Evaluation of Lamaze® Stack n’ Nest Birds

The toy industry is one that has evolved from creating items made simply for fun, to educational wonders that are developed to exercise the ever-growing mind of a child. These days, the â€Å"age group† suggestion listed on a toy’s packaging is not just used for safety measures. Instead, toy developers have taken the industry a bit further, and have opted to develop toys tailored specifically for designated mind levels. As adults, we are able to look at a toy and figure out that to get â€Å"the clown out of the box1†, you must crank the lever.For a child, however, the solution is not so forthcoming. Depending on the child’s age, the mind comprehends a toy in extremely basic terms. Because of this, a child must depend on his or her unsuccessful attempts in figuring out how a toy works in order to master the toy’s purpose. An important developmental stage in a child’s life occurs between infancy and toddler hood (Young, 2006). During this time , what a child is exposed to may set the stage for how he or she will manage challenges in the future.Basic understanding of inside and outside, big and small, over and under, in addition to many other physical elements, can be credited to the types of toys a parent selects for their little one to not merely play with, but learn with as well. For example, observing how a child handles not being able to fit a square shaped block into a square shaped cut out can indicate how the child will handle similar situations throughout life. Is the child patient, or frustrated? Will he continue to attempt to solve the challenge this toy provides, or will he simply move on to another toy? The answer will vary for all.To better understand how a toy influences a baby’s development, this composition will review an educational toy. The toy selected was developed by Lamaze ®. The â€Å"Stack n’ Nest 1. A traditional children’s toy is the Jack-In-The-Box, where continuously â⠂¬Å"cranking† a lever will, at some point, reveal a surprising clown, which pops out of the box in which it is enclosed. Developmental Toy Review 3 Birds © were designed considering the developmental needs of the 9-24month old child. Its function is to sharpen the child’s cognitive, motor, visual and auditory skills through various features this toy provides.With the assistance of a nurturing adult, this toy has proven its function above and beyond expectations. Lamaze ® by Learning Curve ® Lamaze ® is a subsidiary of Learning Curve, a company that strives in creating toys that encourage a child to think, be adventurous and imagine endlessly (RC2, 2005). Lamaze’s  ® specialty is focused on babies and toddlers. Their philosophy is based on the premise that a child’s development is all about timing, and introducing the right toy at the right time is key in guiding growth without pressure (RC2, 2005).Every toy released has undergone testing not only from the users themselves, but their parents as well, to determine sturdiness, interest level, and safety issues. Stack n’ Nest Birds © The Stack n’ Nest Birds2 are designated for age groups 9 to 24 months. Included are 3 separate birds, packaged stacked from top to bottom smallest bird to largest bird, with an additional 4th â€Å"egg shaped† bird safely strapped in beside his counterparts. The age designation significance can be credited to the learning needs of children this age (RC2, 2005).This toy provides many developmental lessons beneficial to the varying needs of this group. With a bit of imagination, many learning activities can be created. Each bird features plush and satin-like fabricant, vivid colouring and contrasting textures. While the colours are vivid, they are not the only thing that makes this toy pleasing to the eye. 2. Due to copyrights, a photo of the Stack n’ Nest birds is not available in this composition, but may be viewed at the following link http: www. geniusbabies. com/stack–n-nest-birds-lamaze.html Developmental Toy Review 4 The contrasting material features exciting patterns. Three of the birds are dome-shaped and are hollow inside, and are able to be nestled inside each other due to their varying sizes. The forth bird is egg shaped, made of soft rubber, is the smallest of the birds and completes the nestled set. Fun, colourful ribbon is sewn to the fabricated birds’ right and left mid-sections to create the appearance of ever-necessary â€Å"wings†. The smallest of the birds is the rubber, egg-shaped bird.Its feature is to â€Å"squeak†. To activate its feature, the bird must be squeezed, and released quickly. The creative child will learn that in addition to â€Å"squeaking†, the bird can also get stuck to legs, arms, and little foreheads simply by squeezing the bird, placing its flat bottom on a body part, then releasing quickly. With a small bit of effort, the bird will make a kissing sound with a sucking after-effect when it is pulled quickly from the body part. The fabricant birds each differ in size, from small to medium to large.The smallest of the fabricant birds is yellow and green in colour and its feature is also to squeak. The squeaker is located in the bird’s cheek and can be activated when gently squeezed, then released. In addition to its squeaking ability, its soft, flexible body includes a crinkly inner-lining that allows it to sound when being handled by little hands. The medium-sized bird is turquoise on blue, and features a rattle sewn in its lining. Additionally, it includes a crinkly lining that sounds when handled.The large bird is red on purple and features bells sewn in its lining. It also features crinkly lining that sounds when handled. This bird includes a 3rd feature: its beak is extended and textured for the teething baby’s convenience. The concept of these birds is to provide knowledge of varying sizes, inside and outside, Developmental Toy Review 5 cause and effect and sound differentiation. The user will learn to stack the birds from smallest to largest then nestle them inside each other from largest to smallest.The colourful plush and satin fabric provides texture awareness, and the solid to pattern layout allows for visual stimulation. Safety Features The creators of the Stack n’ Nest Birds © definitely considered their user when they developed this award-winning3 developmental toy (GB, 2006). These birds are made of soft fabric and do not include any sharp edges, shaping wires, and are well sewn to prevent any fraying or dismembering. They are easy to care for and provide a lifetime guarantee.These birds can be purchased in most toy stores and average in cost at 14.00 (RC2, 2005). Developmental Needs of the 9-24mos Age Group The developmental needs of this age group vary due to the span of maturity from 9 months to 24 months. On the early end of this group, th e 9 month old is in the midst of gaining interest in everything around him. However, his attention span is short, and therefore is not able to retain many of the new things he has learned (Shelov, 2004). Constant exposure to new activities is necessary in order to assist this young person in gaining interest in the brightly coloured items placed before him.His cognitive needs at this point are greatly influenced by a loving adult’s assistance. The 9 month old is very much intrigued by cause and effect. Stacking the birds, and then assisting him to knock them down with a hand or a foot can help him in understanding that he can make things happen. Playing a game of peek-a-boo will also be a game of interest for him. Placing the large bird on top of the small, rubber, egg shaped bird to hide it, then removing the large bird to reveal the small bird can introduce object permanence to him. 3.Winner of the 2006 Oppenheim Toy Protfolio, an organisation that tests the safety, soundne ss and overall worthiness of a toy. The award categories range from toys to videos and age range from infancy to later school years. Developmental Toy Review 6 Additionally, because the mouth is such a sensitive organ at this age (and for months after) the texture of the birds will be another treat the Stack n’ Nest Birds ® provide (Shelov, 2004). From plush to satin to felt to textured rubber, this toy provides a mouth-watering good time for the ever-curious baby.As the child ages, so sharpen his motor skills. The ability to master his pincer grasp4 as well as whole-handed grasp, transfer an item from one hand to the other and play using more than one hand5 are all motor skills being perfected at this age (Shelov, 2004). Because there is more than one bird, all varying in features, the child has the opportunity to sharpen the aforementioned skills. Their size and light weight adds the convenience of easy grasp, as well as the lessened possibility of dropping the toy becaus e it is too heavy. The older the child becomes, the more his needs change.While the 9 month old is short on attention span, the 18 to 24 month old is peaking in absorbing the world around him. He is aware of others, and is mastering his emotions (Shelov, 2004). By now the child understands the concept of stacking and nesting. It is quite an achievement to stack these darling birds from small to large, and large to small. Let us consider the psychosocial, or the psychological and social, needs of a child this age (EWED, 2006). On the psychological side of this achievement comes a sense of accomplishment, as adult assistance is no longer needed to complete this challenging task.In fact, an adult may be swatted away if they interfere with this toddler’s new found ability. On the social side, while a child at this point does not really â€Å"socialize† per say6, he may be enticed to take one of the 4 birds to another child in the room. He may stand back and watch as the ot her child plays with the toy, observing how someone else uses it, but back to the 4. The ability to grasp items using the thumb and index finger. 5. The ability to hold on to more than one toy utilizing both hands. 6.Parallel play, when children play side by side rather than with each other, will continue until about midway through the 2nd year of life. Developmental Toy Review 7 psychological side, when the child is ready to have his bird back, he will take it without acknowledging the other child’s feelings, and continue to play with his birds by himself. At this point, the older the child is, the less interest he has in toys such as these birds. His interest may shift to a more imaginative state, rather than for their intended purpose. The Results of the ReviewThe needs of a child in the age range of 9 to 24 months vary tremendously. However, the Stack n’ Nest Birds © by Lamaze ® have proven to cover all bases. From early development, when the child is at a midw ay point in grasping activity, to later development, when the child has mastered many activities he did not understand just months before, the Stack n’ Nest Birds © seem to adjust quite easily and are still able to hold the interest of the child. Fun sounds, interesting textures and vivid colouring are all features that make this toy a winner to babies and toddlers alike. References: Definition of Psychosocial. (2006) Bloomsbury Publishing, Plc.: Encarta World English Dictionary (EWED). ( North American Edition) January 2007. www.encarta.msn.com/dictionary_1861736125/psychosocial.html Developmental Milestones: Understanding Words, Behaviour, and Concepts. (July 2006) Baby Centre: Baby Centre Editorial Staff & Young, Paul. January 2007. www.babycenter.com/refcap/baby/babydevelopment/6575.html Our Story: The History of Learning Curve. (2005) Lamaze Infant Development System ®: Learning Curve/RC2 Company (RC2). January 2007. www.learningcurve.com/wps/portal/!ut/p/kcxml/04_Sj9SPykssy0xPLMnMz0vM0Y_QjzKLN4g3cdEvyHZUBACQDv8g. Shelov, Steven & Hannemann, Robert E. (1991, Rev. 2004). The Complete and Authoritative Guide: Caring For Your Young Baby and Young Child-Birth to Age 5. New York. Bantam Books. January 2007. Stack n’ Nest Birds. (2006) Genius Babies.com (GB). January 2007. www.geniusbabies.com/stack–n-nest-birds-lamaze.html

In The Skin Of A Lion Michael Ondaatje Essay

In the novel, In The Skin Of A Lion Michael Ondaatje anatomizes the relationship between power and language and their effect on oneself establishing a sense of identity. The manipulative language and the complex structure Ondaatje uses explores this idea of power and its inevitable relationship with a sense of identity, which is even further accentuated through use of characterization throughout the novel. Ondaatje shines light on the unheard corners of history to give the disenfranchised migrants a sense of power, which in turn provides them with an enriched sense of self. This is represented in the novel through the migrant workers. Ondaatje expresses this through harsh sensory imagery when describing them, by saying, â€Å"The smell of tar seeps up through the porous body of their clothes. The black of it permanent under their finger nail† This sensory imagery and hyperbole, â€Å"permanent under their finger nails,† allows the reader to empathise with the workers and therefore relate to the harsh conditions in the workplace. In this quote Ondaatje describes the workers through use of impersonal pronouns, â€Å"their†, thus taking away their sense of personal identity. The migrant workers not being allowed to keep their own name further depict lack of identity, seen in quote, â€Å"The labour agent giving them all English Names. Charlie Johnson. Nick Parker.† Enabling the reader to understand the complex effect a person’s identity has when establishing power. Language displays and intricate relationship with power and acquisition of a personal identity. The migrant workers are forced to communicate in English, a language they are not conversant in. â€Å"If they speak in any language other than English, they will be jailed. A rule of the city.† Thus the migrant workers are disempowered thus depriving them of their cultural identity and preventing them from uniting to become a powerful body. Ambrose, on the other hand, is a Canadian that has complete grasp on the English language. He is immediately portrayed as ‘a Jackel, a buying up every field of wealth’ thus representing the gap between the rich and the poor, the native and the foreign and the sense of power that is established through language. The notion of power, and its liaison with identity, is further develop through characterization. Nicholas Temelcoff is a character that shows immense power through his actions, Ondaatje describes him as â€Å"solitary†¦He is burly on the ground and then falls with terrific speed, grace, using the wind to push himself†¦He is a spinner. He links everyone† This description represents Temelcoffs power through his skill and mastery of his trade. Although he may be uneducated, he remains a figure of supreme skill and grace when he is on the bridge. It portrays Temelcoffs heroic nature, which is also an allusion to the ‘Epic of Gilgamesh’ in which the title is derived from. The use of repetition on â€Å"he is† shows Temelcoff’s masculinity and when intermingled with Ondaatje’s poetic prose he is portrayed as a powerful hero of the story. The audience immediately perceives Temelcoff as a hero and thus sympathizes with him and his plight. There are also distinct parallels between these characters and the Epic of Gilgamesh as the novel follows pattern of Legend, also seen in Christopher Vogler’s writing. Their cyclical nature is further accentuated, as certain lines out of Skin of a Lion are the same from Gilgamesh â€Å"these are the days that belong to the moon†. Thus, Ondaatje characterizes Temelcoff to glorify him and the workers, which in turn results in them being given prominence in the novel. This reveals that Temelcoff’s strong sense of identity, which he has established through his trade, has been crucial for his powerful status in the novel. The nonlinear plot structure that Ondaatje uses, portrays Patrick as having more power as the novel progresses, this enables him to establish a stronger sense of identity. In the chapter of ‘the searcher’ it is evident that Patrick is confused with his identity. Represented in the constant shifts in perspective and also the confusion Patrick shows in his life. When in his apartment, Patrick is described as walking, â€Å"Into the empty rooms, gesturing towards the broken things he was trying to assemble, broken glass and crockery.† Ondaatje uses the state of his apartment as a metaphor to describe the chaotic and disarrayed identity of Patrick, which is powerless and confused about who he truly is. An example of self-reflexivity in the novel is when Alice says to Patrick, â€Å"you reach people through metaphors,† this reflects that Ondaatje intentionally uses these metaphors to develop the story and create textual integrity. The fragmented state of Patrick in ‘the searcher’ is contrasted in the chapter ‘Maritime theatre’ where the writing structure is much more linear. This structure reflects that he has found a purpose and knows his objectives, subsequently leading to a heightened sense of identity; Ondaatje also uses the symbol of dynamite to show the power now has over Harris. When Harris asks Patrick, â€Å"What do you want? Who are you? Patrick replies, â€Å"I am Patrick Lewis.† This expresses the sense of identity Patrick has finally gained throughout the novel finally being able to answer the question of who he really was.

Various Methods of Electricity Production Essay

Various Methods of Electricity Production - Essay Example Even though these early humans had no understanding of electricity, the movie depicts them looking for lightning to reignite their fire! It is clear in the film that the first fire available to mankind came from electricity in the form of lightning (Cook 7). It seems that electricity was the first real power used by man. Long before the lever, the wheel or the windmill mankind was reaping the benefits of fire created by the natural electricity of lightning. Man made electricity has earlier roots than one might suspect as well. Evidence has been uncovered that the ancient Egyptians used crude batteries to produce electrical charges (Mythbusters, 2005). The Egyptians fashioned clay pots as containers and filled them with high acid citrus juice. They then connected primitive cables made of copper to the clay jars. On the popular Discovery Channel series Mythbusters the cast recreates the Egyptian battery to test if this notion of early batteries is fact or myth. Much to their surprise the primitive invention does in fact produce a very small electrical charge. They speculate that Egyptians might have used this electricity to amaze and frighten pharos's subjects. By hooking the batteries up to statues of the pharos and other deities the ancient Egyptians gave their pharaoh a little help in the "powerful and mystical" department (Mythbusters, 2005). We will likely never know the whole story behind these ancient batteries but it is interesti ng to consider how early mankind was experimenting with electricity. Since ancient times many forms of electricity generation have been discovered and utilized. But first, in order to understand these various sources it is important to understand the history and development of electricity as a primary source of energy. The Rise of Electricity The ancient Greeks, Romans, Chinese and the Persians all experimented with crude inventions to harness electricity with very limited success. Even the explosion of science during the Middle Ages in Europe added little to the understanding electricity (Dell & Rand,125). In 1214 Roger Bacon experimented with the properties of amber and lodestone but electricity was primarily used to "amuse and frighten the ignorant" (Canby,12). Like the Egyptians, European scientists of the Middle Ages viewed electricity as a "parlor trick" and it's usefulness was deemed limited (Dell & Rand, 125). It wasn't until 1600 when William Gilbert, physician to Queen Elisabeth, wrote an impressive paper on magnetism, that the scientist of Europe began to seriously consider scientific study of electricity (Canby,13). The De Magnete written by Gilbert was widely read by the educated class of Europe and interest in electricity surged. Gilbert also created the first list of elements that contain electric and magn etic properties (Wikipedia,2007). In 1660, Otto van Guericke built the first machine to produce an electrical charge (Canby, 18). The glass globe had a sulfur ball inside and created a lightning like charge that amazed the people of Guericke's day. During this time advances in the understanding of electricity was painfully slow and it wasn't until 1709 that the next big discovery was made. In England, Francis Hawkenbee built an improved version of the "glass globe" and conducted many other useful experiments. Next, in 1729 Steven Gray of the Grayfriars School in England discovered

Lab report about prism spectrometer Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

About prism spectrometer - Lab Report Example Those colors emanated from the, white, Hydrogen and Mercury light sources. The main objective of carrying out this study on prisms is to learn the aspects of prism spectrometer theory so as to enhance the ability of explaining the practicability of its components. This was mainly achieved through observation of the mercury spectrum discharge lamp while taking subsequent angle of deviation records regarding the spectral lines. This hence creates the capability of determining the refraction index of the given glass prism for a number of wavelengths. It also gives insights on how to utilize the calibrated prism for the ultimate measurement of unknown wavelengths. Finally, it enables one to make a general observation regarding color sensation that is caused by the prevailing light of specific wavelengths. The main tool that is used in this lab experiment is the spectroscope. This is an instrument that is used for production an ultimate viewing of spectra. It is often comprised of three main parts that includes; a collimator for production of parallel light beams, a prism that is majorly responsible for light dispersion towards the spectrum, and the telescope that is ultimately meant for spectrum examination (GutieÃŒ rrez-Vega, Julio et.at, 2007). When there is transmission of light beam from air to the glass, the bending of the ray occurs with accordance to the Snells law. Therefore this can be summarized by an equation that is stated as sin q air = n sin q glass; whereby the subsequent measurement of subsequent angles is done on the normal surface in which n refers to the refraction index of the entire glass. The refraction index is hence a dimension-less value and is simply a clear measurement of the intensity in which the medium can bend light. The increase in the size of n is directly proportional to the increased bending of light. The usual refractive index of air is always 1. For a glass, n often varies from the value of between 1.3 and 1.8,

Evaluation of Statistical Data Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Evaluation of Statistical Data - Term Paper Example The main objective of this study is to determine significant factors that influence the overall academic performance i.e. GPA of a student. The major possible factors identified initially include Class, Age, IQ and the study time a student contributes for learning and acquiring knowledge after class hours. The sample of this study comprised of 30 students gathered from different class intakes. The cumulative GPA of each student was used to measure their overall performance. In this particular case study, our independent variable is Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) on a scale of 4.00 while our dependent variables include class of the student, age of the student, his or her IQ level and study time that a student consumes after class hours for learning. In this study, Minitab 16.2.1 Statistical Software was used to carry out statistical calculations. Initially, descriptive statistical analysis was carried out for all dependent and independent variables to study their distribution pa ttern to draw any meaningful interpretation. Further, correlation and regression analysis was conducted to determine if there is a relationship between the independent and dependent variables. ... Descriptive Statistical Analysis First of all descriptive statistics of independent and dependent variables was carried out using Minitab 16.2.1 Statistical software to study the distribution pattern of the values contained within these variables for a sample size of 30 i.e. n=30. According to Kirk (2008), mode is highest score value in the data sample that has the maximum frequency of occurrence, median is the center value in the order data sample that divides the sample into two halves while mean is the average of all data points and is the center of gravity of the sample. Kirk (2008) highlights that the standard deviation is the most important and widely used value that helps to identify the dispersion of the data. The square of standard deviation is called variance. Skewness is the measure of extent to which distribution of the data leans to one side of the mean. A negatively skewed data indicates that the distribution leans to right while positively skewed data indicates distrib ution leaning to the left of average value. Kurtosis, on the other hand, is the measure of peakedness of the sample data. Below is detailed analysis of the independent and dependent variables: Class of Students The pie chart indicated that 10% of the students from our sample of 30 students were from Class 1, 20% were from Class 2, 23.3% from Class 3 and 46.7% from Class 4 as shown below. Figure 1 : Pie Chart of Percentage of Students Sampled from Each Class Grade Point Average The descriptive statistical analysis of the GPA sample revealed that the mean value of GPA was 3.2317 with a standard deviation of 0.3597. The Skewness of the sample is -0.04 which indicates that data is nearly uniformly

Teaching High School Badminton Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Teaching High School Badminton - Essay Example The objective of the researcher is to create a curriculum design for teaching badminton to a diverse high school population. The curriculum must also address students who went through special education. It is a modified form of instruction that caters to students with singular needs or disabilities such as learning differences, mental health problems and other physical and developmental disabilities. Since the majority of the students with disabilities that have returned to general education consists of: 1.) students that have health impairments such as asthma and other chronic health conditions with proper medical clearance and, 2.) students with learning disabilities such as speech and language impairments1, the curriculum would deal with such students in order to narrow the broad scope of students taking special education. Learning disabilities are neural conditions which affect many areas of perception such as: 1.) visual or auditory discrimination, the perception of differences in either sights or sounds, 2.) visual or auditory closure, the completion of missing parts of sights or sounds, 3.) visual or auditory figure-ground discrimination, the ability of a person to focus on an object and disregard the background, 4.) both short term and long term visual or auditory memory w... right order, 6.) auditory association and comprehension which relates what is heard to the meanings of words and sentences, 7.) spatial perception which allows a person to perceive his laterality and his position in space, 8.) temporal perception, the processing of time intervals in the range of milliseconds and, 9.) non-verbal learning, the processing of nonverbal cues in social interactions.Because badminton is a racket sport that requires a great deal of hand-eye coordination and at a certain pace, may require its players to have aerobic stamina, strength and speed, drills and conditioning exercises that would augment the learning process of students with learning disabilities and physical constraints should be added in the curriculum.There are many specialized terms associated with curriculum design, these terms are not defined the same way by many professionals in this field. According to David Armstrong, these are the basic design concepts that must be considered when one is de signing a curriculum: 1.) scope, 2.) sequence, 3.) articulation, 4.) continuity, and 5.) balance.2 Scope "refers to the extent and depth of content coverage."3 This is very significant in curriculum development because of its dependence on instructional time. Since the time given for a certain subject is fixed, expanding the coverage in one area would lead to the reduction of the coverage of another area. The scope can be molded by these considerations: 1.) legal constraints, 2.) content significance, 3.) content authenticity, 4.) motivational appeal, 5.) content complexity, and 6.) the instructor's background and support-material availability.4Legal constraints refer to the decisions that cannot be changed by the curriculum developers. These are usually mandated by

Things Fall Apart Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Things Fall Apart - Essay Example The fact that he has three wives in and of itself illustrates his misogynistic nature and attitude. He is terribly cruel to his son Nwoye, as he feels that Nwoye is not masculine enough and that he is feminine and weak. Nwoye begins to behave in more masculine ways to please his father Okonkwo, as anything less is simply unacceptable and can lead to a beating from his father. Okonkwo is a portrait of dominant male ideology as he causes his family a great deal of pain and suffering because of this ideology. Okonkwo is rarely able to display emotion and is depicted as first and foremost, seeking to be masculine and in control. He is depicted however, at one point in the story, as a concerned parent, when he ventures out looking for Ezinma, after she is taken by Chielo. The reader also sees throughout the piece, Okonkwo’s difficulty in dealing with change in his environment, especially from a racial point of view. White men are coming to his village and living among his clan, only to cause Okonkwo to feel threatened and then to finally feel defeated. This is understandable as the white settlers only seek to change the ways and beliefs of the natives of Nigeria. These expressions of anti-colonialism seem to reflect the ideas of Achebe as well, as a prevailing theme surrounding the colonists seems to be their inability to speak the language of the tribe. This is ultimately what prevents them from understanding the ways of the tribe. Interestingly, as much as Okonkwo opposes the whit e man and his religion (Christianity), his son Nwoye converts to this very religion. Certainly, this is an illustration on the conflicts that arose during colonization. The white men brought their religion and beliefs to the Igbo people, and certainly Okonkwo represented the institution of tradition and culture. Further evidence of this is the fact that Okonkwo participates in the death of Ikemefuna, the sacrificial boy from a neighboring village

Saudi and the western style education Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Saudi and the western style education - Essay Example A lot of research has shown a greater effect of Saudi customs, laws, and traditions, on Saudi women than of the religion Islam. Since both religion and culture play a decisive role in the establishment of social practices in Saudi Arabia, one factor cannot be separated from the other as their function is mutual. Consideration of religion would distract the research from its focus. There is a variety of cultural beliefs and traditions that are observed by the different families and communities in Saudi Arabia. Predominantly tribal communities are more conservative in their traditions. This is evident in terms of segregation of sexes directed at reducing sexual temptation and maintaining chastity and modesty. Central regions in Saudi Arabia are more particular about enforcing strict laws related to sex segregation compared to the Eastern Province. Role of Saudi women is more determined by culture compared to tribal families’ tradition or religion. For instance, while Bahrain and Kuwait are Gulf countries comprising tribal families, the two countries do not place restrictions on women from participating in the public life just as Saudi Arabia does. It can thus be said that women’s status and their expected behavior is a consequence of Saudi Arabia’s unique culture. Although this strict segregation has prevailed in the universities, yet this trend has started to change gradually. High-walled universities admit female students who can freely walk around inside the campus. In fact, the primary function of these high walls is to provide the women with security and independence to move around freely. The first women’s university in Saudi Arabia was opened in 1979. Ever since, more universities have been opened for women, though women still have generally lesser educational choices than what are available to men. For example, women have to choose more restricted professions or majors

Critical Thinking and Deecision Making Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Critical Thinking and Deecision Making - Essay Example hed in Psychology Today, the author disclosed that â€Å"the study of unconscious bias is revealing the unsettling truth: we all use stereotypes, all the time, without knowing it. We have met the enemy of equality, and the enemy is us† (Paul par. 1). The finding means that despite one’s conscious awareness to prevent classifying people, the unconscious mind apparently plays a crucial role in the process. One could rationalize that since stereotyping had actually been a product of society’s influences that extends beyond contemporary time frame, the unconscious mind has somehow recorded a memory of prejudices and classifications through observed behavior in the external environment. It is however beneficial that through the course on critical thinking, one is able to apply both inductive and deducting reasoning to discern which statements comprise a valid and sound argument. As aptly revealed in Paul’s article: â€Å"Stereotypes are categories that have gone too far†¦When we use stereotypes, we take in the gender, the age, the color of the skin of the person before us, and our minds respond with messages that say hostile, stupid, slow, weak. Those qualities arent out there in the environment. They dont reflect reality" (Paul par.

Advanced Research Writing Essay Example for Free

Advanced Research Writing Essay The topic of online education, specifically relating to teaching writing in a distant learning environment was covered by Professor Kate Kiefer. Kiefer is a Professor and Writing Integration Coordinator at Colorado State University. She has a PH.D in rhetoric from Carnegie Mellon University and has written numerous published articles, including three textbooks. In the book Brave New Classrooms, Professor Kiefer writes a chapter titled, Do Students Lose More Than They Gain In Online Classrooms? Professor Kiefer tackles the difficult questions of just how much are students getting out of online writing classes. What is the goal of an online student? Kiefer clearly has an issue with distance education and voices her opinion of its inferiority to a classroom environment. Her numerous assertions of distance learning students not getting the complete education experience must be taken for what it is, an instructor’s point of view and not a student’s. Online education is becoming more prevalent every day, because not everyone has the time or funding to get to and from a college campus. This method should be embraced by instructors and not talked down on, simply because there is no other option for so many. Professor Kiefer wholeheartedly states in her article, that she believes taking an online writing class is inferior to a traditional structured classroom environment. She states that she is not in the majority on this issue, but she speaks of the many difficulties that face a student and teacher online. One of Professor Kiefers most adamant points against online writing classes is the true lack of interaction a student can have. She talks of how so many online classrooms have students who do not participate and do only what is needed to pass the class. Kiefer suggests that on-line classes are often full of students who are looking to check a box and get that next check mark, which will take them to finish line and a degree. She also states how not having peer to peer interaction robs the online student of so much valuable education. In a writing class it is pivot al she states to have your fellow  students peer review your work and not just have the teacher looking at your assignment. She covers the issue of how universities are trying to add more and more students online, because when it all boils down to it, money is what they are after. Professor Kiefer goes over a few ideas of how to make an online writing class better, such as requiring participation in discussions, but eventually she feels that online instruction in writing classes, leave the student short of what a teacher would like them to learn in a class. Professor Kiefer is very adamant on the loss of personal interaction in online writing classes and how it diminishes the importance of personal interaction, which to some extent is very true. In a recent article published by the â€Å"Journal of Asynchronous Learning Networks†, documenting over 125 traditional face to face classes, it found very strong support for the existence of a community of inquiry that is shared within each class section. (Fernandes, Oct 2013) While It may be almost impossible to capture the same type of peer to peer interaction in a distance learning course compared to a traditional classroom, the study does not take into account that many online students have a network of support they are able to bounce ideas off of. While the journal study names student networking as a weakness to online classrooms, it does not really mention the fact that many physical classroom environments have students that do not want to participate. Professor Kiefer also addresses the high dropout rate of online students. This makes me wonder if the dropout rate is due to non-flexibility within the school offering the classes of if it is students just not taking it seriously. A recent study published in â€Å"Journal of Asynchronous Learning Networks† by the Dean of Online Education at Dallas Baptist University noted that their university offers thirty-four online degree programs and Dallas Baptist University has maintained a 92% course com pletion rate (Shelton, Oct 2009). I would have liked to have seen professor Kiefer give the standard dropout rate of traditional classroom students at a university. It is very possible that online education is still in such an evolving state, that there are many different factors leading to a high dropout rate. Many schools have not properly trained their faculty in correctly dealing with online education, while some of it is definitely the daily lives of online students that get it in the way. Professor Kiefer makes many valid points on her topics, however the reasons  she gives regarding why students take online courses, are the exact reasons they must continue. People with jobs and forty hour work week cant take time out to drive to the university every day. Online classes have been going for a number of years now, but it is still in its infancy compared to classroom instruction. There are still so many ideas created each day that can make this learning environment better. Professor Kiefer makes a good argument regarding the negative impacts of online writing classes, but the reason we have online classes to start with are why they cant stop. The goals of online students are the same as other students, they want to better their lives and further educate themselves. That lifeline cannot be taken away, because there are doubts about its effectiveness. It is up to everyone to keep making strides and improving the experience of online education. Bibliography Fernandes, B. R. (Oct 2013). Measuring the Community in Online Classes. Journal of Asynchronous Learning Networks, 17(3), pp 115-136. Kiefer, K. (2007). Do Students Lose More than They Gain in Online Writing Classes? In Brave New Classrooms. (Vol. 37, pp. 141-151). New York, NY: Peter Lang USA. Shelton, K. (Oct 2009). Does Strong Faculty Support Equal Consistent Course Completion?: It Has for Dallas Baptist University. Journal of Asynchronous Learning Networks, 13(3), pp 63-66.

The Internet A New Medium Of Communication Media Essay

The Internet A New Medium Of Communication Media Essay The internet allows society to communicate with people of all nationality and ages from every country in the world. It has provided the facilities its users most appreciate like the news on the web. Anyone with the skills can post any information on the web, Individuals who post information and use the internet do not need licences or permission which is the reason for such growth globally. The internet is changing the way we communicate but most importantly how we receive and transmit information. The internet is changing media use patterns and the lifestyles of millions of people who have grown to rely on it as a source of entertainment, information, and communication. People are discovering this interactive medium, and with it, new ways to access information and to communicate with others. The internet is becoming increasingly important in the lives of many people around the world. (Kaye and Medoff, 2001: p.2), I cannot emphasize the importance of the internet as many people not o nly use it to communicate but also for businesses either to advertise or to partner up with other businesses for parts of the world. Tim Berners -Lee created the World Wide Web as a means of sharing scientific information, he wrote the web software as an internet-based hypermedia initiative for global information sharing. The internet comprises various text only resources and the World Wide Web, which presents information in text, graphic, video, and audio formats. It is this burgeoning internet resource that has captured the attention of millions, and since it is also having a great impact on traditional mass media. (Medoff and Kaye, 2001: p.3). Traditional mass media allows a one to many model of communication where an individual can speak once, but to many people, these are broadcast, satellite television and radio. However the internet allows a many to one model which is a cross between mass broadcasting and interpersonal communication, this allows people to choose the information they want and to ignore the rest. The ways in which we communicate are via Email and Chat Forums, Email was developed in the early days of the internet and is currently the most popular, efficient and widely used globally mean of communication. It keeps people connected whether for business or pleasure, the boundaries of email use inevitably overlap with our other metaphors for thinking about the information infrastructure. Chat forums allow the exchange of live conversations. Many argue that it is a new mass medium that delivers mass messages to a mass audience of web users, thus following the traditional one-to-many model of communication. For example, each web user who visits the CNN interactive page has access to the same information as everyone else regardless of their personal beliefs, attitudes, or opinions. (Kaye and Medoff, 2001: p.9) on the other hand new technologies are developed in order for individuals to select information. This way the internet is seen as a new interactive medium rather than a mass medium. The internet crosses the boundaries that have traditionally delineated the three modes of communication: mass (one to many), interpersonal one to one and computing many to one. By virtue of its nature, the internet allows for all three types of communication, with a fourth communication mode, many to many emerging. The internet is a vehicle for interpersonal communication and interactivity, mass delivered messages, and information storage, processing, and retrieval. It is a true communication phenomenon and one that allows many forms and styles of communication. (Kaye and Medoff, 2001: p.9). The internet changes the way we receive and provide information, we turn to the web for, information, news and entertainment, it is now common for television to be on the web as it enhances ones way of viewing television rather than just using a computer. We now have our favourite shows and news posted on the internet; it is set up so if we miss an episode we can always find it online with extras. This has increased the amount of internet users as it is convenient and comfortable. Without the time and space constraints that plague traditional media, web authors and designers are free to expand their offerings and produce web-only material and web versions of traditionally delivered fare. The web is exploding with sites that complement traditional offerings but also offer unique content found elsewhere. Electronic magazines and newspapers and online soap operas and talk shows are just a few examples of original content. The web is a unique medium where original and adapted content liv e side by side ( Kaye and Medoff, 2001: p.125). There are new means of communicating where the internet and television would work side by side; Google TV this new wave of technology is set to bring together all information, programs, the internet and media. Internet connected applications will form a central part of Google TV, application such as twitter and YouTube would play a key part as a communication medium on Google TV. Although many disagree to Google TV as people feel Television is suppose to be at the centre of a home and feel this new innovation is rather confusing to the eye, others argue that this new invention would create something new that would bring all ones interest on one screen. The World Wide Web has ushered in a new age of news distribution. Prior to the development of the web, the public was at mercy of newspaper printing times and regularly scheduled news programs. Web technology has opened the doors for twenty-four-hour news and for customized reports delivered directly to computer screens at any time of a day. Electronically delivered news has inherent advantage over printed news in that it can put reports of current events on the air as soon as it happens. (Medoff and Kaye, 2001: p.155). People want to know whats going on in the world and that can now be accessed on the internet, news coverage from brazil can be accessed in China, the distribution of stories globally has kept people connected to parts of the world, People interested in stories such as the war in IRAQ or the shooting at a university in America or England can access it online and go into depth of the stories. Examples of newspapers that can be accessed online New York time, The Times, G uardian and The Sun etc. Broadcasting news such as the BBC also has a website of their own where individuals can access their news from; individuals rely on BBC to give them information that could possibly change their lives, protect and to communicate. Advertisers now Promotion and communication on the web as a way to get the attention from consumers, the four Ps in marketing involves publicity and promotional efforts beyond purchasing advertising space and responding to consumer feedback. The internet has opened ways for disseminating public relations messages to public. Public relations and the internet are both interactivity and the exchange of ideas, opinions, and information. Interactivity is the common bond between the internet and public relation. The internet provides public relations with a direct link to the public, and the public can in turn interact with public relations agencies and companies public relation departments (Kaye and Medoff, 2001: p.223) Email communication with reporters and the public electronic distribution of news releases via email and web pages. The internet and World Wide Web are the catalysts that set off the explosion of online services, multimedia information, and interactive technology that is c hanging the way goods and services are advertised and sold to consumers. Advertising on the web is a way to contact users globally. (Medoff and Kaye, 2001: p. 223). The internet is powerful but most importantly a global phenomenon; it is the process of communication in the world today that allows activities to be carried out in a knowledgeable and creative way. The internet is part of everyday life as without it one will feel incomplete; it is the source of entertainment, information and communication. The internet is the backbone of global computers mediated communication (CMC): it is the network that links up most computer networks (Castells, 2000: p.375). An example of a global internet phenomenon is Facebook, Facebook is not only a social network used to communicate with others but having 30 million worldwide users it is the largest social networking site with an education focus. The site which features classified advertisements and the exchange of goods and services has allowed users not only to network with friends but also to create links between people and groups with shared interest for them to promote their ideas to others, which has been proven to be an effective business tool examples of the activities that Facebook entails, marketing products, promoting events and connecting with customers/ fans, there is also a new networking site that is proven to almost take over Facebook which is Twitter, twitter is used by everyone to communicate with the world, celebrities use it and we get an update of what they are thinking and even what they are doing we get to meet and communicate with these people over the internet. Communication through the web can only be possible with the use of internet. Internet as a global communication network are dominated by individuals and organisation based in countries however globalisation is the force behind this, as the process has allowed internet to be a communication and information technology. In late modernity globalisation promotes the general good in any practical sense. The Internet is being used to achieve a great control over globalizing influences and globalised processes of communication in the world today. The internet is thus creating new opportunities for developing local sensitivity on a global scale, helping aid to remedy problems of global inequality rather than exacerbate them (Slevin, 2000: p. 212). Another method of communication, where you can access the internet wirelessly is mobile phones, mobile phones are very popular world wide as they are used by everyone not only to communicate by voice or text messaging but other features like surfing the web on your phone. Wi-Fi technologies bring alternative modes of accessing the internet; it has provided internet access to mobile phones users in poor countries where the technology is not popular. Horizontal networks of communication and multiple sources of information on a global scale create the possibility of a largely autonomous diffusion and exchange of information, ideas and initiatives. (Castells, 2007: p.258). In the 1990s the internet contributed to the growth of surveillance which then became a Global Sphere. The growth of the internet has provided new opportunities for surveillance where it is seen in the spheres of workplace, military, government and for personal use. To end the internet would forever have an impact in our lives, it would enhance the way we live and communicate to others, and it would enable us to create identities we share with the world. There are thousands of ways to transfer information and data, we have been giving opportunities to create businesses on a global scale, where we can communicate with business owners in other countries that might enhance ones business. With a click of a button one can access anything on the web which is what makes the internet a phenomenal. With the internet changing lives and developing as a form of information society it also plays a role in exposing people especially politicians and celebrities. Cyberspace is changing how we live our lives and one has to be careful especially living in the public eye. It was cyberspace that exposed the scandal about Bill Clinton; the story, posted on the web to audiences, changed how audiences perspective on him, as well as the scandals about Tiger Woods which also spiralled over the web, this could be seen as a negative to the internet and what it comes with. Technological change seems to have its own logic, which we may perhaps protest about or even try to block, but which we appear to be unable to alter fundamentally. (Kitchin, 2001: p.57) they are developed at any one time and placed in accord with a complex set of exciting rules or rational procedures, institutional histories, technical possibilities, and last, but not least, popular desirers (Kitchin, 2001: p.58). . Bibliography/ Referencing Deibert, R. J. 1997. Parchment, Printing and Hypermedia: Communication in New World Order Transformation. New York: Columbia University Press. Chapter 5 Kaye, B. K. and Medoff, N. J. 2001: The World Wide Web: A Mass Communication Perspective. London: Mayfield. Winston, B. 1998: Media Technology and Society. A History: From the Telegraph to the Internet. London: Routledge. Bakardjieva, M. 2005. Internet Society: The Internet in Everyday Life. London: Sage. Castells M, Fernandez- Ardevol M, Linchuan Qiu J and Sey A. 2007. Mobile Communication and Society: A Global Perspective. Kitchin, R. 1998: Cyberspace: The World in Wires. Chapter 2 Websites http://www.rheingold.com/ Howard Rheingold http://www.w3.org/People/Berners-Lee Tim Berners-Lee http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/google/8046801/What-is-Google-TV.html https://blackboard.le.ac.uk/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_tab_group_id=_2_1url=/webapps/blackboard/execute/launcher%3Ftype%3DCourse%26id%3D_2878_1%26url%3D https://blackboard.le.ac.uk/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_tab_group_id=_2_1url=/webapps/blackboard/execute/launcher%3Ftype%3DCourse%26id%3D_2878_1%26url%3D https://blackboard.le.ac.uk/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_group=coursesurl=/webapps/blackboard/content/contentWrapper.jsp%3Fattachment%3Dtrue%26navItem%3Dcontent%26content_id%3D_561171_1%26course_id%3D_2878_1%26displayName%3Dthe%2Bworld%2Bwide%2Bweb%2Bof%2Bsurveillance%2540%2Bthe%2Binternet%2Band%2Boff%2Bworld%2Bpower%2Bflows.pdf%26href%3D/%2540%2540/AA8A813A99BD4A059CE4EB843F104663/courses/1/MS2007/content/_561171_1/the%252520world%252520wide%252520web%252520of%252520surveillance%252540%252520the%252520internet%252520and%252520off%252520world%252520power%252520flows.pdf