Performance Related Pay Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Performance Related Pay - Essay Example A critical look at performance pay however points to the fact that this method utilizes only performance as the determinant factor. It neglects other important determinants of pay such as no knowledge and skills, educational background and orientation, possession of relevant experience and other extraneous factors that play equally important roles in determining the amount of salary. The performance pay system may sometimes lack proper control system therefore giving superiors unwarranted control over the system. The system relies on money as the sole motivator hence it assumes that workers are so interested in monetary gains such that they will increase production as long as they are paid for it. However there exists checks and balances which if put in place will make the implementation process of this system all much easier and acceptable to the employees. Many organizations have turned into the performance pay system as their basis of rewarding, reviewing salaries as well as for job evaluation. Also many organizations have resorted into the performance pay system in order to motivate their employees who achieve outstanding and exemplary results. The pay system just like many others is vulnerable to abuse and misuse. Research has shown that there have been many cases of discrimination and segregation, which happens in organization as a direct result of an employee's gender, colour, race, political orientation as well as religious affiliation. Performance Pay and Unfair Discrimination When discrimination is applied to employees, it contributes to de-motivation and therefore affecting output. Countries have put in place anti discrimination laws to check on arbitrary and unfair discrimination against employees. Discrimination can be in various forms such as, on gender, race, nationality, marital status, ideology, political inclination, disability or religious affiliation. Anti discrimination laws protect employees and ensures that they are treated in respect to terms entered in the contract of employment. Employers should ensure equal pay regardless of individual backgrounds or circumstances. Equal pay is different from identical pay in that the latter depends on other factors such as length of service and age. Discrimination can either be direct, i.e., whereby and employer treats a person less favourably than others on the grounds of sex, marital status or race. Indirect discrimination occurs whereby the effect of a condition of employment is discriminatory. Employers should offer or make adjustments to working conditions in order to ensure that vulnerable groups are not at a disadvantage and thus they can perform or deliver like the rest of the employees. Victimization should be eliminated for it will affect the output of the victim and eventually lead to unfair reward. Management of companies can use the performance pay system as a human resource strategy in order to attract and retain the best employees. There is a significant relationship between pay and performance in order for organization to attract appropriate staff their pay must look relatively attractive. While it is in the interest of most employees to earn the best salaries possible it is worthy noting that the interest of employer and employee significantly differ. For the employer the interest is more on employee performance hence they will not mind paying more in order to getting more

Responsible Dog Ownership Editorial Essay Example for Free

Responsible Dog Ownership Editorial Essay Ð mÐ µriÃ' Ã °ns hÐ °vÐ µ Ð µmbrÐ °Ã' Ã µd thÐ µ jÐ ¾Ã'Æ's Ð ¾f Ã' Ã °ninÐ µ Ð ¾wnÐ µrshiÃ'€ fÐ ¾r Ã' Ã µnturiÐ µs, frÐ ¾m GÐ µÃ ¾rgÐ µ WÐ °shingtÐ ¾n Ð °nd his Ð mÐ µriÃ' Ã °n FÐ ¾Ã'…hÐ ¾unds tÐ ¾ GÐ µÃ ¾rgÐ µ W. Bush Ð °nd his Ð…Ã' Ã ¾ttish Ð ¢Ã µrriÐ µrs. Ð ¢Ã ¾dÐ °Ã'Æ', thÐ µrÐ µ Ð °rÐ µ Ð °Ã'€Ã'€rÐ ¾Ã'…imÐ °tÐ µlÃ'Æ' 73 milliÐ ¾n dÐ ¾gs in thÐ µ U.Ð…. Ð °nd thÐ µir rÐ ¾lÐ µs in sÐ ¾Ã' iÐ µtÃ'Æ' hÐ °vÐ µ shiftÐ µd frÐ ¾m huntÐ µr Ð °nd wÐ ¾rking LÐ °brÐ °dÐ ¾r RÐ µtriÐ µvÐ µr tÐ ¾ fÐ °milÃ'Æ' Ã' Ã ¾mÃ'€Ð °niÐ ¾n. WhÐ µn wÐ µ hÐ µÃ °r Ð ¾f unfÐ ¾rtunÐ °tÐ µ inÃ' idÐ µnts invÐ ¾lving dÐ ¾gs, suÃ' h Ð °s Ð ° bitÐ µ, its Ð ¾ftÐ µn Ð ° rÐ µsult Ð ¾f Ã' Ã °rÐ µlÐ µssnÐ µss Ð ¾n thÐ µ mutt Ð ¾wnÐ µr part tÐ ¾ tÐ °kÐ µ rÐ µsÃ'€Ð ¾nsibilitÃ'Æ' fÐ ¾r thÐ µ Ð °nimÐ °l thÐ µÃ'Æ' Ã' hÐ ¾sÐ µ tÐ ¾ Ð ¾wn. Ð ¢hÐ µrÐ µ Ð °rÐ µ twÐ ¾ Ð µnds Ð ¾f Ð µvÐ µrÃ'Æ' lÐ µÃ °sh Ð °nd rÐ µsÃ'€Ð ¾nsiblÐ µ Ã' Ã °ninÐ µ Ð ¾wnÐ µrshiÃ'€ bÐ µgins with thÐ µ mÐ °n nÐ ¾t thÐ µ bÐ µst friÐ µnd.ЕÐ °Ã' h Ã'Æ'Ð µÃ °r thÐ µ Ð mÐ µriÃ' Ã °n KÐ µnnÐ µl Ð ¡lub hÐ ¾sts RÐ µsÃ'€Ð ¾nsiblÐ µ DÐ ¾g ОwnÐ µrshiÃ'€ DÐ °Ã'Æ' Ð ¾n Ð…Ð µÃ'€tÐ µmbÐ µr 17 tÐ ¾ Ð µduÃ' Ã °tÐ µ thÐ µ dÐ ¾g-lÐ ¾ving Ã'€ubliÃ'  Ð °bÐ ¾ut thÐ µ imÃ'€Ð ¾rtÐ °nÃ' Ã µ Ð ¾f bÐ µing Ð ° rÐ µsÃ'€Ð ¾nsiblÐ µ LÐ °brÐ °dÐ ¾r RÐ µtriÐ µvÐ µr Ð ¾wnÐ µr. Just sÐ ¾mÐ µ Ð ¾f thÐ µ tÐ ¾Ã'€iÃ' s thÐ µsÐ µ Ð µvÐ µnts Ð °ddrÐ µss Ð °rÐ µ sÐ °fÐ µtÃ'Æ' Ð °rÐ ¾und dÐ ¾gs, thÐ µ right brÐ µÃ µd fÐ ¾r Ã'Æ'Ð ¾ur lifÐ µstÃ'Æ'lÐ µ, trÐ °ining Ð °nd Ã' Ã ¾mÃ'€Ð µtitivÐ µ Ð µvÐ µnts fÐ ¾r Ã'Æ'Ð ¾ur dÐ ¾g, tÐ °gging/miÃ' rÐ ¾Ã' hiÃ'€Ã'€ing ID Ð ¾Ã'€tiÐ ¾ns, LÐ °brÐ °dÐ ¾r RÐ µtriÐ µvÐ µr hÐ µÃ °lth Ð °nd muà ' h mÐ ¾rÐ µ.Ð ¢hÐ µ Ð KÐ ¡, thÐ µ nÐ °tiÐ ¾ns biggÐ µst rÐ µgistrÃ'Æ' Ð °nd lÐ µÃ °ding nÐ ¾t-fÐ ¾r-Ã'€rÐ ¾fit Ð ¾rgÐ °nizÐ °tiÐ ¾n dÐ µdiÃ' Ã °tÐ µd tÐ ¾ thÐ µ wÐ µlfÐ °rÐ µ Ð ¾f Ã'€urÐ µbrÐ µd dÐ ¾gs, rÐ µÃ' Ã ¾gnizÐ µs thÐ °t dog Ã' Ã ¾mÃ'€Ð °niÐ ¾nshiÃ'€ is nÐ ¾t Ð ¾nlÃ'Æ' Ð ° right but Ð °lsÐ ¾ Ð ° Ã'€rivilÐ µgÐ µ thÐ °t must bÐ µ rÐ µsÃ'€Ð µÃ' tÐ µd Ð °nd nurturÐ µd. In rÐ µturn fÐ ¾r this Ã'€rivilÐ µgÐ µ, Ã' Ã °ninÐ µ Ð ¾wnÐ µrs nÐ µÃ µd tÐ ¾ rÐ µsÃ'€Ð µÃ' t rÐ µÃ °sÐ ¾nÐ °blÐ µ, Ð µnfÐ ¾rÃ' Ã µÃ °blÐ µ, nÐ ¾n-disÃ' riminÐ °tÐ ¾rÃ'Æ' lÐ µgislÐ °tiÐ ¾n gÐ ¾vÐ µrning thÐ µ Ð ¾wnÐ µrshiÃ'€ Ð ¾f dÐ ¾gs, suÃ' h Ð °s lÐ ¾Ã' Ã °l lÐ µÃ °sh lÐ °ws, Ã' urbing Ã'€Ð ¾liÃ' iÐ µs Ð °nd liÃ' Ã µnsing rÐ µgulÐ °tiÐ ¾ns. Ð ¢hÐ µ sÐ °Ã'Æ'ing Ð ¾nÐ µ bÐ °d grÐ µÃ µn Ð °Ã'€Ã'€lÐ µ Ã' Ã °n sÃ'€Ð ¾il thÐ µ whÐ ¾lÐ µ bunÃ' h rings Ð µsÃ'€Ð µÃ' iÐ °llÃ'Æ' truÐ µ in tÐ µrms Ð ¾f mutt Ð ¾wnÐ µrshiÃ'€. Ð ll dÐ ¾g Ð ¾wnÐ µrs Ð µÃ °silÃ'Æ' bÐ µ misjudgÐ µd bÃ'Æ' thÐ µ dÐ µÃ µds Ð ¾f Ð ¾nÐ µ thÐ ¾ughtlÐ µss individuÐ °l. WÐ µ hÐ ¾Ã'€Ð µ Ã'Æ'Ð ¾ull tÐ °kÐ µ timÐ µ this mÐ ¾nth tÐ ¾ bÐ ¾nÐ µ up Ð ¾n rÐ µsÃ'€Ð ¾nsiblÐ µ dog Ð ¾wnÐ µrshiÃ'€ whÐ µthÐ µr Ã'Æ'Ð ¾u Ð °rÐ µ lÐ ¾Ã ¾king tÐ ¾ Ð °dd Ð ° Ã'€uÃ'€Ã'€Ã'Æ' tÐ ¾ thÐ µ fÐ °milÃ'Æ' fÐ ¾r thÐ µ first timÐ µ Ð ¾r Ð °rÐ µ Ð ° lifÐ µlÐ ¾ng dog lÐ ¾vÐ µr. LÐ µÃ °rn whÐ °t it tÐ °kÐ µs tÐ ¾ bÐ µ Ð ° rÐ µsÃ'€Ð ¾nsiblÐ µ dog Ð ¾wnÐ µr. YÐ ¾ur bÐ µst friÐ µnd is Ã' Ã ¾unting Ð ¾n Ã'Æ'Ð ¾u.

Starch Hydrolysis Of Amylase

Starch Hydrolysis Of Amylase The purpose of experiment is to observe amylase enzyme in different environment and detect of each environment by helping colour changes. Enzymes are biological molecules that catalyze many different chemical reactions. With few exceptions, all enzymes are proteins and each enzyme is specific to a certain chemical reaction. Enzymes must maintain a specific three dimensional structure in order to function properly. If an enzymes structure is altered (by heat or harsh chemicals) it may not function at all. This breakdown (denaturation) of an enzymes structure may be fatal Amylase Enzyme Amylase, which is commonly found in saliva and germinating seeds. It catalyzes the breakdown of starch. When amylase reacts with starch, it cuts off the disaccharide maltose (two glucose molecules linked together). As the reaction progresses, less starch will be present and more sugar (maltose) will be present.The activity of amylase can be observed by using iodine.Because iodine reacts with starch to form a dark brown/purple color. As amylase breaks down starch, less and less starch will be present and the color of the solution (if iodine is added) will become lighter and lighter. The color change was observed using spot-plates as illustrated on the diagram below. Amylase activity was observed under four different treatments: effect of temperature effect of pH effect of substrate concentration effect of enzyme concentration The Effects Of Temperature Amylase is an important metabolic enzyme. Its function is to catalyze the hydrolysis of starch into glucose. At high temperatures, Amylase becomes denatured, denatured amylase no longer catalyzes the hydrolysis of starch into glucose. EFFECT OF pH: Based on these results, what is the optimal pH for amylase? Is this optimal pH considered acidic, basic/alkaline, or neutral? Why does the activity decrease when the pH is too low or too high? APPARATUS -Starch -Amylase Enzyme -KH2P04 -Na2HP04 -HCI -Heater -Beaker -Falcon tube -Spectrophotometer -Iodine PROCEDURE 1.0.27 g KH2P04 buffer solution PH 5 was prepared with 20ml 2.0.27g KH2P04 PH6 was prepared with 20ml 3.0.27g KH2P04 PH7 was prepared with 100ml 4.0.282g Na2HPO4 PH8 was prepared with 20ml 5.0.282g Na2HP04 PH9 was prepared with 20ml 6.20g Starch was also prepared with 50ml cold water 7. To test amylase activity with PH difference,5ml starch ,5ml buffer(PH5,6,7,8,9 is used each) and 1ml amylase were mixed each other. 8.10min later,0.5ml prepared sample was put into 5ml HCI. 9.At 620nm ,the results were measured at spectrophotometer. 10. Second part temperature effect,5ml starch ,5ml PH7 buffer and 1ml amylase were mixed. 11.Prepared sample was put into different temperature 30,50,70 and 90C. 12.10 min later,5ml HCI was put into 0.5 ml prepared sample. 13.2-3 min later,5ml iodine was added into 0.5ml new sample 14.Absorbance of each was measured at spectrophotometer. OBSERVATIONS In this experiment,we tried to create different environment to examine amylase enzyme activity.The environment differences could be provided by PH differences.Therefore we prepared different medium also different pHs.K2.The graph was gained fÄÂ ±om our results.One of them is a graph that related to amylase activity at different PH.The other one is rela ted to amylase activity at different temperatures at constant PH.With K2HPO4 PH 5.6and 7 were prepared and with Na2PO4 8and 9.Each preparation procedure was applied.5ml starch ,5ml buffer,1ml amylase were added each other and then waited 10 min.After 10min,5ml HCI was added into 0.5 ml sample mixture.In a same way,the mixture for temperature observation was prepared pH 7.And added iodine to end of procedure. Absorbance results were taken from spectrophotometry.This measurement was at 620nm. pH buffer sample with amylase 0.074 0.027 0.026 0.043 0.074 According to the results, The smallest one can be think as a best one.How much enzyme is used is more essential point.If it is less one ,it means starch can not be used adequately.High starch amount means that complex amount is also high.The opposite one shows best activity amylase at smallest concentration.The colour is more light,smaller absorbance could be think as best amylase activity. Temperature sample with amylase 0.064 0.006 0.192 0.130 At 30C the colour is slightly orange. At 50C the colour is extra light like iodine colour. At 70C the colour is slightly purple. At 90C the colour is more purple than at 30C one like orange-purple.At constant PH ,the small concentration ,at 50C.Because small absorbance formed by small complex.It means that amount of starch was decreased also.Best activity is 50C at constant PH. RESULTS Our aim is to be related to activity of amylase.To detect it, we prepared different PH from KHP04 and Na2HP04 by adding acid or base. Usage both of them is related to interval of buffer.After preparation buffer,we measure absorbance at spectrophotometry.At different PH absorbance give also different concentration.If amylase enzyme concentration with sample is small, it means enzyme is used complex is more small so activity of ezyme is best one in there.At different PHs ,smallest concentration is at PH 7.And then we did second part of experiment by using PH7.The chosen of PH7 is related to observation best amylase activity at first part.At PH7 we took sample with amylase enzyme concentration at different PHs.The smallest concentration is at 50C in second part.The concentration is 0.006.The colour is more light like iodine colour.Starch is used with amylase and therefore complex colour is more light also.The amylase enzyme activity is best one at 50C.This measurement is done at 620nm. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION Why is measured at 620nm ? Why HCI is used for preparation ? What does Light color mean?How does more heat affect rxn? During experiment ,we want to distinct purpose of experiment by answering these question.In this experiment,we related to effect of different buffer and temperature.We prepared buffers at different PH.KH2P04 was prepared for PH 5 ,6 ,7and Na2HP04 for 8and 9.In first part , at constant temperature (room temperature) sample with amylase concentration was measured.At PH 7,we measured the smallest one.Small concentration means less complex less starch and enzyme is used enzyme activity is high.Our result from measurement at PH 7 is 0.026.As a second part ,constant PH,temperature was changed and then observed the effect of it.At 50 C ,smallest absorbance ( 0.0060 )was found and the colour was extra light.It means more less complex there.In this experiment ,iodine is used to detect starch molecules by observing color change.Iodine and starch were combined and then formed c omplex.The another point is why HCI is used.The acid stops the enzymatic reaction and iodine reacts with starch to produce blue color.Activity of enzyme is also essential.It can be used for denaturation detection.Starch reacts with iodine which is yellow to form blue compound Amax=620nm.The intensity of the blue color can be quantified spectrophotometrically by measuring its absorbance at 620nm.

Courage to care :: essays research papers

After reading The Courage To Care I believe that Odette Meyers quote â€Å"I do think that good people, simple people are much more complicated than evil people, which is one reason perhaps why we do not bother with them so much.† is true for just about all of the rescuers. If these people were evil, they would have never found the courage to help out so many people. In my opinion, evil people are cowards acting out for attention. Normal, simple people are the human beings with the biggest hearts, most intelligent minds, and the one’s with the most courage. The two rescuers I have found Meyer’s statement to be most true are Marie Chotel aka â€Å"Madame Marie† and Irene Opdyke.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Madame Marie was your average, everyday woman. She had a huge heart and a great mind. When she helped rescue Odette and her mother she did what was natural to most simple people. Most simple people would not think twice about what they were doing or just how dangerous it was. It is human nature to protect our family and the people we love. For those that are evil, they think only of themselves. They are truly cowards and do things that good people would not even imagine doing which is why we pay so much attention to them. Marie thought quickly and on her toes when she was helping to rescue the Jews. She held her composure when the search team entered her apartment. She was able to think quickly and give credible answers so that she was believed. In my opinion, that is the sign of an intelligent person.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Then you have Irene Opdyke who also was your average, simple, and good person. She risked her life to help out and protect the people she cared about. Although the people she helped out were not her family, she considered them just that and did what I believe any good person would do. It is human instinct to help out each other in times of crisis and tragedy. There are go many more good and simple people on this earth that we don’t think twice about what they are doing even when they do something extraordinary. It is the evil people that we look at with puzzled faces and bewilderment. This is why these people get so much attention. It is disbelief on the part of the everyday person.

Internet-available-software Essay

I. Executive summary introduction  There is a great interest in internet-available-software that provides alternative for high-cost software available in the market. Prospective purchasers all over the world find themselves in a situation wherein they have to choose between quality and cost. Th Premium6366 Words26 Pages Review of Related Literature and Studies CHAPTER 2 REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES Studies rely on information researched by the proponents. Review of Related Literature In exploration, we find new techniques, new knowledge, even develop new substances, gadgets, equipment, processes or procedures, imagination and skill is em Premium1418 Words6 Pages A Proposed Computerized Payroll System Chapter 1 THE PROBLEM AND REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE Introduction As computer technology changes at such fast phase, many businesses sectors try to cope up by upgrading computer system constantly in order to stay competitive. The multi function ability of technology for its advance system i Premium1938 Words8 Pages Payroll System Problem Statement The study specifically seeks to answer the following problems in manual payroll process: †¢ Speed in processing payroll tends to be slow. †¢ Prone to mathematical errors that could consume much time than it should and could cause financial or legal trouble. †¢ Ta Premium832 Words4 Pages Payroll System Documentation DEVELOPMENT OF WEBSITE FOR JARO DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION 2-1 Chapter 2 THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK 2.1 Introduction Information System is processing of information received and transmitted to produce an efficient and effective process. One of the most typical information systems is the Transaction Pro Premium2286 Words10 Pages Generic Employee Attendance Monitoring and Payroll System Using Sensor CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY Considered as one of the vital factors in any working environment, is tracking the working hours of employees for their payroll. Tracking the working hours is a prime necessity for computing wages. The record keeping tracks of some companies wer Premium624 Words3 Pages Payroll System Colegio de San Juan de Letran – Calamba Calamba City Computerized Payroll System Camacho, Juliet C. Cartaà ±o. Merriane Vi S. Valdez, Charmaine A. A Thesis Proposal Submitted to Ms. Precious A. Daytia In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements in ENG 113 Scientific Paper Writing Fo Premium7003 Words29 Pages Payroll System Foreign Literature From Mr. Junald Astronomo Lagod Any small business owner can tell you that paying employees involves a lot more than writing a check every two weeks. There are dozens of laws governing employee compensation. If you don’t want to run afoul of various government agencies, you ha Premium438 Words2 Pages Automated Payroll System Automated Payroll System Chapter 1-Introduction 1.Background of the Study â€Å"Kainan ni Aling Cadiang† was started on November 1997, before it was a canteen where in they have four stall located at Farmers Market Araneta Cubao Q.C.In 2004, the place was renovated by the Farmers Market Manag Premium1802 Words8 Pages Payroll System Design Payroll system design System Feasibility Study April 16, 2010, 8:54 am | | In the field of computer and technology, there always an option to automate things likes payroll system, inventory system, lighting system, and sales system. But of course, before the automation of any system, a Premium4841 Words20 Pages Payroll System Diamond Discovery Payroll Systems Operations and Procedures Manual Contents Registration________________________________________________ ______ 4 Entering an Upgrade PIN_____________________________________________________ 5 Closing the Software for the First Time ____________________________ Premium23658 Words95 Pages Payroll System Documentation INTRODUCTION Information Technology is the study, design, development, implementation and support management of information system. It helps to produce, manipulate, store, communicate and/ or disseminate information. We used the term information technology or IT to refer to an entire industry. I Premium2951 Words12 Pages Related Literature CHAPTER II. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE The purpose of this study was to develop a conceptual model that describes the relationship between personal financial wellness and employee job productivity and test a part of the model. This chapter presents the review of related research of the components Premium10839 Words44 Pages The Biometric Attendance Recording and Payroll System CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION 1.1 Statement of the problem In any company, it is very important to monitor the employee’s attendance or time for accurate payroll and discipline. Some companies and schools are using manual punch card to record the employee’s attendance wh Premium1299 Words6 Pages Computerized Payroll System Proposed Computerized Payroll System For City Mayor’s Market Administration Office IT-303 Group no. 6 Chapter I INTRODUCTION Background of the Study Nowadays, business establishment or corporation must use modern technologies to make their tasks easier and faster, technologies that w

There Is No Frigate Like a Book Essay Example

There Is No Frigate Like a Book Essay Example There Is No Frigate Like a Book Essay There Is No Frigate Like a Book Essay In the poem â€Å"There is no Frigate like a Book†, Emily Dickinson uses words with particular connotations to give her poem a more rich and meaningful aspect. Her belief that literature is powerful enough to allow one’s mind to distance itself from reality and its immediate surroundings is enforced in the poem throughout her use of words like â€Å"frigate† â€Å"traverse† which connate a sense of journey or adventure. Dickinson compares books to means of transportation to emphasize this idea of the power of imagination. â€Å"There is no Frigate like a Book; To take us Lands away† Here the word â€Å"frigate† though its literal meaning is a warship, is used to connote a sense of adventure and exploration while â€Å"land† gives off an intriguing idea of exotic and unknown. By selecting these words and comparing them to books Dickinson expresses how powerful literature is over one’s mind for it to can take us to distant places. The poem follows by expressing the spirituality and joyfulness that can be found in literature â€Å"Nor any Coursers like a Page; Of prancing poetry† Dickinson substitutes â€Å"coursers† for horses in this passage to conveys a stronger emphasize of majestic, beautiful and elegant also describing poetry as â€Å"prancing† thus giving it a sense of spiritual, harmony and energetic. The connotations implied by these words and their comparison to poetry in this line help imply the beauty that Dickinson beliefs to find in literature In the following line Dickinson reminds us how books are able to touch anyone no matter from what stratus they come from. â€Å"This Traverse may the oppress may the poorest take; Without oppress of Toll† Here â€Å"traverse† which literal term means to travel through is used to express a sense of danger and mystery, while â€Å"oppress† connotes a sense of a powerlessness, something that holds us back or keeps us down and â€Å"toll† suggest a meaning of a limit or burden that one must suffer through. The words in this passage work together to give the idea off the idea of the troubles that goes with traveling by comparing it to books, Dickinson is able to show how literature can do take us away without any of these burdens. In the last lines Dickinson again reinstates her idea how powerful books are, in that they can take us away. â€Å"How Frugal is the Chariot; That bears the Human soul. † By comparing books to a chariot she gives books a more magical, romanticizes tone for â€Å"chariot† connotes a sense of fantasy and fairytale, Dickinson uses â€Å"frugal† to describe the how economical book are while implying a aspect of moral goodness to them. Her use of â€Å"bear† in this passage also suggests the importance of the human soul for bearing something connotes an idea of carrying something with great significance or meaning this works with the final word â€Å"soul† for soul connotes an idea of beauty and one’s whole self by using soul instead of mind Dickinson emphasizes how literature is able to take its readers and transport them not just mentally but also emotionally and spiritually into a completely different world. Dickinson uses connotation powerfully in her poem to give it a more elegant and magical feel to it, by carefully selecting her words Dickinson’s focuses more on their connotations than their denotations to give the poem the sense of power and adventure she wants to express about literature.

The eNotes Blog Goodbye to a Modern Pioneer Michael S. Hart, ProjectGutenberg

Goodbye to a Modern Pioneer Michael S. Hart, ProjectGutenberg Reasonable people adapt themselves to the world. Unreasonable people attempt to adapt the world to themselves. All progress, therefore, depends on unreasonable people. ~ George Bernard Shaw. On September 6, the literary world lost a true pioneer. Michael S. Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, died of a heart attack in his home in Urbana, Illinois. He was 64. Hart was the inventor of the now nearly-ubiquitous electronic books, or eReaders, which he conceived in 1971. The idea for eReaders came to him after he received a free copy of the Declaration of Independence.   At the time, Hart was a student at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and had access to their (then powerful) computers. He typed up the Declaration and sent it through the computer network to other users. This free transmittal of literature became Harts lifes work for the next forty years via his Project Gutenberg. As of today, there are 100,000 works available to anyone who cares to download them, all free of charge. Dr. Gregory Newby penned the obituary for his friend and colleague.   It reads, in part: Michael prided himself on being unreasonable, and only in the later years of life did he mellow sufficiently to occasionally refrain from debate. Yet, his passion for life, and all the things in it, never abated. Frugal to a fault, Michael glided through life with many possessions and friends, but very few expenses. He used home remedies rather than seeing doctors. He fixed his own house and car. He built many computers, stereos, and other gear, often from discarded components. Michael S. Hart left a major mark on the world. The invention of eBooks was not simply a technological innovation or precursor to the modern information environment. A more correct understanding is that eBooks are an efficient and effective way of unlimited free distribution of literature. Access to eBooks can thus provide opportunity for increased literacy. Literacy, and the ideas contained in literature, creates opportunity. In July 2011, Michael wrote these words, which summarize his goals and his lasting legacy: â€Å"One thing about eBooks that most people havent thought much is that eBooks are the very first thing that were all able to have as much as we want other than air. Think about that for a moment and you realize we are in the right job. He had this advice for those seeking to make literature available to all people, especially children: Learning is its own reward. Nothing I can say is better than that.

The World is So Big, Yet So Small

The World is So Big, Yet So Small We sit in our chairs behind desks or at the kitchen counter on our laptops, and feel protected from the world yet a part of it. The shy parts of us try to convince us that we are just as connected as if we were on tour. The web has joined us all together. Then we wonder why we dont have followers, or why we arent selling books. Anyone can throw up a blog. Anyone can buy an ad, and goodness knows anyone can toss a book on Amazon. All of that does little for your platform. That is . . . unless you have a blog that knocks the socks off people thanks to your controversial way of presenting things, or your works wax ridiculously lyrical. Blogging about your life, your day, your thoughts on writing . . . how is that different from the next one hundred blogs What Im trying to say is there is nothing magical about putting yourself out on the web. Followers dont suddenly find you because you purchased a domain name and hired someone to build you a WordPress site. You arent Kevin Costner, and people dont come to your blog because you built it. If Ive learned anything in the book side of my profession, its that people want to see you. Ive spoken to a room of three hundred or as few as two. Some appearances are more predictable than others, but the truth is you present with the same quality and passion. These folks are there to see you, experience you, learn from you. You might be amazed at how much they appreciate you putting yourself out there, with some of the most loyal fans coming from small events. Most of my strongest supporters have met me. From a library in Bettendorf, Iowa to a writers conference in a rec center cafeteria in Wadesboro, North Carolina. From the basement of a bank in Black Earth, Wisconsin to the sun porch of a home in Newberry, South Carolina. When you meet people, make eye contact, and read their body language, you form a more memorable bond. The writer becomes real, more worthy of endorsement because they took the effort to be there in the flesh. That took planning, driving, the cost of travel. Be willing to genuinely meet people. Dont hide in a string of twenty authors. Be willing to smile and share a minute with a stranger. Dont forever hide behind your screen. Yes, the world is huge, but making the effort to shrink it and stretch your social skills with a handshake and real conversation forges long-time fellowship. Thats the strongest platform you can create. And you dont have to travel the globe to find it. Your hometown venues work just fine.

Analytical Comparison of Attachment Theory and Cognitive Theory on Essay

Analytical Comparison of Attachment Theory and Cognitive Theory on Children's Behaviour - Essay Example 46). Such factors may be related to the child’s immediate environment during the early stages of growth, emotional attachments to the child’s care givers, social relations with friends and peers, and factors related to the child’s cognition. Over time, the knowledge of the factors influencing behaviour has enabled policymakers to formulate policies and programs that promote better development of children’s behaviour in different sectors. This paper seeks to examine both the Attachment Theory and Cognitive Theory with the aim of relating the theories to children’s behaviour. Description of Attachment Theory and Cognitive Theory The attachment theory asserts that children begin to develop psychological attachment to the first people they relate with, and knowledge acquired through such attachments influences their behavioural development (Inge 1992, p. 38). As such, the theory affirms that a positive parent-child relationship during the early stages o f child growth and development is essential, since it influences the future behaviour of the child in later stages of life. The nature of the relationship between the child and the care giver during the early stages of growth determines the nature of the child’s character, personality, and behaviour in later years (Inge 1992, p. 38). ... 38). Cognitive theory associates behaviour with the mental processes, asserting that people make choices according to how they perceive and understand different situations in their lives (Doherty & Hughes 2009, p.39). Cognitive theory advances that human behaviour is not solely based on reflex, or cause and effect, but people make conscious and logical choices to undertake particular actions depending on their understanding of the situations. As such, the theory argues that people do not act merely for the need to react to scenarios in their immediate environments, but rather they act to respond to their mental and psychological processes which term their actions as logical and necessary (Dowling 2009, p.121). The exposure of children to environments with different experiences influences their behavioural development, since such exposure requires the children to behave differently in different situations (Chesnay & Anderson 2011, p.3). Analysis in relation to current policies, strate gies, and legislations Attachment theory Different policies, strategies, and legislation have been formulated and adopted in programs aimed at promoting proper children growth and development, particularly in relation to children’s behaviour. Understanding of the influence of the attachment theory and cognitive theory in children’s behaviour has led to the formulation of Every Child Matters, an arrangement that seeks to ensure that all children are considered in the services provided by statutory, voluntary, or private providers (Gargiulo 2010, p.43). Children with avoidant attachment characteristics are largely antisocial and independent in most of their activities,

Ways of Preventing Juvenile Crimes Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Ways of Preventing Juvenile Crimes - Essay Example Some of these programs have led to considerable decrease in crime rates while others have had no effect. This paper will deal with two juvenile crime prevention programs. Juvenile crimes Programs The Gang Reduction Program One of the programs that the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) enacted to aid in the prevention of juvenile crime is the Gang Reduction Program (Benekos & Merlo, 2006). The aim of this program is to deal with the gang activities that take place in a given region. This program entails different interventions on addressing individual, family, and society issues that lead to crime and gang activities. The program involves centralized, national, and local resources to aid in the deterrence, intervention, and containment of juvenile crimes (Greenwood, 2006). The objective of the Gang Reduction Program is to address the issues of juvenile criminals, the family, school, peers and the community. The reason for this is because these are the avenu es that either offer support to the occurrence or prevention of criminal activities (Greenwood, 2006). For instance peer groups have a very high influence on the character of an individual. In terms of family, one might come from a family where all the family members are criminals hence this makes it harder for him or her to quit the vice. The social status of the family might also be a contributing factor. As a result of poverty, the juveniles may opt to involve themselves in criminal activities in order to meet their daily needs (Siegel & Welsh, 2011). The role of the community in promotion of juvenile crimes is in the cases in which there is poor organization to an extent that the youths can easily access the drugs and firearms. In order to deal with the juvenile criminal issues, the Gang Reduction Program has set up prevention, intervention and control activities. Prevention actions mainly deal with the families, and the juveniles who are at risk of getting involved (Greenwood, 2006). For instance, in case of the youth who are ideal, the preventive measure is to ensure that they are involved in activities that will keep them busy, like attending school. Intervention activities entail management actions like outreach to sustain the youths who are involved in criminal activities with an aim of offering a better option to gang connections (Siegel & Welsh, 2011). The aim of these activities is to enable the youth change their conduct. Control activities entail police patrols, informing the society, offering support to the law execution intelligence distribution, setting up multi- organizational law enforcement and trying gang influencers, employing more instructors in affected schools to ensure all the youths are monitored while at school, and increasing regional watch teams that are associated with the Program. Thus by doing so, there will be prevention in juvenile crimes (Benekos & Merlo, 2006). The Juvenile Accountability Block Grant Program (JABGP) Another program which the OJJDP set up is the Juvenile Accountability Block Grant Program (JABGP). This Program provides financial support to the state administration for programs supporting the accountability of youth offenders in juvenile justice systems (Benekos & Merlo, 2006). The funds are mainly allocated in supporting the rationale of the Juvenile Accountability Block Grant Program. The areas that receive support from the JABGP are; juvenile drug and gun track; facilitating school protection, provision of education on regulated approval for criminals; education curriculum for prevention and control of offenses; execution of early recognition, management, and establishment and maintenance of

Pros and Cons of Bitcoin Digital Currency Research Paper

Pros and Cons of Bitcoin Digital Currency - Research Paper Example The security and networking for Bitcoin users is safe and they have complete control of their transactions. There are no extra fees charged by merchants without the user finding out. The user gets in touch first with the merchant before charging them any extra fees. In addition, Bitcoin protects the user’s personal information so it cannot be viewed by other people who could in-turn try and steal their identity (Cook, 2014). However, all payments in bitcoin cannot be transacted and finalized until the owner’s information is linkedtothe transaction. Therefore, the backing up and the encryption of the Bitcoin guarantees safety for the money. The user’s information is transparent by using the block chain, where all finalized transactions can be viewed by anyone, but your personal information is blocked or hidden from everyone. You can verify transactions anytime in the Bitcoin block chain. Due to Bitcoin being cryptographically secure, it cannot be changed by any organization, government or person. There are usually no fees or very low fees when making payments to Bitcoin unless you would like it done in a quick manner (Dumitrescu&FiricÄÆ', 2014). Then you can increase the fee so that the payment is processed faster. The Digital Currency converts bitcoin into flat currency, which helps the merchant process their transactions at lower fees than when using credit cards or PayPal. The risks are few for Merchant transactions due to bitcoin’s system being cryptographically secure, where fraud is not possible.

A Plan for Growth Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

A Plan for Growth - Essay Example Another alternative that is available for Andy involves equity financing. Unlike debt, equity financing for small businesses undergoing expansion are less risky. Equity financing includes seeking fund from angel investors and venture capitalists. Angel investors are affluent individuals who are willing to invest in an expansion in quest for profit and other personal interests like involvement in the business operation. Venture capitalists, on the other hand are professional investors who are only seeking high returns for their money (Ward, 2000). There are various pros and cons in using the financing alternatives listed in the previous question. In general, using debt financing is advantageous to Andy as his ownership in the company is not diluted. Also as creditors will have no ownership in the business, they cannot meddle with the decisions and policies implemented to run the business (Growing Your Business, 2006). However, utilizing debt financing will leave an obligation to the company to pay interest at certain periods. This will be very detrimental to the company especially if Custom Stitches is unable to generate a profit.

Design and Contemporary Culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Design and Contemporary Culture - Essay Example In support of their ideologies, the authors present the case of the crisis of Victoria in British Columbia that saw the rise of teenage violence in the early 2000s. The authors explain how this violence and chaos were brought out as a social crisis in the state after years of hiding owing to the fear of tarnishing the city’s image. The authors also use other cases of youth violence and crime, as well as, the responses towards these situations, in support of their arguments regarding social construction of crises. In essence, the authors explain the role of the media in both, representing the real picture during crisis and its inability to grasp the intricacy of the truth of the crisis1. This first section of the article also explains what is to be covered in the next sections, and facilitates the comprehension of some of the ideas and concepts regarding social construction. Representation. Having introduced the story of youth violence in the first section of the article, Oâ₠¬â„¢Brien and Szeman examine the concept of representation as is relates to social construction. The term representation is defined as the social construction of meaning by use of sign systems2. ... Representation affects people’s thoughts and perceptions concerning certain events, hence its role in social construction. To, further, elucidate their ideas regarding representation, the authors also draw attention to the structuralist theories of representation, as well as, the rules of representation in social construction. As explained in the article, the structuralist theories of representation are focused on the indirect meanings of words and cultural practices, as opposed to, their direct meaning. Put simply, these theories put more emphasis on how words mean instead of what they mean4. O’Brien and Szeman provide the example of the semiotic theory in support of this, and they explain how this theory has had a major impact on culture. Essentially, the semiotics theory consists of two main elements including the langue and parole. The langue is what the authors refer to as the what the meaning is, where as the parole refers to how the meaning is presented. The lang ue is also associated with the system as a whole as existent on the abstract level, whereas, parole has been closely linked with individual utterances5. O’Brien and Szeman also discuss the rules of representation, and how their application in social construction. The authors explain the rules of representation are quite simple and they involve drawing the line between storytelling and the depiction of actual events. While these two principles may have a relation in social construction, the authors explain that the ability comprehend the role of these two elements in social construction is imperative. It provides individuals with the ability to draw out made up stories from actual realities. To support their argument, O’Brien and Szeman provide

Strategic Marketing Managment Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 2

Strategic Marketing Managment - Case Study Example One of the major competitors of Reebok that is Adidas was already offering technologically superior footwear, while the other competitor that is Nike was offering shoes that guaranteed superior athletic performance (Hines & Bruce, 2007, p. 307). So long, Reebok had been struggling hard to carve out a space for itself amidst these two arch rivals. Besides, it also desired to increase its market share. Prior to this positioning strategy, the competitive strategy of Reebok was mainly focused on offering the lowest prices (Hines & Bruce, 2007, p. 308). It offered significant discounts to the retailers opting to sell Reebok products. However, the flip side of this strategy was that it not only curtailed the revenues at Reebok, but also made Reebok seem a cheaper brand as compared to Adidas and Nike (Hines & Bruce, 2007, p. 308). However, the new positioning offered to the consumers, something that they could relate to. Besides, it is utterly difficult for Nike and Adidas to venture into t his new position affiliated to lifestyle branding, without compromising their stakes in the market segments they already specialize in. Finally, Reebok has found a place for itself in the footwear market, in which it can dare to be the best. This strategy allows Reebok to consolidate its stakes in the lifestyle shoe discipline, while retaining adequate share in the athletic shoe segment (Kotler, 2003). It also allows Reebok the first entrant advantage, thus enabling it to keep on improving its superiority in the lifestyle shoe market, before Nike and Adidas chose to foray into this segment (Kotler, 2003). It also adds to the profitability of Reebok, thereby enabling it to further strengthen its position in the athletic and performance shoe segment (Kotler, 2003). 2: The success of Reebok was assured by its acumen in understanding well in time that the professional athletes comprised only a very small segment of the customers opting to buy sport shoes (Encyclopedia of Major Marketing Campaigns, 2007: Online). The major bulk of the sportswear customers comprised of the young men and women who preferred athletic shoes as street wear and demanded comfort and style from the sports shoes they purchased. These casual wearers comprised the largest customer segment in the sports shoes market, responsible for more than 80 percent of the sales (Encyclopedia of Major Marketing Campaigns, 2007: Online). While Nike and Adidas worked hard at being perceived by the propitious customers as being the sellers of cutting edge sports shoes, Reebok knew well that technological superiority was certainly not its forte. In the current scenario, Reebok is targeting young, sports minded males, who perceive their casual wear to be a projection of their young and sporty persona. This segment is not only the largest customer segment in the market under consideration, but also tends to be more loyal and relatively easier to approach through advertising campaigns and event sponsorship. Right now, Reebok is emphatically focusing on targeting and converting the young people having a taste for sports and desirous of reflecting their athletic temperament in their casual wear. Not to say, Reebok has accrued immense success in this endeavor. 3: Reebok’s strategy of creating new brands to target new markets and launching special collections under new brand names is a sound brand strategy considering the fact that Reebok primarily associates itself

A Plan for Growth Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

A Plan for Growth - Essay Example Another alternative that is available for Andy involves equity financing. Unlike debt, equity financing for small businesses undergoing expansion are less risky. Equity financing includes seeking fund from angel investors and venture capitalists. Angel investors are affluent individuals who are willing to invest in an expansion in quest for profit and other personal interests like involvement in the business operation. Venture capitalists, on the other hand are professional investors who are only seeking high returns for their money (Ward, 2000). There are various pros and cons in using the financing alternatives listed in the previous question. In general, using debt financing is advantageous to Andy as his ownership in the company is not diluted. Also as creditors will have no ownership in the business, they cannot meddle with the decisions and policies implemented to run the business (Growing Your Business, 2006). However, utilizing debt financing will leave an obligation to the company to pay interest at certain periods. This will be very detrimental to the company especially if Custom Stitches is unable to generate a profit.

Strategic Marketing Managment Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 2

Strategic Marketing Managment - Case Study Example One of the major competitors of Reebok that is Adidas was already offering technologically superior footwear, while the other competitor that is Nike was offering shoes that guaranteed superior athletic performance (Hines & Bruce, 2007, p. 307). So long, Reebok had been struggling hard to carve out a space for itself amidst these two arch rivals. Besides, it also desired to increase its market share. Prior to this positioning strategy, the competitive strategy of Reebok was mainly focused on offering the lowest prices (Hines & Bruce, 2007, p. 308). It offered significant discounts to the retailers opting to sell Reebok products. However, the flip side of this strategy was that it not only curtailed the revenues at Reebok, but also made Reebok seem a cheaper brand as compared to Adidas and Nike (Hines & Bruce, 2007, p. 308). However, the new positioning offered to the consumers, something that they could relate to. Besides, it is utterly difficult for Nike and Adidas to venture into t his new position affiliated to lifestyle branding, without compromising their stakes in the market segments they already specialize in. Finally, Reebok has found a place for itself in the footwear market, in which it can dare to be the best. This strategy allows Reebok to consolidate its stakes in the lifestyle shoe discipline, while retaining adequate share in the athletic shoe segment (Kotler, 2003). It also allows Reebok the first entrant advantage, thus enabling it to keep on improving its superiority in the lifestyle shoe market, before Nike and Adidas chose to foray into this segment (Kotler, 2003). It also adds to the profitability of Reebok, thereby enabling it to further strengthen its position in the athletic and performance shoe segment (Kotler, 2003). 2: The success of Reebok was assured by its acumen in understanding well in time that the professional athletes comprised only a very small segment of the customers opting to buy sport shoes (Encyclopedia of Major Marketing Campaigns, 2007: Online). The major bulk of the sportswear customers comprised of the young men and women who preferred athletic shoes as street wear and demanded comfort and style from the sports shoes they purchased. These casual wearers comprised the largest customer segment in the sports shoes market, responsible for more than 80 percent of the sales (Encyclopedia of Major Marketing Campaigns, 2007: Online). While Nike and Adidas worked hard at being perceived by the propitious customers as being the sellers of cutting edge sports shoes, Reebok knew well that technological superiority was certainly not its forte. In the current scenario, Reebok is targeting young, sports minded males, who perceive their casual wear to be a projection of their young and sporty persona. This segment is not only the largest customer segment in the market under consideration, but also tends to be more loyal and relatively easier to approach through advertising campaigns and event sponsorship. Right now, Reebok is emphatically focusing on targeting and converting the young people having a taste for sports and desirous of reflecting their athletic temperament in their casual wear. Not to say, Reebok has accrued immense success in this endeavor. 3: Reebok’s strategy of creating new brands to target new markets and launching special collections under new brand names is a sound brand strategy considering the fact that Reebok primarily associates itself

Sabine Women Essay Example for Free

Sabine Women Essay David began planning the work while he was imprisoned in the Luxembourg Palace in 1795. France was at war with other European nations after a period of civil conflict culminating in the Reign of Terror and the Thermidorian Reaction, during which David had been imprisoned as a supporter of Robespierre. David hesitated between representing either this subject or that of Homer reciting his verses to the Greeks. He finally chose to make a canvas representing the Sabine women interposing themselves to separate the Romans and Sabines, as a sequel to Poussins The Rape of the Sabine Women. David began work on it in 1796, after his estranged wife visited him in jail. He conceived the idea of telling the story, to honour his wife, with the theme being love prevailing over conflict. The painting was also seen as a plea for the people to reunite after the bloodshed of the revolution. Its realization took him nearly four years. The painting depicts Romuluss wife Hersilia – the daughter of Titus Tatius, leader of the Sabines – rushing between her husband and her father and placing her babies between them. A vigorous Romulus prepares to strike a half-retreating Tatius with his spear, but hesitates. The rocky outcrop in the background is the Tarpeian Rock, a reference to civil conflict, since the Roman punishment for treason was to be thrown from the rock. According to legend, when Tatius attacked Rome, he almost succeeded in capturing the city because of the treason of the Vestal Virgin Tarpeia, daughter of Spurius Tarpeius, governor of the citadel on the Capitoline Hill. She opened the city gates for the Sabines in return for what they bore on their arms. She believed that she would receive their golden bracelets. Instead, the Sabines crushed her to death with their shields, and she was thrown from the rock which since bore her name.[original research?] In 1799 David exhibited the The Intervention of the Sabine Women at the Louvre, where it attracted a large number of paying visitors until 1805. After the expulsion of artists including David from the Louvre, the picture could be found in the ancient church of Cluny, which he used as a workshop. In 1819 he sold the Sabines and his LÃ ©onidas at Thermopylae to the Royal Museums for 10,000 francs.

Airline Employee Work-Life Balance

Airline Employee Work-Life Balance CHAPTER II LITERATURE REVIEW A literature review is a concise overview of what has been studied, argued and establishes about a topic, it also entails about the major findings as well as reviewing the tools and techniques used by the previous studies. This chapter provides review of related literature associated with Work Life Balance of individuals employed in Nepalese Airline Companies. This chapter is divided into two sections. The first section consists of an in depth review of major literature and related theories. The second section presents a brief review of empirical works associated with perception of WLB and work satisfaction of employees of Nepalese Airline Companies (work-family conflict, family work conflict, family satisfaction and psychological health). The literature review has been organized under: a. Review of major literature and related theories b. Review of Nepalese Literature 2.1 Review of major literature and related theories Table 2.1 Summary of major finding Author Major Finding Greenhaus and Beutell, 1985 Work and family role interference suggests that responsibilities in separate domains such as work and family compete with each other in terms of limited time, psychological resources and physical energy, which leads to negative outcomes in both areas. Participation in the work role may interfere or enhance the performance in the family role, and vice versa, participation in the family role may interfere or enhance performance in the work role. Barnett Rivers, 1996 Work and family role enhancement suggests that participation in multiple roles can lead to better functioning in other life domains. Hill, Hawkins   and Miller (1996) High integration of work and family domains can lead to negative consequences, as high flexibility can blur the boundaries between those two domains Clark (2000) WLB is satisfaction and good functioning at work and at home, with a minimum of role conflict. Presented a border theory according to which family and work domains are separated by borders which could be physical, temporal or psychological. Domains of work and family are essential, as family and work are the most important elements of everyones life. Higher flexibility and lower penetrability between work and family domains can result in lower work-family conflict. Any competing demands of work and family life will cause conflict and negatively affect the wellbeing of workers Edwards et al., (2000) Referred to compensation theory according to which workers try to find more satisfaction in one domain to compensate for the lack of satisfaction in the other domain. (Grzywacz et al, 2000) Studies examining WLB and workers wellbeing were mainly conducted in the United States. Work-family studies have been dominated by role strain and role enhancement perspectives Work-family experience is a joint function of process, individual, time and context characteristics, and does not restrict the experience to either negative or positive. Barnett Hyde, 2001 Family is individuals who are married with children Greenhaus (2003) WLB is the amount of time and the degree of satisfaction with the work and family role. Balance between family and work domains also involves time balance, involvement balance, and satisfaction balance. Frone (2003) Presents a four-fold taxonomy of work-life balance(work-family conflict, family-work conflict, work-family enhancement and family-work enhancement, in which WLB is described as low levels of inter-role conflict and high levels of inter-role facilitation. WLB can be measured by work-family and family- work conflict as well as work-family and family-work enhancement Wise et al.,( 2003) Studies examining WLB and workers wellbeing were mainly conducted in the United Kingdom Bochner ( 2003) Studies examining WLB and workers wellbeing were mainly conducted in the Australia and New Zealand Collins et al., (2003) While assessing relationships between work and family domains, family life is considered as time spent with a spouse and children, ignoring other important aspects of family, such as time spent with parents, siblings and other relatives. Rothbard et al., (2006) Refer to spill-over theory according to which any feelings Allan, et al.,(2007) Research in sociology has been popular area of study for Work Life Balance. Sullivan et al., (2007) Research in gender studies has been popular area of study for Work Life Balance. Grzywacz et al., (2007) WLB is an accomplishment of role-related expectations that are negotiated and shared between an individual and his/her role-related partners in the work and family domains. There are different beliefs on how work-life balance should be defined, measured and researched Lambert et al., (2007) The majority of research on the correlation between work and family life refers with WLB and organization policies/ organization culture/ Human Resource management/ work commitment/ absenteeism/gender equality/ family life. Grady et al., (2008) Research in human resource management has been popular area of study for Work Life Balance Kelly et al., (2008) Research in organization studies has been popular area of study for Work Life Balance. Grady et al., 2008 Work-life balance is vital for individuals wellbeing, organizations performance and a functioning society. WLB is more comprehensive and includes family, community, recreation and personal time. WLB in its broad sense captures all aspects of employees personal and work life; this suggests that WLB should be focused on individuals, families, workplaces, communities, and society as a whole Casper et al.,(2011) Employees experience more conflict between work and family. Employees experience more conflict between work and family as they continue to follow the quality of life that they need therefor, Work Life Balance has been a necessity (Casper, Harris, Taylor-Bianco,   and Wayne, 2011). For business practices and academic research Work Life Balance has been an important topic. Research in different fields such as sociology (Allan Loudoun, R. Peetz, 2007), psychology (Greenhaus , 2008); (Frone, 2000), Human resource management (Grady, McCarthy, Darcy, Kirrane, 2008); (McDonald, Pini, Bradley, 2007), organization studies (Kelly, et al., 2008) and gender studies (Sullivan Smithson, 2007); (Hill Buchan 2005); (Sullivan Lewis, 2001) has been popular area of study for Work Life Balance. The literature review demonstrates some of WLB definitions. Clark (2000) describes WLB as satisfaction and good functioning at work and at home, with a minimum of role conflict. Clarke, Koch and Hill (2004) stated that WLB is an equilibrium or maintaining overall sense of harmony in life. Greenhaus, Collins, Shaw (2003) defines WLB as the amount of time and the degree of satisfaction with the work and family role. Frone (2003) presents a four-fold taxonomy of work-life balance, in which WLB is described as low levels of inter-role conflict and high levels of inter-role facilitation. Grzywacz (2007), Yavas and   Babakus (2010) believed that WLB is an accomplishment of role-related expectations that are negotiated and shared between an individual and his/her role-related partners in the work and family domains. The majority of research on the correlation between work and family life refers to WLB and organization policies or organization culture or Human Resource management or work commitment or absenteeism or gender equality or family life (Casper, et al., 2007). There are a number of studies examining WLB and workers wellbeing. These studies however were mainly conducted in the United States (Grzywacz Marks, 2000) the United Kingdom (Wise, Bond, Meikle, 2003), Australia and New Zealand (Bochner, 2003). In addition, several researchers (Greenhaus, Collins Shaw 2003); (Grzywacz Marks, 2000) noticed that work and family literature, while assessing relationships between work and family domains, considers family life as time spent with a spouse and children, ignoring other important aspects of family, such as time spent with parents, siblings and other relatives. According to Seligman (2012) and Hill (2005) the common consequences of poor WLB are depression and distress, leading to lower productivity, poorer work quality, higher absenteeism and staff turnover .Work-family research has generally been dominated by the study of family and work role interference. However, work and family role enhancement studies seem to be growing in recent years (Grzywacz Marks, 2000). Work and family role interference suggests that responsibilities in separate domains such as work and family compete with each other in terms of limited time, psychological resources and physical energy, which leads to negative outcomes in both areas (Greenhaus Beutel, 1985). In contrast, work and family role enhancement suggests that participation in multiple roles can lead to better functioning in other life domains (Bond, Galinsk Swanber, 1998). This study focuses on work and family role interference, measured by work-family conflict and family-work conflict. However, study on work and family role enhancement is suggested for further research. Bronfenbrenner (1979) insists that Work-life balance is vital for individuals wellbeing, organizations performance and a functioning society. There are different beliefs on how work-life balance should be defined, measured and researched (Grzywacz Carlson,   2007). Different terms are also used by different researchers while referring to work-life balance. Frone (2003), Greenhaus (2003), Clark (2000) refer to the term work-family balance whereas, Clarke (2004) refer to work-family fit, while Clarkberg (2001) refers to work-personal life balance and Grady (2008) refer to work-life balance. As work-family balance is often associated with traditional families which is   individuals who are married with children (Barnett Hyde, 2001), and this study refers to a family in both its traditional and non-traditional form; in order to avoid any confusion, the term work-life balance is used throughout this paper. Grady, McCarthy, Darcy and   Kirrane (2008) stated that the term work-life balance is more comprehensive and includes family, community, recreation and personal time. As stated by Dhas (2015) WLB in its broad sense captures all aspects of employees personal and work life; this suggests that WLB should be focused on individuals, families, workplaces, communities, and society as a whole. Several theories have been proposed by researchers to explain WLB. Clark (2000) presented a border theory according to which family and work domains are separated by borders which could be physical, temporal or psychological. Whereas, Edwards and Rothbard (2000) and Lambert (1990) referred to compensation theory according to which workers try to find more satisfaction in one domain to compensate for the lack of satisfaction in the other domain. However, Rothbard and Dumas (2006) and Grzywacz and Marks (2000) refer to spill-over theory according to which any feelings, emotions, attitudes and behaviors generated in one domain can be transferred or spilled over into the other   domain. Repetti and Crosby (1984), Rubin and Babbie (2010) and Grzywacz and Marks (2000)   proposed   more conceptual models where WLB can be measured by work-family and family- work conflict as well as work-family and family-work enhancement. Grzywacz and Marks (2000) implemented Bronfenbrenners   ecological  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚   model which suggests that work-family experience is a joint function of process, individual, time and context characteristics, and does not restrict the experience to either negative or positive (Bronfenbrenner, 1979). Clark (2000) explains that focus on the domains of work and family is essential, as family and work are the most important elements of everyones life. Any competing demands of work and family life will cause conflict and negatively affect the wellbeing of workers (Persons Bales 1955), (Frone, 2000). Piotrkowski (1979) and Clark (2000) agree that measurable aspects of WLB are satisfaction, lack of role conflict and an overall sense of harmony. Greenhaus, Collins, and Shaw (2003) and Pallant (2013) believe that balance between family and work domains also involves time balance, involvement balance, and satisfaction balance. Frone (2003) and Piotrkowski (1979) states that the measurable four aspects of the balance between work and family roles are: (a) Work-family conflict (b) Family-work conflict (c) Work-family enhancement (d) Family-work enhancement. As these components have bi-directional effects on work and family domains, participation in the work role may interfere or enhance the performance in the family role, and vice versa, participation in the family role may interfere or enhance performance in the work role (Eagle, Miles Icenogle, 1997), (Frone, 2003), (Grzywacz   Marks, 2000), (Frone, 1992), (Greenhaus Beutell, 1985), (Grzywacz, Almeida McDonald, 2002).This study refers to the definition of WLB presented by Clark (2000), Eisenhardt (2012), Wilmot and   Hocker (2001) who believed that WLB is achieved when there is no role conflict, and when people are satisfied with their work and family roles. This definition seems to be the most relevant to this paper, as participants WLB and work satisfaction was measured using work family conflict, family-work conflict, family satisfaction and psychological health. Any competing demands of work and family life will cause conflict and negatively affect the wellbeing of workers (Frone, 2000), (Clark, 2000). Clark (2000) explained that WLB is influenced by physical borders (workplace walls), temporal borders (working hours) and psychological borders (behavior and thinking patterns) between work and family settings. People cross these borders and make daily transitions between these two settings, often tailoring their focus, their goals, and their interpersonal style to fit the unique demands of each. Clark (2000) argues that keeping work and family lives separate enables the management of work and family borders; however integration of work and family lives eases transitions between those two domains. Each of these two approaches can improve employees well-being. This however is influenced by individuals preferences in terms of separation or integration. Clark (2000) found that higher flexibility and lower penetrability between work and family domains can result in lower work-family conflict. This again depends on individuals preferences regarding segmentation and integration. Research conducted by Fink (2009), Hill and Buchan (2005), Grandey, Cordeiro and Crouter (2005), Grandey and Cropanzano (1999) showed that high integration of work and family domains can lead to negative consequences, as high flexibility can blur the boundaries between those two domains. Flexible, integrative work-family arrangements can improve WLB by enabling employees to spend more time with their family . At the same time, when these integrating arrangements are so high that they blur work-family boundaries, they can worsen WLB and lead to higher work-family conflict, higher dissatisfaction with work and family life, and higher levels of stress or depression (Clark, 2000), (Hill et al, 1996). 2.1.1 Review of related theories.In this section, theories and concepts developed previously relating to Work Life Balance and its sub factors will be reviewed. Conflict Theory: In the social sciences, conflict theory refers to the theoretical approach that views social phenomena as the result of conflict between individuals or groups (Sidanius, 1993). The emergence of work life balance is due to work-family conflict and family work conflict generally. Conflict theory has developed at both micro and macro levels (Klein, 1996). Coser (1993) stated that the micro level studies the individual, and from his or her behavior seeks to draw inferences about collective behavior. Psychologists, social psychologists, and socio biologists locate the cause of conflict behavior in human nature either in the imperatives of survival that have programmed forms of aggressive and defensive response, or in individual aggressive impulses triggered by personality dynamics, such as ego need, frustration, and the projection and displacement of inner anxieties onto others (Levine, 2015) Sociologists, anthropologists, political scientists, and organization and communications theorists adopt the macro approach to conflict (Giddens, 2003). They hold that collective conflict behavior is not the product of individual behavior, but behavior socially induced either by a sense of collective grievance or by national leaders for purposes of defending the national territory or defeating another nation (Adorno, 2002). Tajfel (1979) explained that two groups may compete for scarce status, power, or resources without being in conflict. According to Coser (1993), conflict may have a positive social function. Some political scientists have asserted that conflict may be an unavoidable characteristic (Pondy, 1967). Conflict theory must take account of the motivation and perception of individual leaders and decision makers and to the extent that individual employees are engaged in the conflict by conscious appeals to their beliefs, the micro-level approach to conflict theory remains highly important to any comprehensive theory of conflict (Robbins, 2001). Gender Role Theory: One of the early Work Family Conflict (WFC) theoretical articles (Grandey A. C., 2005) proposed that WFC is intensified when the work and family roles are salient or central to the persons self-concept and when there are strong negative sanctions for noncompliance with role demands. WLB and gender role theories are interconnected as the perception of male and female are different (ONeil, Good Holmes, 1995). According to Grandey, Cordeiro and Crouter (2005) gender role theory, women are more likely to see the family role as part of their social identity than men do. Moreover, as womens roles in the workplace have increased, the expectations placed upon them in the family role have not diminished. Thus, when work imposes on family demands (WIF), women are more likely than men to develop a negative attitude toward the work because the job is more likely to be viewed as threatening a central social role (McLoyd, 1989). On the other hand, according Grandey, Cordeiro and Crouter (2005), men are unlikely to use this information to form work attitudes, because they are less likely to experience a threat to self if the job interferes with family time. Alternatively, at the turn of the twenty-first century, when dual-earner couples are common and women make up between 45percent and 50percent of the workforce in Westernized countries (US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2002), (UK National Statistics, 2002). Waldron (1989) emphasied that the context-specific role expectations for men and women have changed.   The studies conducted by Grandey (2005) in US, college students have been gradually less likely to endorse traditional gender role views about work and family. In fact, the extent of WIF and FIW have been found to be similar for men and women, despite gender role theory hypotheses that women experience more WIF and men more FIW (Eagle, 1997); (Groves, 2008); (Gutek, 1991); (Halpern, 2005). In contrast, perhaps men and women do not differ in their reactions to WFC, perhaps when both partners are working; they will equally resent their jobs if work interferes with family (WIF) and appreciate their jobs if this is not the case (Grandey A. C., 2005). Consistent with gender role theory, several studies have supported the proposition that the relationship between global WFC and job satisfaction is stronger for women than for men. This may be spurious, however, because work characteristics may be different for women than for men on average, influencing both WFC and lower job satisfaction (Wayne, Musisca Fleeson, 2004). Gendered-Division of Employment: Gender plays an important role in shaping our lives as even the attitudes and social structures are gendered. In Nepal, the bread winner-home maker model is the fundamental principle of any household. Nepali society greatly believes on the gendered division of labor (Cameron, 1995). Mens and womens preferences are strongly influenced by the interplay between their own gender and the nature of the social structures they encounter (Bussey, 1999). System of domesticity that relies on male breadwinners and female home-makers is largely intact (Cameron, 1995). A substantial minority of U.S adults still believe that men and women should have different work and family responsibilities (Pew research center,2013). Spillover theory: Spillover theory assumes the conditions under which the spillover between work and the family is positive or negative (Korabik, 2009). Research documents that if work-family interactions are strictly structured in time and space, then spillover in terms of time, energy and behavior is generally negative (Grzywacz Marks, 2000) . Research also supports the notion that work flexibility, which enables individuals to integrate and overlap work and family responsibilities in time and space, leads to positive spillover and is instrumental in achieving healthy work and family balance (Hill, et al., 2003). Compensation theory: Compensation is the set of valuable things that is given to employees in exchange for their labor (Sass, 1997). Usually compensation is money which is given to employees as an hourly wage or salary (Lazear, 1996). However, in addition to pay, some organizations offer benefits, stock options, bonuses, profit sharing, commissions, allowances and other rewards (Gerhart, al.,1995). 2.2 Review of Nepalese Literature Table 2.2 Summary of major finding Author Major Finding Tamang (2008) Role ambiguity influences WLB negatively; More ambiguous at work place lower the level of work life balance. Role conflict is positively related to work life balance Negative relationship between role overload and hours spent on paid work with WLB. Positive influence of all family stressor with WLB. Hours spent on household work is most influencing variable Positive effect of WLB on organizational commitment. Employees in the Nepalese hospitality industry do not feel any adverse effect of family domain to work life balance. Yadav and Rani (2015) The most significant issue to influence and develop WLB is organization commitment and individuals commitment. WLB strategies can help organizations in generating stress free environment. The study completed by Tamang (2008) seeks to explore the causes that influence individuals work life balance and its effect. This study was performed due to increasing number of day care centres in Kathmandu which shows Nepalese employees are looking for balancing their work and life domain. The researcher found that in one of the day care centres located at Kathmandu named Stepping Stone Pre-School takes care of 30-35 children some of them aged below 1 year as well. Children arrive early in the morning stay there till evening. With this regard, the researchers primary focus was to explore the condition of work life balance in the Nepalese context. The study examines the work life balance and its cause and effect through a survey conducted during 2008 in nine different stars hotels of Kathmandu, Nepal. Employees of these hotels were surveyed to determine the level of work and family stressors as antecedents, balancing between work and family, and organizational commitment as consequ ence of work life balance. Descriptive statistics were used to explore the condition of work life balance. Regression analysis was also used to examine the cause and effect relationship of work life balance (Tamang, 2008) In the study of Tamang (2008) the following theoretical framework was used:   Ãƒâ€šÃ‚   Source: Tamang (2008) Figure 2.1 Theoretical framework for work life balance by Tamang. According to Tamang (2008), the following has been discovered: The study found first variable, role ambiguity, as important variables from work domain to influence on work life balance negatively as per theoretical expectation in the context of Nepalese hospitality industry. More ambiguous at work place lower the level of work life balance. Second variable role conflict has been found positively related to work life balance. On the other hand, the study found negative relationship of both variables role overload and hours spent on paid work with work life balance. However, the relationships discussed earlier except of role ambiguity were found statistically insignificant. The study found the positive influence of all the family stressors under study with work life balance in contrary to prior theoretical expectation. Among them the relationship of hours spent on household work alone appeared statistically significant representing most influencing variable from family domain, meaning that engaging in household work leads to feel having good balan ce between work and family in the Nepalese hospitality industry. At the end, the study found the positive effect of work life balance on organizational commitment as per theoretical expectation. In conclusion, the study explores the condition of work life balance in the context of Nepalese hospitality industry. The result shows low level of work and family demand, and good balance between work and family. In fact, employees in the Nepalese hospitality industry do not feel any adverse effect of family domain to work life balance. Especially employees feel good balance between work and family when they get involved in household activities more. On the contrary, ambiguous role at work alone was likely to feel imbalance between work and family for employees in the Nepalese hospitality industry. Finally, the present study provides evidence that the organization can be ensured the increased level of commitment among those employees having good balancing between work and family (P. 96) Another study by (Yadav, 2015) on female work force in Nepal concludes that the most significant issue to influence and develop Work-Life Balance is organization commitment and individuals commitment. The suggested work-life Balance strategies such as appropriate compensation and benefits, better employee relations, challenging job description, employee support plans, suitable employee Grievance Cell, creating productive work environment, family friendly policies, organizing workshops, can help organizations in generating stress free environment for working people and help improved Work life balance.

The Bitter Sweet Symphony of Life :: Music Capsule Bitter Sweet Essays

The Bitter Sweet Symphony of Life Time capsules are a trendy way of preserving the past for a period of time, in hopes of capturing physical proof of the advances in our society. Therefore, I am not surprised that many educational institutions have embraced the concept of a time capsule. However, this creates a problem: How can singular items be chosen to represent multitudes of ideas, creations, and people? The only logical conclusion to this dilemma is to allow those being represented to choose an example that they feel best represents the majority, which in this case would be the entire class. Therefore, as a fellow classmate, I feel that The Verveà ­s à ¬Bitter Sweet Symphony would be an excellent choice for the time capsule because all aspects of the song have the ability to symbolize our class. Music is composed of many different parts: the melody, bass, and accompaniment. In the bass line of à ¬Bitter Sweet Symphony there is a reoccuring music strain that is heard throughout the entire piece. This is an example of a recording process known as sampling, in which a small portion of an already existing song is reproduced and inserted into a new song. In this case, The Verve was able to utilize the Rolling Stoness The Last Time in collaboration with their own music to invent a new sound. Just as The Verve took a sound from the past, students are taking the experiences and knowledge of the past as they embark on the new millenium. We are not repeating our past failures, but instead are molding them into something that can be adapted into a new concept and a new way of thinking. Mistakes of the past can lead to the triumphs in our futures. As lyricist, lead singer, Richard Ashcroft states, just take [what is given to you] and use your imagination (Bittersweet Trium ph). The use of sampling also symbolizes how our past and our heritage will always surround us and be our base. Together we are able to create a melody that will stand out and be something more beautiful and unique than before. The sample of The Last Time is heard throughout the entire song, just as our different cultures are always present in our lives.

Evaluating Three Cell Phone Websites :: Sell Websites Buy Websites

Evaluating Three Cell Phone Websites Today, almost all people use cell phones. After buying a cell phone, people will choose which plan they will use. Now, there are many cell phone service companies in the US, so the cell phone users have to be careful when they choose the plans. Many cell phone service companies provide websites in order to give information to the cell phone users. The ease of use of the website, the information that it gives, the design and the organization of the website are the factors that will influence cell phone users in choosing their plan. In this paper, I will compare three different websites that contain information about cell phone plans. I chose T-mobile, Verizon and Sprint for comparisons. I chose T-Mobile because I am currently using T-mobile as my cell phone plan. I selected Verizon and Sprint because they are the leading competitors of T-mobile. The first website is T-Mobile. The T-Mobile website is owned by T-Mobile Company. This website is made to help their old customers to control their accounts and to get new information about T-Mobile. It is also made for the new customers, so that they can get information about T-mobile. Then, they can compare T-Mobile plans with other companies. The T-Mobile website is very simple and easy to read. It provides two choices, personal and business customers. For the personal choice, there are two options, individual and families, friends and couples. For the business choice, customers can learn and shop their products and services. These will make customers easier to use this website according to their needs. It is also completed with facility for the existing customers to log in into their accounts, so that the customers may check their accounts anytime. The T-Mobile website contains more information about coverage area and switching plan. The customers also can check the status of their order when they buy the product from T-Mobile. T-Mobile website offers opportunity for the users to find career in T-Mobile. It is such an advantage for the T-Mobile users. Besides those mentioned, this website provides information for the job seekers and the developers. This website also gives information about where the customers can find their store and how they can reach and contact them. Besides that, it also contains T-Mobile company information, so customers can know more about their company. This website is not only for United States users, but also for international users because it provides some sites for other countries like Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Netherlands, Poland, Russia and United Kingdom.

Ctlls Unit 3 Principles and Practice of Assessment

Unit Three: Principles and practice of assessment Methodology Firstly we had input during classes from our tutor on the categories of concepts and principles of assessments, how to use different types of assessments and some of the strengths and weaknesses of these methods, the role of feedback and questioning in the assessment of learning and the different types of assessment records and their uses. Next we individually researched these topics, to do this firstly I used discussions with my mentor, observations of colleague’s sessions, discussions with my peers and evaluation and reflection of my own teaching sessions. My secondary research consisted of academic books, internet sources, as identified in the bibliography. I chose this approach because it gave me the widest range of resources, varying information and views on the subjects. I could then collate the primary and secondary research to write my precis and form my opinions on the research I had undertaken. The focus of my research was on concepts and principles of assessment, the different types of assessments and how to use these, the different assessment methods available along with their strengths and weaknesses especially peer and self assessment, what is feedback and how to make it effective and reviewing and recording learner progress and achievement. This precis will then enable me to better evaluate my own practice and help me to ensure I undertake the assessment process more effectively in the future. Precis ‘Assessment is about several things at once†¦ It is about reporting on students’ achievements and about teaching them better through expressing to them more clearly the goals or our curricula. It is about measuring student learning; it is about diagnosing misunderstandings in order to help students to learn more effectively. It concerns the quality of the teaching as well as the quality of the learning. Ramsden (2003). Assessment is a regular process that enables both tutors and learners to assess the progress of a learner and make judgements about the learning. These judgements then guide the tutor and learner towards the intended learning outcomes, goals that are to be achieved and any improvements required to obtain the desired qualification. Good practice is to reflect and evaluate after each assessment as this will give you the opportunity to improve in the future. The programme syllabus or qualification handbook is the starting point when planning assessments. These will ‘state how the subject should be assessed, and will give information and guidance in the form of an assessment strategy. ’ Petty (2009). If the subject you are teaching is with an official awarding body, they may also have some requirements with regards to assessments that a tutor should be familiar with. When planning assessments you should ensure they are valid, authentic, current, sufficient and reliable (VACSR). This can be done by asking yourself what, when, where, why, who and how questions; for example, does it assess what is in the syllabus? Remember that assessments should never discriminate or exclude any learners and should always allow equality of opportunity. There are two forms of assessment; Assessment of Learning – this is basically what the learner has learnt at the moment. It measures knowledge retention and uses grading and/or marks. This is summative assessment. Assessment for Learning (AFL) – this determines learner’s goals/targets to build a program or course. This type of assessment focus more on the gaps in learners knowledge rather than teaching the whole subject and about finding faults and fixing them (monitoring improvement). This is formative assessment. These two forms of assessment are both needed by individual learners and society but I think that AFL is a more valuable tool for the individual learner as it is much more centred on where a learner is in their learning, where they need to go, what is the best way to get there and allows time to achieve their full potential (learner focused). The Assessment reform group (1999), list AFL having and learning * AFL should focus on how students learn * AFL should be recognised as central to classroom practice * AFL should be regarded as a key professional skill for teachers * AFL should be sensitive and constructive because any assessment has an emotional impact * AFL should take account of the importance of learner motivation * AFL should promote commitment to learning goals and a shared understanding f the criteria by which they are assessed * Learners should receive constructive guidance about how to improve * AFL develops learners capacity for self-assessment so that they can become reflective and self-managing * AFL should recognise the full range of achievements of all learners. These principles mean providing effective feedback that enables learners to improve and plan the next steps; adjusting our teaching to take account of the results of assessments, including focusing on the whole person their feelings, skills and barriers; recognising the influences of assessment on motivation and self esteem of learners as well as learners taking responsibility for their own learning which in turn can help with knowledge retention and the need for learners to be able to assess themselves and understand fully how to improve through peer and self assessment and reflection. This helps with the next steps needed for further learning. AFL is a particular view of learning that believes all learners can improve and achieve their full potential, that ability is incremental not fixed. Within these forms of assessment there are different types of assessments that are used at different points throughout a learners learning journey and these different assessments may be formal or informal. Formal assessments are usually based on the results of standardised tests or other exams that are done under controlled conditions, the criteria is often set by the awarding body or organisation and the results can contribute to the final grade. Informal assessments are methods of measuring a learner’s performance by casually watching their behaviour or using other informal assessment methods, they check ongoing progress and the criteria are often decided by the tutor. The main types of assessments are; diagnostic/initial, formative and summative and ipsative. Within my experience at the training centre of the YMCA and within most HE organisations the first assessment that learners would come across is Diagnostic/Initial assessment. Initial assessment occurs prior or at the start of a course. It is used to find a starting point for learning, making the development of a learning plan possible. During initial assessment you can ‘start to build up a picture of an individual’s skills, achievements, interests, previous learning experiences and goals, and the learning needs associated with these goals. ’ Skills for life improvement programme (2008). Diagnostic assessment also occurs at the beginning of a course and then when needed throughout. It is used to assess more specific skills like a ‘skills check’ would and to identify learning strengths and needs. Diagnostic assessment also helps to ‘determine learning targets and appropriate teaching and learning strategies to achieve them. ’ Skills for life improvement programme (2008). These two assessments types are often done at the same time and are closely linked, together they help the tutor and learner build a clear picture of the individual to personalise the learning and develop an ILP. When under taking these two assessment types a range of methods should be used to ensure the learner is able to show their strengths and weaknesses adequately. Use assessment methods that are relevant to the individuals interests (vocational area or life interests), select a blend of methods to suit them and their circumstances and try to gather information from other areas, for example, observe the learner on a work placement if possible. There are many assessment methods that can be used during initial and diagnostic assessment, here are a few: enrolment forms – these can give you the basic information about an individual, however, they may not put all relevant information on this form such as any learning difficulties or cultural needs. APL – this can mean there would be no need for the learner to duplicate work done previously but the criteria may not be the same and you would need to check currency of the work. Interviews – these allow tutor and learner to get to know each other and discuss any issues in more depth whilst enabling the tutor to see how much a learner knows. The disadvantage with this method may be that the planning has not been done carefully or thoroughly to ensure the consistency of questions between learners and some learners may not react well in this circumstance. Observations – this gives a broader picture of the learner and how they perform in a range of contexts giving insights into their strengths, team work etc. Disadvantages with this method are time constraints and if a learner feels nervous of being observed you may not get a true picture of their abilities. Online assessments/tests – results are generated instantly, easily blended with other methods and can take place at a time to suit all parties. However, clear targets need to be set, may be technical problems and what is actually being assessed. Is the learner computer literate? At the YMCA I devised a short general computer knowledge diagnostic assessment worksheet for my learners. This worksheet consisted f naming different parts of a computer along with writing a brief description of what each listed software could be used for. I used this after an initial assessment informal discussion with individual learners to ascertain their level of computer knowledge as well as a basic writing assessment. The diagnostic worksheet then allowed me to assess their knowledge further so that I could devise ILP’s with each learner to cover any gaps in their knowledge, help them to achieve agreed goals and to offer further support to those learners that required help with writing skills. The next assessment type that may be used is Formative assessment. This type of assessment is ongoing during learning and is used to ‘tell the student how the learning is proceeding as well as telling the teacher about the success of the teaching. ’ Reece & Walker (2007). Formative assessments are used to enhance learning; therefore the goal of formative assessment is to improve. William and Black believe that what a learner is taught is reflected in what they are assessed. Formative assessment can be characterised as Assessment for learning. This type of assessment can produce; non-threatening results as they are scored but not always graded, direct and immediate feedback, structured information as tutors can see success and plan improvements and learners can see progress as well as experience success and they produce ways to improve by allowing the tutor to revisit areas that need further development and allowing learners to have additional support or time on areas they performed less well on. As this type of assessment is ongoing many methods are used. In my subject area of ICT within the YMCA the courses are not accredited so there is no awarding body’s criteria to adhere to. As ICT is a very ‘hands on’ subject I use observations often in formative assessments. Gravells (2009) suggests that the advantages to observations are ‘enables skills to be seen in action, learners can make a mistake†¦ enabling them to realise what they have done wrong, can assess several aspects of a qualification at the same time (holistic). According to Reece & Walker (2007) there are four types of direct observation assessments, global impression – look and describe what you see, this method has no structure and lacks reliability. Semi-structured – a number of open questions relevant to the tasks, answers to the questions are written either during, or after observation. Rating schedules – tutor rates a performance on say a five point scale, pe rsonal interpretation of scale can cause unreliability and finally Checklists – mark whether a specific feature of the task was or was not carried out. My observations are mainly informal and consist of watching what the learner is doing and asking questions about why they have done something a certain way etc. When I have done a formal observation I have used the checklist formative assessment as I agree with Reece & Walker that this type of observation is less open to personal interpretation, the criteria is clearly set out and if being used by the learners as peer or self assessment they have a clear understanding of what is required and what is to be achieved. Other methods I have used in both teaching at the YMCA and South Cheshire College have been questioning (both direct and indirect oral), multiple choice – as these can test a variety of levels in blooms taxonomy from knowledge, understanding and higher, discussions – these allow freedom of views and learning from peers, presentations – assess skills, knowledge and can help with confidence but if a group presentation some learners may do more work than others so it is important to assess individual contributions, assignments and projects – these help to ensure that the knowledge has been understood and retained, tutorials – used to discuss progress and address any issues, tests – assesses skills and knowledge, however, some learners do not perform well in test conditions and may need additional support to overcome this or if possible an alternative assessment method, traffic lights – used as a visual means to show understanding. During the courses at the YMCA in the next academic year I intend to introduce an informal mid-unit assessment. This will allow time to review, reflect and revisit any areas of weak understanding or areas that learners have struggled with. If assessments are left till the end of the course there is no way to revisit these unlearnt areas. I am aware of online assessments but as of yet have not used these, mainly because the courses at the college that I have been teaching on do not use them and at the YMCA there is not reliable facilities for online assessment/testing. I do intend to look further into this aspect of assessment once the new premises at the YMCA are finished and I think that the learners would benefit from online assessments as these can assess both cognitive and practical abilities. However this method of assessment needs to be monitored carefully to ensure who is actually taking the test/assessment, is the software or hardware up to date and that extensive objective testing is not done as this can result in learners guessing the answers. Summative assessment is on completion of learning. This may be at the end of a course or programme or may be at the end of a unit or topic. It is mainly used to see if the learner has learnt the material and is capable of going onto further learning. Brown (2001) suggests the purpose of summative assessment is ‘to give a license to proceed to the next stage of graduation (certification). ’ Reece & Walker suggest that summative assessment is ‘to satisfy the needs of society. ’ Both of these quotes imply that this type of assessment is about grades and is to show that the learner has the knowledge and at what level (pass, merit, distinction) to continue or not (failed). These grades do not always tell the learner why they achieved a certain level or why they failed. Summative assessment can be characterised as Assessment of learning. Many of the methods used for summative assessment are the same as formative assessment but often done in a formal setting rather than an informal setting. During my teaching at the YMCA I have used the following methods for summative assessments; Individual presentation – knowledge, skills, creativity, performance, design and communication, exam – demonstrating knowledge and understanding, performing procedures and demonstrating techniques, Portfolio – managing and developing self, oral exam and observations – for learners with reading and writing difficulties. Ipsative assessment can be used as a form of self assessment. It is assessing present performance against the prior performance of the person being assessed. They do not always relate to any external criteria or make comparisons to the performance of other learners. My teaching at the YMCA I have used this type of assessment mainly during feedback sessions, where learners and I will discuss previous work and present work, what has improved and what could still be improved upon. Another way to implement ipsative assessment is to encourage learners to assess their own work, to select the best pieces for their records of achievements folders and to identify areas for improvement. This can then be continued with self-evaluation of progress during sessions/lessons and on specific tasks. There are many more methods to use during assessments each with its own advantages and disadvantages, such as; Accreditation of prior learning (APL), buzz groups, case studies, discussions, e-assessments, homework, journals, professional discussion, projects, puzzles and quizzes, reports and dissertations, role play, tutorials, tests, etc. The main disadvantage to any assessment method is that many learners and tutors may not be use to them as some of them may be new and innovative or there may be a lack of technology available. By ensuring tutors are up to date with assessment methods and a variety of methods are used learners will benefit by being able to fairly show their strengths and weaknesses in a range of circumstances, therefore, it is best practice to use a blend of methods to get the best and most reliable results for your learners. Two other types of assessments I would like to investigate further in this paper are Self and peer assessment. These are often combined or considered together and have many potential advantages in common. Peer assessment can help self assessment. By judging the work of others, learners gain insight into their own performance. ‘Peer and self assessment help students develop the ability to make judgements, a necessary skill for study and professional life. ’ Brown, Rust & Gibbs (1994). Black & Wiliam’s research ‘Inside the black box’ concludes that self assessment is an essential component of formative assessment if it is to be used to improve student learning. I agree with the findings of this research in that self assessment is a skill that should be encouraged and developed as it can have a positive effect on learners performance and motivation. Peer and self assessments are used to enhance learning by increasing learner involvement in the learning process, increasing social interactions and trust in others, facilitation of individual feedback and to help focus learners on the process rather than the product. For both peer and self assessment to be successful Black states that ‘criteria must be understood by students†¦. students must be taught to collaborate in peer assessment for this helps develop objectivity for self-assessment†¦.. students should be taught to assess their progress as they proceed keeping the aims and criteria in mind†¦. This means that tutors should plan lessons that will teach learners to collaboration skills and make it visible as a part of the classroom, criteria could be provided by the tutor or devised by the learners and could also include a mark scheme, making these judgements about another person’s work can clarify a learners own understanding of the subject. During teaching at the YMCA I used self and peer assessments in group projects. I gave the project a final mark but used these assessment methods to give individuals within the group marks. To do this I got the learners to peer assess each other and based my individual marks upon these peer assessments. However, I was aware that there could be problems with this method such as some learners being too generous with marks or too low with marks. To overcome these problems I checked the marking to ensure consistency throughout the group and set out clear mark schemes. Another method of self assessment I use is ‘learning loops’ Petty (2009). This is where at the beginning of the next piece of work the learner will write a target from the last piece of work and then work towards that target, then I will mark this work with that target in mind and comment as to whether the target was met or if any improvement was shown. This method was useful with my learners in getting them to reflect upon their own work and take responsibility for their own learning as well as helping with their motivation. I have also used an adaptation of the feedback sandwich, called the Peer assessment Hamburger (included in my portfolio). This assessment activity was given to the learners to assess each other’s work; they first had to write about something positive about the piece of work then something to work on and how to work on it, then something positive again. This method was successful in my group of learners as getting them to receive any form of constructive feedback or advice is difficult, so by praising first they were more willing to listen and act upon the points for improvement. This method also helped the learners to gain skills in judging and evaluating work which in turn helped with self assessment/evaluation techniques. It is important to follow up on the improvement points at a later stage to ensure that an improvement has been made or to offer further assistance or teaching in that area if necessary. These areas for improvement were also noted in ILP’s during tutorial sessions as ‘Medals and Missions’, medals are what has been done well this may be the work itself (product) or may be the effort and planning (process). Missions are information about what needs improving along with how to do this, they are not criticism but advice and help to close the gap between where learners are and their goals. I believe that peer and self assessment are two very important and useful methods of assessment as ‘whatever a person discovers himself is what they really know. ’ Shapiro (2003). A learner needs to know where they are in their learning, where they are going and how to get there, these two methods help learners to understand this and achieve much more. Feedback simply put is ‘the passing of information to the student of their ability to perform a task’ Reece & Walker (2009). Although feedback is about giving the learner information on how they have performed it is much more than this, it is about progression, motivation, encouragement, self-esteem and confidence, promoting communication, improving standards etc and is a two way process. During all the research I undertook for this part of my paper I found one thing in common throughout, that feedback is a very important and powerful tool in relation to achievement when done constructively and properly. ‘The most powerful single moderator that enhances achievement is feedback’ Hattie (1999). Feedback can be formal or informal, it can be written, verbal or online, and it can be given after an assessment or during a lesson or tutorial. Whichever form feedback takes it should be constructive, descriptive not judgemental, specific, fully understood and timely. Feedback is used often during formative assessment and Sadler (1989) suggests ‘three elements of enhanced feedback are; recognition of the desired goal, evidence about present position and some understanding of a way to close the gap between the two. ’ This means the learner needs to have some understanding or concept of the goal being aimed for, learners need to be shown the comparison with current level of performance with that of the goal and learners should be shown ways in which the gap between the goal and current level can be closed. It is important to prepare learners for feedback to help them gauge how well they are doing, to actively involve them in the assessment process and to help them to understand the feedback. To do this you should agree the purpose of the feedback prior to the assessment, state the type of feedback to be used, show learners how their work. Written feedback is important for giving positive encouragement and correcting errors but is more effective if this feedback is accompanied with dialogue where possible. This dialogue or discussion can improve learner involvement and ownership of the feedback and create a deeper understanding of what was done well and what can be done to close any gaps. Also Gravells (2009) states that ‘you need to appreciate that how you write it may not be how they read it. It is easy to interpret words or phrases differently to what is intended. ’ Therefore when using written feedback you need to use a level of language suitable for your learners, make it clear how the required outcomes were met and what to do next. Using some form of feedback sandwich or hamburger is a good form for written feedback as this nestles the negative between two positives. This makes it more likely to be listened to and acted upon, whereas starting with a negative can stop the learner from listening/reading anything further. Another form of written feedback is comment only marking, this provides learners with a focus for progression instead of a reward or punishment for their ego as marks can. Comments can be made in books, in a learning diary or journal for example. Learning journals are useful for tutors and learners to track the progression of these comments and see improvements. During feedback sessions there should be time for questions as these will help to open up the assessment process and eliminate ambiguity. Using questions to ask learners how they feel they have done prior to giving them your feedback allows them to consider their own achievements, ‘gives them the opportunity to realise their own mistakes, or reflect on what they could do differently. ’ Gravells (2009). Also learners may need time to reflect upon the feedback they have been given and then have questions to it later, time to discuss these questions at the earliest opportunity should be made. Another important point in the feedback process is timing. Feedback should be given as soon as possible whilst the task and goal are still fresh in both the tutor and learners minds. Peer feedback is another useful form of feedback. This enhances learners active engagement in learning, can increase the amount of feedback they receive and they can receive it quicker than a tutor can give sometimes, it uses higher level thinking skills as it requires explanation and justification. The process of reviewing someone else’s work can help learners understand what is considered good work and increase their ability to achieve. Peer feedback should be monitored carefully as not all learners will be accustom to this and there may be some friction amongst your learners. To help overcome this allow practice sessions on peer assessment and feedback, set clear assessment criteria, stress that all will gain as much from reviewing the work of their peers as from any feedback they receive, use tutor-selected groups to peer assess and feedback work, have multiple peers review work, reviewers should feedback immediately, orally preferably, and tutors should explain clearly the best feedback method of Medal and Mission as suggested by Black & Wiliam. As well as giving feedback on assessments you should review learner’s progress at regular intervals on a one-to-one basis. This will allow you to motivate learners, plan for future learning and assessments, discuss any concerns, learners can ask questions, enhance learner involvement, update ILP, review your lessons and ‘differentiate effectively, ensuring that the needs of your learners are met, and that they are being challenged to develop to their full potential. ’ Gravells (2009). The review should be arranged at a suitable time for both the learner and tutor, be used to plan future assessments and targets with SMART objectives and you should ensure that all relevant records are available, etc. When doing any type of assessment, review or feedback there are records that need to be kept, this is important ‘otherwise how would you know what your learners have achieved? ’ Gravells (2009). Assessment records are used by tutors, your organisation, awarding body, regulatory authority, stakeholders and learners. Records can be electronic, paper or a mixture of both. The types of records I keep at the YMCA are; ILP’s, feedback sheets, tracking sheets, assessment forms, lesson plans, schemes of work, evaluations and review sheets. These records are kept in their original forms and used to help me plan future lessons and make any adaptations to existing courses if necessary, keep track of learners marks to be able to see any progression and if a learner loses work I have a record of when it was handed in, marked and what mark it got, what feedback they received to help learners know what they did well and what needs further improvement and how to do this improvement also feedback sheets can be used by an IV or EV to check your judgements and assessments are fair, and to keep a record of learners progress, areas that need attention, learning difficulties etc if any, agreed goals and targets. Whatever method or type of record is used there is legislation that must be adhered to with regards to these records and the information held within them. These legislations are; Data protection Act (1998) and Freedom of information act (2000). These acts cover how the information about living eople is used and stored, and g ive learners the right to see any information held about them, so tutors need to be aware that anything they write about a learner they can see at any time. Records should be kept organised, up to date, confidential, legible, accurate, secure and only kept for as long as necessary. Once these records are no longer needed they should be destroyed in a secure manner such as double shredding and bagging for paper based records, and hard drive cleaners to ensure computer based records are completely deleted. Assessment is a large part of the work teachers, tutors and trainers; it is an ongoing process throughout a learners educational journey and can be the most difficult part of the teaching process. There is recognition here that assessment is more than an isolated judgement of a specific performance; that is should be integrated into a system of reviewing, recording and reporting achievement which teacher and student are at the centre of. ’ Armitage et al (2007). Bibliography Books: Armitage et al (2007), Teaching and training in post-compulsory education, 3rd Ed, Berkshire, Open University Press Gravells. A. (2009), Principles and practice of assessment in the lifelong learning sector, Exeter, Learning matters Ltd Hattie, J. (1999), Influences on student learning, University of Auckland, New Zealand: Inaugural professional lecture paper Petty G (2009), Teaching today, 4th Ed, Cheltenham, Nelson Thornes Ltd Ramsden. P, (2003), Learning to teach in higher education, 2nd Ed, Routledge. Reece, I. & Walker, S. (2007), Teaching, training and learning a practical guide, 6th Ed revised, Tyne and Wear, Business Education Publishers ltd Shapiro, (2003), Case studies in constructivist classrooms and teaching, Lanham MD, Scarecrow press. Websites: Assessment reform group (1999), available from http://nationalstrategies. standards. dcsf. gov. uk/secondary/assessment/assessmentforlearningafl [accessed 06 July 2010] Brown, Rust & Gibbs, (1994), available from www. lgu. ac. uk/deliberations/ocsd-pubs/div-ass5. html [accessed 04 July 2010] Department for education and skills, available from www. dfes. ov. uk [accessed 04 July 2010] Excellence gateway, available from www. excellencegateway. org. uk [accessed 04 July 2010] Petty. G, Feedback: Medal and missions [online] Available from www. geoffpetty. com/feedback. html [accessed 05 July 2010] Queens University Belfast, available from www. qub. ac. uk/directorate s/AcademicStudentAffairs/CentreforEducationalDevelopment/Resources/Assessment [accessed 06 July 2010] Sadler, (1989), available from www. leeds. ac. uk/educol/documents/00001862. htm [accessed 03 July 2010] The Higher Education Academy, available from www. heacademy. ac. uk/ourwork/teachingandlearning/assessment [accessed 06 July 2010]