Quality Child Care Matters

Mother’s have quite the dilemma when deciding when and if to return to work after giving birth to a child. Sometimes the choice is made for them due to financial reasons and sometimes they have the luxury of deciding on which is the best scenario for themselves and their families. In trying to make this decision, mothers may wonder if and how their absence and the choice of child care will affect their child. In all the years I have spend in early childhood education and child care, I think I have probably seen all of the â€Å"scenarios† and know that there is no one right answer. Each situation is different and there are so many variables, even within each variable, but the evidence is so vast that there are certainly findings to please almost everyone (Belsky, 2009, p. 1). In my research on this delicate topic, I have come to the conclusion that the only two factors that can predict positive outcomes for children’s later development is the combination of child care quality and healthy family attachments and support. As you will see, there are so many variables and each plays into the other, but safe and secure relationships at home and in child care are the winning factors in this decades long debate. There are two well-known pieces of data that have been gathered which researchers have utilized throughout the years to study the effects of maternal employment on later development. The first was conducted by the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY79) and began in 1979. The NLSY79 is a nationally representative sample of 12, 686 young men and women who were 12-22 years old when they were first surveyed in 1979. These individuals were interviewed annually through 1994 and are currently interviewed on a biennial basis† (US Dept. f Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, http://www. bls. gov/nls/y79summary. htm, para. 1). In 1986, the NLSY79 was used as â€Å"a separate survey of all children born to NLSY79 female respondents† to conduct more child-specific information† (US Dept. of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, http://www. bls. gov/nls/nlsy79ch. htm, para. 8). Researchers such as Jay Belsky (1988) first utilized the NLSY79 data to study the effects of early and extensive maternal employment. Belsky, etc al. oncluded â€Å"that children who had initiated care for 30 or more hours per week in their first year and whose care at this level continued through their preschool years evinced poorer academic and social functioning than did children whose full-time care began sometime later – and that this was true whether one looked at teacher reports, parent reports, peer reports, or the children’s own self-reports† (Belsky & Eggebeen, 1991, p. 1084). There were some problems with this early research and the data that was used to interpret outcomes. One of the problems was that the two groups studied (maternal employment and non-maternal employment) were too different in so many ways. â€Å"One of the most difficult methodological issues in studying this causal process is the fact that there are substantial differences between women who work soon after their child is born and women who do not† (Hill, Waldfogel, Brooks-Gunn, & Wen-Jui, 2005, p. 834). Another problem with this wave of research was that â€Å"the effects of different features of the child-care experience, particularly the quality of the care, the amount or quality of care, and the type of care† (Belsky, Vandell, Burchinal, et al. 2007, p. 682) were not taken into account at the same time. Prior research â€Å"examined one or another feature of the child-care experience, but never all three† (Belsky, Vandell, Burchinal, et al. , 2007, p. 682). The second wave of research was based on more specific data â€Å"to examine the concurrent, long-term , and cumulative influences of variations in early child care experiences on the cognitive, linguistic, social, emotional, and physical development of infants and toddlers† (Friedman, NICHD, 1992, p. 1. . These researchers were interested not only in the effects of child-care, but the â€Å"endurance of effects† (Belsky, Vandell, & Burchinal, 2007, p. 682). They continued to follow up with children from 4 ? – 11 years of age. This goal of this study was â€Å"accomplished through the implementation of a study design that takes into account the complex concurrent, long-term and cumulative interactions among characteristics of the family and home, of the child care environments, and of the child† (Friedman, 1992, p. 6). Researchers such as Jennifer Hill and Jane Waldfogel (2005) utilized the NICHD data to determine the effects of maternal employment with easier access to more varied situations. They broke up their results into four categories – Comparisons Between Worked After First Year and Never Worked, Comparisons Between Worked Part Time in the First Year and Did Not Work Until After the First Year, Comparisons Between Worked Full Time in the First Year Versus Did Not Work Until After the First Year, and Comparisons Between Worked Full Time in the First Year Versus Worked Part Time in the First Year (pp. 839-842). These researchers concluded that â€Å"negative effects of maternal employment on children’s cognitive outcomes were found in our analyses primarily for children whose mothers were employed full time in the first year postbirth as compared with children whose mothers postponed work until after their child’s first year of life and also as compared with mothers who worked part time in the first year. Negative effects in terms of increased externalizing behavioral problems were evident in each of these comparisons involving mothers who worked full time in the first year† (Hill, Waldfogel, Brooks-Gunn, and Hann, 2005, p. 44). Although the use of the NICHD study did allow researchers to analyze the data utilizing more correlations between diverse situations, there is even later research that delves even deeper into the mixed bag of maternal work situations, family dynamics, home-life, child-care situations, etc. Heather Joshi, et al. , extended the studies even furthe r by including events such as, â€Å"additional information concerning the types of jobs that they return to: are these jobs routinized or do they provide a degree of autonomy† (2008, p. ). Also included in these studies is the â€Å"interactions between our maternal employment measures and additional maternal characteristics and behaviors† and the â€Å"differences by gender† (Joshi, Cooksey, Verropoulou, Menaghan, & Tzavidis, 2008, p. 2). The results of these more recent studies lend â€Å"only limited support to negative effect of mother’s employment per se during infancy and the pre-school years on later child well-being† (Joshi, Cooksey, Verropoulou, Menaghan, & Tzavidis, 2008, p. ). The extent and expansion of variables for research surrounding maternal employment continues to grow. Joshi, et al. , are currently working on expanding on their set of â€Å"both maternal employment and maternal/family background variables† Joshi, Cooksey, Verropoulou, Menaghan, & Tzavidis, 2008, p. 3) which should be completed sometime in 2009 (the results for which I have not yet been able to locate). There are four questions that have motivated current research on this topic. They have been identified as: Does extensive child care in the first year of life disrupt attachment between mother and child, what is the influence of varying types of in child care quality on children’s development, do long hours spent in child-care add to later behavior problems, and what are the effects of the types of child-care that are available? Mother-Child Attachment The earliest studies surrounding maternal employment and attachment came up with many mixed results which is one of the main reasons that the NICHD decided to begin their own study (1986). Assessment of the mother-child attachment relationship is made using various measures, including the Strange Situation† (Friedman, NICHD, 1992, p. 12). The Strange Situation was a psychological study designed by Mary D. Ainsworth which consisted â€Å"of eight episodes presented in a standardized order for all subjects† (1978, pp. 32-33) which tested the reactions of children, ages 12 – 18 months, w hilst in the presence of mother only, mother-stranger, stranger only, and alone (including the return of mother during each separation from her). According to the NICHD, â€Å"there were no significant main effects of child-care experience (quality, amount, age of entry, stability, or type of care) on attachment security or avoidance† and there were â€Å"significant main effects of maternal sensitivity and responsiveness† (NICHD, 1997, https://secc. rti. org/abstracts. cfm? abstract=9). These negative affects in attachment were also amplified when â€Å"combined with poor quality child care, more than minimal amounts of child care, or more than one care arrangement† (NICHD, 1997, https://secc. ti. org/abstracts. cfm? abstract=9). Child Care Quality The quality of the child-care of a child proves to be one of the most important factors when addressing the impact of child-care on child development. When assessing the impact of child-care quality, it is important to look at child-staff ratio, group size, and caregiver education and/or training. The quality of the interactions between caregivers and children, between peers, as well as how caregivers facilitate these interactions is also a tremendous indicator of child-care quality. According to the NICHD, children who experience high-quality child-care have higher scores on achievement and language tests, show fewer behavioral issues and better social skills. Programs like the federally funded Head Start can also function as an intervention for children from at-risk families/situations. In 2007, Belsky conducted a study based on the NICHD findings and concluded â€Å"that quality and type of care remained associated with children’s vocabulary and problem behavior† (2007, p. 297). In a 2002 study (also based on NICHD), researchers Hill, Waldfogel, & Brooks-Gunn concluded that children who participated in no non-maternal care and home-based, non-maternal care â€Å"would have gained the most from high quality center-based care and moreover, would have more consistently remained the bulk of these benefits overtime† (2002, p. 1). Hours Spent in Child Care Although the findings seem to be mixed, there is some evidence that the amount of hours spent in child care may be a cause for some behavior problems, namely aggressive behavior. The NICHD researchers (Belsky, Hill), did conclude that â€Å"children with more experience in child-care centers were rated by their teachers as showing somewhat more disruptive behavior in sixth grade† (National Scientific Council on the Developing Child, n. d. , p. 2), but more recent research (Joshi, Cooksey, et al. ) explored â€Å"various interactions between our maternal employment measures and additional maternal characteristics and behaviors† (2008, p. 2) to be added risk factors for behavioral issues. Type of Child Care There are also mixed findings in the effects of the type of child care situation a young child experiences. I feel rather strongly that a primary caregiver relationship is best for the young infants entering child care (whether it be in a more formal, group care setting or a private situation). Unfortunately most group child care programs do not offer a primary caregiver model which definitely contributes to the disorganization and unpredictability of the care that a child receives. With a primary care model, caregivers can â€Å"promote a stronger attachment than might happen if attachment were left to chance or if all the caregivers relate to the whole group without differentiation† (Gonzalez-Mena, 2007, p. 49). Penelope Leach, et al. also state that â€Å"children who experience greater caregiver stability while attending early years settings have been found to have more secure relationships with their caregivers and to show higher degrees of social competence† (2008, p. 180). When child care provider implement practices that support child development (whether it be group care of private care), the results are positive. What it all seems to come down to is that the effects of maternal employment are complex and vary from family to family, child care situation to child care situation, and parental style/characteristics. The NICHD researchers clearly suggest that â€Å"we seek to move beyond the determination of possible risks that may be presented by child care as a unitary category. Rather, we want to find out how the effects of non-maternal care vary as a function of different variables such as child care quality, the extent of its use, characteristics of the children and of their family and home† (Friedman, NICHD, 1992, p. 10). These factors combined with family income/education and child gender make for a very complicated study. One factor seems to influence the other and there are so many variables. The one thing that does stand out in all of the research is that developmental outcomes are dependent upon the quality of child care and family dynamics. When a child is feeling supported by both his/her parents and the people that care for him/her, the outcomes are favorable. Quality child care programs support cognitive, physical, social-emotional development, but unfortunately so many families do not have access to these programs due to their lack of availability and the high cost of most quality programs. A proof in point is that I am currently a private child care provider and due to my expertise, I am able to charge higher rates than others in my field, but only families that can afford these rates are able to hire me. The sad thing is that â€Å"a national study of 100 child care centers found that 92% of them provided inadequate care to infants† and â€Å"it was reported that two in five centers were rated less than minimal† (FSU Center for Prevention & Early Intervention Policy, http://www. peip. fsu. edu/resourceFiles/resourceFile_81. pdf). Keep in mind that these figures are based on child care centers with varied tuition rates in various parts of the county. Those numbers are just staggering and unacceptable, but make perfect sense when you take into account that child care providers are usually not professionally trained or minimally trained and receive very low wages. Teacher training and regulations on child care centers are getting stricter which is a good si gn. More and more mothers are returning to work and it is only cost effective that the investments we make in early child care practices will result in better adjusted and academically successful children in the years to come. References Ainsworth, M. (1978). Patterns of attachment: a psychological study of the strange situation Philadelphia: Laurence Earlbaum Associates, Inc. Belsky, J. & Eggebeen, D. (1991, January 1). Early and extensive maternal employment and young children’s socioemotional development: children of the national longitudinal survey of youth. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 53(4), 1083-98. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. EJ440714). Retrieved August 15, 2009 from ERIC database. Belsky, J. , Vandell, D. , Burchinal, M. , Clark-Stewart, K. , McCartney, K. , & Owen, M. (2007, March 1). Are there long-term effects of early child care?. Child Development, 78(2), 681-701, (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. EJ756658). Retrieved August 15 From ERIC database. Belsky, J. (2009, March). Effects of child care on development. Institute for the Study of Children, Families and Social Issues. Birkbeck University of London. Gonzalez-Mena, J. Infants, toddlers, and caregivers. Boston: McGraw-Hill. FSU Center for Prevention & Early Intervention Policy. (n. d. ). Research on quality child care For infants and toddlers. Retrieved August 25, 2009 from https://www. cpeip. fsu. edu. Hill, J. , Waldfogel, J. , & Brooks-Gunn, J. (2002, September 1). Different effects of high quality Care. Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, 21(4), 601-627. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. EJ772831). Retrieved August 15, 2009 from ERIC database. Hill, J. , Waldfogel, J. , Brooks-Gunn, J. , & Han, W. (2005, November 1). Maternal employment and child development: a fresh look using newer methods. Developmental Psychology, 41(6), 833-850. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. EJ733669). Retrieved August 25, 2009. Joshi, H. , University of London, Cooksey, E. , The Ohio State University, Verropoulou, G. , University of Piraeus, Menaghan, E, The Ohio State University, & Tzavidis, N. , University of Manchester. (2008). Combining childrearing with work: do maternal employment experiences compromise child development. Retrieved August 12, 2009 from http://iussp2009. princeton. edu/download. aspx? submissionId=92322. Leach, P. Barnes, J. , Malmberg, L. , Sylva, K. , & Stein, A. (2008, February 1). The quality of different types of child care at 10 and 18 months: a comparison between types and factors related to quality. Early Child Development and Care, 178(2), 177-209. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. EJ782856). Retrieved August 15, 2009 from ERIC database. Motherhood-extent and effects of maternal employment. (n. d. ). Retrieved August 26, 2009 from http://family. jrank. org/pages/1187/Motherhood-Extent-Effects-Maternal- Employment. html National Scientific Council on the Developing Child. Scientific briefs: how early child care affects later development. (2007). Retrieved August 12, 2009 from http://www. developingchild. net. The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) Study of Early Child Care: A comprehensive Longitudinal Study of Young Children’s Lives. (1992, June 1). (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED353087). Retrieved August 15, 2009 from ERIC database. NICHD Early Child Care Research Network. (1987). The effects of infant child care on infant- Mother attachment security: results of the NICHD Study of Early Child Care. Child Development, 68.

Research Essay

Throughout this assignment I intend to demonstrate an understanding and knowledge of research methodology. I will examine how research is used to support practice and policy. I will address research terminology and the roles and responsibilities of the researcher. Our group research project will be critically analysed. Kumar (2001) implies research is more than a set of skills. Research is a way of thinking and examining the various aspects of your day-to-day professional work, understanding and formulating guiding principles that govern a particular procedure. Research helps us to understand why things behave the way they do and why people act in a certain way. If carried out effectively, research can be imperative as it brings about change in policy and practice Burns (1972). The two predominant methods of research are Quantitative and Qualitative research (Kumar,2001). These methods differ primarily in their analytical objective, the type of questions they pose and the different m ethods of data collection. The following definition, taken from Aliaga and Gunderson (2000,pg1), describes what we mean by quantitative research methods: Quantitative research is ‘Explaining phenomena by collecting numerical data that are analysed using mathematically based methods in particular statistics.’ (Muijs,2011) Quantitative research is also described as traditional or empirical research, meaning that it is based upon observation, experimentation and measurement (Lambert). Qualitative research is usually a more detailed form of research and cannot usually be expressed in terms of numbers. It often takes in to account people’s values, attitudes and opinions. The three most common qualitative research methods, are participant observation, in-depth interviews, and focus groups. Each method is particularly suited for obtaining a specific type of data. Lambert (2010, pg 256) infers that both qualitative and quantitative approaches can be combined in a single study to improve depth and breadth. For the purpose of our small scale research project we used a research question as opposed to a hypothesis. A hypothesis is a statement of assumption which will be tested in the research (Muijs,2011). A research  question is an initial statement to set the scene for exploratory research within an interpretivist framework. A questionnaire was used to gather data for our research project. Newby (2010) states questionnaires are amongst the most popular. The advantage of using a questionnaire in date collection is they are practical. A large amount of information can be collected from a group of people in a short period of time. The data can be expressed statistically. It is thus possible to make comparisons with other studies. The results of a questionnaire can be easily evaluated, analysed and quantified by the researcher (Barlette & Burton, 2012). The disadvantages for this type of research is people may not be honest when filling out the questionnaire this could lead to the data pr ovided being false and therefore invalid (ibid). The interview is the most prominent data collection tool in qualitative research(Muijs,2011).When data has been quantified, it can be used to compare and contrast other research and may be used to measure change. Positivists believe that quantitative data can be used to create new theories and / or test existing hypotheses (ibid). Researchers are required to consider ethics in every aspect of their conduct. The Belmont Report states the three fundamental ethical principles for using any human subjects for research are Respect for Persons, Beneficence and Justice (U.S Department of Health & Human Services,1979.) The first of these principles meant that the researcher should treat the participant as an independent person who should be kept fully informed at all times. The researcher should also ensure that persons with reduced independence such as a child should be protected at all times. Beneficence is included to ensure the benefits of being included in the research should outweigh any negative impact to the participant. Justice implies that selection of the participants must be fair and those who are asked to participate should also benefit (Macfarlane & Bruce, 2009). Personal values and also professional values that researchers should use when carrying out a study, will be analysed. A code of ethics is a fra mework to help and advise us but ultimately it remains the responsibility of the individual (Early Childhood Australia,2010). Research ethics are a set of principles on how researchers  should conduct themselves when dealing with research participants. Denscombe (2007) states we must respect the rights and dignity of the participants, avoid harm to research participants and carry out the research with honesty and integrity. According to Stonehouse (1991) a code of ethics is ‘a statement about practice, or what we will strive to do. It is based on core values, or what we believe’. There are a number of reasons it is important to conduct research in line with ethical standards; it is a sign of respect for participants, other researchers and those who will use the research. A code of ethics is not enforced but it is something that we should adhere to. The Impact of Distance Learning on a Student’s Work and Home Life Introduction In order to better understand what affect distance learning has on the work and home life of a student, students from the Education Department at Anglia Ruskin University in the second year of their Foundation Degree in Early Years collated data from a research module seeking to answer the following question: Does combining distance learning and working have a negative impact on a student’s work and home life? The chosen method of data collection was via a questionnaire with the answers offering an explanation and understanding as to why students look to improve their early years education skills by going back to study and what challenges they faced. Method The research was a 10 minute questionnaire, asking a mixture of both closed and open questions. A combination of closed and open questions were used so allowing students to answer in a more efficient and accurate manner. Opinions from each of the surveyed students were as important as were the answers to the multiple choice questions. The questions asked related to a work and life balance, and sought to understand how students deal with the work and study balance. Sample The results are a snap shot outlining the sort of pressure s placed on students in terms of time, commitments and everyday lives. The results covered how many hours a week were worked, where was the work undertaken, where did the students live and the time pressures on completing course work. It outlines the key challenges facing mature students who are looking to further their early years education and teaching careers. Ethics To ensure that all University protacals were observed, an introduction was provided outlining the aim of the research and confirming what research the surveyed students were being asked to contribute. Confidentially was important so was the opportunity if needed to withdraw from the research at any time. Results The results of the survey outline the time constraints and challenges faced by the students as they look to progress their education and their career Figure 1 – Gender of students. The above results showed that 100% of the surveyed students were female. Though we are unable to draw any direct conclusions from this, perhaps females are more likely to return to early years education than their male counter parts. All were involved with early years education and so found the early years course additional help to their working lives. Figure 2 – Age of Students The above outlines the age of the students. 75% of those surveyed were in the age range of 25 – 34. Though we cannot draw any direct conclusions from this, it would suggest that the 25 – 34 age range has the propensity to undertake further education whist working and looking after their children.  The younger age groups perhaps are more interested in their social lives where the 44+ are perhaps to well established to go back to further education. Figure 3 – Hours worked per week The above outlines the number of hours worked per week. This shows that the early years students are having to work quite long weeks whilst undertaking and finishing course work. Figure 4 –Who do you live with? The above research shows that out of the surveyed students none currently reside at home with their parents. As 75% of them are from the 25 to 34 age demographic, they have all moved out from the parental home and are either residing with their partner, or with friends. Figure 5 – How many children do you have? The above shows that the students have a real cross section of the number of children they currently have. The older students are more likely to have had children, so making their daily working lives even harder to undertake the required course work. Reasons for embarking on this foundation course The students were asked why they were embarking on the foundation course, all respondents cited the need to gain further qualification in order to improve their chances of career progression. Some cited the need to complete their EYPS by 2015 allowing the student to move with an improvement in their career prospects. Those with children were looking at the opportunity of also progressing their career but at a slightly older age. Some students were encouraged by the in house management to undertake the course so improving their knowledge and skills. Figure 6 – how much research is undertaken? The above outlines how much research was undertaken before the students undertook the course. 25% admitted they had done very little research and had relied on word of month from friends and past students. 25% admitted attending an open day so they were better able to understand the course and the time requirements. The reminder was either advised by their managers to undertake the course or had done minimal research and joined the course anyway. Figure 7 – Choice of learning. The majority said they did have a choice in how to study, but elected to undertake distance study. The remaining 25% who did not have a choice said that their working hours meant they were unable to take anytime out to attend face to face courses. If they had a choice, would they have attended face to face courses as opposed to opt for distance learning? Out of the total sample, 75% said that work commitments were an influence in making the decision to undertake distance learning with the remaining 25% stated this was the only option for undertaking and completing the course. All the students agreed that distance was more flexible and was a cheaper option. Figure 8 – Effectiveness of distance learning The research indicates that when the students were asked to compare distance learning having previously undertaken face to face learning, they all agreed that distance learning was worse. The students found it more difficult to express opinions over distance learning and missed the one to one question opportunity. Better communication via face to face because information was taken in and understood more easily. The speed of response was thought to be quicker and better via face to face with greater accuracy and clarity in the  answers. The students were asked if distance learning allowed discussions to take on a greater degree of thought and reflections, with 50% saying yes it did, and 50% saying no it did not. Figure 9 – How many hours per week do you study? The total number of hours per week given over to studying is split, with 50% of the surveyed saying 5 to 10 hours, whilst the remaining 50% saying 10 plus hours per week. The difference could be down to level of experience, age, ease of distance learning or just the time it takes to undertake assignments. Each individual will have key skill bases that will allow then to complete the projects in different timelines, hence the difference in hours per week worked. Using the Likert scale (Newby,2010) the results were conclusive that students felt 1 module per half term would improve the balance between study and home. In completing the modules, 75% either agreed or strongly agreed that completing one module per half term as opposed to two over a term certainly improved the study/home life balance, with 25% saying they did not agree nor disagree. This comes back to being able to prioritize their workload more successfully as they have a clear goal in a defined timeline, as opposed to a longer timeline where better time management could well be needed. Figure 10 – When do you study? The survey group had different work patterns, with 50% working at weekend, 25% in the week and 25% working across both. This would probably be driven by their respective home life, their career, if they have children and where  they lived. Studying time would have to fit in around many other external factors. All the surveyed agreed that the study time affected their home or social life. The younger individuals lost out on time meeting friends and going out and all agreed that weekend life with its need to undertake family and home jobs meant that their time was really squeezed. Time management was a key to getting all of the modules finished and in on time. In terms of hobbies, all agreed that they had and enjoyed taking part in their hobbies, whether it was in the week or at weekends. Out of the survey, 50% stated that these were severely affected and the remaining 50% said that they were affected. Hobby time spent was certainly reduced with 50% saying that the distance learning had a significant affect on how much time they could send pursuing their hobbies over a given week. The surveyed also found that their employers had very different reactions to their distance learning, with 75% being given no extra time off to help with their studies, and 25% being helped by their employer. The 25% who were helped were allowed on average one study day off per week. Figure 11 – Is the study having a positive effect in your workplace? Interestingly 50% said that the learning experience was having a positive effect on their work place, with 50% being unsure. The positive impact allowed the newly gained knowledge to be used in the work place with positive effects, helping day to day running of work, cascading more information down to other staff members, additional responsibility being enjoyed and the general acceptance that the new learning was having a positive impact of the workplace and fellow colleagues. In terms of dealing with the pressure of distance learning, all of those surveyed said they felt that the support they received as part of the online group did not help them deal with the added pressure and workload from the  extra learning. This could be down to the whole new experience of distance learning where previously they had the face to face time, where issues could be discussed and solutions found. Now if there are any issues, then the individual must try to find a solution themselves and so are potentially feeling more isolated and pressured. 75% did feel that having a mentor aided them in their day to day studies, where 25% were unsure. Again this could be down to the new experience of undertaking distance learning with the individuals taking to time to understand how to best use the mentor. As this process develops so the mentor could well be used more in a way to help find solutions to ongoing issues and problems. The mentor when asked had a great deal of knowledge, but the issue was still how best to use them. All of the surveyed felt that having a mentor in no way helped them in reducing the number of hours they had to work. The mentor was there to help with specific questions, not to help with larger problem solving hence reducing the number of hours that had to be worked. All of the surveyed felt with the advent of modern technology development, distance learning will play an important part for our future generations. It was felt that individuals could go back and study without having to give up their jobs, the studying would be more convenient for them and their families, older students would not have to sit in a classroom with younger students so having perhaps a confidence issue and generally the feeling was being able to study at a time and in an environment that was more suited to the individual. Reflection The undertaken research and related results were indeed a very worthwhile process that yielded some frank and interesting points of view. With any form of research, hindsight plays an important part when reviewing the  questions, the questionnaire, the sample size and the overall results. The information allowed the survey to demonstrate a view that distance learning on the home/work life balance is truly a challenge particularly when looking at the relative age and social position of the surveyed. The questionnaire included a number of dichotomous questions giving clear unequivocal responses (Cohen,Manion & Morrison,2011). Open questions gave participants an opportunity to write down their opinions generating qualitative data(Kumar,2001). Research ethics as described by Blaxter et al. cited in Bell (2005) is about being clear about the nature of the agreement with the research participants. Clear instructions and the overarching ethics of the research meant there was no poor interpretation. Sample sizes are always important and so the larger the sample size the more accurate and more believable the results become. Quality of the samples then becomes of paramount importance so though the sample size is small, the results are accurate and are a true reflection on what was reported within the questionnaire. All data collection and results interpretation proved to be fairly straight forward mainly as the sample size was small and the surveyed students were willing to share their views and spend time accurately filling out the questionnaire. References: Barlette & Burton , S & D (2012) Researching education . London: Sage. Bell, J (2005) Doing your Research Project . 4th ed. Berkshire: Open University Press. Cohen, L., Manion, L., & Morrison, K. (2011) Research Methods in Education . 7th ed. Oxon: Routledge. Early Childhood Australia (2010) Code of Ethics literature review [Online] Available at http://www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au [Accessed 25 November 2013] Kumar, R (2011) Research Methodology. 3rd ed. Great Britain: SAGE Publications Ltd. Lambert, E.B (2003) Introducing Research to Early Childhood Students. Australia : Social Science Press. Sage (2010) Introduction to quantitative research [Online] Available at http://www.sagepub.com [Accessed 27 November 2013] U.S Department of Health & Human Services (1979) The Belmont Report [Online] Available at http://www.hhs.gov [Accessed 1 December 2013] Weatherall, S. (2013) Research terms, MOD001251 Research 1 . [Print] Anglia Ruskin University, Unpublished.

Human resources management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Human resources management - Essay Example In order for effective strategic planning to take place, both risk and uncertainty must be categorized and classified. Merely because it is not known what might come of a certain situation, decision, or action, this does not provide the leader, or leadership team with an effective excuse for not at least considering some of the likely externalities that might come out of a given situation (Kim 65). For instance, if a particular individual within leadership, or 18 of individuals within leadership, are distinctly aware of a potential risk that they face, they would be patently foolish to ignore the risk and not focus upon the means by which they can prepare for the eventuality that all of the possible outcomes may portend. Some of these might be negative, some of these might be positive; however, regardless of whether they are positive or negative, it is necessary for the individuals within leadership to at least planned for them so that when they occur the maximum amount of utility ca n be gained from whatever eventuality presents itself. The decision-making process cannot and should not be understood as something that is undifferentiated from the individual to the group. What is meant by this is that an individual making a decision necessarily engages in the process in a far different way than does the group seeking to make a decision. All too often, leaders within a particular management team are of the opinion that an individual decision must be made in far too many circumstances (Klinke & Ortwin 275). However, the fact of the matter is that employees/stakeholders, are not only their two perform useful work; they are also there to leverage upon their own decision-making and encourage their participation within the decision-making process. As such, the individual decision-maker would rely upon the accident information and personal experience that he or she might have with regards to solving a particular situation. Leadership is not something that can be effecti vely performed utilizing either a firm understanding of one or the other aspect of risk or uncertainty. Rather, it is necessary for a true leader to be well rounded in the strategic planning for both of these factors. By allowing for a well balanced approach that considers the means through which both risk and uncertainty plays into the expectations for success and threats of failure that integrate with the future of the firm. Whereas it is tempting for an individual to rely upon a given focus to a greater or lesser degree, the more appropriate response is to allow for strategic planning to take place in a well nuanced manner; fully mindful and cognizant of the degrees to which strategy and planning are part and parcel of the role that any leader and/or effective manager must engage. By comparison, a leader within a group would have the possibility and likelihood of drawing upon the inputs of the stakeholders as a means of making a well-informed and dynamic decision. Neither approac h is correct or effective in each and every situation; however, from an analysis of the existing documentation and a integration with the information that is thus far been presented course, it is the understanding of this particular student that the group

Bose stadium sound system Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Bose stadium sound system - Essay Example Bose stadium sound systems are designed to strengthen audio sounds with a centre field focus. The highest amount of sound is transmitted to the spectators seated at the farthest end of the stadium, there is less need for external source of sound since Bose systems can easily relay waves to the different corners of the stadium. An analysis of Bose systems requires that a measurable and quantifiable quality and details of the venue be first entered into the Bose modeler software. Therefore it is important to first of all find the model that best suits the type of stadium before installing it (BOSE UNITED STATES). Sound is the key aspect in a stadium that makes a game interesting, spectators want to hear what the commentator is saying to better experience the game, when the people cannot hear from the speakers they become frustrated and no longer enjoy the game. This is where Bose sound systems come in since it amplifies sound to the farthest corner, music and comments can be heard quickly enhancing the reaction of the

Questionairre Design Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Questionairre Design - Coursework Example Minimum sample size for the questionnaire is 1000 customers. Every fifth customer enters in the store will be asked to attempt the survey. Any individual regardless of the color, creed, cast or religion may attempt this questionnaire. However, customers aged 18 years or older, who spend  £500 in a month purchasing in the local stores or buying on the internet, are being asked to participate. We hope to gather the responses of at least 1000 people. XYZ Supermarket appreciates your participation in the questionnaire in which you will be asked questions about your buying habits, preferred ways or medium of shopping and your experience with XYZ supermarket. Due to the fact that, traditionally there is a low turn out on the web, it is decided to make this questionnaire available on the cash and service counters. It is important to understand that your participation is voluntary. The information or data collected through this questionnaire will remain confidential and will be used for the company’s internal use only. You may quit at any time if not comfortable with the questions asked. If the respondent, respondent’s friend or any household member works for the XYZ Supermarket, they should not attempt to answer the questionnaire. The following set of statements is given to assess the personality behavioral patterns. Remember there is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ answer. Please check the most appropriate box you see fit for yourself. Below are some statements reflecting people’s attitudes toward the Internet. Please select the answer that best describes you personally. Please answer the questions, even if you don’t use the Internet, according to your perceived

Amsterdam tourism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Amsterdam tourism - Essay Example tions, tourists are people that travel to and stay in different places that are not their usual environment for a period that exceeds one year for reasons of business, leisure and other reasons altogether (Sharpley 2006, 16). Currently, tourism has become an important and famous global activity undertaken by people during their leisure. In fact, tourism has become one of the leading sources of income in many countries that have created sustainable systems and structures to attract people to view and experience the tourism potential of their countries. During the economic recession in the late 2000s, tourism is one of those industries that were adversely affected, this was during the better part of 2008 until the better part of 2009. Additionally, the outbreak of some of the deadliest diseases affects the tourism industry as people reduce their travelling for leisure or business purposes. Other activities like terrorism also play an important part in influencing people’s travel patterns and behavior across the world (Thompson & Travlou 2007, 48). countries that have enough and varied sceneries stand a better chance to attract people from different parts of the world. This paper examines the tourism potential of Amsterdam City in the Netherlands. It focuses on the internal and external factors influencing the city’s tourism potential. Amsterdam is one of the most populous, as well as the capital of Netherlands. The status of Amsterdam as the capital of Dutch has been provided for in the Netherland’s constitution (Catling 2006, 18). Amsterdam, as the capital of Dutch has a population of approximately 813,562 people in the city-proper. The city’s urban region has about 1, 112, 165 people, while the larger metropolitan area comprises of 1, 575, 263. Amsterdam city is strategically located in the heart of Europe, making it one of the most important tourism in Europe. In fact, the city has often been described as alpha city of the world according to the

Strategic Management Analysis. Thomas Cook Group plc Assignment

Strategic Management Analysis. Thomas Cook Group plc - Assignment Example Thereafter, using appropriate analytical tools, the resource capability of Thomas Cook will be evaluated by highlighting its threshold and unique resources, and its core competences. Eventually, the strategic fit of Thomas Cook will be evaluated in the light of its strengths and weaknesses. Thomas Cook Group plc, which was established in 1841, is amongst the world's top leisure travel groups with sales exceeding  £10 billion and over 22.5 million customers. The company operates in six geographic segments in 21 countries and leads in its portfolio of travel brands. It has a flexible asset light business model with an experienced management team that believes in the strategy of delivering top line margin growths. The package holiday industry is a sector that has been fulfilling people’s aspirations in meeting their travel and tourism needs. Companies in the industry are adept in bundling different elements of a holiday into a convenient package whereby charter flights, accommodation, meals and transfers are taken care of at the given price per package. The package holiday industry is large and highly competitive and fragmented because of which companies in the sector have to be very professional and organized in providing the best prices and services. The industry can be segmented into transportation, destination, accommodation, customer management, activities, duration, price and quality. 1.4 Why have you cho

Corporate strategy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Corporate strategy - Essay Example Despite the pressure of the global financial crisis, the Group continued with its existing policy. Consequently, the Group’s Executive Chairman announced that some delay over the opening of certain hotels and resorts is unavoidable. Corporate Strategy: Jumeirah Group Introduction Worldwide destinations spend over $1,480 billion dollars to attract tourism, enabling it as a lucrative product (Pike, 2005). Additionally, vision must enable trade and investment in that quest (Hankinson, 2005). And, to enjoy a successful branding strategy for tourist destinations, five factors, such as retail, services, transit hub, tourism and economics, must be there to implement strategic vision (Jamrozy, 2007, Wong et al. 2006). And the vision of the Jumeirah Group heads in the same direction. In the year of 1997, Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts, as a company initiated to serve in the field of hospitality. Due to its commitment and constant success in the field, Jumeirah Group became a member of Dubai Holding in 2004 (About Jumeirah Group, web).Being based in the city of Dubai, the Jumeirah Group owns and runs Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Jumeirah Emirates Towers, the Jumeirah Carlton Tower, Jumeirah Bab Al Shams Desert Resort and Spa in Dubai, Madinat Jumeirah, Jumeirah Lowndes Hotel in London, and the Jumeirah Essex House on Central Park South in the city of New York (Enz, 2010). Additionally, the Group also owns the Wild Wadi, which is considered as one of the premium water parks outside of North America; further, the Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management, which is only third-level institution in the region catering the services in the learning and teaching in the field of hospitality management, also come under the management of this group (Enz, 2010). This group is a giant in the field of hospitality management working beyond the boundaries of the Middle East. Its strategic objectives till the year of 2012 is to conclude the ongoing projects to 60 hotels and resorts, includin g some projects are underway in Americas, Asia Pacific, North Africa and Europe (Jumeirah, web). Currently, the Group is determined to expand not only within the Middle East but also other parts of the world. Although, the group has published its corporate responsibility report in 2008, clearly highlighting its corporate responsibility, mentioning its corporate strategy elements, vision, mission, corporate social responsibility and certain other elements are accounted for. Despite showing so much exceptional growth and expansion in the recent years, the Jumeirah Group has not published the corporate responsibility reports after the year of 2008, since then there are no additional financial and operational information suggesting the current level of its commitment on the green house gases, customers, and other stakeholders. The Group seems unable to produce its corporate responsibility reports, raising more doubts on its commitment towards corporate issues, including corporate social responsibility. In the subsequent parts of this paper, the concept of corporate strategy is followed by the Jumeirah Group’s corporate strategy of global expansion and growth analysis. Subsequent to that, critical analysis is carried over the Jumeirah Group’s disclosure policy; in the end, a conclusion and some recommendations are also made part of this paper. Corporate strategy Corporate strategy

Media Studies Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Media Studies - Case Study Example Advertising is persuasive and informational and is designed to influence the purchasing behavior and/or thought patterns of the audience. Advertising is a marketing tool and may be used in combination with other marketing tools, such as sales promotions, personal selling tactics, or publicity" (Advertising, p.1). In our everyday lives, we are surrounded by advertisements all over. It is nearly impossible to save ourselves from one or the other kind of advertisements whether it might be the most recent offer put forward by the local supermarket or perhaps even an advertisement on the television even if we stop reading the newspaper, stop watching television or even stride around with our eyes closed. As mentioned previously, the chief rationale of marketing is to advertise and sell products, but if one ponders, we come to realize the fact that the advertisement not only sells the product to people, but it also puts forward an image of our future which is extremely attractive and full of opportunities and advantages. For this particular essay, an advertisement will be analyzed with respect to semiotic terms and techniques and discourse analysis, and discover how denotation is constructed. The methods chosen for the analysis of the advertisement are the most appropriate methods. This is because through the semiotics and discourse analysis, the advertisement of Chrysler 300C chosen can be best analyzed as it contains the language and signs that require appropriate understanding and analysis that can only be done through the use of semiotics and discourse analysis.The next section presents the concepts of semiotics and discourse analysis that is discussed through the analysis of the literature present in different books, journals, periodicals and internet sources. The literature is reviewed through these sources and then discussed and critically analyzed. Semiotic and Discourse Analysis In the course of the method of being advertised, merchandise turns into an illustration of anything and everything that is desirable for the general public or at least the target market. The basic working of an advert basically is to indicate, to correspond to us, the object of our most unavoidable desires. We can therefore argue that the most important aspect of an advertisement is of what is important to us. For an advertisement to be successful it needs to put forward an image of us and to tell us ways by which we can use the product to make ourselves even more tempting, striking etc. In this way the product is given individuality, communicating to the target market not just plain information but also representation. The advert under consideration is the Chrysler 300C advertisement. The methods that have been taken up are known as Semiotics and Discourse Analysis. A commonsensical way to start here would be by defining Semiotics first. Basically, Semiotics was developed in the 1960s and has its roots in English literature and structural linguistics.

Robotic Surgery Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Robotic Surgery - Research Paper Example There are legal, political and ethical issues associated with the procedure. Robotic surgery is the best invention there is in medicine but the controversies have raised concerns about this technology and addressing them could better automated and efficient surgeries used robots. Description Robotic surgery uses an automated system that has three systems; the console which the surgeons use to control the system, four arms that are controlled by the console and can be manipulated to do practically any task and a high definition visual system for providing real time images of the parts being operated on. Three of the arms are fitted with surgical instrument while the fourth arm is used to control the camera which guides the surgeons on the parts to be operated on. Advantages of the robotic surgery Doctors are able to operate many clients using robotic surgery. Since they are involved indirectly, they do not get as tired as compared to manual operations. Patients on the other hand benef it as the procedure does not take long using the robots for surgery. This saves time for the patient and the doctor. Time saved by the robotic surgery procedure is saving hospitals as much as thirty percent of their budget on surgery. Money saved can be directed to other projects within the hospitals. The robots are quite precise and the incisions required when using them are usually small compared to a normal surgery. This makes the healing process faster for the patients. They do not have to stay in the hospitals for long time thereby saving money as well (Beck, 2013, para. 5). Controversies Despite the advantages that come with robotic surgery, there are many issues that have been raised regarding the use of these machines. They include the safety of the use of the robots, the risks associated with their use, the functioning of the robots and the regulatory framework on the same. These issues have spurred a never ending debate and threaten the use of these systems and are categor ized into several (Mavroforou, Michalodimitrakis, Hatzitheofilou, and Giannoukas, 2010, p.77). Political issues Regulation The use of robots in surgery is not regulated by any institution. Although they have been given the green light by the relevant government institutions, there needs to be a body that regulates their use, evaluates the advantages, the disadvantages, issues raised and any suggestions. Lack of regulation in this field has led to a lot of issues relating to the use of the system. One, there are many injuries and deaths that are associated with the use of robots in surgery in the last few years. In fact, the number has been increasing year after year. If there was a regulatory body, the issues leading to death would have been addressed and less injuries and deaths would be reported. This fact has made some politicians to step up and propose the regulation of the use of robots in surgical procedures. Senator Dick Moore from Massachusetts proposed that there should be a new policy and law to regulate the use of robots in surgery in Massachusetts. Moore is conversant with policies regulations and costs in the health care industry. Senatorial colleagues across the United States including the minority leader Bruce Tarr appreciate that Moore has enough knowledge on this and fully support him. Moore is credited to the enactment of the 2006 universal health care legislation which was a key part in the Obamacare health reforms in 2009.

Psychological Critical Perspective Essay Example for Free

Psychological Critical Perspective Essay The utilization of a psychological critical perspective in literature entails the utilization of a specific psychological perspective to be used in the assessment of the various elements within the text as they are related to both the author and the intended audience of the work. Bernard Paris (1997) states that the use of psychology in the analysis of a literary text enables us â€Å"to understand the behavior of characters in literature from the past, to enter into their feelings, and to enrich our knowledge of ourselves and others through an understanding of their inner conflicts and relationships† (p. xii). In line with this, what follows is a psychological analysis of the representations of life and death in Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex and Susan Glaspell’s Trifles. Within Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex, the psychological representation of death is evident in the representation of the sphinx. The sphinx, as a mythical creature, represents perplexity and death. In its many versions, the sphinx may be said to be a representation of perplexity in its employment of riddles in its interaction with human beings. Furthermore, it may be said to be a representation f death since it is depicted as a creature that brings death [or at least bad luck or misfortune] to those who cannot solve its riddles. In Greek mythology and drama, this creature is depicted as a beast with a feminine gender. Though generally regarded as an unhappy monster, the sphinx also serves as a symbol of femininity, power and confusion. In Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex, one may infer that in Greek tragedy, sufferings and tribulations are intertwined with the hero’s existence. To a certain extent, one may say that in the case of Oedipus Rex, the sphinx defines the existence of Oedipus; his ‘being a hero’, so to speak. The same holds true for the sphinx. In other words, the hero and the villain define each others’ being. Note for example that within the text itself, Oedipus’ existence is intertwined with the Sphinx in the sense that the Sphinx and hero are twin-born. In terms of its monstrosity, the sphinx is depicted in many ways. These depictions are as follows. In Oedipus Rex, she is depicted as a singing sphinx that has permitted the oversight of dark secrets as well as a winged maiden with crooked talons who sang darkly. Oedipus’ incapacity to discern both the oracle at Delphi and the true nature of the sphinx and its closeness to himself present us with a rather different view about human nature and the ancient Greeks’ belief in fate. The sphinx reminds us of two things. First, it reminds us of our inability to fully know ourselves because of human nature’s enigmatic character. Second, it poses significant questions with regards to human freedom and our capacity for choice. In other words, it toys on the idea whether freedom and choice are mere illusions that human beings would like to think that they possess when in fact, they do not. Within this context, life and death are represented within Oedipus Rex in such a way that it places emphasis on the difficulty of discerning the conditions of life. Such a difficulty is mirrored in the portrayal of the Sphinx as well as the Sphinx’s relation with the hero of the text. As opposed to this, Susan Glaspell portrays life and death differently in Trifles. Trifles recounts the tragedy that occurs within marriage during instances wherein there is an absence of homosocial dimensions in a woman’s life. Within the text, life and death are represented in such a way that they are made to be seen within the context of a masculine gaze. The reason for this lies in the subjectivity of the portrayal of both freedom and objectivity within the text. Consider for example the case of Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peter who both tried to conceal the evidence of Minnie’s crime. One might note that such a decision mirrors a certain amount of freedom on both characters’ part. Both characters may be said to possess freedom in the negative sense that they may choose to omit specific information that they have however the subjectivity of this freedom is evident if one considers that the psychological reason for omitting such an information may be traced to their embeddedness within a masculine point of view that requires them to maintain the existence of order within their immediate surroundings. Life and death, within Trifles, may be said to be determined by a patriarchal point of view. Such a point of view, however continuously contradicts the feminists perspective as can be seen in the controversies that arose as a result of Minnie’s death. References Bernard, P. (1997). Imagined Human Beings: A Psychological Approach to Character and Conflict in Literature. New York: NYU P. Glaspell, S. (2003). Trifles. Np: Thomson Wadsworth. Sophocles (1991). Oedipus the King: Oedipus Rex. Trans. George Young. London: Dover.

Youtube as Social Media and Marketing Tools

Youtube as Social Media and Marketing Tools Introduction Social Media is a word used to illustrate Internet-based applications that facilitate consumers share opinions, wisdom, experiences, and viewpoints. Social media are of many forms, examples are content communities (e.g., YouTube), social networking sites or blogs (e.g., Facebook), and joint projects (e.g., Wikipedia). All such applications content has been created, updated and maintained by individual internet users and further delivered to new users, which is often provided free of charge in a philanthropic way. Such attributes discern the social media from conventional web pages, like www.google.com or www.yahoo.com, which are supervised often by companies for a marketable purpose. By incorporating social media tools into their marketing strategy, marketers can gain benefits from it: they get real-time opinion on existing products or new ideas/concepts regarding products, they get chance to build community of consumers about their products, services or brand, leverage customer self services, and integrate customers indirectly to develop their product strategies in future. The most alluring reality of all is that radio took 38 years to reach 50 million users, television took 13 years to capture users, 4 years internet, and iPod took 3 years, Facebook capture 100 million users only in less than 9 months. This clarifies the importance of social media and its immensity and its boundaries arent only limited for younger generations. In fact according to Socialnomics, the fastest rising fragment is 55-65 years old female on Facebook. With this emergent of people and easy access, brands have begun become conscious to acquire the existed potential of Social media in order to reach the users. According to Socialnomics again, 25% of the search results are links to user-generated content for the Worlds top 20 brands, 34% opinions about predicts and brands are related with bloggers post. In study conducted by PR firm Burson Marsteller, pointed out that in the Fortune 500 list he observed 100 largest companies, in which 79% use Facebook, YouTube, Twitter or business blogs to correspond with clients and other stakeholders. It is a worldwide statistics. According to these 100 largest companies use 50% YouTube channels as social media tool. With the emergence of social media, it shifts business online as social media marketing has created its own niche in the business world. Great attention requires by companies to respond and penetrate in this web era more than ever. They cant entirely rely on traditional marketing techniques like gleaming press releases or flashy ad campaigns. Soren Gordgamer, author of Wisdom 2.0, puts it. He states companies now face a clear choice: wall themselves in and become increasingly controlled and hidden, or use social media and other means to reveal their human side, welcome transparency and forge new relationships with their customers. The old game is undoubtedly over, and the question now is what can business do to transition and succeed in this new era? It is pretty understandable that social media marketing has become entirely a new marketing field. (http://www.sociableblog.com/2008/02/11/why-people-use-social-media/) Social media has emerged innately from users and thus inherently personal. The users endow with personal information and ideas, interact with other users, respond to them, do sharing and form a social media interaction. Due to all these benefits social media marketing comes to light. By using social media marketers want to identify who are the users and what are their preferences. With blooming worldwide communication and technologies social media sites are deemed as significant stage for exchange. Marketers or companies squeeze ideas nearby information like connectivity, word of mouth, promotion of quality, and trust of those deemed trustworthy. Users find social media interesting due to having immense information, timely and informative; such attributes make social media an important factor for marketers. YouTube as a social media tool YouTubes principal features are the capability to upload and distribute video clips of any rational length. Most available standard video formats and converted to low resolution Flash for release. User account is necessary to b made in order to view YouTube video. This account provides a profile page that serves as an index to the users uploaded videos, and on which users may optionally disclose personal details, or subscribe to other users videos and friend other users; these details are then displayed in their profile pages. Users can then comment on other users or more commonly on particular video. Comments by users are displayed in the relevant pages. One of the YouTube feature is it offers community called group which user may join to assert specific interests. Groups provide a way to serialize video content as well as offering a text message interface similar to discussion boards or Usenet. YouTube signify an enormous opening for marketers to get in touch with consumers who are probing for relevant data about their products and services. YouTube can also be a significant direct marketing tool, conditioned that it should be taken as part of marketing mix rather than taken as a tactic or supported tool. Certain things are apparent, companies that are accomplishing durable attainment on YouTube are the ones who constantly and habitually issue and update contents on YouTube thats has inherent value for online users. How companies use YouTube as marketing tool Companies are working hard to figure out the unique ways to attract potential customers and make a successful social media strategy. There are various forms of advertisement available on the internet provided by the companies, but most significant popularity goes towards video advertisement and became hot subject in most recent months With the acquisition of YouTube by Google in October, 2006 the purpose to get hold of amplified revenues all the way through advertising partnerships is constantly striven for. While its starting to develop new ad offerings, its popularity is driving up costs that established Web giants, such as Google Inc. and Yahoo! Inc., are able to spread out In an article written by Catherineà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ Gail Reinhard, creative director at an agency that focuses on creating video infotainment, she says, the brands that achieve longà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ term success on YouTube are the ones that consistently and frequently publish refreshing content that has intrinsic value for audiences online. The natural aesthetic sense of sea waves and breaking swell waves at ocean surface help make Roxys and Quicksilver content truly captivating. Those companies who make their products with exciting and natural aesthetic sense can create content easily. and Quicksilvers and Roxys mini documentaries and web content give consumers an inside view of what goes on behind the scenes of professional surfing, skating and snowboarding tours circuits. They employ videos that feature gigantic and striking waves that definitely confine the audiences attention. But, they also generate webisodes and mini documentaries that offer people an inside scoop on the lives of professional surfers, skateboarders and snowboarders. With almost one new video a week, nearly every week Quicksilver displays fresh and unique content so that people keep coming back and put them always in curiosity state. With the ease availability of broadband, the dream to attend online college or university has fulfilled. Online education programs particularly private education have taken immense popularity that even old guards Ivy League Universities have started to propose classes or access to online programs. University of phoenix Online leads the charge in establishing strategy to market its online classes via video. They offer video testimonials, reviews, minià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ documentaries and webisodes. Their aim is to make video which fits for every potential students out there in market, as they r the ever first university which started YouTube as marketing tool for online courses and programs and they also appear on top when to search for online schools.

The Status of Women in Islam

The Status of Women in Islam There are many things in the current scenario and talks of the days which highlighted the many facets of sociological aspects that give emphasis to women empowerment and their status in the society. As we are aware, and when we relate back to history of women and their status, we often come across the scenario in which many societies across the globe do give little relevance as far as women right are concerned. That is to say the right of women and their status in the society is concerned to be precise; although women have always been the benchmark in any given society. Moreover, scholars have also argued that the worth and relevance of any given society can significantly be judged from the position that it gives to women in particular. (Singh) This is true and presents some good food for thoughts to begin with. Either in Indian, Islamic or English society, each one of it has a lot of things that defines the many facets of women and their role in particular. Women role is also very important and presents the many facets of the society and its dimensional outlook, which is why the subject matter that arises also emphasizes on the facts encompassing women status in Islamic world. But what is Islamic world? To begin with, tracing the historical relevance of Islam there is point to note that just after the death of Prophet Mohammed, the religion and cultural dimension of Islam spread like wildfire. Islam as a religion is emancipating in a sense, and its influence in many cultures around the world also cannot be sided apart. The spread of Islam in three continents of the world also has many interesting stories to relate. (Anonymous) Together with it, fact of the matter is that Islam and its status today as a religion are emphasized as the second largest religion, next only to Christianity. (World religions: Islam: The second largest world religionand growing.) Given that status in contention, the question of its cultural dimension also arises, that is to say the status of women in Islamic world. But what is important to note is the fact that Islam as a religion posit the many salient feature and relevance that emphasis on the equality, fraternity and stands against any ethnic or racial discrimination, and people from any background and social standing are welcomed with open hands. (Anonymous) Keeping in contention this historical insight of Islam, we feel that discrimination as far as the fairer sex is concerned also is less. This is in part based on speculation and part on the belief that women are always given high due and honorable place in the Islamic society. However, the sad state of affairs is that the stereotypes that women faced in the patriarchal society are very demeaning to begin with when we relate back to the time gone by. Stereotyping always happens and is a reality as far as women and their status are concerned. However, the tide in that regard is heading in the right note these days, given that role of women in any given society is very significant and present a whole lot of new world and meaning. The emancipation of women happened with a great cause to liberate women to say so literally by women rights groups and feminist. Although as a sociological phenomenon, issue encompassing women status in Islam has raised many debates and conception also arises either from the fact that perception and people understanding of Islamic were wrong and prejudiced in a sense. (Yahya, 2010) This is what we emphasize to bring into fore the subject matter discussion that should relate a lot about the status of women in the Islamic world, which is discussed below in brief. Subject Matter Issue and Purpose The very first question that arises as far as the subject matter goes is whether there has been a place for women in the Islamic society? Speculating to this thought we feel that women status and influence of Islam are interlinked and presents many significant points to relate the characteristic that are relevant. To begin with the issue and its discussion at hand, we feel that the eminence that Islam identified with women folks or the fairer sex also traces a place in the holy book the Quran, that directly states the relationship between man and women in context of Gods commandments. (Yahya, 2010) Thus, it should be defined herein that the subject matter research of this report in brief is to relate the many significant aspects of women status in Islam, then, now and in the times to come, especially from comprehending the many relevant scenario that trace its place in women rights, their empowerment and all in the between the point that concerns with the status of women in Islamic world. However, we take a step to discuss in that regard, we feel that a debate in context of Islam and women in the Islamic society also should be noted again, as one point to trace the significant characteristic of Islam and the speculated prejudiced that registers with people and wrong impression of women status in Islamic society, which is as follows. Islam and Women: The Ideal Combination? This is one point of the subject matter contention that should concern any given society and religion, and not Islam only. However, given the subject matter, we feel that only the salient characteristic and dimensional foreground of Islam and women in Islam should be noted, so as to derive a clear and significant understanding to the subject matter discussion. What is important to note in that regard can be compared and contrasted between women before Islam and after. That is to say in simple meaning of the term the direct realization of women and Islam in particular. Scholars and learned men over the ages have emphasized is the facts that Islam as a religion then and now have always gives importance to the correct Islamic behavior that are required of Muslim women in order to preserve their women characteristics as far as modesty is concerned. (Qaradawi, 1999) Modesty as far as the fairer sex goes is very crucial facet of any given behavior that is expected. Add to it, scholastic impression is also of the opinion that the revelation from the Quran also posits many important points to note the factor concerning men and women relationship, which is an exemplification of women status and their eminence. (Qaradawi, 1999) As far as Islam and its essence goes again in context of women status, the important point to note is that in all respect Islam demonstrate the equality of race, gender and social status, which in any point of the arguments also signify the real essence as to the factor encompassing the ideal combination that women are accorded towards. Take for example the facts of the matter in which Islam as a religion brought into force awareness of women rights, their role and responsibility, apart from the identity and personality that defines the many fabrics of their independence and moral obligations. (Anonymous, Status of Woman in Islam) This point in what we feel presents a significant justification of the subject matter arguments. In that understanding of the term, we feel that Islamic setup is an ideal world for women. And Islamic women since the historical times have always held these recognition with high regards and the obligations that comes with it. That is why we feel that Islam as a religion and its recognition of women role, and their status is an ideal combination. Women Rights and Duties within the Religion of Islam As per the Quran, there is every factor that reveals the facts and its sermon in particular that full justice should be given to the status of women in direct contention of the point between men and their relationship with women in the society. In that respect the idea of Islam then and now also emphasis the facts and suggest to some extent the equality of rights, that is to say the responsibilities accorded to men and women and most importantly the duties that both men and women are regarded for. (Yahya, 2010) For the better part, as we relate to the subject matter study many insight from the Quran also presents a great definition about the status of women in the Islamic society. That is to say, as par Islamic modes and the conventional features of it also cannot be sided apart. Together with it the status of women and their role within the religion of Islam present a complex relationship between men and women, however, there are great many significant features which demonstrate the facts that the Quran and Islamic text also give a clear definition of the right and duties of women in the Islamic society. Take for example the modesty and decency in any given arrangement which Islamic women displays, which make us think at times is one factor and the highest achievement for humanity and its cause in all its essence. (Anonymous, Status of Woman in Islam) Thus in that regard, the ideal Islamic women as per Islamic notion of the term is one who is aware of her modesty, and most importantly understands the values of being a women in behavioral fronts and how to preserve it. For the better part, there are instances that can be related from the Quran which is exemplified by Imam Qaradawi, who noted that lowering the gaze in one factor that defines the most important feature of women characteristics. Lowering the gaze as per the Quran extract signify the fact that it is a sheer display of modesty and that which is one crucial and most important ornament of a women. (Qaradawi, 1999) This is one reason and the essence of it that we still see women in Islam today displaying and observing the purdah system. It is important though to differentiate and signify the relevance of purdah system from many objective point of views, especially in context of the Islamic text and the Quran, which states the modest that comes with and that which is expected from women. Hence, with a clear understanding of what women modesty is all about, we feel that there is noting wrong as far as the purdah system goes. But critics today often goes to the extent to exaggerate the matter, which in all matter and subjective debate of it presents some wrongly held notions and misconceptions. For some people it may be not be an ideal combination when it matter to preserve the modesty in Islamic context. The western world conception and speculation making the rounds also is wrongly noted and with all misrepresentation. However, one important point to note again is the fact that good morals that are directly communicated through the Quran are universally compatible in all respect as far as human nature and behavior goes. Together with it, we feel that Islamic notion of women status and their rights also is valid in a sense, traditionally and contemporarily, given that it emphasize the real nature behind all such undertakings, be it the idea of modesty or that which defines that male and female are both equal in deeds and that which also exemplifies the obedience and humble nature that are an exemplification of women right and duties in all respect, (Yahya, 2010) as far as Islamic society and their notion of it goes. The Social Aspect of the Women and Their Roles The role of women in Islamic society is much enhanced to begin with. Accordingly to Islamic law, the role of women in direct contention with male counterpart is equal. One eminent scholars also is quick to point that the the status of woman in Islamic setup posit no foreground that is problematic in a sense. What is significant to point again in that regard is the fact that bear testimonial from the Quran and its extract, which relates that women and their role in the Islamic society is as vital as men, and nothing as such which can be termed as inferior or so in gender assimilation of the case arises. (Abdul-Ati) This bring back into contention the point noted by Harun Yahya, in which it is related that men and women, together with their role and responsibility are equal in term of their tasks as well as the responsibility of rewards for punishments in any given situations. (Yahya, 2010) In fact it should be noted that the historical assimilation of civilization also traces the significance in which it is noted that following the advent of Islam, women of the Islamic societies in particular has a much better and higher social positions and respects. And once again there is no relevance that signifies the point in which it is held that women are looked upon as an object in any capacity. (Yahya, 2010) Fact of the matter is that within the Islamic context, there is no point in which women in Islamic context are looked upon as an object be it as a mother, a child or as a wife or something that is looked upon as the product of the devil and or that which contemplate the seed of the devil. (Abdul-Ati) Women are god creation, so does all men. Thus, the status of women in Islam is something that which we can relate again as unique in matter of its expression and universality of idea that it generates. Together with it, women status is also novel in a sense because there is less similarity that can be derived in any other societal arrangements. (Abdul-Ati) Hence, the Islamic emancipation of women is what we can comprehend to be a factor that is wholly ingrained and traditionally imbedded to enhance the status of women in the society in any given arrangements within the Islamic notion and conception of women status and its idea that we can derived. One factor of it encompasses the facts that Islam brought about a great factor for the emancipation of women in the society, wherein tremendous improvement were initiated for the position of women in the Islamic society, where right and all in between endowing the features of property and all in between were accorded. (Yahya, 2010) Women Status in Islamic World Today Hence, as far as Muslim women and their role in the society today is concerned, there should be enough point to relate their contribution too, apart from being a mother, a wife that comforts her husband or responsibility in faith or any other aspects is as same as that what men professes and designates. (Ikhwan) Thus, there is every factor that should be emphasized again to the factor in which it should be held that understanding the role of Muslim women today is crucial. What we can relate to it is the factor that encompasses to their emancipation in true Islamic sense. That is to say, a woman by all rights should be given a thorough understanding, and not based in misconception and prejudices. Accordingly to Muslim principles, the womens role apart from being a mother and a wife also posits many roles in context of the modern society. Take for example the Islam notion and its assimilation in real essence which permits Muslim women to act upon certain other things that men are accorded. That is to say, women today have the rights to exercise the vote and to engage in political discussion and foster democratic thinking. Apart from it, modern Islamic women also can take up employment or for that can even extend her domains in far reaching grounds such as running her own business. There is not hing wrong in all these features and characteristic. Although the world and its understanding in that regard is all based on the prejudiced and full of misconception. (Anonymous, Understanding the role of Muslim women , 2007) Thus, what we can conclude is that women status in the Islamic world today is a direct example of the abovementioned facts. We can see woman in all background and corporate echelon making their mark, be it as doctor, nurses, teachers and corporate executive. There is nothing wrong in that. Muslim principle also directly supports all these factors. That is a direct retaliation of breaking the gender stereotypes in the modern society, although there is less of it in Muslim world. As highlighted in the BBC News as well, women are in their different role to contribute to the society, especially in Islamic world. Take for example the case in UAE, in which young Islamic women are finding their place in the workplace and standing out from the maddening crowd. Views in that regard when it concern women in the workplace be it as doctor, teacher, or executive bosses also varies. However, one important point to note is that there is no restriction as far as Islamic principles goes towards women and their status, (Sharp, 2005) but a direct exemplification in which it is held that women are accorded equal status in Islamic society. Conclusion Scholars have noted that the right of women in Islamic modern society today were not brought into contention as a matter of voluntary grants or an act of kindness. Although, what Islam have established for women is to emphasize here feminine side and nature that gives full security as a human being and against any disgraceful channel of life and its processes in the modern world that is full with vices and dishonest acts. (Abdul-Ati) Hence, in that capacity, we can conclude that the status of women in the modern society also can be emphasized from many angles that mirror the trends that are catching up. As far as Islamic women role and their contribution to the society today go, it is tremendous. The world has undergone many changes, so does the nature of human behavior. However, Muslim identities of a woman have not been compromised. Yet the best arrangements were made to mirror the essence of woman in Islamic world. That is to say for example the role of women in Islam, which again emphasize in traditional sense the purpose of life. (Anonymous, Status of Woman in Islam) Together with it, the virtue of human being is also one exemplification that ahs a lot to do with what we can define as the virtue that posit among human being and their essence and assimilation of the meaning in it. Take for example the differentiation that are not being accorded between the fairer sex and men in the society as far as Islamic notion of it concern in the modern society today. Thus in all relevance, the virtue of human being in Islamic notion and understanding of the term relates to the fact that men and women have the potentiality to acquire knowledge and its benign. Add to it, the exhibition of such gaiety is one factor that can again be emphasized in context of modern Islamic women and their status, where the spirit of piety and good behavioral and attributes are expected for the identity that Islam has accorded to women. (Anonymous, Status of Woman in Islam) Thus to conclude with, this is one important factor to begin with as we relate to the nature of Muslim woman today and her contribution to some extent that signify their identity and role in the society. The idea of women emancipation also did not happen at an instance, but it took a long historical course and social phenomena to trace all the salient features that identifies with Muslim women today.

Rappaccini’s Daughter - Perceptions, Impressions, and Interactions Ess

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Writers often use the characters in a story to make a comment on people's actions.   In "Rappaccini's Daughter," by Nathaniel Hawthorne, the characters make a telling comment on the interaction of people within society.   Hawthorne, a "thinker and artist" (Delbanco 14+), creates characters that are much different from what they seem like initially, and this encourages the reader to look deeper into issues instead of judging things by first impressions, rumors, or appearance.   Cappello defines the judging of people as "how [people], in general, translate or read the world" (263).   Hawthorne probes how people look at one another through his portrayal of Baglioni, Rappaccini, Giovanni, and Beatrice and their reactions with and toward one another. Baglioni's character initially makes readers believe that he is a helpful doctor, and the text of the story constantly shows him wanting to aid Giovanni.   Baglioni begins the story by supposedly clearing up the mystery regarding Rappaccini and his daughter:   "You shall hear the truth in respect to the poisoner Rappaccini and his poisonous daughter, yes, poisonous as she is beautiful" (Hawthorne 271).   He even remarks to the misguided Giovanni that Rappaccini "cares more for science than for mankind" (Hawthorne 259).   The picture that Baglioni paints scares both Giovanni and the reader into believing that horrid things are going on at Rappaccini's mansion.   Cappello believes that Baglioni is obviously "aware of the power of his language" (266).   Baglioni's advice continues, and he even warns Giovanni through a historical fable that depicts a woman "nourished with poison from her birth upward " (Hawthorne 270).   All of these warnings achieve their goal of helping t o formulate Giovan... ...presentative Men.'" Diss.   University of Toledo, 1988.   DAI 50-02A (1989): 0443.   Moss, Sidney.   "A Reading of ÔRappaccini's Daughter.'" Studies in Short Fiction 2 (1965):   145-156. Nelson, Ronald.   "Two Potential Sources for Pierto Baglioni in Nathaniel Hawthorne's 'Rappaccini's Daughter.'"   Studies in Short Fiction 28.4 (1991):   557-564. Predmore, Richard.   "The Hero's Test in 'Rappaccini's Daughter.'"   English Language Notes 15 (1978):   284-291. Ross, Morton.   "What Happens in 'Rappaccini's Daughter.'"   American Literature:   A Journal of Literary History, Criticism, and Bibliography 43 (1971):   336-345. Stoehr, Taylor.   Hawthorne's Mad Scientists:   Pseudoscience and Social Science in Nineteenth Century Life and Letters.   Hamden:   Archon Books, 1978. Uroff, M.D.   "The Doctors in 'Rappaccini's Daughter.'"   Nineteenth-Century Fiction 27 (1973):   61-70.   

Historia del Flamenco - Spanish Essay :: Papers Espagnol Essays

Historia del Flamenco - Spanish Essay La mà ºsica flamenca empezà ³ con una voz y unas palmas, y mà ¡s tarde se incorporà ³ la guitarra. Es sà ³lo en este siglo cuando se introdujo el zapateo. Hoy en dà ­a, las tres principales herramientas del flamenco son el cante, la guitarra y el baile. Casi todos los estilos o palos flamencos pueden interpretarse con o sin baile, habiendo bailes sin cante y temas puramente vocales, "a cappela". Hoy, el flamenco tiene muchas caras y es ejecutado de mà ºltiples maneras. En el flamenco moderno es comà ºn el uso de algunos instrumentos mà ¡s, como el bajo elà ©ctrico, normalmente sin trastes (tal como comenzà ³ a usarlo Carlos Benavent) y el cajà ³n. El cajà ³n es un instrumento de percusià ³n peruano que, con ligeras modificaciones, introdujo Paco de Lucà ­a y su grupo, y consiste en una caja de madera con un panel frontal suelto que se toca sentado sobre ella y que se adapta muy bien al flamenco porque no tiene una afinacià ³n determinada y proporciona un sonido sin armà ³nicos muy seco. El nuevo flamenco, etiqueta con la que se agrupan las formaciones jà ³venes menos preocupadas por el purismo y mà ¡s interesadas en la mezcla de mà ºsicas, incorpora saxos, flautas, violonchelos, violines o el sitar, e innumerables instrumentos de percusià ³n como los bongos, las congas de sudamà ©rica, la darbuka y el djembe indios, etc. El uso de baterà ­as, sintetizadores y guitarras elà ©ctricas es menos habitual. El flamenco es una de las mà ºsicas mà ¡s peculiares y reconocible de Europa. Las raà ­ces del flamenco se formaron recogiendo influencias de muy diversos orà ­genes: podemos encontrar en esta mà ºsica aportaciones hindà ºes, à ¡rabes, judà ­as, griegas, castellanas, etc. Cà ³mo llegaron a fundirse en el flamenco las aportaciones de tantas culturas es una larga e interesante historia llena de leyendas y malinterpretaciones. Los Gitanos del sur de Espaà ±a crearon esta mà ºsica dà ­a a dà ­a desde su

History of English Literature :: Literature Language Plays Essays

History of English Literature I. INTRODUCTION English literature, literature written in English since c.1450 by the inhabitants of the British Isles; it was during the 15th cent. that the English language acquired much of its modern form. II. The Tudors and the Elizabethan Age The beginning of the Tudor dynasty coincided with the first dissemination of printed matter. William Caxton's press was established in 1476, only nine years before the beginning of Henry VII's reign. Caxton's achievement encouraged writing of all kinds and also influenced the standardization of the English language. The early Tudor period, particularly the reign of Henry VIII, was marked by a break with the Roman Catholic Church and a weakening of feudal ties, which brought about a vast increase in the power of the monarchy. Stronger political relationships with the Continent were also developed, increasing England's exposure to Renaissance culture. Humanism became the most important force in English literary and intellectual life, both in its narrow sense—the study and imitation of the Latin classics—and in its broad sense—the affirmation of the secular, in addition to the otherworldly, concerns of people. These forces produced during the reign (1558–1603) of Elizabeth I one of the most fruitful eras in literary history. The energy of England's writers matched that of its mariners and merchants. Accounts by men such as Richard Hakluyt, Samuel Purchas, and Sir Walter Raleigh were eagerly read. The activities and literature of the Elizabethans reflected a new nationalism, which expressed itself also in the works of chroniclers (John Stow, Raphael Holinshed, and others), historians, and translators and even in political and religious tracts. A myriad of new genres, themes, and ideas were incorporated into English literature. Italian poetic forms, especially the sonnet, became models for English poets. Sir Thomas Wyatt was the most successful sonneteer among early Tudor poets, and was, with Henry Howard, earl of Surrey, a seminal influence. Tottel's Miscellany (1557) was the first and most popular of many collections of experimental poetry by different, often anonymous, hands. A common goal of these poets was to make English as flexible a poetic instrument as Italian. Among the more prominent of this group were Thomas Churchyard, George Gascoigne, and Edward de Vere, earl of Oxford. An ambitious and influential work was A Mirror for Magistrates (1559), a historical verse narrative by several poets that updated the medieval view of history and the morals to be drawn from it. The poet who best synthesized the ideas and tendencies of the English Renaissance was Edmund Spenser.

Origins Of Alternative Education In India Education Essay

Harmonizing to one of the position, instruction has been derived from the Latin word educare which means to convey up or to raise. Harmonizing to this position, instruction is procedure of leaving to an single certain information and cognition which was considered by the society. Education implies the alteration of the behavior of the person by enforcing criterions of society upon him. Therefore, this derivation gives the construct of teacher-centred instead than child-centred instruction. There is another group of minds who believes that the term ‘education ‘ has been derived from the Latin word ‘educere ‘ which means to ‘lead out ‘ or ‘to pull out ‘ . Education hence, means to take out or pull out the best in adult male. It is the procedure of ‘drawing out from within ‘ instead than ‘imposing from without ‘ . In the Indian Context the Education agencies The Indian Synonyms of Education are the words ‘Shiksha ‘ and ‘vidya ‘ . Shiksha is derived from the Sanskrit verbal root ‘Shas ‘ which means to ‘discipline ‘ ‘to control ‘ ‘to instruct ‘ or ‘to Teach ‘ . Similarly Vidya is besides derived from Sanskrit verbal root ‘vid ‘ which means ‘to know ‘ . Hence the training the head and acquisition of cognition have ever been the dominant subject in Indian attacks to understanding the instruction.Experimental acquisitionThe experimental instruction is an organic and invariably germinating attack to larning.According to them they believe that ‘anyone can make it ‘ . The thoughts advocated can be replicated about anyplace, and can be used, as some are making, in mainstream ( authorities and private ) schools. This type of teaching method aids in Enhancement in Education. It explores the ways in which kids can detect their ain endowments and involvement, at their ain endowments and involvement, at their ain topographic points, in their ain ways, assisted by instructors, parents, and friends and others-learning in and from their neighbors, their small town, their community and the environment in which they live. It tells that how instruction can be successful in footings of kid ‘s ain demand for cognition. This sort of instruction therefore relies to a great extent on experiential acquisition which compiles of advanced attacks, method, and thought of acquisition, purpose to be child centred ) . The relevant and liberating instruction should include: – Bing child-focussed- the kid is the Centre. The kid dictates the gait and involvements. Leting larning in multiple ways. Enhancing the senses through acquisition. Not being sole, there is a ( government-prescribed ) scrutiny for school completion, nor it should sole in the footings of category, gender, caste or faith. Meeting a kid ‘s life -enriching demands in conformity with kid rights, leaving religious values, cognition of moral, societal norms and responsibilities and eventually, it should seek out to run into life-development demands of functional preparation of unconditioned endowments, and vocational instruction. The importance of instruction being child-centred, get downing from what the kid knows and is interested in, and at the gait preferred by the kid. Now Approach to primary instruction has been officially accepted non merely by the one state but besides by the whole universe including the developed and under developing states as a human right for about half a century. Yet, today even we enter into the epoch of twenty-first Century ; there is merely about three-fourthss of kids of school-going kids are able to go to a primary school. In a development states big figure drop-out of kids took topographic point before making Class V and there are many others who are ne'er able to make schools. Although the state like India in which the authorities had placed a high precedence on instruction in policy statements, every clip fails because of proper execution is missing in the policy. Thus an India base with 30 per cent of the universe ‘s nonreaders has female literacy rates much lower than in sub-Saharan Africa [ PROBE 1999 ] . The universe ‘s largest figure of kids who are out-of-school is reached the grade which is close t o 59 million are in India, out of which 60 per centum are misss ( Human Development Report 2000, UN ) .37 per centum of the kids from India are unable to make Class V [ Haq and Haq 1998 ] . And this despite the Directive Principles in Article 45 of the Indian Constitution which prescribes that the province shall seek to supply, within a term of office of 10 old ages from the beginning of the Constitution, for free and mandatory instruction for all kids until they reach the age of 14. Although after this determination the figure of primary schools has increased 2.82 times since 1951 and registrations have improved, the duty of the authorities for making a satisfactory substructure has in pattern non been matched by matching out-lays which continue to stay deplorably unequal at around 3 per cent of the GDP. The huge figure of labyrinth of literature on primary instruction in India has identified assorted grounds for its abysmal province ; why kids bead out and why they remain un enrol led or non traveling in the school. In this infinite several surveies have been done which indicated that the hapless quality of schooling is responsible for low keeping [ Colclough 1993 ; Bhatty Kiran 1998 ; PROBE 1999 ; Banerji 2000 ; Dreze and Gazdar 1996 ] . However, most of these surveies look at the job of instruction within the confines of the schoolroom. They tend to disregard or underact the fact that besides hapless quality, demotivated or un interested instructors and unequal substructure, there are larger other structural restraints which impede entree of kids to schools. There are several literature written on primary instruction in India besides reveals that entree and keeping remain job countries in this domain.Beginnings of Alternate Education in IndiaHistory OverviewThe present mainstream educational system was inaugurated in India in the mid-nineteenth century. Over the following century ; it about wholly supplanted earlier educational establishments. There had, ea rlier, been a broad web of little small town schools- pathsahlas, gurukuls and madarasas. There was a construct of ‘One Village-One School ‘ and was become the norm in assorted parts of the state, up to the earlier 19th century. A big figure of such learning schools-reportedly100, 000 was merely in Bihar and Bengal. They played of import societal function and ‘were, in fact irrigating holes of civilization of traditional communities ‘ . ( Dharampal, 2000 ) .Students from assorted castes studied in these schools, although there was no such favoritism on the footing of castes, credo and coloring material. It was unfastened for all but there must hold been disproportionately representation in the school, the male childs outnumbered misss. Most of the misss learnt a scope of accomplishments within their places ; from parents, relations, and private tutors- including Humanistic disciplines, trades, practical accomplishments, agribusiness, wellness and linguistic c ommunications. Harking back to the tradition of monasteries and ashrams, schools interspersed preparation in practical life accomplishments with academic instruction. As the clip goes on within the overall context of diminution of local economic systems, these went into diminution and decay under colonial regulation. Intentionally the policy was employed by the authorities to pass over out this community based schooling, and replace it with an foreign theoretical account. In 1931, Gandhi alleged that ‘ today India is more illiterate than it was 50 or a 100 old ages ago ‘ ( M.K.Gandhi 1931, Dharampal 2000 ) . He besides added that British decision makers had ‘aˆÂ ¦.scratched the dirt and begun to look at the root, and left the root like that and beautiful tree perished. ‘ Autochthonal instruction was replaced by an foreigner and rootless, intentionally set up, as it was explained by Lord Macaulay ( 1835 ) , to ‘form a category who interprets between us and the 1000000s we govern. Despite the transportation of power in 1947, Indian schools continued in the same mold. Some alterations were introduced: the authorities expanded its range and web of schools in both rural and urban countries and local slang linguistic communications were accepted as medium of direction in these schools. Today we have huge web and figure of authorities in our state and turning figure of private tally establishments. Yet, the basic format remained the unchanged, a big figure of school today based on derivative and mechanistic theoretical account. They are designed to bring forth persons who fit into modern society and its ( Consumerist and competitory ) Valuess, and are easy to regulate since they learn to be extremely disciplined within hierarchal, centrally administered establishments. Schooling therefore, tends to reenforce societal inequalities-Class, caste and gender. Affluent Children go to in private run schools, while hapless attend schools run by the province because for hap less entree to private school has become the dream. Despite of Vital differences in installations and support, all these schools portion a similar ethos. The acclivity is on absorbing information instead on original thought and imaginativeness. The set up is centralised and bureaucratic, instructors distanced from pupils largely simply making a occupation, while school act as a bringing points for a set course of study and content. Schools generate ‘failures ‘ in big scale-contributing to crises of assurance at national degree.Early PioneersAlternative or the experimental acquisition to the educational system began to emerge every bit early as the late nineteenth and the early 20th century ‘s. Some of these attempts truly tag a important alteration and their attempts are still seeable. Social reformists began researching alternate instruction by the late of 19th century. Swami Vivekananda, Dayanand Saraswati, Syed Ahmed Khan, Jyotiba Phule, Savitribai Phule and others promoted the thought of instruction as a force fo r societal regeneration, and set up schools/institutions toward this terminal. Vivekananda and Dayanand Saraswati combined spiritual revival with societal service/ political work, through the Rama krishna Mission and Arya Samaj Schools severally. Syed Ahmed Khan set up the Aligarh Muslim University ( originally, Mohammadan Anglo Oriental College ) , with the ends of leaving modern instruction without compromising on Islamic Values. Jyotiba and Savitribai Phule were actively concerned with get the better ofing the societal inequalities. They chiefly work with the dalit kids and miss schooling in Maharashtra. There were some Significant educationalists emerges in half of the 20th century included Rabindra Nath Tagore, Mahatma Gandhi, Jiddu Krishnamurthy, Gijubhai Badheka And Sri Aurobindo. By the mid of the 1920s and 1930s, these loyalists had created the figure of feasible theoretical accounts of alternate acquisition, as a considered response to the ailments of mainstream instruction. Some of the thoughts were in confederation with the battles for national Independence and the revival of Indian society. The ‘alternatives ‘ emphatic committednesss, and mutual links between school and the society. Rabindranath Tagore pointed out several restrictions of school set up by colonial governments, in his Hagiographas Shikhar Her Fer ( 1893 ) and Shikhar Bahan ( 1915 ) . As a kid, Tagore had refused to go to School ; he subsequently wrote, ‘What tortured me in my school yearss was the fact that the school has non the completeness of the universe. It was a particular agreement fo r giving lessonsaˆÂ ¦But kids are in love with life, and it is their first love. All its coloring material and motion attract their eager attending. And are quite certain of our wisdom in smothering this love? We rob the kid of his Earth to learn him geographics, of linguistic communication to learn him grammaraˆÂ ¦Child-Nature protest against such catastrophe with all its power of agony, subdued at last into silence by penalty. ‘ ( Tagore, in Chakravarty1961, pg 218 ; in Prasad2005, pg81 ) . Tagore set up his ain option to the predominating educational system: Vishwa Bharati in Shantiniketan, Bengal. Classes here, were- and still are held in the lap of nature. Vishwa Bharati becomes a Centre for excellence in art and aesthetics, originative activities and consciousness of local every bit good as universe civilizations. Gandhi ‘s position resembles Tagore ‘s in the accent on contextually relevant instruction, mother lingua as the medium of direction, and resistance to examination-oriented studious stretch. He translated his vision into pattern through a series of school, get downing in Phoenix Farm and Tolstoy Farm in South Africa and go oning into schools set up in Champaran, Sabarmati, Wardha and many other parts of India. Gandhi developed Nai Taleem or Basic Education in which pupils giving few hours daily to academic chases, and the remainder of the twenty-four hours to the public presentation of ‘Bread Labour ‘ that includes trade work, agribusiness, cookery, cleansing and related undertakings. His attack to instruction aimed at beef uping village life and communities. Equally early as 1917, When Gandhi began five little schools for provincials ‘children in Champaran, so he said, â€Å" The thought is to acquire clasp of as many kids as possible and give them an a ll unit of ammunition instruction, a good cognition of Hindi or Urdu and through that medium, cognition of arithmetic, basicss of history and geographics, simple scientific rules and some industrial preparation. No cut and dried course of study has yet been prepared because harmonizing to him I am traveling on a unconquered path. I look upon you present system with horror and misgiving. Alternatively of developing the moral and mental modules of the small kids it dwarfs them. Phase trades, humanistic disciplines, athleticss and jubilation of festivals from all faith were of import parts of Nai taleem. In Nai Taleem there were no text editions as such, but pupils were invariably encouraged to utilize library and can acquire the cognition of diverse field. In the library instruction is non merely the motivation but exposure to different field or topics are besides required. Educationist Gijubhai Badheka emphasised on kids ‘s demand for an atmosphere nurturing independency and autonomy. He gave this thought an institutional footing by set uping Bal Mandir in Gujarat in 1920, and in his Hagiographas, he identified the different aspects of thought. Gijubhai ‘s Divaswapna ( 1990 ) is the fabricated narrative of a instructor who rejects the Orthodox civilization of instruction. This authoritative piece of composing by him outputs rich penetrations into effectual instruction, as it describes experiments in instruction undertaken by an inspires instructor in a ordinary small town school. Gijubhai explains and clearly showed that how to learn history, geographics, linguistic communication and other topics through narratives and rimes, in a manner that appealed to kids. He believed in eliciting the kid ‘s wonder in a 1000 and one things runing from insects to stars, instead than routine text edition learning. Gijubhau wrote a figure of books an d brochures for parents, instructors, general readers and capturing narratives and poetries for kids. J. Krishnamurti excessively thought of instruction in connexion with the whole of life. It is non something stray, prima to disaffection. He looks closely at the procedure of larning in relation to human life. In the life of Krishnamurti, pupul jayakar quotes him speech production of that period in his life some 75 old ages subsequently. â€Å" The male child had ever said, ‘ I will make whatever you want ‘ . There was an component of subservience, obeisance. The male child was obscure, unsure, and ill-defined ; he did n't look to care what was go oning. He was like a vas, with a big hole in it, whatever was put in, went through, nil remained. â€Å" ( J. Krishnamurti: a life. Arkana,1996 ) . He noted that the instructors have a duty to guarantee that'aˆÂ ¦when kid leaves the school, he is good established in goodness both externally and inside ‘ . Krishnamurti set up two schools in the 1930s, Rajghat Besant School in Varanasi, UP and the Rishi Valley School in Andhra Pradesh, over the decennaries, the KFI ( Krishnamurti Foundation of India ) has kept alive its committedness to meaningful instruction, spread outing its web of schools to Chennai, Uttarkashi, Bangalore and Pune. Like Gijubhai ‘s and Gandhi ‘s schools, KFI has shown that alternate instruction can be made accessible to those from underprivileged backgrounds every bit good. Learning ends are individualised for each kid, and learning AIDSs are carefully designed utilizing cards, books, marionettes, narratives and local stuff. A visit to any of this school of Krishnamurti bring to his idea: ‘Education is non merely to go through scrutiny, take a grade and a occupation, acquire married and settle down, but besides to be able to listen to the birds, to see the sky, to see the extraordinary beauty of a tree, and the form of hills, and to experience with them, to be truly, straight in touch with them. ‘Mainstreaming OptionsInvention of Alternatives Schools can distribute to mainstream Education?Though it might look disconnected and confusing, the landscape of alternate schooling is surely fertile! From the scope of schools discussed before, it is clear that there are people scattered across the different parts of the state, woolgathering of a different sort of instruction, and many who are really populating out their dreams. Most of the experiments are little but basically replicable. They reached out their mark population in a meaningful ways to diverse kids, from the different economic backgrounds and from diverse societal scenes. Several Experiments are clustered in Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra with the scattering in other topographic points including Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bengal, Gujarat, Delhi, Pondicherry, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and others. It is informative to retrieve that sometimes, there is no difficult and fast line spliting the mainstream from the option. Even hardcore ‘mainstream ‘ schools bit by bit follow some elements of ‘alternative ‘ acquisition in their teaching method to learn the kids. Tonss of primary and nursery schools across the state have for case have adopted the some elements of Montessori and play manner methods, through which kids enjoy the acquisition and catch the technique more rapidly and expeditiously. Widespread inquiring has propelled even the authorities to show in some betterments. Therefore, non formal instruction runs links instruction to societal consciousness. The Bihar Education Project ( in partnership with UNICEF ) has opened Charwaha Vidyalayas ( for kids croping animate beings ) and Angana paathshalas ( courtyard schools for misss in distant countries ) . The Cardinal authorities ‘s ‘ Education Guarantee Scheme, and Alternative and Innovative Education Scheme ‘ employ flexible schemes for out of school kids, including span classs, back to school cantonments and residential cantonments for accelerated acquisition. In some of these, larning results have proved to be of rather a high criterion ( Education for All 2005 ) . Premier teacher developing establishments such as the District Institutes for instruction and preparation ( DIET ) have incorporated a few originative, kid centred teaching methods. The NCERT has devised a new, province of art curricular model for school instruction. Yes all this is still a far call from the realization from the full blown options. It is truly sad to cognize that mainstream instruction still dominates the lives of the huge bulk of Indian kids. It chiefly depends upon its philosophical foundation which rest on big graduated table, centralised, scrutiny oriented instruction, with flexible day-to-day agendas and stiff course of study. In India they are many such illustrations which can be illustrated to a figure of groups who were engaged in seting in their best attempts to convey about important alteration in the field of instruction. They believe in their ain work it does non count to them that their attempt was non in the big graduated table or that it was non seeable to all people in the state. They think that if they or their work even act upon the few immature heads, they set us believing about the tremendous possibilities that would open up if the if local or national authorities support this alterations. The authorities poli cy to put up a National Institute of Open Schooling ( NIOS ) was found to be the most popular and important measure toward betterment in the field of instruction. Such a measure opens the door to informal and individualized gait of acquisition, which was welcomed by most of the alternate schools. Indeed it was the first clip when alternate acquisition was coming on their way of chief watercourse professional instruction. With this authorities enterprise to open NIOS has made possible the followers: The gap of school for slow scholars Inclusive instruction for the otherwise able along with ‘normal ‘ kids. Delinking of the methodological analysis of a larning programme from the stringent demands of the Board Examination. Addressing the different gait of acquisition. Giving a point of entry to the mainstream from an alternate paradigm. In Pedagogy of Hope, Freire writes, ‘ I do non understand human being, and the battle needed to better it, apart from hope and dream ‘ ( Freire 1996 ) . Keeping the hope alive is non easy. To even place and research bing ‘alternatives'-however they may be possibility of being imperfect and uncomplete but still it is an exercising in hope. So today it is really necessary demand to make and remain near to mainsprings of alternate educational thinking-which cuddles within the visions of wider transformative socio-political alterations. These options will go on to develop, spread out and widen. We are required to cast the impression that ‘There is No Alternative ‘ and alternatively, work toward conveying and actively progressively cohesive, meaningful options to the society.Why such Education is needed?Harmonizing to Martha C. Nussbaum, she explains in one of her article that Public instruction is important ingredients for the wellness of democracy. Recently there are many enterprises has been taken around the universe in the field of instruction, nevertheless they are chiefly narrow down their focal point on scientific discipline and engineering, pretermiting the of import topic such as humanistic disciplines and humanistic disciplines. They besides focus on the internalisation of information, instead than on the formation of the pupil ‘s critical and inventive capacities. The writer demonstrated the unrecorded illustration which she has experienced in Bihar with the one of the Patna centred Non authorities administration named Adithi. When they reached a topographic point near to Nepalese boundary line, they found really meager installations. Teaching is done largely outside the schoolroom on the land, or under the shadiness of barn. Students were enduring from basic installations such as paper and merely few slates were available that has to be passed manus to manus. However it was originative instruction. Following she visited the girl literacy plan, house in a caducous following door. The day-to-day agenda of misss were small busy as in the forenoon they went for herding of the caprine animal, So there categories began around 4p.m. about 15 misss in entire comes to this individual schoolrooms age 6-15 old ages for three hours of after work acquisition. There are no desks, no chairs, no chalkboard are available, and there is merely few slates and spot of chalks but these job does non halt misss from coming to the category and the passion of the instructor is besides one of the major factor of this binding. The instructor is themselves among the hapless rural adult females assisted by the Adithi plan. . Proudly the misss brought in the caprine animals that they had been able to purchase from the nest eggs account they have jointly established in their group. Mathematicss is taught in portion by concentrating on such practical issues. Author thinks that there are many things to larn fro m given illustrations but few of them can be: foremost, the close linkage between instruction and critical thought about one ‘s societal environment ; 2nd, the accent on the humanistic disciplines as cardinal facets of the educational experience ; third, the intense passion and investing of the instructors, their delectation in the advancement and besides the individualism of their pupils. Now the writer elaborates theoretical account of instruction for democratic citizenship. Harmonizing to her there are three types of capacities are indispensable to the cultivation of democratic citizenship in the today ‘s universe ( Nussbaum, 1997 ) . The First is a Capacity stressed by both Tagore and Jawaharlal Nehru. They emphasise on the capacity for critical scrutiny of oneself and one ‘s traditions, for populating what we may follow Socrates ; we may name ‘the examined life ‘ . This capacity can merely be obtain if we train one ‘ ego, Training this capacity requires developing the capacity to ground logically, to prove what one what he or she reads or says for consistence of logical thinking, rightness of fact, and truth of judgement. Testing of this kind often creates new challenges to tradition, as Socrates knew good when he defended himself against the charge of ‘corrupting the immature ‘ But he defended his activity on the evidence s that democracy needs citizens. Critical thought is peculiarly important for good citizenship in a society that needs and required to come to clasps with the presence of people who differ by ethnicity, caste, and faith. Then after she describes the 2nd portion of the her proposal Citizens who cultivate their capacity for effectual democratic citizenship demand, farther, an ability to see themselves as non merely citizens of some local part or group, but besides, and above wholly, as human existences bound to all other human existences by ties of acknowledgment and concern. It is really indispensable that they have to understand both the differences that make understanding hard between groups and states and the shared human demands and involvements that make understanding indispensable, if common jobs are to be solved. This means larning rather a batch both about states other than one ‘s ain and about the different groups that are portion of one ‘s ain nation.This undert aking includes demoing pupils how and why different groups interpret grounds otherwise and build different narrations. Even the best text edition will non win at this complex undertaking unless it is presented together with a teaching method that fosters critical thought, the critical examination of conflicting beginning stuffs, and active acquisition ( larning by making ) about the troubles of building a historical narration. This brings me to the 3rd portion of my proposal. As the narrative of the dowery drama in Bihar indicates, citizens can non believe good on the footing of factual cognition entirely. The 3rd ability of the citizen, closely related to the first two, can be called the narrative imaginativeness. This means the ability to believe what it might be like to be in the places of a individual different from oneself, to be an intelligent reader of that individual ‘s narrative, and to understand the emotions and wants and desires that person so located might hold. A s Tagore wrote, †we may go powerful by cognition, but we attain fullness by sympathy aˆÂ ¦ But we find that this instruction of understanding is non merely consistently ignored in schools, but it is badly repressed † ( Tagore, 1961, p. 219 ) . Finally, the humanistic disciplines are great beginnings of joy – and this joy carries over into the remainder of a kid ‘s instruction. Amita Sen ‘s book approximately Tagore as choreographer, competently entitled Joy in All Work, shows how all the ‘regular ‘ instruction in Santiniketan, which enabled these pupils to execute really good in standard scrutinies, was infused with delectation because of the manner in which it was combined with dance and vocal. Children do non like to sit still all twenty-four hours ; but they besides do non cognize automatically how to show emotion with their organic structures in dance. Tagore ‘s expressive, but besides disciplined, dance government was an indispensable beginning of creativeness, thought, and freedom for all students, but peculiarly for adult females, whose organic structures had been taught to be shame-ridden and inexpressive ( Amita Sen, 1999 ) .Narrative of a BirdA really beautiful narrative has b een demonstrated by the writer about the instruction that if there is no proper counsel is given to teacher towards the kids, so it led to the terrible harm to child ‘s head. Harmonizing to her there is no more fantastic word picture of what is incorrect with an instruction based on mere proficient command and rote acquisition than Tagore ‘s sad narrative ‘The Parrot ‘s Training ‘ . A certain Raja had a bird that he loved. He wanted to educate it, because he thought ignorance was a bad thing. His initiates convinced him that the bird must travel to school. The first thing that had to be done was to give the bird a suited building for his schooling: so they build a brilliant aureate coop. The following thing was to acquire good text editions. The initiates said, †Textbooks can ne'er be excessively many for our intent. † Scribes worked twenty-four hours and dark to bring forth the needed manuscripts. Then, instructors were employed. Somehow or other they got rather a batch of money for themselves and built themselves good houses. When the Raja visited the school, the instructors showed him the methods used to teach the parrot. †The method was so colossal that the bird looked laughably unimportant in comparing. The Raja was satisfied that there was no defect in the agreements. As for any ailment from the bird itself, that merely could non be expec ted. Its pharynx was so wholly choked with the foliages from the books that it could neither whistle nor whisper. † The lessons continued. One twenty-four hours, the bird died. Cipher had the least thought how long ago this had happened. The Raja ‘s nephews, who had been in charge of the instruction ministry, reported to the Raja: †Sire, the bird ‘s instruction has been completed. † †Does it skip? † he Raja enquired. †Never! † said the nephews. †Does it wing? † †No. † †Bring me the bird, † said the Raja. The bird was brought to him, guarded by the kotwal and the sepoys and the sowars. The Raja poked its organic structure with his finger. Merely its interior dressing of book-leaves rustled. Outside the window, the mutter of the spring zephyr amongst the freshly budded Asoka leaves made the April forenoon wistful. ( Tagore, 1994 ) This fantastic narrative barely needs commentary. Its important po int is that educationalists tend to bask speaking about themselves and their ain activity, and to concentrate excessively small on the little stamp kids whose avidity and wonder should be the nucleus of the educational enterprise. Tagore idea that kids were normally more alive than grownups, because they were less weighted down by wont. The undertaking of instruction was to avoid killing off that wonder, and so to construct outward from it, in a spirit of regard for the kid ‘s freedom and individualism instead than one of hierarchal infliction of information. I do non hold with perfectly everything in Tagore ‘s educational ideal. For illustration, I am less anti-memorization than Tagore was. Memorization of fact can play a valuable and even a necessary function in giving students bid over their ain relationship to history and political statement. That is one ground why good text editions are of import, something that Tagore would hold disputed. But about the big point I am absolutely in understanding: instruction must get down with the head of the kid, and it must hold the end of increasing that head ‘s freedom in its societal environment, instead than killing it off.