaviourism formed the basis for all learning theories. Cognitivism and constructivism both stressed the importance of forging relation between previous learnt information to new information. In other words, learners are expected to relate new information to prior knowledge and experiences. As stated before there is no ideal educational theory. However the approach teachers used in their daily instructions are important. The approaches they use should be based on a variety of issues, such as the age of the students, their cognitive processing level, the subject matter and difficulty of the required task in order to successfully achieve all the objectives.

macbeth :: essays research papers

Developing (or dynamic) character. A character who during the course of a story undergoes a permanent change in some aspect of his/her personality or outlook. Static character. A character who is the same sort of person at the end of a story as s/he was at the beginning. Lady Macbeth "They met me in the day of success: and I have learned by the perfectest report, they have more in them than mortal knowledge" (1.5.1-3). Lady Macbeth is reading the letter in which Macbeth tells of his meeting with the witches. After she has read the letter, Lady Macbeth is determined that she will make the witches' prophecy come true. She prepares herself to work her husband into a murderous state of mind. She also gets hereself into a murderous state of mind, crying out, "Come, you spirits / That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here, / And fill me from the crown to the toe top-full / Of direst cruelty!" (1.5.40-43) When Macbeth arrives, she advises him to put on an innocent face in front of the King and to leave the rest to her. [Scene Summary] See, see, our honour'd hostess!" (1.6.10). Thus King Duncan greets Lady Macbeth at the gates of Macbeth's castle. In a display of consummate hypocrisy, Lady Macbeth gives a warm welcome to the man she is planning to murder. [Scene Summary] While King Duncan is having supper in Macbeth's castle, Macbeth steps out to think about the plan to kill the King. When Lady Macbeth finds Macbeth, she exclaims, "He has almost supp'd: why have you left the chamber?" (1.7.29). Then, in order to keep Macbeth committed to the murder plan, she verbally assaults his courage and manhood. This is the scene in which she brags that if she had made a vow to do a murder, she would follow through. Even if it were her own baby, she "would, while it was smiling in my face, / Have pluck'd my nipple from his boneless gums, / And dash'd the brains out, had I so sworn as you / Have done to this" (1.7.56-59). In a few minutes, Macbeth sees things her way. [Scene Summary] Banquo tells Macbeth that the King has been very pleased with the hospitality shown to him, and that "This diamond he greets your wife withal, / By the name of most kind hostess" (2.1.15-16).

paper -- essays research papers fc

Embryonic Stem Cell Research What if there was a way to cure previously in-curable diseases with the help of something in the very first stages of human life, but thousands upon thousands of lives had to be taken to perfect the use of this material? That is exactly what is happening with embryonic stem cells around the world. Pro-life activists, who originally organized to stop the abortions of unborn fetuses, were most angered with the process of actually destroying an embryo solely for research purposes. However, scientists, such as Dr. Andrew Yeager of the University of Pittsburgh, argue that embryonic stem cells are the future of medicine. â€Å"This is really where, I think, so much of biomedicine is going to be going in the twenty first century†, states Yeager. Embryonic stem cells are a new and exciting medical advance that should be researched, but the biomedical technology of the future is not worth the loss of hundreds of thousands of lives now. Although the actual procedure of retrieving stem cells from embryos is highly complicated and scientific, the ideology is quite simple. The study of stem cells that were taken from human embryos has been around since the early nineties, but until the summer of 1998, a majority of the country had been none the wiser. The country’s â€Å"non-knowledge† of this very promising medical technology may have been a blessing in disguise. With the story rapidly hitting newsstands and telecasts around the country, pro and anti-research rallies were the top headlines. Literally defined, embryonic stem cells are â€Å"undifferentiated, or unspecified cells that are unlike any other adult cell†(Stem Cells: A primer). They are unique because they are totipotent, or have the ability to form into almost any of the 220 cell types in the human body. Embryonic stem cells are taken from the blastocyst, the name given to the stage of the embryo when it is four to six days old. The bla stocyst consists of two cell masses; the first is an outer â€Å"wall† of cells that are already specified and will grow to become placental tissue and membrane. The inner mass, however, is a large group of unspecified stem cells that can be manipulated and eventually used for the treatment of diseases such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and Diabetes. Not only do stem cells show promise for cures to these diseases, but also they also offer hope for the sufferers and ... ...for their own rights now or people fighting for the future rights of those who have no voice now. Embryonic stem cells are an important part of science today, shedding new light on the dark secrets of the human body, but the research alone is not worth scientists playing God or thousands of innocent lives being lost. Embryonic Stem Cell Research: Medical Advance or Moral Surrender? Heather Zinser Communications 12 December 5th, 2001 Senior Research Paper Hour 4 Ms. Boll Bibliography â€Å"Stem Cell Research†. Online. Available at www.uspoitics.about.com/cs/stemcellresearch Reaves, Jessica. â€Å"Stem Cell Research: Both sides of the debate†. Online. Available at http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,167254,00.html â€Å"Holy Grail†. Online. Available at http://www.cbsnews.com/now/story/0,1597,319351-412,00.shtml â€Å"Stem Cells: The Basics†. Online. Available at http://www.cbsnews.com â€Å"Stem Cells: A Primer†. National Institute of Health. Online. Available at http://www.nih.gov/news/stemcell/primer.htm Lee, Patrick and George, Robert P. â€Å"Why Killing Embryonic Human Beings is Wrong†. Online. Available at http://www.prolifeinfo.org/stemcell028.html

Essay examples --

Over the last few decades, the organizational role of management accountants has changed radically, along with the environment. Many of these changed management accountants undertake more advisory and strategic roles in their organizations. Their work has become more similar to that to business partners who are involved in both the everyday and the long term strategic decision making process. This essay will critically analyze the role of management accountants in the present day, as compared to their more traditional role in previous decades. First a distinction between financial accounting and management accounting must be made. Financial accountants are concerned with having financial systems put in place that allow them to maintain records, perform routine transactions, and produce year end reports (Cook 1995). Management accountants are more involved in using that financial information to improve management of the organization. Management can be defined as involved in â€Å"identifying, presenting, and interpreting information used for formulating strategy, planning and controlling activities, decision taking, and optimizing the use of resources† (Cook 1995). Historically speaking, management accountants have been viewed as â€Å"functional scorekeepers who are preoccupied with the past and reluctant to accept responsibility for decisions† (Parker 2002). The traditional role is one which concentrates on two main areas: supporting management decision-making and monitoring and controlling (Feeney & Pierce 2007). These management accountants focused primarily on the internal aspects of their work places, as well as a more statistical, financial and analytical perspective. Traditionally management accountants were not involved in decisio... ...e involved (Byrne & Pierce 2007), and operational managers may continue to consider the accountants to be in the role of making suggestions rather than decisions. Over the last few decades, the role of the management accountant has changed drastically. Traditionally involved in analyzing past decisions and statistics, present day management accountants have become more involved in forward thinking strategies and actual operational decision making. This leads to management accountants who perform a wide range of activities which might have been unheard of for them in previous years. However, this transition is not necessarily as straightforward as anticipated. These new kind of management accountants must overcome considerable challenges and conflicts in order to achieve the new role that is seen as both necessary and beneficial for the present business environment. Essay examples -- Over the last few decades, the organizational role of management accountants has changed radically, along with the environment. Many of these changed management accountants undertake more advisory and strategic roles in their organizations. Their work has become more similar to that to business partners who are involved in both the everyday and the long term strategic decision making process. This essay will critically analyze the role of management accountants in the present day, as compared to their more traditional role in previous decades. First a distinction between financial accounting and management accounting must be made. Financial accountants are concerned with having financial systems put in place that allow them to maintain records, perform routine transactions, and produce year end reports (Cook 1995). Management accountants are more involved in using that financial information to improve management of the organization. Management can be defined as involved in â€Å"identifying, presenting, and interpreting information used for formulating strategy, planning and controlling activities, decision taking, and optimizing the use of resources† (Cook 1995). Historically speaking, management accountants have been viewed as â€Å"functional scorekeepers who are preoccupied with the past and reluctant to accept responsibility for decisions† (Parker 2002). The traditional role is one which concentrates on two main areas: supporting management decision-making and monitoring and controlling (Feeney & Pierce 2007). These management accountants focused primarily on the internal aspects of their work places, as well as a more statistical, financial and analytical perspective. Traditionally management accountants were not involved in decisio... ...e involved (Byrne & Pierce 2007), and operational managers may continue to consider the accountants to be in the role of making suggestions rather than decisions. Over the last few decades, the role of the management accountant has changed drastically. Traditionally involved in analyzing past decisions and statistics, present day management accountants have become more involved in forward thinking strategies and actual operational decision making. This leads to management accountants who perform a wide range of activities which might have been unheard of for them in previous years. However, this transition is not necessarily as straightforward as anticipated. These new kind of management accountants must overcome considerable challenges and conflicts in order to achieve the new role that is seen as both necessary and beneficial for the present business environment.

Analyzing Internet Sources

The first and more important thing I learned was to look for credible sources. One way to do this is to look for bias and opinion. You should look for sources that are based solely on facts and will not attempt to shape your opinion of the topic when you read it. Another thing is to make sure you find your information in other sources to verify it is true and correct. Remember that it is difficult to spot credible sources online. Another thing to keep on mind are legal issues regarding copyright and plagiarism. Just because something is online does not mean it is unprotected. I will use these practices by making sure that I do more extensive research when I find something online. Just because it is there doesn’t make it true. I want to stay free of any problems of that nature and make my work reflect my abilities as a student. How can you determine if the information on a website is reputable and worthwhile for a research paper? Why is Wikipedia not an acceptable academic source? You can determine if the information is reputable and worthwhile by first looking at the URL. Most of the time if it ends with . edu or . gov it will be a good one. Also, another good thing to do is to research the authors and their credentials. You want to know who is writing this information and how qualified they really are. Another good tip is to look at the date. Let’s say you are writing about something that happened recently. There can be new developments on the story daily and you want all your information to be up to date and correct. Wikipedia is not an acceptable academic source because it is an open source of information. That information is not monitored at any time and can be posted by anybody. Some people even go on Wikipedia and say they are an anonymous writer. How can you know it’s true if you don’t know who wrote it?

Cultural Event Paper

A cultural event that I have attended in the past that has had a memorable affect on my life was a Native American Powwow. This event takes place every year, Thanksgiving weekend in Tucson, AZ. I arrived in the late afternoon, as the sun was going down. I remember seeing many different types of people, from tourists to the different Native American performers. The physical setting of this particular celebration was outside, and based around, one main circle. Drums were beating so loud, you could feel the pound inside your chest. Different activities were going on all around, such as dancers, vendors, and a huge variety of foods to choose from. The circular dancing arena is known as the arbor, this area is blessed before any of the events begin (Schultz, 2001). This area is considered to be sacred ground, and is respected throughout the entire celebration (Schultz, 2001). The arbor was made of tree limbs and leaves. The four main entries into the festivities were used to resemble the four points of a compass (Schultz, 2001). The dancers entered from the east entrance, and the main announcer was located by the West entrance. Many spectators were sitting on blankets, and some on lawn chairs. The environment was relaxed, and a very friendly atmosphere. The activities included dance and drum contests, different ceremonies, and many different vendors. The crafts were all handmade and amazing. Each piece looked as if it were specially made from the heart. The Native American culture to me felt festive, warm, and very inviting. The dancer’s come from many different tribes. Their faces were painted, and their costumes consisted of beautiful festive colors. They were made of feathers, sequence, dye, and other natural fabrics. A powwow is a Native American gathering, or celebration that began with the Plains tribe, and continued to other Native American tribes through the years (Schultz, 2001). A powwow is also the oldest known public ritual of the Native Americans (Schultz, 2001). This culture considers this particular festivity, a celebration of the circle of life. They include much of their culture in their dance, music, art, food, and drumming, especially while performing these rituals (Schultz, 2001). In the past powwows took place around seasonal changes. This changed as non-natives began to join in celebrating these Native American customs (Schultz, 2001). Native American powwows earliest record dates back to July 4th, 1900 in a Missoula, MT newspaper (Schultz, 2001). Native Americans hold a type of esoteric concept that comes from their philosophy of preserving their environment as well as their kinship that ties them together (Access Genealogy, 2009). They not only have social ties, they are politically and religiously organized through their rituals, government, and other institutions (Access Genealogy, 2009). They work together to reside in a territorial area, and speak a common language (Access Genealogy, 2009). They are not characterized by any one certain structure (Access Genealogy, 2009). However, the society agrees on fundamental principles that bond together a certain social fabric (Access Genealogy, 2009). Different Native American tribes throughout the years have had different ideas, opinions, philosophies, which are not always predetermined by their past ancestors. The roots and customs of Native American tribes run deep. A feeling of respect and tradition is in the air. Every little detail has meaning and a certain level of pride and of importance to each individual taking part in the ceremony. According to Access Genealogy, 2009, â€Å"Humanities are studies of the human condition, whether it is the study of art, sociology, anthropology, literature, history, or any other human endeavor. † Humanities are the core of humanism, and are the product and creativeness of each individual society. Each culture’s has its own form of expression; in this case, it was the powwow. This was a way to entertain and promote awareness to the Native American culture. They are not afraid to show who they are, like other cultures, which can be more refined in the way they celebrate. Native Americans choose to embrace their heritage, and make it a part of their everyday lives. They are trying to hold on to a special place from their past, and not let it slip away. America is known as the â€Å"Melting Pot† with many different cultures, I believe that celebration is a way for each culture to hold onto their identity, and gain respect in a world that is constantly changing.