Insight Meditation Essays - Meditation, Mindfulness,

Insight Meditation Buddhist meditation practices often emphasize mainly concentration, particularly on a certain person, place or thing. They teach the mind to focus on one point or object, which achieves strength of concentration. The results are peaceful states, and in some very rare cases are said to create supernormal powers. That is no wonder why many people steer in that direction, in hopes of achieving superpowers. Insight meditation is quite different however, and although some degree of concentration is needed, the meditator focuses more on mindfulness of the situation. Insight is defined in the dictionary as the capacity to discern the true nature of a situation. The basis of insight meditation is the four foundations of mindfulness. They include contemplation of the body, contemplation of feelings, contemplation of the mind-state and contemplation of mind-objects. To achieve mindfulness one must try to be aware of these foundations as they exist in their bodies. For example to be mindful of the body, it is necessary to be aware of breathing in, breathing out, posture, bodily movements inwardly and outwardly etc. One must be conscious of mind-objects such as desire, and understand hoe feelings like that come about and how they are eliminated. To understand mindfulness as simply as possible, one can look at the difference between an unmindful person and the opposite. Everyday we see people who are unmindful of their actions, unmindful of their movements. Someone on the street who steps into a large puddle is unmindful of walking, such as someone who slips and falls. The state of mind of this person is unclear and possibly confused. We can compare this to ourselves in everyday life. Almost everybody has moments of calmness and moments of panic in their lives. When we are calm and composed, our minds are bright and clear, and our actions involve more thought. If we were to take a long walk on a desolate beach, with not a single soul around, we would have a higher degree of mindfulness than say, a walk to the subway station. A walk along the beach is much more peaceful, thus easier for us to achieve that mindfulness. On the other hand most of us have experienced a time in our lives when we have been panic-stricken, for whatever reason. In those cases, are mind is cluttered, we cannot think clearly and make rational decisions. In a way we are separate from our mind for the time being, and make decisions that are not precise or careful. Insight meditation is defined as the realization of the real nature of the world as it is, freed from concepts. In simple words, all mental and material processes that make up this world are really non-lasting, unsatisfactory and non-self. Because of this the meditator turns away from the conditioned reality that they are so used to and finds an unconditioned, absolute reality. It's almost like the meditator frees their mind from its usual state. Although insight meditation is not the most commonplace of all the types of meditation, it is a useful tool to become more aware of one's own body and mind. With a better understanding of one's mind, or a state of mindfulness, which focuses on internal and external feelings, the mind can be less cluttered, less confused and more the way it should be, bright and clear. Religion Essays

Frankenstein Coursework Help

Frankenstein Coursework Help Frankenstein Coursework Help Frankenstein is a well-known novel which requires careful reading and critical analysis. Writing a Frankenstein coursework you need to pay attention to avoid creating a summary of the novel instead of critical analysis. If you struggle with Frankenstein coursework writing or do not have enough time to devote to coursework writing, you should not hesitate to order professional Frankenstein coursework help on our site. Custom written Frankenstein coursework is original, interesting to read, meets academic requirements, and is never posted online as a free sample! Please read the following excerpt of Frankenstein coursework written by one of our professional coursework writers! Frankenstein Coursework Excerpt In the story Frankenstein, the main genre is gothic horror. Horror is usually recognized on fear, terror, fright and suffering. Its mainstay is to frighten readers and make them realize terror is occurring so, therefore, contains frightening scenes. One of the distinctive features of many horror stories is the setting and nature and in Frankenstein the depressing glacial fields of the Alps and the dreary mist of the Arctic shows remoteness of the two central characters; Victor and his creation. Another part of horror in Frankenstein is the element of the dark side of human nature, when a monstrous creation is unleashed which leads to the idea of horror because monsters are usually associated with committing acts of killing on innocent people. The structure of Frankenstein can be slightly complicated because it has several narrators and they both share their own views on the events which have occurred. The novel begins in typical novel fashion by starting the story in the middle of things and then launch into a series of flashbacks which make it difficult to foretell coming events. Captain Robert Walton writes to his sister Margaret Saville about his adventures, which the reader looks in upon in a distinctive epistolary novel style. Then Victor recounts his story to Walton, who takes notes and sends them to his sister. Then the monster tells Victor about his or its quest, which Victor recounts to Walton. Starting with Walton when he writes to his sister, his letters are like a diary and become somewhat quite personal. When he begins writing his letters, his point of view begins neutral. But after he meets Frankenstein he becomes prejudiced and begins to understand Frankenstein's feelings and sympathises towards him. But when he meets the monster, Walton's views change again because he sympathises with the monster. The novel is then told from Frankenstein's point of view until the closing pages when we hear from the monster. This will affect the reader as they would automatically feel the most sympathy for whoever tells the story, as the speaker would naturally tell things from their perspective, and they would open up about their feelings. Also, our expert writers have prepared the post onhow to make a reaction paper:. Related posts: Jane Eyre Essay Example of Argumentative Essay Cause Effect Papers Term Paper Editing Critical Essay Editing

Stress-Related Illness Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Stress-Related Illness - Essay Example As the discussion stresses the school owners and directress have entrusted Kelly with the role of training new teachers with the quality of teaching she is known for. She is likewise head of the Parent Involvement Program of the school. Her many duties at work, on top of preparing for her own preschool class and her homemaker role at home has been taking its toll on Kelly. For the past month, she has complained of recurrent migraines, stomach pains and general body malaise. Generally, stress is what one feels when the demands on his life exceed his ability to meet those demands. The stressor may be external, such as the death of someone close to the individual or a sudden change in activity level. Or, it may be an internal stressor such as an illness. This paper outlines that in Kelly’s case, her stressors are: overload of work duties, work-life imbalance, her own personality traits and the personalities of the people she works with. The interplay of stressors and the consistent experience of high amounts in one’s life can often lead to burnout. The term â€Å"burnout† is a relatively new term, first coined in 1974 by Herbert Freudenberger, in his book, â€Å"Burnout: The High Cost of High Achievement†. He originally defined ‘burnout’ as, â€Å"the extinction of motivation or incentive, especially where ones devotion to a cause or relationship fails to produce the desired results.† While burnout is not a recognized clinical psychiatric or psychological disorder, there are some similar features between burnout and diagnosable conditions such as depression, anxiety disorders or mood disorders. Depleted Physical Energy: Prolonged stress can be physically draining, causing one to feel tired much of the time, or no longer have the energy she once did. Getting out of bed to face another day of the same gets more difficult.

Immigrants and Employment Discrimination Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Immigrants and Employment Discrimination - Essay Example It becomes more prominent during economic and social uncertainty such as the Great Depression where people try to find somebody to blame much in the same way as we blame others for our failures. Who gets the blame There is human tendency for people to blame others and not themselves and because they fear blaming their 'own kind', the situation becomes bad for those of different color of the skin, different accent, different religious beliefs etc. To make the long story short, it is usually the immigrants where they lay their misfortune-ruined eyes. Immigrants have been the targets of many jokes, unfair labor practices, bias and prejudice. This especially goes true for the state of California where immigration is the highest. Discrimination is real and existent as shown, for example, by the media who uses videos of African Americans as criminals and White Americans as the life saver of the nation (in the coverage of war and implemented national health programs). Virtually every time we hear about immigrants in the news, it's not about celebrating their many contributions, sacrifice or heartwarming love and loyalty for this country, but rather about how they break the laws and drain the system. Immigrants are usually perceived as an uneducated person and a liability that must be eliminated. Such hatred for people is not confined in the USA alone but finds extreme scenarios in other countries such as what Hitler and Slobon Milosevic embarked upon. Discriminatory practices also vary among immigrants. Light skinned people would generally be more acceptable than dark and brown colored people. In any case, immigrants are seen as a stranger that should not be fairly treated in the household. Yet in truth and in fact, the United States is a country of immigrants that can be traced in history. The fact is that every American is either an immigrant or a descendent of an immigrant. In fact, immigrants are the true story of America . There are countless inspirational stories of immigrants who made a tremendous difference and contributed to the fabric of the American heritage. This paper aims to discuss the discriminatory practices regarding employment of immigrants in the United States. As such, it becomes necessary to deal with historical facts to make us aware of how America actually is a nation of immigrants. We will also discuss the differential degree of discrimination with regards to the white skinned rather than colored people such as the Native Americans and African Americans. It is aimed that even in such limited space, a worthy discussion on an issue (which have been the subject of many studies and articles) can be constructed in a way that is informative as it is enlightening. Foreigners in the Land of Promise Native Americans Colonists arrived to take advantage of the land resources and opportunities afforded by a virgin America. The entry of European and Christian values into a continent that was inhabited by American Indians (Native Americans) of a distinctly different culture made clashes inevitable. Operating with government assistance, the colonists subdued the original Native Americans and usurped their most fertile fields, prized resources, timber lands, and grazing areas. Now the Indians are found in reserves where most of them had been transplanted from their original

Public Budgeting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Public Budgeting - Essay Example Both the legislature and executive are significantly involved in the system practice. Performance budgeting system is implemented to successfully to enforce constant requirements on agencies. The Agencies must explain in event of significant failure ranging from 10 percent or more to adhere to set performance targets (Clynch 2006). The performance based system of budgeting is very effective in a real practical scenario. Especially in public administration where for every input- tax payer’s money- they expect tangible results. Performance based budgeting plays a massive role in influencing operations effectively and efficiently. The system in itself is inherent with small economic departmental unit accountability. The single unit performance assessment style results in differentiated system. This differentiation is vital since public agencies always undergo through many procedures before finalizing an actual budget execution phase. Post-execution analyses time is also shortened through the performance based budgeting system (Clynch 2006). The whole practice involves the co-collaboration of different departmental bodies within the government. This collaboration is essential for more than just budget preparation procedure, negotiation procedures and approval processes. The coordinative collaboration of departments is important in approval of values to be allocated in order to attain defined goals after the finalization of the budgeting (Kelly 2003). The system`s advantage revolves around its rational methodology of budgeting. Whenever an organization defines the amount to allocate to a department or activity, it considers the costs against benefits for each funding level. If there is no justification for the spending the amount is reduced. The system links objectives to outcomes. A body that practices performance budgeting uses performance management (Clynch 2006). When management

Improving Child Observation Journals

Improving Child Observation Journals Master of Education: Reading and Literacy Abstract The purpose of this study is to describe the effect that providing journal and case study paper examples, more time to observe in the child care center and the use of different teaching methods will have on the improvement of observation journals and case study papers. This action research involved Child Development classes at Deerfield High School during the fall 2008 school year. Students struggle with completing weekly observations and case studies. This paper will share the findings of research that was done to assist students. If students have a better understanding of the observations and case studies, are provided with examples and are given more time to observe, the desired outcome is that their observation journals and case study papers will improve. Introduction Background of Problem I am a Family and Consumer Sciences teacher at Deerfield High School in Deerfield, Illinois. Deerfield is a northern suburb of Chicago and the high school has approximately 1,800 students. I have been teaching at Deerfield High School for four years. While I have been at this high school, I have taught Child Development Preschool Lab, Consumer Economics, Freshman Advisory and Contemporary Living. Family and Consumer Science classes were formerly referred to as Home Economics which involved becoming a knowledgeable homemaker. In Child Development classes, proper parenting techniques were emphasized. Now that Home Economics has evolved into Family and Consumer Sciences, there is an emphasis on preparing students to become well-informed parents as well as preparing them to become educated professionals who may work with children in their careers and their personal lives. Last year I taught two sections of Child Development Preschool Lab, which is the focus of my action research project. My first period class had 11 female 10th-12th grade students and my second period class had 14 female 10th-12th grade students. Every week in Child Development Preschool Lab, my high school students, referred to as the high school friends, plan and teach lessons to two to five year old children in the on-site child care center, Deer Park Teaching and Learning Center (DPTLC). The students also observe these preschoolers, referred to as Deer Park friends, every week while they are in the child care center. The students typically really enjoy the class; however, they struggle the most with observing the children and creating their observation journals and semester case study papers. Through the use of their journal entries, the high school friends analyze and evaluate one specific Deer Park friend’s physical, intellectual, emotional and social development and write a case study paper to determine how a specific child is developing for their age. As a Family and Consumer Sciences teacher, I believe it is essential for high school students to be able to communicate what they observe or see through detailed written form. Specifically, in Child Development Preschool Lab, this information should later be used to make conclusions about how a preschool aged child is developing physically, intellectually, emotionally and socially. Providing students with life long observation, analytical and written communication skills to be used in their future will benefit the student learner. Rationale for my Research The focus of this research study will be helping my students improve their observation journals and case study papers during first semester. Observing, journaling and the semester case study paper are what students struggle with the most all year in this class. It causes frustration and anxiety for the high school students and me. I often find myself wondering how I can make this a more pleasant learning experience for everyone involved (high school friends, Deer Park friends and me.) In each observation journal, the high school friends are required to record six different observations every week. Each observation should include a factual description of what they see, an educated opinion of how the child is developing, and an assessment of the child’s developmental rate for their age. The students go into the DPTLC on-site child care center to observe children ages two to five years old. After approximately one month of observing a variety of Deer Park friends, high school friends are assigned a specific child to observe for the remainder of the semester. Students are given 20-25 minutes of class time every week to observe in the child care center to collect their observations. The journal entries collected over the semester are used to assess one Deer Park friend’s developmental rate in the four areas of development. The journal entries act as evidence to support how the high school friend rates the Deer Park friend’s development in the case study paper. Observing and journaling are taught in two class periods. I spend about 40 minutes initially teaching this assignment the first time. I spend approximately 20 minutes reviewing it the second time a few days later. Observing and journaling are taught during a lecture while students take notes. I provide one or two examples of journal entries on the board and we discuss this as a class. Chapter notes, developmental milestone handouts and the textbook appendix are shown to students as a resource to use when they are assessing how the Deer Park friend is developing for their age. Feedback is provided to students on their observation journal entry assignments on a bi-weekly basis. I provide comments on their journals and return them to the students within two days of them turning them in. I will occasionally have a one-on-one meeting with students who really struggle with the assignment. The evidence that supports students struggle with observing, journaling and writing their case study papers includes my observation that students are confused and frustrated with this assignment year after year, low scores on journal assignments, students not completing journal assignments and students struggling with the semester case study paper. Intervention Planned to Implement Through my experiences teaching observing and journaling in Child Development Preschool Lab for the past four years, I believe that students struggle with observation journals and their case study papers because they are not given enough time in the child care center to collect sufficient observations. This causes students to feel rushed which increases frustration and anxiety. Additionally, more time should be spent and different teaching methods should be used when teaching observing, journaling and the case study paper. Finally, student work may improve if excellent examples of observation journals and case study papers were given to students. Focus Statement The purpose of this study is to describe the effect that providing journal and case study paper examples, more time to observe in the child care center and the use of different teaching methods will have on the improvement of observation journals and case study papers. Research Questions Therefore, my research question is: What are the benefits of providing Child Development Preschool Lab high school students with journal and case study paper examples, more time to observe in the child care center and the use of different teaching methods among students to improve observation journals and case study papers in Child Development Preschool Lab during the fall semester? The questions that I will be exploring include: How will giving more time to observe in the child care center impact the high school students journals and case study papers? What teaching methods should I use to teach observing and journaling? Will spending more time on teaching observing and journaling improve student work? How will providing excellent examples of observation journals and case study papers impact student work? Will student anxiety and frustration levels decrease if more observation time is given? Key Terms High School Friends High school students in the Child Development class who work with the preschoolers in the child care center. Child Development Preschool Lab An Applied Arts course that incorporates Child Development curriculum along with a practical lab experience where high school students work with preschoolers in a child care center. Deer Park Friends Twoto five year old preschool children that attend the Deerfield High School on sitechild care center. Case Study Papers The Child Development Preschool Lab first semester final project where students analyze one preschooler’s rate of development for their age. Observation Journals Weekly observations that high school students make about the preschoolers when they are in the child care center interacting with the children. Deer Park Teaching and Learning Center (DPTLC) The name of the Deerfield High School on site child care center where two to five year olds come for child care. Four Areas of Development Intellectual, social, emotional, physical are the four areas in which children develop. Literature Review Students learn in many ways and it is essential that educators meet different student needs by implementing a variety of teaching strategies. Sometimes this involves class discussions, providing examples to guide students, modeling a concept, or encouraging students to learn through hands-on learning experiences. Many high school teachers have said that students respond well when they are motivated to learn and when they are actively engaged in the lesson. Benefits of Observing Preschoolers Observing preschoolers is essential for students who are working with young children. The information that is learned through seeing what a young child can do first hand is critical in helping a high school student assess how a child is developing. These observations also act as a credible source to support their evaluation of the preschooler’s developmental rate and provide specific examples to the parents in the high school student’s case study paper. Through observation, teachers are able to gather valuable information about the preschoolers that may help them in planning and preparing developmentally appropriate lessons (Barbakoff Yo, 2002). Barbakoff Yo suggest that teachers use a running record or a checklist to record their observations of a child. Providing teachers with adequate time to collect and record observations of the preschoolers interacting with one another is â€Å"time and energy well spent† (Barbakoff Yo, 22). Perhaps allowing students to spend more time observing the children in the child care center will increase their understanding of how children develop. This may lead to more creative lesson plans and more thorough journals and case study papers. Teaching Methods and Student Motivation Research has also shown that several teaching methods have been proven to be more effective than others when motivating students to learn. Lam Law (2007) examined the relationship between how the use of teaching writing strategies and motivating students affects student writing performance. Students should be challenged and need to understand the importance of the writing assignment they are expected to complete (Lam Law). According to Lam Law, the writing assignment must be related to something they can connect with in their past, present or future. Student writing also improves when students are curious about the topic they are writing about and when they are provided with feedback (Lam Law). Lam Law support the idea that when students are motivated and understand â€Å"why† they are completing an assignment they are more likely to grasp the idea being taught and are more successful. Writing Strategies: A Four Step Process Collins Collins (1996) have identified a four step process that educators find useful when teaching students to write. These writing strategies include; â€Å"identifying a strategy to teach, introducing the strategy by modeling it, allowing students to use it and helping students work toward independent mastery through repetition and practice† (Collins Collins). Although modeling and practicing new concepts is beneficial, some students are not able to grasp the content being taught through this strategy (Collins Collins). Collins Collins have found that some students learn best through the use of concrete visual examples. When teaching students a new idea, educators may find it useful to consider what excites and motivates students to learn and what teaching methods address all student needs. Providing Examples to Students Providing students with excellent examples to guide them in their work is a teaching strategy that has been found to be useful for students. In the article, â€Å"Students’ Perceptions of Teaching and Learning: The Influence of Students’ Approaches to Learning and Teachers’ Approaches to Teaching, a ninth grade student who was interviewed said,† â€Å"the best way of learning is definitely hands on, trying it yourself, I think that is a very good way. And seeing examples of what you’re doing† (Campbell, Smith, Boulton-Lewis, Brownlee, Burnett Carrington, 2001). Additionally, Day Elksnin (1994) discovered that the concept being taught should be described, modeled, discussed (talked through aloud) and practiced by the students. Students may be involved in this process from the very beginning by asking them what they struggle with most and what they think may help (Day Elksnin). Providing feedback to the students is also effective when students are struggling (Day Elksnin). Day Elksnin’s research supports the idea that presenting students with examples and models of previous work will assist them in the understanding of the assignment which will lead to improved grades. How Students Learn Best Many students have been interviewed and surveyed on how they learn best. They have become a valuable resource when evaluating how different teaching strategies impact their feelings while they are in the class and their success rate on assignments. Campbell, Smith, Boulton-Lewis, Brownlee, Burnett Carrington (2001) found that when interviewed, both students who have a deep approach to learning and students who have a surface approach to learning, felt that when being exposed to new concepts, they learned more when they were in a caring, supportive environment and when they were actively engaged in the lessons being taught. However, when the class was teacher focused and when students were lectured to, both types of students became surface learners and were not as engaged (Campbell et al.). Their perceptions of the class were negative compared to the hands-on, active classes that built the students self-esteem (Campbell et al.). This can be related to students’ anxiety and frustration levels when learning. If students feel they are in a supportive, caring environment that provides hands-on learning experiences, they will approach learning in a deeper way. Child Development students experience hands-on learning on a weekly basis when they are in the child care center teaching and observing the preschool children. As educators, it is vital that we consider the different needs of our students when teaching a new concept. Our students may be some of our best resources when evaluating the teaching methods we use. Teachers should consider the methods used to teach the lesson, the time period given to teach the new concept, and the amount of frustration or excitement the teaching strategy or assignment brings to students. Data Collection Methodology In this study, which focuses on describing the effect that providing journal and case study paper examples, more time to observe in the child care center and the use of different teaching methods will have on the improvement of observation journals and case study papers, I will primarily be using qualitative data. The form of qualitative research method I plan to use is ethnography. Ethnography is fitting to my research due to the fact that I will be observing my students when they are working in there every day surroundings (Glanz, 2003). I also found ethnography to be appropriate for my research because I will use observations as a main source of my data collection (Glanz, 2003). The research method I am using is not a case study because I am collecting data that I will interpret and focus on a group rather than an individual (Glanz, 2003). The research questions that guide my data collection are: How will giving more time to observe in the child care center impact the high school students’ journals and case study papers? What teaching methods should I use to teach observing and journaling? Will spending more time on teaching observing and journaling improve student work? How will providing excellent examples of observation journals and case study papers impact student work? Will student anxiety and frustration levels decrease if more observation time is given? (See Appendix A) When collecting my data, I am interested in comparing my perceptions of what students struggle with when observing, journaling and writing their case study papers to the students’ perceptions of what they struggle with when observing, journaling and writing their case study papers. The data will be collected during the first semester of the 2008-2009 school year. The data I will collect will primarily be qualitative which will include my own observations, colleague interviews and collection of student work. I value how my students are feeling about the projects assigned in my class so I will ask for input from the students as well. This data will be provided through a student focus group and student surveys at the beginning and end of the semester. All of the data collected will assist me in answering the questions I am exploring in this action research project. Colleague Interviews There are three teaching professionals I interviewed before the high school students began observing in the child care center. The Deer Park Teaching and Learning child care center Director, another Child Development teacher and an English teacher were asked for input on my topic. When interviewing the child care center Director (See Appendix B) and the Child Development teacher (See Appendix C), I investigated the time spent on teaching journaling and observing and the teaching methods they felt were beneficial to the students. I also wanted to understand their perceptions on how they feel providing students with example journals and case study papers impacts the students understanding of the assignment. Through these interviews, a qualitative research method, I was able to understand the teachers’ views on providing students with more time in the child care center to observe. When interviewing the English teacher (See Appendix D), I focused on strategies used by this teacher to improve students writing. It was also beneficial to find out what students in English class struggle with most when they are writing and what the teacher does to address these struggles. I am hoping to apply this information to my class to assist my students when they are writing their case study papers. I asked both the English teacher and the Child Development teacher what type of presentation methods students struggle with and what type of presentation methods get students excited about learning. Student Focus Group At the beginning of the semester, I will hold a class discussion regarding the amount of time given to observe in the child care center (See Appendix E). During this class focus group, a qualitative research method, I intend to also get feedback from the students regarding their views on how providing example observation journals will impact their understanding of the observation journal writing process. What I have found in the past is that students have a pretty good gage on what they need to be successful so asking students what their needs are at the beginning of the semester is important. Student Survey – Questionnaire Two surveys (See Appendix F) were created to request information from students in the two Child Development classes I teach. The intentions of the surveys, a qualitative research method, were to ask the students for their input to address the following questions: How will providing more time for you to observe in the child care center impact your observation journals and case study papers? What teaching methods do you benefit from most when learning about observing, journaling and writing your case study papers? Will spending more time on teaching observing and journaling improve your journals and papers? How will providing excellent examples of observation journals and case study papers impact affect your understanding of the assignment and your work? Will your anxiety and frustration levels decrease if more observation time in given? The questionnaire will be implemented at the beginning of the semester, before they observe, and at the end of the semester, after their papers are wr itten, to gain a better understanding of the students’ viewpoint on this assignment. Collecting Artifacts Another qualitative research method I plan to use is to sporadically collect the students’ observation journal entries throughout the entire semester. My intention is to analyze the improvement of the students’ work as the semester goes along. I will collect the journals after the first time they observe when more time is given in the child care center, more time is spent on teaching observing and journaling and examples are provided to the students. I will compare this to the observations I have made in regards to student work from previous years. Collecting these artifacts throughout the semester will allow me to evaluate the students’ understanding of observing and journaling as they progress through the semester. It will also provide me the opportunity to give the students feedback so the students will feel guided in this process. At the end of the semester, I will collect the final case study papers and the scores on the journals and papers, which is a quantitative data collection method. This will allow me to analyze student progress throughout the semester. The case study papers will also provide me with an idea of each student’s overall understanding of observing and how they are able to relate the information they have gathered through their observations to how a child is developing. Observation and Field Notes While students are using the example observation journals to guide their own journal writing, I will observe and note, qualitatively, the ease at which students do this. I will also note how often the students refer to their examples as the semester progresses. Throughout the semester, during the first ten minutes of class and the last ten minutes of class, I will observe and make notes on the students’ frustration levels related to observing. The beginning and end of class is a time when students talk to each other about a variety of things they are dealing with at the time. This will be an ideal time for me to step back and listen to their discussions between one another in regards to observing, journaling and writing their papers. Timeline for Collecting Data: Time of Year Data Collection Source Data Collection Source Data Collection Source Data Collection Source Before Semester Begins 3 Colleague Interviews Beginning of Semester Student Focus Groups Collect Artifacts – Observations Journals Scores Student Survey – Questionnaire Observation Field Notes Middle of Semester Collect Artifacts – Observations Journals Scores Observation Field Notes End of Semester Collect Artifacts – Observations Journals Scores Student Survey – Questionnaire Observation Field Notes Data Analysis Qualitative Data During my data collection I will obtain data through colleague interviews, student focus groups, student surveys, observations, and artifacts. After my data is collected I will organize the data (Glanz, 2003). In order to organize my data I will read and reread the data to allow myself the ability to distinguish any patterns that are important (Glanz, 2003). Themes that I am prepared to find through my data collection is that students will benefit from examples that are provided. After analyzing my observations, students surveys, and student focus group notes I predict I will find students will be relieved to have examples of the paper. I find that with provided examples students enjoyment of the project will be much more positive. To analyze my data I will group student in three categories: students that view examples as helpful, students that view examples as no help, and students that view examples as hurting their understanding. I will collect my data and then put each student in one of the three categories in which they fit. After I collect data I will need to code the data and find any themes or patterns that arise (Mills, 2007). Quantitative Data The quantitative data that I am collecting in my research is the student’s case study paper scores. I will use the scores to compare if student did better this year than from previous years. I will compare student’s papers to papers from the past two years. I will need to also review students overall scores throughout the year to be sure that the students did better because of the examples provided and my teaching methods but not because of the student’s natural ability. Call for Action and Predictions Affected Population The findings of this study will provide valuable information to high school teachers who have students who struggle with or are frustrated by the writing process. English teachers typically are responsible for teaching students the writing process and allowing them to practice that skill in their class. However, writing may be reinforced in all subject areas. The more practice students have with writing, the more likely they will be successful, especially if they are motivated and are writing about something they can connect with or enjoy. Both types of students, students who struggle with writing and those who do not, may benefit from the research found in this study. I predict that providing examples to students and modeling writing strategies, will allow students to gain a better understanding of the observation journal and case study paper assignments. If students are able to visually see clear examples of what is expected in their writing, they are more likely to succeed and become less frustrated. Specifically, the students who will benefit from this study the most are my current students and future students because I will alter my teaching methods to include examples of previous student work. My colleague’s, Susan Johnson, students will also benefit if she decides to implement similar strategies when teaching observing and journaling. Importance of ResearchOnce this data is collected and analyzed, it will provide me with the information I need to make changes to the way I teach observing and journaling. At this time, students are very frustrated with observing and writing their papers and I believe the data that I will collect may provide some insight into â€Å"what† specifically students are struggling with and â€Å"why† they have such a hard time with these assignments. I believe if I can find what is frustrating to students I can help students focus on the importance of the project rather than the difficulty. The data will also allow me to ask other educational professionals and students their opinions on this issue so I can gain multiple perspectives. Hopefully, this will allow me to implement change in my teaching methods, the assignment and the students learning experience. Hypothesis and Future Outcomes Although I have not collected any data at this time, I expect student frustration levels to decrease and the quality of student work to increase if students are provided more time in the child care center to observe. I anticipate students would not feel as rushed and may be able to gather more thorough descriptions of what they see if they could spend the entire period in the center rather than half of the period. More time in the center may also provide students with an enhanced learning experience because they might be more likely to interact with the preschoolers and become more engaged in what they are observing. Student’s engagement in observing may motivate them while they are completing their observation journals and writing their case study papers because they will have more experiences with the children to refer to. I foresee the students’ understanding of observing and journaling to improve if more time was spent on teaching these concepts and if a variety of engaging teaching methods were used. It can be frustrating for students when they are not given enough time to learn a new concept. Allowing students time to practice and discuss examples of observing in groups, partners and individually before going into the child care center, will enable students to become more comfortable with the observation process. Many students get excited about learning new ideas when they are learning through hands on experiences and working with other students. When I am teaching observing and journaling, I will try to provide students more opportunities to do this before expecting them to go into the child care center to observe on their own. I feel this will help motivate students about the observation and case study project.Finally, I anticipate that providing students with examples of observation journals and case study papers will assist them in their understanding of the assignment.

Korean Players in Major League Baseball Essay -- Major League Baseball

Even though Chan-Ho Park’s case proved that Korean players could compete in Major League Baseball, none of other Koreans successfully settled in U.S.A. after Park. Approximately after ten years, a similar case with Park’s debut came out with Shin-Soo Choo. Shin-Soo Choo, who did not make a debut in Korean Baseball Championship before debuting in Major League Baseball, made debut with Seattle Mariners on 21 April 2005. Choo dreamed about Major League Baseball, which led him into a Rookie contract with Seattle mariners after his graduation from high school in 2000. Therefore, he made up to Seattle Mariners’s Minor League and even up to Major League (â€Å"Choo Shin Soo†). Nonetheless, his debut in the Major League did not lead him into running for full season, and he mostly spent time in the minor league. Finally, he was traded to the Cleveland Indians in 2006. As soon as he was traded to Indians, he ironically hit a home run against the Seattle Ma riners, and he recorded a 0.295 Batting Average and a 0.373 OBP (On Base Percentage) in 2006 season with the Cleveland. A similar quality of plays was continued until the season 2008. In 2008, Choo finished the season with a 0.309 Batting Average and a 0.397 OBP. Even more, during September, he pushed up his Batting Average up to a 0.40 with thirty-four hits and five home runs. Hence, Shin-Soo Choo was selected as the American League Player of the Month. In 2009, Choo made contract with Indians for only one year, and during the one-year contract, he broke his records and joined 20-20 club (20 home runs and 20 stolen bases). Choo was the first Asian to earn the title in the Major Leagues and became the only player in the American League with a 0.30 Batting Average, 20 home runs, and 20... ....com." Baseball-Reference.com. Web. 17 Mar. 2014. "Korean Baseball History." Naver Encyclopedia. NHN, Web. 17 Mar. 2014. Minami, Craig. "2013 Dodgers Review: Hyun-jin Ryu - True Blue LA." True Blue LA. 4 Nov. 2013. Web. 17 Mar. 2014. Rosenbaum, Mike. "Why the Los Angeles Dodgers Will Overpay for South Korean LHP Hyun-Jin Ryu." Bleacher Report. 13 Nov. 2012. Web. 17 Mar. 2014. "Shin-Soo Choo." Baseball Reference- BR Bullpen. Web. 17 Mar. 2014. "Shin-Soo Choo Batting Statistics and History - Baseball-Reference.com." Baseball-Reference.com. Web. 17 Mar. 2014. Swaine, Rick. "Jackie Robinson." SABR. Society for American Baseball Research. Web. 16 Mar. 2014. Wells, Adam. "Ryu Hyun-Jin: Dodgers' Foolish Investment in Korean Star Will End Badly." Bleacher Report. 10 Dec. 2012. Web. 17 Mar. 2014. "What Is Moneyball?" SportingCharts.com. Web. 17 Mar. 2014.

Gatorade †Every Game Needs a Hero Essay

The commercial is about the new Gatorade commercial entitled Every Game Needs a hero. The commercial uses stop motion to feature an ongoing game. With its monochromatic form, the only thing that can be viewed in full color is the Gatorade item that can be found on the side where the water jug must be put in.   The commercial uses the song O-fortuna by Therion, which is a very famous song used as soundtrack in a lot of suspense, actions, and adventure movies. Several sports were featured like baseball, basketball, football and tennis. Finally, the commercial made its subjects moved by exemplifying the climax of the game, hand in hand with inspirational short phrases. Moreover, a grand finale is set by showing the Gatorade logo in the end. By watching the commercial, it is indeed clear that the commercial is a type of brand Advertising. In this case, Gatorade has promoted its brand by using famous sports personalities to persuade people to buy its product. Gatorade is an energy drink suited to fight dehydration. Every athlete exerts their full force when playing a game and because of that, they partially or fully lose the water levels in their body causing them to dehydrate. With Gatorade’s goal, to re-hydrate, replenish and refuel, it is certainly effective to use some sports personalities to endorse its product. In their website, they are fully promoting that Gatorade is faster to absorb that water in rehydrating an active person’s body. The commercial, in my opinion as the bystander, is very easy to like. When I first watched it, it is undeniably eye-catching. The commercial implies a lot of curiosity in which a viewer will not hesitate to watch it until the end. The special effects used in this commercial, although not new, were very effective. The opening scene was stunning especially when everyone can relate to the visuals presented on the first frames of the commercial. When it comes to the music used, I personally like it, not to mention I am a big fan of the band Therion, but also because it is very familiar to everybody’s ear. The music used as part of the effects of every game was very effective. On the other hand, there are still some aspects in the commercial in which I, as the viewer will be able to dislike. If I didn’t see the Gatorade jug on a part of the commercial and instead, jumped on the middle or latter part of it, I would never have thought that it’s from Gatorade. The stop motion thing is good but was poorly edited or visually criticized. Also, the Gatorade thing in this commercial was poorly emphasized as well as the message is quite vague. The theme every game needs a hero is quite fuzzy as delivered in the commercial. It comes in a way in which leaving me, as a viewer confused by finding out who the hero was, is it Gatorade or the sports personalities? I may even think that the hero is me. By interpreting all the thoughts gathered in watching this Gatorade commercial, I have come to a wrap-up thought that Gatorade is just simply emphasizing that everyone can become like any other sports personalities just by putting Gatorade beside them. The commercial put a lot of energy in me, in which I would not hesitate to watch it over and over again.   It affects most to those who really love sports. In contrast, it may minimally affect those who have no heart for any sport activities. However, the commercial is stunning especially is viewed first time. All in all, I could say that the commercial is exceptionally effective.

Albrecht von Wallenstein in the Thirty Years War

Albrecht von Wallenstein in the Thirty Years War Born at Heà ¸manice, Bohemia on September 24, 1583, Albrecht von Wallenstein was the son of a minor noble family. Initially raised as a Protestant by his parents, he was sent to a Jesuit school in Olmà ¼tz by his uncle after their death. While at Olmà ¼tz he professed to convert to Catholicism, though he subsequently attended the Lutheran University of Altdorf in 1599. Following additional schooling at Bologna and Padua, von Wallenstein joined the army of Holy Roman Emperor Rudolf II. Fighting against the Ottomans and Hungarian rebels, he was commended for his service at the siege of Gran. Rise to Power: Returning home to Bohemia, he married the wealthy widow Lucretia Nikossie von Landeck. Inheriting her fortune and estates in Moravia upon her death in 1614, von Wallenstein used it buy influence. After splendidly fitting out a company of 200 cavalries, he presented it to Archduke Ferdinand of Styria for use in fighting the Venetians. In 1617, von Wallenstein married Isabella Katharina. The couple had two children, though only one, a daughter, survived infancy. With the outbreak of the Thirty Years War in 1618, von Wallenstein declared his support for the Imperial cause. Forced to flee his lands in Moravia, he brought the provinces treasury to Vienna. Equipping a regiment of cuirassiers, von Wallenstein joined the army of Karel Bonaventura Buquoy and saw service against the Protestant armies of Ernst von Mansfeld and Gabriel Bethlen. Winning notice as a brilliant commander, von Wallenstein was able to recover his lands after the Catholic victory at the Battle of White Mountain in 1620. He also benefited from the favoritism of Ferdinand who had ascended to post of Holy Roman Emperor in 1619. The Emperors Commander: Through the emperor, von Wallenstein was able to acquire the large estates that had belonged to his mothers family as well as purchased huge tracts of confiscated land. Adding these to his holdings, he reorganized the territory and named it Friedland. In addition, military successes brought titles with the emperor making him an imperial count palatine in 1622, and a prince a year later. With the entry of the Danes into the conflict, Ferdinand found himself without an army under his control to oppose them.  While the army of the Catholic League was in the field, it belonged to Maximilian of Bavaria. Seizing the opportunity, von Wallenstein approached the emperor in 1625 and offered to raise an entire army on his behalf. Elevated to Duke of Friedland, von Wallenstein initially assembled a force of 30,000 men. On April 25, 1626, von Wallenstein and his new army defeated a force under Mansfield at the Battle of Dessau Bridge. Operating in conjunction with the Count of Tillys Catholic League Army, von Wallenstein campaigned against Mansfeld and Bethlan. In 1627, his army swept through Silesia clearing it of Protestant forces. In the wake of this victory, he purchased the Duchy of Sagan from the emperor. The next year, von Wallensteins army moved into Mecklenburg in support of Tillys efforts against the Danes. Named Duke of Mecklenburg for his services, von Wallenstein was frustrated when his siege of Stralsund failed, denying him access to the Baltic and the ability to confront Sweden and the Netherlands at sea. He was further distressed when Ferdinand announced the Edict of Restitution in 1629. This called for the return of several principalities to Imperial control and the conversion of their inhabitants to Catholicism. Though von Wallenstein personally opposed the edict, he began moving his 134,000-man army to enforce it, angering many of the German princes. This was hampered by the intervention of Sweden and the arrival of its army under the gifted leadership of King Gustavus Adolphus. In 1630, Ferdinand called a meeting of the electors at Regensburg with the goal of having his son voted as his successor. Angered by von Wallensteins arrogance and actions, the princes, led by Maximilian, demanded the commanders removal in exchange for their votes. Ferdinand agreed and riders were sent to inform von Wallenstein of his fate. Return to Power: Turning his army over to Tilly, he retired to Jitschin in Friedland. While he lived on his estates, the war went badly for the emperor as the Swedes crushed Tilly at the Battle of Breitenfeld in 1631. The following April, Tilly was defeated at killed at Rain. With the Swedes in Munich and occupying Bohemia, Ferdinand recalled von Wallenstein. Returning to duty, he swiftly raised a new army and cleared the Saxons from Bohemia. After defeating the Swedes at Alte Veste, he encountered Gustavus Adolphus army at Là ¼tzen in November 1632. In the battle that ensued, von Wallensteins army was defeated but Gustavus Adolphus was killed. Much to the emperors dismay, von Wallenstein did not exploit the kings death but rather retreated into winter quarters. When the campaign season began in 1633, von Wallenstein mystified his superiors by avoiding confrontations with the Protestants. This was largely due to his anger over the Edict of Restitution and his beginning secret negotiations with Saxony, Sweden, Brandenburg, and France to end the war. While little is known regarding the talks, he claimed to be seeking a just peace for a unified Germany. Downfall: While von Wallenstein worked to stay loyal to the emperor, it is clear that he was seeking to aggrandize his own power. As the talks flagged, he sought to reassert his power by finally going on the offensive. Attacking the Swedes and Saxons, he won his final victory at Steinau in October 1633. After von Wallenstein moved to winter quarters around Pilsen, news of the secret talks reached the emperor in Vienna. Moving quickly, Ferdinand had a secret court find him guilty of treason and signed a patent removing from command on January 24, 1634. This was followed by an open patent charging him with treason which was published in Prague on February 23. Realizing the danger, von Wallenstein rode from Pilsen to Eger with the goal of meeting with the Swedes. Two nights after arriving, a plot was put into motion to eliminate the general. Scots and Irish dragoons from von Wallensteins army seized and killed many of his senior officers, while a small force, led by Walter Devereux, killed the general in his bedroom. Selected Sources Albrecht von WallensteinNNDB: Albrecht von WallensteinThirty Years War

Free Essays on Channels Of Distribution

Abstract In reading the article â€Å"Channels of Distribution† by Geoff Lancaster the article describes the term ‘distribution system’ as to that of complex of agents, wholesalers and retailers through which manufacturers move products to their intended markets.† Marketing channels are usually made up of independent firms who are in business to make a profit. These are known as marketing intermediaries or middlemen. Distribution outlets can include combinations of owned and independent outlets or arrangements like franchising. The routes marketing organizations take when attempting to ensure that their goods and services reach the intended market or market segments. In setting up a distribution system, the organization must make a policy choice between selling directly to customers and employing salespeople and using intermediaries i.e. selling through agents, wholesalers and retailers. In the beginning the decision is usually based on various cost factors. Distribution costs in most cases are figured out by using several different factors like the number of potential customers in the market; how concentrated or dispersed they are; how much each will buy in a given period; costs associated with the practical side of the distributive operation (e.g. transport, warehousing and stockholding .If the organization thinks that they have a large enough potential sales market/customers they have a strong case for selling direct and employing a sales force. Organizations that makes industrial goods usually tend to use direct selling and often deliver direct to the user/customer, although in some cases wholesalers or ‘factors’ are used. Organ izations that markets consumer goods tend to use a network of marketing intermediaries because of the dispersion and large numbers of potential customers. As with everything there are always exceptions to the rules for example Mary Kay Cosmetics and Avon Cosmetics sell d... Free Essays on Channels Of Distribution Free Essays on Channels Of Distribution Abstract In reading the article â€Å"Channels of Distribution† by Geoff Lancaster the article describes the term ‘distribution system’ as to that of complex of agents, wholesalers and retailers through which manufacturers move products to their intended markets.† Marketing channels are usually made up of independent firms who are in business to make a profit. These are known as marketing intermediaries or middlemen. Distribution outlets can include combinations of owned and independent outlets or arrangements like franchising. The routes marketing organizations take when attempting to ensure that their goods and services reach the intended market or market segments. In setting up a distribution system, the organization must make a policy choice between selling directly to customers and employing salespeople and using intermediaries i.e. selling through agents, wholesalers and retailers. In the beginning the decision is usually based on various cost factors. Distribution costs in most cases are figured out by using several different factors like the number of potential customers in the market; how concentrated or dispersed they are; how much each will buy in a given period; costs associated with the practical side of the distributive operation (e.g. transport, warehousing and stockholding .If the organization thinks that they have a large enough potential sales market/customers they have a strong case for selling direct and employing a sales force. Organizations that makes industrial goods usually tend to use direct selling and often deliver direct to the user/customer, although in some cases wholesalers or ‘factors’ are used. Organ izations that markets consumer goods tend to use a network of marketing intermediaries because of the dispersion and large numbers of potential customers. As with everything there are always exceptions to the rules for example Mary Kay Cosmetics and Avon Cosmetics sell d...

Environmental Policy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

Environmental Policy - Essay Example authoritarian with the semblance of democracy through rubber stamp elections (re: Saddam Hussein’s elections in which he would win 99.9% of the â€Å"popular† vote), there are a variety of types of democracy found throughout the world. Aiming to explore the relationship between the Green political movement and democracy, the following aims to provide a thorough and comprehensive overview of this increasingly relevant phenomenon in the 21st century. In which ways are Green political parties democratic, and in which ways are they anti-democratic? Critics argue that Green democracy is not possible and that Green political parties and the Green movement are based upon authoritarian tendencies which are not firmly entrenched within the democratic tradition. Advocates argue that Green politics can exist within the framework of deliberative democracy and a variety of important political successes have been achieved through Green democratic discourse. Seeking to address the con troversial issues surrounding Green democracy the 21st century the following will explore both sides of the debate. We now turn to overview of the Green political movement (Keohane, 1979, 3-44). Traditionally, Green parties have seen themselves as historically more democratic than other political parties. Why is this the case? Many Green parties developed as grassroots organizations in a highly decentralized manner and with a quite participatory role for members. Since these parties promoted ecological development and sustainable growth, their political platforms with respect to the environmental concerns of the nation or state were self-binding, meaning that they were already established from the outset by these parties. Critics such as Saward argue that because democracy is a process and because the outcomes of a democratic competition are not known from the outset, Green parties may in fact be anti-democratic because their platforms preclude proper democratic competition. Accordingly, these

Walt Disney World Speech or Presentation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Walt Disney World - Speech or Presentation Example Further, it maintains an informal link with England’s Swindon Company as a competitive measure (â€Å"The Walt Disney Company,† n.d.). Walt Disney World’s employees have high morale levels and remain empowered in their undertakings. They work towards providing high quality visitor relations, most notable through smiles. Employees at the resort delight in diversified job arrangements and an all-inclusive workforce nationalities as well as free tickets. They take on consistent self or team tasks and witness ever changing visitor interactions despite the minimal wages and little benefits that they receive. Employees at the resort demonstrate friendliness and learn new skills each day as well as have opportunities for advancement. With regards to strategy formulation, the management utilizes a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system along with information technology to ease crowding and re-design customer experience. The resort’s corporate, human resourc e and business strategies include modification plans for Downtown Disney’s art concept along with prospects for allowing advertisements application for Hulu initiative. Plans to open Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort in 2014 constitute the resort’s business strategy. Moreover, it aligned with Vera Bradley in generating a new track of bags as well as created a new logo art design for the company (â€Å"The Walt Disney Company,† n.d.). Strategy implementation capacities consist of youth centered initiatives with an annual budget allocation of $500,000 such as ‘A gift for Teaching’ program in addition to obliging to creativity and arts, for instance, summer camps. Social and compassion related services following economic hardships and natural disasters... The paper outlines the value of Walt Disney World. Walt Disney World originally focused on innovation and creativity. Demographic and labor trends for the resort indicate it as the ninth standing leading labor force among all Florida’s markets with increasing percentage of female workforce. The resort’s customer base takes in families, children, government and non-governmental groups, the community and learning institutions. Walt Disney World’s employees have high morale levels and remain empowered in their undertakings. They work towards providing high quality visitor relations, most notable through smiles. Employees at the resort delight in diversified job arrangements and an all-inclusive workforce nationalities as well as free tickets. They take on consistent self or team tasks and witness ever changing visitor interactions despite the minimal wages and little benefits that they receive. Employees at the resort demonstrate friendliness and learn new skills ea ch day as well as have opportunities for advancement. . Walt Disney World invests in local community infrastructures within Florida such as Florida’s children hospital based Walt Disney Pavilion in addition to hospitality and culinary science scholarships for college and university students at the resort. The resort also offers periodic discounts for their visitors on various reservation packages. Human capital as well as human resource metrics became considered with regards to assessment and evaluation. Walt Disney World makes use of less advertising as compared to its rivals in the industry.