Discipline policy in elementary schools Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Discipline policy in elementary schools - Essay Example It is seen to promote the art of cramming as opposed to reading and understanding the concept. Giving students tests that require them to fill in the blank spaces as opposed to those test that they are required to explain a particular concept is not advisable (Greenwood, Kratochwill & Clements, 2008). This makes the students not to be able to develop the art of making sound decision on their own. It degrades their level of thinking critically about what they have learned in class. When the students get involved in the process of decision-making, they get to learn how they will be able to make their own sound decisions with ease. This is a very important aspect in a person’s life since it goes a long way in helping a person in his/her own personal as well as career life. Group work enables the students to be able to discuss a given issue in unison. It enables the students to dispute an issue in an acceptable way. It enables a student in a group to appreciate the point raised by another student in the group, and not to only be in favor of the point that he/she has raised. It enables a student to be able to understand that another student’s point is just as good as his or hers. Parents should support the school fraternity in instilling discipline in their children’s life. Most of the parents usually leave this task for the teachers, and this can be overwhelming for them. The parents should also take up the responsibility of disciplining their children. Therefore, the parents and the teachers should work hand-in-hand to ensure that the students are well disciplined. The teachers should take up their role diligently. They should use proper methods of disciplining students. They should not punish the students severely. They should give them punishments that are mild and proper. In case a student goes out of line, then the teacher should get the student’s parents and they

The Foundations of Business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

The Foundations of Business - Essay Example When it launched the iPhone, the smartphone industry was revolutionized and debunked Blackberry as the market leader in the smartphone industry. It did not only beat competition in functionality but also in design that made Apple an iconic brand. Apple also created markets and industry for its products that did not even exist before. For example, it created the tablet industry with its iPad. Its creator Steve Jobs was severely criticized that the product will not be successful in the market. Steve Jobs and Apple however proved their critics wrong when the iPad became successful that its competitors followed suit. In sum, Apple’s success can be attributed to its radical and revolutionary innovation among its products. It also created new industry such as the computer tablet industry with its new iPad. The combination of innovation and pioneering made Apple successful. It is no wonder that Apple has replaced Coca Cola as most preferred brand

Effect of Diet on Colorectal Cancer

Effect of Diet on Colorectal Cancer CHAPTER 1 1.1 Introduction Colorectal cancer is considered to be a major cause of cancer morbidity and mortality. It accounts for over 9% of all cancer incidences; this makes it the third most common cancer cause with nearly 1.4 million new cases diagnosed in a year (WCRF, 2012) and the fourth most common cause of death (WHO, 2002). Both men and women are affected almost equally for colorectal cancer; 9.4% in men and 10.1% in women from all incident of cancer. However, it has a clear geographical variation which is not uniformly distributed throughout the world. It has been estimated that, the developed countries with a western culture accounts for over 63% of all colorectal cancer cases (Fatima AH, 2009). Though data available to show the clear situation in developing countries, growing evidences show that the problem would be also a concern for the low and middle income countries. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) was estimate that in 2008 colorectal cancer (CRC) is the 5th most common c ancer in SSA (Ferlay J, 2010 and Alice G et.al, 2012) Several risk factors can be linked with the incidence of colorectal cancer. Age and hereditary factors are the most important factors on which an individual’s cannot able to manage. The probability of being affected by colorectal cancer is increases after the age of 40. More than 90% of colorectal cancer cases reported among people in the age greater than 50 and older (Fairley TL , 2006). In addition, a large number of environmental and behavioral risk factors can also contribute for the development of colorectal cancer; among these dietary factors are the major one (Fatima AH, 2009). With the help of different dietary assessment methods such as food recalls and food record, wide range of epidemiological studies revealed that diet can strongly influences the risk of colorectal cancer, and changes in food habits might reduce up to 70% of this cancer burden. Diets with high in fat and calories, especially animal fat, protein rich, low level of calcium and vitamin D. are some of the nutrients which can be a risk factor for colorectal cancer. High meat consumption, mainly red meat and processed meat, is mainly associated with the development of colorectal cancer (Fatima AH and Robin P, 2009; Sandhu MS et.al, 2001; Norat T et.al, 2002; Larsson SC, 2006, Raphaà «lle L, 2008). On the other hand, those people who eat diets low in fruits and vegetables may have also a higher risk of developing colorectal cancer (Paul T et.al, 2001). For free living person, accurate estimation of routine dietary intake is very challenging in the study of diet and disease relationships (Jackson et. al, 2011). Moreover, there is no single method of assessment which is valid and optimal under all conditions to assess individual’s habitual dietary intake, but because of its ability to rank subjects according to their intake and also it is relatively inexpensive, food frequency questionnaires (FFQs) are often used in most epidemiological studies to assess usual dietary intake and disease development. In addition, Food frequency questionnaires (FFQs) have been used to assess long-term dietary intakes and an important exposure factor for the disease conditions (Sofi F et.al, 2008, and Streppel M, et. al, 2013). Therefore, the use of food frequency questionnaires has advantage over the other methods such as 24-hour recalls and food records since these methods do not reflect past diet intake or usual intake and they are also expens ive (Jackson et. al, 2011). Even though the Food frequency questionnaires (FFQs) is a more practical tool for assessing individual diets in large cohorts, it has also more associated with measurement errors than 24-hour recalls and dietary record assessment methods. In consequence, this can bias the relative risk estimates of diet and disease risk (Lin L et.al, 2013). One approach to improve effect estimates is through validation studies, in which individual diets by questionnaire is compared with a more precise and accurate method such as weighted dietary records (Jaceldo-Siegl et. al, 2009). The influence of dietary habit is central for the development of colorectal cancer but little is known about validity of dietary exposure assessment tools. The purpose of the study is, therefore, to evaluate the validity of the FFQ that will be used in assessing the relationship between dietary intake andcolorectal cancer. 1.2 Objective of the study To evaluate the food frequency questionnaires used to assessing the risks of dietary intake (at food group and nutrient level) for colorectal cancer with the three days weighted diet record method CHAPTER 2 2.1 Literature Reviews 2.1.1 The need of validation studies for food frequency questionnaires The role of dietary factors in the etiology of several cancers has been extensively investigated over the last few years including on colorectal cancer (Bazensky I, Shoobridge-Moran C, Yoder LH, 2007). However, accurate estimates of habitual dietary intake remain a challenge in the study of diet-disease relationships (Jackson et. Al, 2011). This is because dietary assessments could be affected by a number of factors such as motivation to complete assessments and reporting bias related with unstructured eating patterns(Livingstone MB et. al, 2009). Besides these, design of the study, outcomes of interest, and resources availability need to be considered when selecting an appropriate dietary assessment tool for a particular study(Jyh Eiin Wong et. al, 2012). In epidemiological studies, Food-Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) is often chosen assessment method for estimating dietary intake and can provide valid and reliable estimates of usual dietary intake in a variety of populations (Navarro A, et. al,2001) where as the other possible and precise methods such as food records and 24-hour recalls do not reflect past diet or usual intake and are generally expensive (Jackson et. al, 2011, Lin L et.al, 2013). The FFQ is easy to administer, has relatively low cost, and provides a rapid estimate of usual food intake. Due to having this advantages it is more practical and frequently used dietary assessment tool for assessing individual diets in large cohorts. However, compared to other dietary assessment methods it has more associated with measurement errors that usually overestimate relative risks in studies of diet and disease risk (Jaceldo-Siegl et. al, 2009; Zulkifli SN, 1992; Fraser GE, 2003; Lin L et. al, 2013; Streppel M et. al, 2013). Therefore, nutritional values reported from FFQ data are subjected to both systematic and random errors that can significantly affect the design, analysis, and interpretation of nutritional epidemiologic studies (Carroll RJ, et. al, 1997). In addition, due to possible differences in design characteristics of the FFQ, e.g. the number of food items included, mode of administration, and also the need of cognitive process for portion size estimation, it’s validity can be affected (Jyh Eiin Wong et. al, 2012). Furthermore, the validity of the same FFQ may vary from one population to the other (Streppel M. al et, 2013). The above rationale can lead to the agreement that evaluation and validating of a FFQ is important in studying diet disease associations. Thus validation studies need to be performed to evaluate the level to which the FFQ agrees with the subjects’ true dietary intake (Cade JE et. al, 2004). Moreover, validation studies can be also carried out to assess the level of measurement error associated with the FFQ (Streppel M et al, 2013 and Cade JE et. al, 2004). Providing the fact that there is no single method which is completely free from possible biases in dietary assessment, one approach to validate the estimates of effects through the help FFQ is by comparing with a more precise method (reference method), such as weighted food record, multiple dietary recalls and use of biomarkers (Jaceldo-Siegl et. al, 2009 and Lin L et.al, 2013). However, memory (recalls) and nutrient data are still influence estimates from the reference method (Jackson et. al, 2011, and Daures JP et. al, 2000 ). Generally, due to differences in food supply and dietary habits, there is no universally accepted FFQ that can be used for all populations in all situations. Elucidation of diet–disease relationships requires dietary assessment methods which can sufficiently describe and quantify intakes, minimize errors and provide precise estimates of variability between individuals or groups(Kaaks R et. al, 1997; Carroll RJ e t.al 1997 and Lin L et.al, 2013). Therefore, it is vital to make sure that any FFQ must be reliable and valid to be used in the population of interest, need to be designed to meet the aims of study populations and has contain an up-to-date list of foods(Jyh Eiin Wong,et. al, 2012). 2.1.2 Incidence and mortality of colorectal cancer Colorectal cancer is one of the major cause of morbidity and mortality. Globally it accounts for over 9% of all cancer incidences; the third most common cancer and the fourth most common cause of death. Men and women are almost equally affected by colorectal cancer; it represents 9.4% in men and 10.1% in women (Jodi D Stoocky, et al, 1996). However, is not uniformly distributed throughout the world; it has a clear geographical variation. Mainly, colorectal cancer is a disease of developed countries with a western culture. It is estimated this region accounts for over 63% of all cases. Worldwide mortality attributable to colorectal cancer is approximately half that of the incidence. In 2008, over 1.2 million new cases and 608,700 deaths estimated to have occurred (Fatima AH, 2009 and Dagfinn A, 2011). The WHO report in 2012 also showed that, in 2008 among the deaths of an estimated 7.6 million people of all cancer cases colorectal cancer (CRC) accounted for over 600 000 of those deaths, with 70% occurring in low– and middle–income countries (WHO, 2012 and Meetoo D, 2008). This indicates that though the number of cases of CRC in SSA is thought to be very low in comparison to those diagnosed in the Western world, it constitutes a significant proportion of the cancers in this region (Alice G et.al, 2012). 2.1.3 Risk factors for colorectal cancer Colorectal cancer is widely considered to be an environmental disease; include a wide range of cultural, social, and lifestyle factors which are associated with the incidence of colorectal cancer. Age and hereditary factors are those that an individual cannot control and other modifiable environmental and lifestyle risk factors are also plays an important role in the development of colorectal cancer (Fatima A. Haggar, Robin P. Boushey 2009). Among the modifiable risk factors, diet habit is a major one and strongly influences the risk of colorectal cancer, and changes in dietary habits might also decrease up to 70 percent of this cancer burden. Diets with high fat content, especially animal fat, considered to be a major risk factor to cause colorectal cancer. However results of meta analysis supports the hypothesis that only intakes of red and processed meat are convincing dietary risk factors for colorectal cancer (Dagfinn Aune, 2011). In addition, different studies also revealed that the association of CRC risk with processed red meat may be stronger than that of fresh red meat (Sandhu MS et.al, 2001; Norat T et.al, 2002; Larsson SC, 2006 and Raphaà «lle L, 2008). The effect of fat consumption as possible etiologic factor for colon cancer is linked to favoring the development of a bacterial flora which capable of degrading bile salts to potentially carcinogenic compounds. The presence of heme iron in red meat believed to be the main mechanisms for the positive association in the development of colorectal cancer. In addition, exposing it to high temperatures could resulting the production of compounds such as heterocyclic amines and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (Fatima A. Haggar, Robin P. Boushey 2009 and Genkinger JM, Koushik A, 2007). MS Sandhu et al in 2001 found that red and processed meat could contribute for colorectal cancer; a daily increase of 100 g of red meat and 25g of processed meat was associated with a 14% (OR;1.14, 95% CI:1.04 to 1.25) and 49% (OR; 1.49, 95% CI: 1.22 to 1.81) increased risk of colorectal cancer respectively (Sandhu MS et.al, 2001). On the other more recent follow up study by Cross, A.J et.al, the hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) comparing the fifth to the first quintile for both red (HR; 1.24; 95% CI, 1.09-1.42; P Norat, T in 2001 also tried to conduct meta-analysis of articles published during 1973-99 in order to look the risk of consumption of red and processed meat for colorectal cancer. High intake of red and processed meat was associated with significantly increase risk of colorectal cancer. Average Relative Risk and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the highest quantile of consumption was 1.35 (CI: 1.21-1.51) for red meat and 1.31 (CI: 1.13-1.51) for processed meat (Norat, T., et.al, 2002). A similar effect of red and processed meat also found in other meta-analysis of prospective studies published through March 2006 by Larsson SC and Wolk A in 2006. This meta-analysis of prospective studies support the hypothesis that high consumption of red meat and of processed meat is associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer (Larsson, S.C. and Wolk, A., 2006). In addition, some studies suggest that people who eat a diet low in fruits and vegetables may have a higher risk of colorectal cancer. Differences in dietary fiber intake might have been also responsible for the observed geographic differences in the incidence rate of colorectal cancer (Janout V, and Kolla ´rova ´ H. 2001 and Fatima AH, 2009). Age is an important non modifiable factors in the development of colorectal cancer. As the increases the likelihood of colorectal cancer diagnosis increases as well. Mostly its diagnosis is common after the age of 40, then rising sharply after age 50. More than 90% of colorectal cancer cases occur in people aged 50 or older. The incidence rate is more than 50 times higher in persons aged 60 to 79 years than in those younger than 40 years. However, colorectal cancer appears to be increasing among younger persons (Ries LAG, et al.. 2008, and Fatima AH, 2009). 2.1.4 Dietary protective factors for colorectal cancer; Vegetables, Dietary fiber, whole grains Given the roles of the colon and rectum as conduits for ingested food and the many potentially anti carcinogenic substances contained in fruit(8),vegetables(8),and cereals(9),these food groups are among the most widely studied in relation to colorectal cancer risk (Steinmetz KA, Potter JD. 1991, and Slavin JL, Martini MC et.al, 1999). Although the majority of studies have shown an inverse association between fruit and vegetable consumption and colorectal cancer risk, some prospective cohort studieshave also obtained inconsistent results; no association between fruit and vegetable consumption and the risk of having or developing a colorectal neoplasm (Paul T et.al, 2001). Results from a meta-analysis of 13 case–control studieshave suggested that increased dietary fiber intake is associated with decreased risk of colorectal cancer, although some other prospective cohort studies do not supporting such an association (Steinmetz KA et.al, 1994). Nonetheless, evidence from animal studies and few clinical trials continues to suggest that cerealsespecially wheat bran, contain substances, such as fiber, phytic acid, various phenolic compounds, lignins, and flavonoids, that might lower the risk for colorectal cancers.Cereal fiber might also bind carcinogens and modify glycemic index(Slavin JL , 1999, and Paul T et.al, 2001) In a Paul T et.al study in 2001, they were tried to associate the role of fruit and vegetable consumption and colorectal cancer. In this study 61, 463 women were followed for an average of 9.6 years and 460 incident cases of colorectal cancer were observed (291, 159 and 10 cases of colon, rectal and both sites respectively). In the entire population of this study, total fruit and vegetable consumption was inversely associated with colorectal cancer risk. The association was also showed that there is a dose–response effect; more evident among individuals who consumed the lowest amounts of fruit and vegetables was observed. In particularly, those individuals who consumed less than 1.5 servings of fruit and vegetables per day had a 1.65 relative risk (95% CI = 1.23 to 2.20;P = .001) for developing colorectal cancer compared with individuals who consumed more than 2.5 servings. However, no association between colorectal cancer risk and consumption of cereal fiber was observed in t his study. In conclusion this particular study revealed that individuals who consume very low amounts of fruit and vegetables have the greatest risk of colorectal cancer (Paul T et.al, 2001)

Differences in Gays and Lesbians Essay -- Health, Diseases, HIV/AIDS

Differences in Gays and Lesbians HIV/AIDS is one of the leading causes of death according to the World Health Organization in 2004. Imagine the numbers of infection and death have steadily been increasing over the years, it probably has moved up in ranking. HIV is commonly transmitted by bodily fluids, but it is more highly transmitted when men have sex with men. I will be discussing the different variables that come into effect when gay men and lesbians are transmitted with HIV and how to avoid it. Gay, Bi sexual , and other males that have sex with men are , â€Å"approximately 2% of the US population, yet are the population most severely affected by HIV and are the only risk group in which new HIV infections have been increasing steadily since the early 1990s,†(CDC, 2006). In the year of 2006 in the United States , males who have sex with other males where accounted as more than half of the new HIV infections , â€Å"53% ,† (CDC, 2006). Males who have sex with males are known has MSM , MSM with previous known history of injection drug use were an additional, â€Å"4% of new infections,† (CDC, 2006). Towards the end of 2006 , more than half of the 53% were MSM or MSM that used injection drugs, accounted for the population living with HIV in the United States. The beginning of the epidemic in the United States the MSM have been a consistent representative of the biggest percentage of people diagnosed with AIDS and those living with the diagnoses. They sti ll remain the a big part of HIV and are learning different ways in remaining HIV free. The study was able to break up what ethnicity of homosexuals are getting infected and what are the age groups, the age groups are broken into 13-29, then 30-39, and 40-49. First the Caucasians accounte... ...ailable, one can take out penis before ejaculation. Oral sex on the anus should also use a dental damn in order to avoid fluids. Sharing sex toys between lesbians and males can be very risky such as a dildo , it can contain vaginal fluids, semen, faeces or blood on them. Make sure to keep them clean and to clean they very well every time. Also rough sex can lead to bleeding or breaks or cut in the lining of vagina or anus is very risky due to bodily fluids coming out. Mutual masturbation can lead to contraction of HIV if there is a wound on the hand of person performing it. If the sexual partner is an acquaintance the hands and fingers should be examined. For males penis to anus penetration HIV can be avoided by latex condom, there is still risk of infection. Making sure there is lubricant and anus is soft before entering is a good way to avoid bleeding and tares.

Human Experience: Miracles Essay

In our society today, through medical and scientific breakthroughs, to extensive and higher levels of knowledge, the idea of miracles becomes overshadowed by explanations. There are many people who could be described as â€Å"doubting Thomas'† because to believe, they feel that they â€Å"need to see†. Almost anything can be explained if one tries hard enough. Most of the cure miracles in Luke’s Gospel can be shown to have happened to people with diseases, traced back to mental and nervous disorders. However, it is still evident that lots of people across the word still believe in miracles, as over 200 million people visit Lourdes each year. All of the Miracles found in Luke’s Gospel, are signs of the Kingdom of God as it is obvious that the divinity of God is present, when the lame can walk, and the blind can now see. These miracles give hope to those who are themselves, in need of healing, as they show that Jesus will help them in their time of need, it also helps to strengthen their faith. Through the study of these miracles, it is easy to see that universalism is a main characteristic of Luke’s gospel, as in every miracle, it is the outcast, the marginalised, who is healed. Jesus often paired the healing with forgiveness of sins. There are many Holy sites throughout the world, that are renowned for the miracles that have taken place there, such as Lourdes, Fatima, and Knock. Lourdes is probably the most visited of these sites, garnering over 200 million pilgrims every year. Over 7000 cures have taken place in Lourdes, but only 67 have been recognised as â€Å"miraculous† by the Catholic Church. The latest recognised miracle was that of Anna Santaniello, who on a visit to the Baths of Lourdes was healed of her acute heart condition on the 19th of August, 1952. She was brought to the baths on a stretcher, and left walking by herself. â€Å"In front of the Grotto, I prayed to the Blessed Virgin Mary that she would restore this young man to full health so that he could at least continue to work.† Anna was a kind, selfless woman, who then went on to help unfortunate children find families and homes. Often, those healed went on to help others who were in need, following on in the example of Bernadette Soubirous, who joined the Sisters of Charity of Nevers convent, as an assistant infirmary and then a sacristan. It is clear that the numerous charities in action today, who are responding to those in need, are following in the example that Jesus set. Charities such as Trà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½caire, and Children in Crossfire, are constantly trying to help children and families in under developed countries. An example of the kind of people that Trocaire helps every day, is that of Juan Francisco Trujillo, aged 16, from a remote village called Caserà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½o Chilama in El Salvador. His family live on the opposite side of the river to the rest of the village. Flooding cuts his family off from their village. When this happens, Juan Francisco cannot go to school. ‘There is a large boulder in the middle of the river. If the water is over this boulder, I know it is too dangerous to cross’, says Juan. Another example of someone helped through the work of Trocaire, is Mary Akai, who suffers from Aids who is a member of the HIV/AIDS support group at Love and Hope Centre, three of her children died of AIDS. She calls the founder of the centre, Sister Patricia Speight, her new mother. â€Å"I thought I was dying,† she said. â€Å"I owe my recovery to Sister Patricia. She fed me from a spoon when I was too low.† Many of those in need, visit â€Å"faith healers† and though some genuinely believe that they can cure people of disease, many are con-artists who steal innocent people’s money, or some actually try to â€Å"heal† or get rid of â€Å"demons† from children. ‘Ndoki’ was said to target children particularly either when still in the womb or in early childhood through a piece of food infected with the evil spirit, said Dr Hoskins who has made an extensive study of traditional religions in Africa. â€Å"We know that ndoki does exist. Back home and everywhere else too there are people who are used by the devil to bring a curse or bad luck to other people’s lives, even to kill them,† says Pastor Modeste Muyulu. Dr Hoskins, is a consultant to the Metropolitan Police on religiously-motivated ‘ndoki exorcisms’, agrees instances of extreme violence are rare. â€Å"My experience of Africa and the Congo where I’ve lived for years and travelled a lot is that Congolese people love their kids,† he said. He also believes that some of the churches and charities set up by Congolese people in the UK were simply â€Å"money-making schemes†. Antoine Lokongo, the editor of a Congolese newsletter, Congo Panorama, believes the growing violence in exorcisms is due to western influence. Two women and a man from England were arrested for the abuse of an eight year old girl who they suspected of having ‘ndoki’. The girl testified that the adults slapped, punched and kicked her repeatedly. One pushed a kitchen knife into her chest until it drew blood. She told police, â€Å"It’s because my auntie says I have witchcraft. She dances and laughs when she hits me.† AB was beaten with belt buckles and a high-heeled shoe. She was only fed tea and bread. The adults seemed particularly concerned that the girl would practice her evil powers at night time. So they woke her up twice and rubbed chilli-peppers into her eyes. They forced her into a large plastic bag, allegedly to â€Å"throw her away for good† by drowning her in a nearby river. But they changed their mind at the last moment. In conclusion, miracles will always be relevant to today, as at some point in our lives, we are all in need of some miracle, whether it is the strength to make it through another day, or the forgiveness of sins to heal our conscience. Although some may find it hard to believe, almost anything can be changed into something cruel and evil, in comparison to what it was before, even the miracles in the bible. But Pastor Modeste Muyulu says â€Å"But disciples should only do what the master did, I never read in the bible about Jesus Christ being violent with anybody to cast out any spirit.† Therefore we should always try to be like disciples of Jesus and help those who are in need, and never intentionally hurt another human being, as we know that Jesus himself would never do something like this.

Homicide Crime Scene Investigation Essay

Criminal Investigation Introduction   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   On November 3, 2000, the dead body of a female was spotted along Old Annapolis road, Columbia. The body, which was later identified as that of Ashley Smith, was first spotted by two truck drivers, who immediately notified police officers. The first police officers arrived at the scene at 1051 hours, checked the victim, and concluded that she was dead. A crime scene perimeter was then established to allow for further investigations and collection of evidence before the body was moved. According to studies, the first action that police officers need to take once they reach a crime scene is to ensure that the scene is secured (Howell, 1999). This is usually in an effort to prevent any tampering of evidence, as well as to create room for further investigation. According to the case study, D/CPL Case was assigned the role of the primary investigator. Hence, it was his responsibility to ensure that all the persons responsible were brought to boo k. Crime scene investigators are persons in charge of the entire CSI operation. Apart from establishing identities of victims as well as suspects of a crime scene, it is also the responsibility of the CSI investigator to acquire witness testimonies, link suspects to crime scenes, and exonerate the innocent (Byrd, 2000). The case study intends to analyze the manner in which the homicide investigation was conducted in addition to lessons learned from it. Reflection on Case Study   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In my opinion, the homicide investigation was conducted in a fair manner. This is because all processes were followed sequentially and in the right manner — that is, in accordance with the crime scene investigation procedures. For instance, police officers swung into action the moment they received news about a body spotted along the Old Annapolis road. According to studies, the first action that police officers ought to take once they reach a crime scene is to set up a perimeter to prevent vital evidence from being tampered with. One of the reasons why the investigation was conducted smoothly was due to the proper organization of the police officers in charge. After receiving the report about a dead body that had been located, an investigation panel was established in which D/CPL Case was to act as the primary investigator. Through this organization, no conflicts were witnessed among the police officers since all of the officers we re aware of their roles in the investigation.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Throughout the investigation, D/CPL Case was of great importance; this is because all his ideas were successful, and it was through him that the investigation was successful. For instance, during the early days of the investigation, progress was quite slow since all leads were hitting a dead end. D/CPL Case increased the pace of the investigation after he announced a reward of $8,000 to anybody who would come forward with information regarding the killing of Ashley Smith. By announcing an award, D/CPL Case knew that somebody withholding information regarding the homicide would eventually come out, which was true. Although the homicide was announced in the media, not all information was aired; instead, some vital information was withheld. For instance, the media did not mention the sections where the victim was stabbed or the number of wounds inflicted on the victim’s body. Apart from the stabbings, nothing was said about strangulati on of the victim. This was a good move by D/CPL Case since these omissions were used as traps during the interrogation process.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In my opinion, the interrogations were conducted in the right manner; this is because D/CPL Case ensured that he interrogated all the people whose names were mentioned during the interviews. In order to ensure that the interrogations went smoothly, D/CPL Case used a number of items. For instance, apart from photos and sketches of the crime scene, D/CPL Case also relied on forensic analysts, as well as pathologists, who aided in reconstructing the crime scene, hence, easing the interrogation operations. According to the case study, it is evident that D/CPL Case remained calm throughout the interrogation process since he was never in a hurry. For instance, whenever he was not satisfied with the information obtained during an interrogation, D/CPL Case would set up another interrogation with the same witness and attempt to acquire more information. It is through this tactic that D/CPL Case managed to acquire more information from Scott Jones. Although most of the interrogations were conducted in an appropriate manner, the same cannot be said when it comes to Fredrick Johnson. Although Scott admitted that he was with Johnson during the night of the murder, D/CPL Case interviewed Johnson only once before accusing him of first-degree murder. In my opinion, D/CPL Case was not just in the manner in which he interrogated Johnson. Although the case was solved successfully, the case study does not talk about what happened to the $8,000 award that had been advertised in the media. In my opinion, since nothing is mentioned about this award, the award was just a set-up that lured possible suspects to come forward. Crime Scene Investigation and Evidence Analysis   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Investigation of the homicide started on 11/3/00 when two truck drivers spotted the body and reported it to the police. After setting up a perimeter, thorough investigation of the crime scene commenced. Investigation at the crime scene was thorough since several professionals were present. For instance, apart from police officers, there were also photographers, forensic scientists, and pathologists. According to Assi (2010), the reason all investigation specialists need to be present is to replicate the crime scene before launching an investigation. For instance, whereas the role of police officers is to search the entire crime scene and take notes, photographing and sketching the crime scene is also of great importance. Taking photographs and sketching the scene makes it easy to review the crime scene in case something arises during the investigation (Howell, 1999). When taking photographs of a homicide investigation, several factors need to be considered. The face of the victim ought to be photographed for the purpose of identification when official investigations commence. Apart from the face, photographs should be taken of all wounds inflicted on the victim, all unusual marks appearing on the victim’s body, and the particularities of the victim’s clothing (Assi, 2010). In the case study, it is evident that crime scene investigators adhered to these requirements. This is because there are photographs depicting the victim’s face, all wounds inflicted on her, and the manner in which the victim was dressed. According to the photographs taken at the crime scene, it is evident that apart from being stabbed in the neck and abdominal area, the victim was also strangled.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   While still at the crime scene, a number of evidence materials were collected. For instance, apart from the two neoprene skullcaps located at the scene, the forensic scientists and crime scene technicians collected more evidence for further research in the lab. Other items collected included the victim’s blood sample, the victim’s clothes, and DNA swabbings from the victim’s ankles, mouth, vagina, and anus. After analyzing the evidence collected at the crime scene, the fact emerged that the victim had consumed alcohol prior to her death. Additionally, the victim had also engaged in a sexual activity moments before her death. This was discovered by the samples of sperms detected in her pants, vagina, and anus. According to the notes taken at the crime scene, the wounds inflicted on the victim were caused by knife stabbings. The murder weapon, which was later discovered by Richard Myers, was also forwarded to the laborat ory for further forensic investigation. After the media announcement, the investigators took note of two names, Scott Jones and Fredrick Johnson, which had been mentioned in three of the calls received. After setting up surveillance on the two primary suspects, investigators managed to get the suspects’ fingerprints from the cigarette butts they had discarded. These butts were used by the analysts to identify whether the two suspects had any links to the homicide. By the cigarette butts obtained, the investigators realized that the suspects’ DNA matched with the DNA acquired at the crime scene, as well as the murder weapon found. This critical information prompted police officers to apprehend the two suspects for further interrogations. Investigative Steps and Strategies   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   After successfully identifying the victim as Ashley Smith, the next step was to launch an investigation into the homicide, which would result in the arrest of the perpetrators. For the investigation to be successful, the investigating team used a number of steps and strategies. The first step was to get the full profile of the victim. Since she was still underage, her records were not available in the computer system; hence, it was D/CPL Case’s task to acquire this information from Mrs. Smith. After holding an interview with Mrs. Smith, D/CPL Case learned that, before her demise, Ashley had been a student at Grand Senior high school and had a female friend known as Heather Thomas. According to Mrs. Smith, Heather was the last person to see Ashley. Apart from Heather, Mrs. Smith also mentioned Jason Phelps, who had been Ashley’s boyfriend. The information marked the beginning of the investigation since more names were mentione d by Heather and Jason. Since most of the information acquired was not solid, the next step was to announce the homicide in the media and issue an award for anybody that would come forward with substantial information regarding the crime. According to the case study, this strategy was successful since more concrete evidence was obtained. Apart from the mentioning of names such as Scott and Johnson, this strategy also resulted in the identification of the murder weapon, which was a small knife. Richard Myers, the citizen who spotted the knife, presented the knife to a police officer after seeing the homicide report on television.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   According to Assi (2010), when an investigation is still in the process, some information needs to be confidential. D/CPL Case applied this strategy by not releasing all information about the homicide to the media. Apart from D/CPL Case and the investigating team present at the crime scene, nobody else was aware of the number of wounds inflicted on the victim. Apart from the number of wounds, the media were also not told about the choking. D/CPL Case received many calls, but one call that caught his attention was the one he received on 11/30/00. On this particular day, a female caller claimed that, before her demise, Ashley had been in the company of three men, one of whom was Fredrick Johnson. The caller went on to state that Ashley had been raped by the three men before being killed by Johnson in a move to prevent her from reporting the incident. What made this call unique from the rest was that the caller claimed Ashley had been stabbed in the head and neck. The caller further said that two of the suspects were scratched by the victim during the process. It was this information that prompted D/CPL Case to establish a surveillance on the two main suspects. Although the investigating officers had pictures of the suspects, they were unable to verify the suspects accurately. Hence, with the help of P.O. Gummo, a traffic police officer, they were able to verify that, indeed, the suspects under surveillance were Scott Jones and Fredrick Johnson. Interview of Witnesses and Interrogation of Suspects   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   According to Howell (1999), interviews and interrogations are part of the investigation process since more information is acquired during the process. Apart from interrogating witnesses, investigators also need interrogate all suspects whose names are mentioned. According to the case study, the first person to be interviewed was Mrs. Smith, the victim’s mother. Through this interview, it was noted that the victim had been fond of sneaking out of the house at night. Apart from sneaking out, the victim had also been in a number of love relationships, and her last boyfriend was known as Jason Phelps. During the interview, Mrs. Smith claimed that Ashley had had a close friend known as Heather Thomas. Apart from Mrs. Smith, D/CPL Case also interrogated Heather Thomas. During the interview, D/CPL Case noted that Heather was not telling the whole truth. D/CPL Case wished to apply a polygraph examination on Heather, but her parents were aga inst this idea. Hence, D/CPL Case only asked random questions, which Heather answered. D/CPL Case took the record of the interview to Det. Shelly Madison, who later claimed that out of the nine answers given by Heather Thomas, four were wrong. This was enough evidence to show that that Heather Thomas had not been truthful. It was not until the fourth interrogation that Heather Thomas confessed to knowing Fredrick Johnson. D/CPL Case also interrogated Scott Jones and Fredrick Johnson, who was the primary suspect of the homicide investigation. According to the case study, Scott was interrogated more thoroughly than Fredrick. This is because Fredrick requested an attorney. Hence, he was never questioned. At first, Scott denied taking part in the homicide. However, after numerous interrogations by D/CPL Case, Scott finally confessed to taking part in the killing. Constitutional Challenges   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   During the investigation, there were a number of motions aimed at suppressing some of the evidences. For instance, there was a motion filed to suppress the murder weapon located in the crime scene. The murder weapon, a knife, was brought in by Richard Myers, an American citizen. In my opinion, this item was legally obtained since it was brought in after an advertisement was placed in the media. Apart from the knife, another motion filed was that of illegal surveillance. According to studies, one is in violation of the fourth Amendment if he or she interferes with the privacy of a person by either watching or listening to the Person (Couenhoven, n.d). In my opinion, D/CPL Case and the investigation team went against the fourth amendment after they illegally placed surveillance on Scott and Fredrick. There was also a motion filed on some of the confessions made. It is against the fourth amendment for a witness to be interrogated for a long p eriod (NCIDS, 2002). Due to this, it is therefore evident that Scott was coerced to make confessions during the interrogation, hence, there is high chance that not all the information provided by the suspect was accurate. In my opinion, the information provided by Scott was not legally obtained. It is also against the law for enforcers to acquire information from witnesses and suspects without a warrant (Find Law, 2014). In the case study, D/CPL Case and the investigation team acquired the DNA of Scott and Fredrick after illegally acquiring the suspects’ cigarette butts that they had discarded without the suspects’ consent. Due to this, it is therefore evident that the law enforcers did not acquire the item legally. Lesson Learnt and the Applications   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The case study has been quite beneficial since through it, I have been able to comprehend most of the lessons I acquired in class concerning the investigation strategies and procedures of a homicide. First, a crime scene needs to be secured by the first police officers to arrive at the scene. In the case study, PFC. Malcolm was the first police officer to arrive at the scene. After confirming that the victim was dead, he established a perimeter around the crime scene. Secondly, after securing the crime scene, investigators need to take photographs of the scene as well as the victim. Apart from taking photographs, they also need to produce sketches of the entire scene. In the case study, apart from sketches, there are also photographs of the victim as well as the crime scene. These photos showed the wounds inflicted on the victim, the posture in which the victim was found, and the manner in which she was clothed when she was first identifie d. After taking photographs, investigators need to ensure that they collect all the evidence required. In the case study, apart from the victim’s blood samples, other evidence collected included her clothes as well as swabs from her mouth, vagina, and anus. Finally, crime scene investigators need to interview all witnesses as well as suspects whose names are mentioned. These interviews are of great importance to the investigation since they enable investigators in identifying the main suspects. In the case study, it was through numerous investigations that D/CPL Case and his investigating team were able to identify the main suspects of the homicide. Conclusion   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   On 11/3/00, a female body was found in Columbia along the Old Annapolis road. The body was later identified as that of Ashley Smith. During the investigation, it was noted that the victim was not only stabbed, but was also choked. According to tests conducted in the laboratory, prior to her death, the victim had engaged in sexual activities. This was due to the detection of sperms in her pants, vagina, and anus. After collection of evidence, an investigation was launched to identify perpetrators of the homicide. Apart from the victim’s mother, interrogations were also conducted on Heather Thomas, Jason Phelps, Ronnie Emden, Scott Jones, Fredrick Johnson, Michael Stewart, and Janet Jones and Crystal Jones. It was through the interrogations that the investigation team was able to identify Scott and Johnson as the main perpetrators of the homicide. In my opinion, the information addressed in the case study has been quite beneficial. Th is is because, through the case study, I have been able to fully comprehend the information learned in the classroom. References Assi, H. (2010). Homicide Crime Scene Investigation. Retrieved on 10 December 2014 from www.justiceacademy.org/iShare/Library-Training/Homicide-Scene-Manual.pdf Byrd, M. (2000). â€Å"Duty Description for the Crime Scene Investigator.† Crime Scene Investigator Network. Retrieved on 9 December 2014 from http://www.crime-scene-investigator.net/dutydescription.html Couenhoven,P. (n.d). Suppressing Confessions: Involuntariness and Miranda. Retrieved on 12 December 2014 from www.sdap.org/downloads/research/criminal/confessions.pdf Find Law. (2014). The Fourth Amendment and the â€Å"Exclusionary Rule†. Retrieved on 12 December 2014 from http://criminal.findlaw.com/criminal-rights/the-fourth-amendment-and-the-exclusionary-rule.html Howell, J. (1999). Homicide Investigation Standard Operating Procedures. Retrieved on 9 December 2014 from www.policeforum.org/assets/docs/Free_Online_Documents/Homicide/homicide%20investigation%20standard%20operating%20procedures%201999.pdf NCIDS. (2002). Chapter 14: Suppression Motions. Retrieved on 12 December 2014 from www.ncids.org/Defender%20Training/Drug%20Case%20Training/Supp_Motions.pdf Source document

Improving Studying and Learning Techniques

Improving Studying and Learning Techniques Free Online Research Papers Homework has been a part of student’s lives since the beginning of formal schooling in the United States. The practice, however, has sometimes been accepted and other times rejected by both educators and parents. These views have surfaced because homework can have both positive and negative effects on a child’s learning, along with their attitude toward school (Boers, 1995). At different points throughout history, radically different viewpoints have prevailed. Many different passions have arisen and extreme positions have always been customary. In the early 1800s, much of the United States was an agricultural society, so the school year was short and homework was of little significance (Checkley, 1997). Working for the family took priority so there was little time for homework because children had numerous chores to complete. Most students left school after the sixth grade. High school homework was demanding but uncontroversial. Homework was generally discouraged by parents, because they were concerned with the work getting done. After the Industrial Revolution, families started moving to large cities and becoming more urbanized. This was a period in time when education was growing and developing and many new schools were built. It was during the late nineteenth century that Americans first started to debate the pros and cons of homework (1997). Two court cases relating to homework complaints took place in Texas and Mississippi in 1887 and 1895 respectively (Gill, 2001). Over the course of the twentieth century, sparks flew regularly whenever professionals, politicians, and parents addressed the topic of homework in schools. In the early 1900’s, Edward Bok addressed concerns of the value of homework, suggesting that no homework be assigned to anyone under the age of 15, while also proposing that children 15 and older should have one hour per night (Kralovec Buell, 2000). â€Å"Ladies Home Journal† led a crusade against homework, enlisting doctors and parents that said it was damaging to children’s health. Various school districts passed anti-homework regulations. In 1901, California legislature passed a law abolishing homework in grades kindergarten through eighth grade and limiting it in high school (2000). In the 1920s, the progressive education movement began to ask more questions about the structure of teaching. Supporters of this movement viewed learning as an active process of problem solving. Anti-homework attitudes were commonly central components of this movement (Boers, 1995). This was far different from the philosophy that claimed children were passive, blank slates that needed to be imprinted with information. During the 1930s, there were plenty of debates and discussions on the topic of homework. Several different publications on the topic of homework abounded in education journals and popular periodicals. In addition, the Society of the Abolition of Homework was established (Checkley, 1997). One of their main arguments was the health concerns that were a result of doing homework. They argued that homework damaged the physical, emotional, and mental health of children (1997). Their reasoning was that homework reduced the amount of time they had to play outside and get fresh air, caused eye strain, and triggered a lack of sleep. This attitude came to the forefront throughout the 1930s, when labor unions were lobbying for workplace reforms as well. During times like these, when economic, political, or cultural crises take place, issues in education took center stage. Homework was branded as unhealthy for children (1997). Many schools started to require that any extra work was to be done at school under teacher supervision. In 1941, psychologist Henry Otto said, â€Å"The benefits of assigned homework are too small to counterbalance the disadvantages† (Cooper, 1996). During this time, homework was one of the most contested school practices. It provided parents with a regular outlet to criticize or praise teachers, and to express strong views about what went on at school. In 1948, a national survey showed the median amount of time spent on homework by high school students was between three and four hours per week (Gill, 2001). The educational debate then started to shift from abolishing homework to making it more creative and individualized. In response to Russia’s launching of the space satellite Sputnik in 1957, the pendulum started to swing again. Concerns arose that American students were not keeping up with those in Russia. The progressive education movement came under attack, charged with being irrational and insufficiently rigorous (Checkley, 1997). A fifty year trend toward less homework came to an abrupt halt. Due to the increasing pressure to stay ahead in the Cold War, a cry came out for more and better education in math and science, and as a result, both educators and parents called for more homework. The National Defense Education Act supported this effort and continued to place a high value on homework (1997). For the first half of the century, most educational scholars were sharply critical of teachers’ reliance on heavy, repetitive, memory-driven homework assignments. Cooper (1997) stated that up until the 1950s, homework was widely viewed as a sin against childhood. Parents were far more supportive of homework than academic experts during this time. In all regions of the United States, parents encouraged substantial homework for their children, not only to improve their academic performance, but also to build character, train work habits, fill otherwise idle time, and provide a concrete starting point for parent-teacher communication. By the 1960s, homework was seen as one contributing factor to academic achievement. However, in 1966, the National Education Association did suggest some limits in the amounts of homework given (Gill, 2000). Educators and parents worried that homework was swarming out social experiences, outdoor exercise, and creative extracurricular activities. They recommended no homework for early elementary grades, no more than one hour per day, four days per week for the upper elementary grades, and one and a half hours per night for high school students (2000). During the 1970s, a ‘Back to Basics’ theme prevailed. Teachers were expected to focus on the core subjects of reading, writing, and arithmetic. A Gallup poll in 1978 showed that 72% of Americans thought that schools could be improved by assigning more homework (Kralovec Buell, 2000). In the 1980s, â€Å"A Nation at Risk† was published, which disapproved of a ‘rising tide of mediocrity’ in American schools. This report claimed that American students were not studying the right subjects, were not working hard enough, and were not learning enough. Their schools suffered from slack and uneven standards. Many of their teachers were ill-prepared (Gill, 2001). It declared that much of what troubled the country’s economy could be attributed to the inadequacies of the schools. They stressed that the need for more homework and a longer school day would be critical to improving these issues. As a result, schools began to vie with one another to require more and more homework at an earlier age. In 1986, the United States Department of Education published a pamphlet called â€Å"What Works,† and it concluded that homework did, in fact, work. This was also the time period when the â€Å"academic excellence† movement began. Even though researcher Harris Cooper reported in 1989 that his extensive studies suggested that the amount of homework done in the elementary grades had little or no effect on later academic achievement, policymakers maintained the significance of homework, and encouraged educators to increase the amounts given (Cooper, 1994). During these years, comparisons to educational approaches, school hours, and the amount of homework assigned by other countries also became prevalent. During the 80s and 90s, homework was hailed as inherently good by educators, politicians, and the general public from all points on the ideological spectrum. Beginning in the 1990s, it started to become commonplace for school districts to adopt policies requiring homework, even in the earlier grades (Checkley, 1997). In 1998, a national survey showed that the amount of homework given to elementary school students had dramatically increased from the amount given in 1978 (Gill, 2001). In recent years, homework has been given in greater quantities than in the past, partly due to rising academic standards, difficulty in getting into top colleges, and the challenging job market that faces graduates today (Cooper Lindsay, 1998). The resources that are available to students who need support with their homework are growing. There are homework hotlines, and special homework tutors and programs that are offered in learning centers. In addition, there are numerous internet websites that offer support, and many schools’ after school programs have set a time aside for the kids to work on homework with supervision. Homework, defined as â€Å"tasks assigned to students by school teachers that are meant to be performed during non-school hours,† is a traditional teaching strategy (Cholden, 1998). Homework assignments generally have different purposes. The most common purpose is to have students practice material already learned in class. Practice homework is meant to reinforce learning and help the student master specific skills. Preparation homework introduces material that will be presented in a future lesson. These assignments aim to help students learn new material so they will be better prepared when it is covered in class. Extension homework asks students to apply skills they already have to new situations, while integration homework requires the student to apply many different skills to a single task, such as reports, projects, and other creative assignments (1998). From an educator’s point of view, assigning homework can serve many different educational needs. It can be used to establish sound study habits, further intellectual discipline, ease time constraints for the amount of subject material that needs to be covered in class, as well as supplement and reinforce work that is done in school. Many parents and educators agree that homework can additionally benefit children in more general ways as well. Carol Huntsinger, a professor of education and psychology at the College of Lake County, conducted a four-year study of 80 families relating to homework given in the preschool and primary grades reaping long-term benefits. It showed that children who did considerable homework were more academically competent than and as psychologically well adjusted as children who did little or no homework in the early grades (McCarthy, 2006). It appeared from Huntsinger’s study that children did, in fact, benefit from more practice on basic s kills outside of school. She also found that when she asked 585 kids in grades 4 through 12 if they felt they had too much homework, 67% of them said no, that they had just enough (2006). Homework can promote positive student traits, such as independence, initiative, and responsibility, while also helping with time management skills and perseverance. Furthermore, completing schoolwork at home can teach students that learning can take place anywhere, not solely in the classroom. Homework has also been known to bring home and school closer together. Parent involvement can be helpful in speeding up a child’s learning, while also enhancing the parents’ appreciation of education. Homework can be the outlet for parents to express positive attitudes about the value of success in school. Overall, homework can be an effective way for students to improve their learning, and for parents to be made aware of what their student is learning and how well their child is doing in school. Yet because so many factors influence the impact of homework achievement, expectations for homework’s outcomes, especially in the earlier grades, must be realistic. If not properly assigned and monitored, homework can also have negative effects on children and families. Homework can lead to boredom with schoolwork, since all activities can only remain interesting for so long. It can prevent children from taking part in leisure-time and community activities which also teach important life skills. There are even studies out that suggest the increasing amounts of homework are leading to childhood obesity (Bennett Kalish, 2006). These reviews say that the reason children are not getting outside to play and exercise as often is because of the burden of too much homework. The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons made an announcement in 1998 that high school students are suffering an epidemic of back, neck, and shoulder injuries due to all of the books they have to lug around in their backpacks (2006). Homework also has the possibility of leading to undesirable character traits such as cheating, either through the copying of assignments or re ceiving help that goes beyond tutoring. Moreover, giving assignments to complete at home can cause poor attitudes in children toward school and learning. Parents can become too involved in the homework process as well, thus interfering with their child’s learning. Parents may confuse their children if the teaching techniques they use differ from those used in the classroom. Their involvement may also hinder student learning if they complete tasks that the child is capable of completing alone. At times, increased homework loads can also aggravate tensions within the family. A parent’s attitude can have a direct effect on their children’s attitude toward school and homework (Cooper, 1994). Others argue that homework can accentuate the disparity between students from low-income homes and students from middle or high-class homes (Kohn, 2006). Gerald LeTendre, professor of education at Penn State, is convinced that teachers are misusing homework as a means for improving test scores (Kohn, 2006). He believes that they should be concentrating more on their instructional strategies and methods, rather than giving extra homework to boost academic test scores. LeTendre stated, â€Å"Undue focus on homework as a national quick-fix, rather than a focus on issues of instructional quality and equity of access to opportunity to learn, may lead our country into wasted expenditures of time and energy† (2006). Teachers may feel pressured to give more homework in order to prepare students for standardized testing, which often carries a heavy weight with administrators. Teachers also feel the frustrations that come with homework, as many students repeatedly neglect to turn in their assignments. Constant reminding, reprimanding, taking away privileges, and making phone calls home are superfluous responsibilities for the teacher when assigning the work. The teacher may end up becoming even more upset and disheartened as the cycle continues, knowing that the students’ grades may drop as a result of their irresponsibility. The issue for educators and parents alike is not which list of effects, the positive or negative, is correct. To a degree, both are. It is the responsibility of parents and teachers to maximize the benefits that are possible, while minimizing the costs. Determining the value of homework depends on the application of knowledge an individual has about the subject. There is very little research on how homework specifically relates to student achievement. Although there are many mixed feelings about homework’s effectiveness, a large majority of parents, students, and teachers agree that homework develops students’ character in a positive way (Kohn, 2006). Harris Cooper (1996), a University of Missouri psychology professor who has studied homework’s effects on test scores, has found that â€Å"there is no evidence that any amount of homework improves the academic performance of elementary school students.† When looking at the National Assessment of Educational Progress in 2000, fourth graders who did no homework scored the same as those who studied for 30 minutes each night (Cooper Lindsay, 1998). Eighth grade students’ scores were slightly higher for the kids who did between 15 and 45 minutes of homework per night opposed to those that did less. High school students’ scores were similar throughout the group; regardless of how much homework they reported doing. Cooper admits that he has seen a relationship between the time students spend on homework and their achievement, but not a considerable amount. He found that in high school, the correlation between homework and academic success is much higher than in the lower grades (1998). Cooper stated, â€Å"Homework has benefits that go well beyond what is going on in school, and for that reason, I believe it will continue to be an integral part of our educational system for quite some time† (1998). In today’s modern world, an old-fashioned approach to homework will not work. Homework has to be relevant to the lives of children and a little creativity and careful planning on the teacher’s part will go a long way. An appropriate purpose for homework would be to practice skills, reinforce academic concepts, extend learning, promote healthy study skills, apply new concepts, involve students, and develop positive attitudes toward school and learning. Homework should be seen as any activity where learning is extended outside of school. Assignments that are interactive, and require students to discuss the subject matter with someone else can be beneficial. This would include activities that children can do with their parents, older siblings, or fellow classmates. Teachers should try to give assignments that are self-explanatory and make sure the directions are clear before leaving the classroom. Effective homework also appeals to many different learning styles, so that students do not get bored with the monotony of the same types of assignments. In order for homework to be the most valuable, it must be meaningfully planned, sufficiently evaluated, and the assignments must incorporate some student choice, variety, and encourage creativity. The recommended time for returning graded schoolwork in order for it to be meaningful is no longer than 3 days. However, the sooner a student receives feedback, the more significant it becomes. (Boers, 1995). Overall, researchers have been far from unanimous in their assessments of the strengths and weaknesses of homework as an instructional technique. Nonetheless, experts agree that homework is a good way to review, reinforce, and practice what has been taught. Although homework cannot be linked to improving test scores or advancing academic achievement, it is generally considered useful in building valuable character traits in students by educators and parents alike. References Bennett, S. Kalish, N. (2006). The case against homework: How homework is hurting our children and what we can do about it. New York, NY: Crown Publishing Company. Boers, D. (1995). Happy Classrooms. Boston, MA: PWS Publishing Company. Checkley, K. (1997). Homework: A new look at an age-old practice. Education Update. 39, 1, 5-6, 8. Cholden, H. (1998). The homework handbook. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. Cooper, H. M. (1994). The battle over homework. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press. Cooper, H. M. (1996). Homework for all in moderation. Educational Leadership. 81, 34-38. Cooper, H. M., Lindsay, J. (1998). Relationships among attitudes about homework, amount of homework assigned and completed, and student achievement. Journal of Educational Psychology. 90, 2-9. Gill, B. (2001, May 21). The condition of education. Department of Education Update, 33, 8-12. Kohn, A. (2006). The homework myth. Cambridge, MA: De Capo Lifelong Books. Kohn, A. (2006, September). Abusing research: The study of homework and other examples. Retrieved September 3, 2007, from Alfie Kohn Web site: alfiekohn.org/teaching/research.html Kralovec, E., Buell, J. (2000). The end of homework. Boston: Beacon Press. McCarthy, K. (2006). How important is homework? Retrieved September 2, 2007, from www.projectappleseed.org Web site: http://projectappleseed.org/homework.html Research Papers on Improving Studying and Learning TechniquesStandardized TestingThe Spring and AutumnPersonal Experience with Teen PregnancyHip-Hop is ArtInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married Males19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenThe Relationship Between Delinquency and Drug UseThe Effects of Illegal ImmigrationMarketing of Lifeboy Soap A Unilever Product

Free Essays on FDR

Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 32nd president of the United States. Roosevelt served longer than any other president. Roosevelt held office during two of the greatest crises ever faced by the United States: the Great Depression of the 1930s, followed by World War II. Both in peacetime and in war his impact on the office of president was enormous. In Roosevelt’s 12 years in office strong executive leadership became a basic part of United States government. Roosevelt was born at his family’s estate at Hyde Park, in Dutchess County, New York. He was the only child of James Roosevelt and Sara Delano Roosevelt. James Roosevelt was a moderately successful businessman, with a variety of investments and a special interest in coal. Sara Delano, 26 years younger than her previously widowed husband, brought to the marriage a fortune considerably larger than that of James Roosevelt. Roosevelt formally entered politics in 1910, when he became a candidate for the New York State Senate in a district composed of three upstate farming counties. Democratic leaders had approached young Roosevelt because of his name and local prominence and because he might be expected to pay his own election expenses. The 28-year-old Roosevelt campaigned hard, stressing his deep personal interest in conservation and other issues of concern in an agricultural area and also his strong support of honest and efficient government. In the state capitol at Albany, Roosevelt gained statewide publicity as the leader of a small group of upstate Democrats who refused to follow the leadership of Tammany Hall, also known as the Tammany Society, the Democratic Party organization of New York City. Roosevelt’s group succeeded in blocking the election of Sheehan, which infuriated Tammany Hall. The dramatic struggle drew the attention of New York voters to the tall vigorous new state senator with the magic name of Roosevelt. Roosevelt entrusted his campaign management to the journalist L... Free Essays on FDR Free Essays on FDR Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 32nd president of the United States. Roosevelt served longer than any other president. Roosevelt held office during two of the greatest crises ever faced by the United States: the Great Depression of the 1930s, followed by World War II. Both in peacetime and in war his impact on the office of president was enormous. In Roosevelt’s 12 years in office strong executive leadership became a basic part of United States government. Roosevelt was born at his family’s estate at Hyde Park, in Dutchess County, New York. He was the only child of James Roosevelt and Sara Delano Roosevelt. James Roosevelt was a moderately successful businessman, with a variety of investments and a special interest in coal. Sara Delano, 26 years younger than her previously widowed husband, brought to the marriage a fortune considerably larger than that of James Roosevelt. Roosevelt formally entered politics in 1910, when he became a candidate for the New York State Senate in a district composed of three upstate farming counties. Democratic leaders had approached young Roosevelt because of his name and local prominence and because he might be expected to pay his own election expenses. The 28-year-old Roosevelt campaigned hard, stressing his deep personal interest in conservation and other issues of concern in an agricultural area and also his strong support of honest and efficient government. In the state capitol at Albany, Roosevelt gained statewide publicity as the leader of a small group of upstate Democrats who refused to follow the leadership of Tammany Hall, also known as the Tammany Society, the Democratic Party organization of New York City. Roosevelt’s group succeeded in blocking the election of Sheehan, which infuriated Tammany Hall. The dramatic struggle drew the attention of New York voters to the tall vigorous new state senator with the magic name of Roosevelt. Roosevelt entrusted his campaign management to the journalist L...

Analysis Poem No Coward Soul Is Mine

With wide-embracing love Thy Spirit animates eternal years, Pervades and broods above, Changes, sustains, dissolves, creates, and rears. Though earth and man were gone, And suns and universes ceased to be, And Thou wert left alone, Every existence would exist in Thee. There is not room for Death, Nor atom that his might could render void: Thou — Thou art Being and Breath, And what Thou art may never be destroyed. Analysis Connotative words: First stanza In the second line, storm-troubled has negative connotative meaning. Denotative meaning from storm is an extreme weather condition with very strong wind, heavy rain, and lighting; and the denotative meaning of trouble s to cause someone to have a problems or difficulties. The word storm-troubled is a compound verb that has connotative meaning an activity of destroying something with the powerful energy or an activity that can cause a dangerous effect. In the fourth line, shines has positive connotative meaning. The denotative meaning from shines as verb is to send out or reflect light; the connotative meaning is to show something or looks like. Also in fourth line, the word arming has positive connotative meaning. The word arming comes from word arm and affix  ¬Ã¢â‚¬â€œing. Arming then has meaning as verb. The denotative meaning from arm is part of body which consist of two long parts of the upper body that fixed to the shoulders and have hands at the end. The connotative meaning from arming is to embrace or to hug someone, also to save or to make safety from something. Second stanza In the first line, the word breast has positive connotative meaning. The denotative meaning from breast is part of body, especially has relation with women. The connotative meaning from this word is deep inside of heart. In this line the poet wants to show that she really believes in God, so that she says that God in her breast or in her deep inside of her heart. Fourth Stanza In the fourth line, Rock has positive connotative meaning. The denotation meaning of rock is the dry solid part of the Earth’s surface; stone. The connotative meaning of Rock here is the faith, beliefs, or religion that people have to have. Seventh Stanza In the third line, Being and Breath has positive connotative meanings. The denotative meaning of being is a person or thing that exists or the state of existing; and breath is the air that goes into and out of lungs. The connotative meaning of those words is the One who only has the being forever or the One who can give a life or soul for the creature. Analysis Poem No Coward Soul Is Mine With wide-embracing love Thy Spirit animates eternal years, Pervades and broods above, Changes, sustains, dissolves, creates, and rears. Though earth and man were gone, And suns and universes ceased to be, And Thou wert left alone, Every existence would exist in Thee. There is not room for Death, Nor atom that his might could render void: Thou — Thou art Being and Breath, And what Thou art may never be destroyed. Analysis Connotative words: First stanza In the second line, storm-troubled has negative connotative meaning. Denotative meaning from storm is an extreme weather condition with very strong wind, heavy rain, and lighting; and the denotative meaning of trouble s to cause someone to have a problems or difficulties. The word storm-troubled is a compound verb that has connotative meaning an activity of destroying something with the powerful energy or an activity that can cause a dangerous effect. In the fourth line, shines has positive connotative meaning. The denotative meaning from shines as verb is to send out or reflect light; the connotative meaning is to show something or looks like. Also in fourth line, the word arming has positive connotative meaning. The word arming comes from word arm and affix  ¬Ã¢â‚¬â€œing. Arming then has meaning as verb. The denotative meaning from arm is part of body which consist of two long parts of the upper body that fixed to the shoulders and have hands at the end. The connotative meaning from arming is to embrace or to hug someone, also to save or to make safety from something. Second stanza In the first line, the word breast has positive connotative meaning. The denotative meaning from breast is part of body, especially has relation with women. The connotative meaning from this word is deep inside of heart. In this line the poet wants to show that she really believes in God, so that she says that God in her breast or in her deep inside of her heart. Fourth Stanza In the fourth line, Rock has positive connotative meaning. The denotation meaning of rock is the dry solid part of the Earth’s surface; stone. The connotative meaning of Rock here is the faith, beliefs, or religion that people have to have. Seventh Stanza In the third line, Being and Breath has positive connotative meanings. The denotative meaning of being is a person or thing that exists or the state of existing; and breath is the air that goes into and out of lungs. The connotative meaning of those words is the One who only has the being forever or the One who can give a life or soul for the creature.

Continous personal development in my place of work Essay

Continous personal development in my place of work - Essay Example However, regardless of the personality the prison staff has, they have been subjected, and made to adapt, to changing circumstances in the past few years. From the working role of prison staff as depicted by Woolf to the new role of bringing about a balance and accomplishment of a constructive, aberrant behaviour work with prisoners, prison staff members are facing a dire need for continued professional development (Liebling, Price & Schefer 2011). The changing times have shifted the focus of prison roles from delivery of justice and fairness to better management of the attitude of the prisoners. Better and improved theoretical and practical models have been developed for achieving this managerial role. Power culture, role culture and person culture have all seen significant changes in the past years (Harper 1997). Moreover the advent of new technology and changes in the architectural design of the prisons, coupled with innovations in the operating framework of organizations and grea ter external monitoring of the position and utility of prisons, have widened the scope of the responsibilities prison staff are required to meet (O'Toole & Eyland 2005). This has implications for prison staff. According to Boyatzis, Cowen and Kolb (1995), educators are not in touch with learning anymore. They give out information that they have and which helps to achieve the expected results. Educators today have become intertwined in the business of giving out information rather than being proactive in learning. The changing times have served to highlight this deficiency. This is evidenced by the fact that people working at the prison are now demanding better training programs and greater opportunities to further their skills. This serves to highlight the need for any individual working at the prison to indulge in a continuous process of professional development in order to satisfy the demands of the modern era. Before scrutinizing the professional development I, being an employee at the prison, can undergo, I will revisit the models of professional development. These models will be reviewed and linked to how they apply to my place of work i.e. the prison. Generally speaking, professional development entails to the concept of improving one’s personal self as well as bringing about advancement in one’s career. It encompasses a range of initiatives undertaken by the individual such as diplomas, workshops and conferences, training and other informal means of learning offered at the place of work. One of the essentials of professional development is the evaluation of one’s progress and how aligned the process is to the goals. The programs undertaken can be formal or informal, and group-led or individual. Keeping the need for professional development into consideration, Sparks and Loucks-Horsley (1989) have cited five models for staff development. Often people follow a combination of these models to advance professionally. Before evaluating on eself through these models, one needs to answer the question that what is needed to become a better educator. Analyzing all professional development models keeping this question in context, I believe I can chart out a comprehensive continued professional development process. The first model of professional development pertains to individually guided development. It is a natural phenomenon for a person to be curious. Curiosity is a great teacher and

Providing respite care to carers of people with dementia Research Proposal

Providing respite care to carers of people with dementia - Research Proposal Example There has been a significant change in the provision of healthcare services in the recent decades whereby the balance of care is being shifted from communities and institution based services to personalized care. This shift in care provision has caused great concern in the field of public health mainly due to the fact that the carers of people with chronic illnesses such as dementia are now burdened with the added responsibility leading to a gradual and consistent deterioration of their own physical and mental health. Various researches conducted in the past have highlighted the gravity of the issue and pressed for policy changes in favour of providing respite care to the carers of people with dementia and making such care more accessible.The term respite care refers to in generic terms refers to short-term care. However in the field of healthcare it refers to phased care, relief care, planned care, programmed care, holiday care, social admission, and shared care. Various types of re spite care are now available for both the patients as well as their carers. This includes community based day care, institutional care, and paid or voluntary care services offered by institutions or volunteers or friends of the caregivers. Such care services can broadly be categorized as in-home care services, adult day centres - including provision of transportation and meal services; and residential care facilities - which affords break or vacation for the carers which are not covered under the insurance or Medicare.

Assessment Centre Case Study 'University Reunion' Essay

Assessment Centre Case Study 'University Reunion' - Essay Example The major reason companies or businesses merge is to reduce or save on the production cost especially in the case of former competitors, generate capital for entering into the markets or launching products, and possessing technical knowledge and complementary practice needed to compete effectively in the market. (Sanders, 2012) Acquisitions and merger The term merger and acquisitions are usually used by several people as if they are synonyms of each other, but a slight difference exists between the two terms. According to Investopedia (2011), when a single company takes over another company and establishes itself clearly as the new owner, the sale or purchase is referred to as acquisition e.g. Panflow acquiring the Vatline Company. The force that allows for new business enhanced cost efficiencies is known as synergy. Synergy assumes the form of cost savings and revenue enhancement. When the companies merge, they hope to benefit from four major ways, which are also the ones that may g enerate issues if not handled well. These areas are economies of scale, acquisition of new technology, staff reductions, and improvement of industry visibility and market reach. Business issues The subject of employees is usually handled as a minor business issue while it has a huge role to play in the success of the merger or acquisition. John Reh (2012) refers to this issue as merger mania, and advocates for a successful management of people to achieve a successful merger. Bersin & Advocates (2010) supports this idea by presenting it from the perspective of HR consulting and outsourcing. The main reasons for a company acquiring another or merging are critical to the solutions of the business issues that may arise due to the company acquisition. Identifying the strategic reasons why Panflow acquired Vatline aids in concentrating on the synergies that Panflow may require for success. Common strategic reasons or objectives for acquisitions that range from complementary market and pro ducts, acquisition of key technology, gaining creative talent (from Vatline), and eliminating competitor are important in determining the solutions to the business issues. (Daunt, 2002: p.2) Merger pitfalls Gitelson et al (2001) identifies seven key areas that any merger needs to look into from the beginning in order to ensure success. These areas or pitfalls are preoccupation, list-making, organizational proliferation, irrelevant and infrequent communication, triangulation, relatives, and the guiding light. Technical issues The idea of merging organizations or companies always requires the technological integration between the two companies. Vatline and Panflow are utilizing different software and hardware platforms and making the same business units to function as one the companies require a technology in place that would enable the different systems to communicate at a machine level. (William, 2004) The easier way to attain this is for one group to migrate to the same technology functions as the other. The manner that should be followed in selecting the best technological platform to use would be considering the technological superiority of one of the systems over the other. Apart from the superiority of the technology, the major issue is supposed to be the ease at which the transition from one system to another would be achieved from the procedure, organizational structure, and

Midnight Yoga - Industry Definition Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Midnight Yoga - Industry Definition - Assignment Example   Similarly, the organization has given children the opportunity to learn and explore in the designated forest as this allows them to grow up into individual who is creative, and those that are willing to appreciate the natural world. (Desikachar, 1999). Apparently, the industry has four dedicated individuals who have played the huge role in ensuring that all the organized charitable events receive the best audience for funding. It is worth mentioning that, these individuals have continued to engage in events that are more related to the community and particularly on the issues of environment and child help. These medications have not been without the yearning for more education as all of them are students in various universities in parts of Columbia (Kaminoff, et al., 2012). Yoga is denoted as a type of exercise that pertains to physical and mental aspects of the body with the aim of uniting the body, mind and spirit. It is carried out by both genders, and has been there since the early 60s, and has only advanced as a result of the changing world and its continuous increase in demand (Stephens, 2010). It is apparent that the popularity of Yoga industry across the world has been steady in the last five years with most countries not taking much interest. Nevertheless, the world is gradually taking much interest due to its publicity and associated benefits. To be specific, Canada is currently the leading country in the world in the popularization of yoga. In fact, it is believed that British Columbia leads the yoga popularity game, other parts of Canada such as Alberta have also followed suit in popularity (Education, 2008). Apparently, it is estimated that the rate of growth in Midnight Yoga is 78%, particularly in Canada. This has been facilitated by the urge from people to keep their body fit. Actually, it has been stipulated that most people have received the motivation for this practice for the number of reasons. To begin with, Yoga has been confirmed to enhance flexibility at around 78% in both male and female.     

RMON and RMON Probes Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

RMON and RMON Probes - Essay Example For instance, SNPP is neither convenient nor efficient while collecting network traffic over an overused, low-bandwidth WAN link (Docstore, 2014). This means that SNMP does not guarantee the effectiveness of collected data since the data collected under SNMP is usually not ready for use. This call for a better approach in the collection, processing, reduction, and retrieval of data in a selective manner and hence the concept of a remote monitoring (RMON). The remote monitoring (RMON) should act as an extension to SNMP. Indeed, RMON and SNMP organize and retrieve data in a similar manner (Docstore, 2014). Generally, RMON refers to mechanism that collects and processes data at the collection point (Docstore, 2014). Ideally, we can refer to RMON as a standard mechanism that defines a set of statistics and functions that can shift between RMON-compliant console systems and network probes (Cisco, 2014). Just like in a SNMP, users can implement the RMON as a standard Management Information Base (MIB) on RMON-enabled devices. As a result, RMON offers a better platform to network-fault diagnosis, plan, and fine-tune the collected data (Cisco, 2014). RMON can collect data through a continuous process and offline mechanisms (Docstore, 2014). More so, we can implement the RMON in software of an existing device, hardware, or separate device. The implementation of the RMON helps in achieving remote packet capture (Docstore, 2014). Notably, the ha rdware implementations of the RMON or Remote network monitoring devices define  Remote Monitoring probe (RMON probe) or monitors (Docstore, 2014). Indeed, the RMON-enabled devices include the RMON probes and existing network devices like routers that have an RMON probe embedded into their circuitry (LUTEUS SARL, 2004). In this context, an RMON MIB describes data organization, OIDs identifies the data, while SNMP commands retrieves the data (Docstore,

Assessment Centre Case Study 'University Reunion' Essay

Assessment Centre Case Study 'University Reunion' - Essay Example The major reason companies or businesses merge is to reduce or save on the production cost especially in the case of former competitors, generate capital for entering into the markets or launching products, and possessing technical knowledge and complementary practice needed to compete effectively in the market. (Sanders, 2012) Acquisitions and merger The term merger and acquisitions are usually used by several people as if they are synonyms of each other, but a slight difference exists between the two terms. According to Investopedia (2011), when a single company takes over another company and establishes itself clearly as the new owner, the sale or purchase is referred to as acquisition e.g. Panflow acquiring the Vatline Company. The force that allows for new business enhanced cost efficiencies is known as synergy. Synergy assumes the form of cost savings and revenue enhancement. When the companies merge, they hope to benefit from four major ways, which are also the ones that may g enerate issues if not handled well. These areas are economies of scale, acquisition of new technology, staff reductions, and improvement of industry visibility and market reach. Business issues The subject of employees is usually handled as a minor business issue while it has a huge role to play in the success of the merger or acquisition. John Reh (2012) refers to this issue as merger mania, and advocates for a successful management of people to achieve a successful merger. Bersin & Advocates (2010) supports this idea by presenting it from the perspective of HR consulting and outsourcing. The main reasons for a company acquiring another or merging are critical to the solutions of the business issues that may arise due to the company acquisition. Identifying the strategic reasons why Panflow acquired Vatline aids in concentrating on the synergies that Panflow may require for success. Common strategic reasons or objectives for acquisitions that range from complementary market and pro ducts, acquisition of key technology, gaining creative talent (from Vatline), and eliminating competitor are important in determining the solutions to the business issues. (Daunt, 2002: p.2) Merger pitfalls Gitelson et al (2001) identifies seven key areas that any merger needs to look into from the beginning in order to ensure success. These areas or pitfalls are preoccupation, list-making, organizational proliferation, irrelevant and infrequent communication, triangulation, relatives, and the guiding light. Technical issues The idea of merging organizations or companies always requires the technological integration between the two companies. Vatline and Panflow are utilizing different software and hardware platforms and making the same business units to function as one the companies require a technology in place that would enable the different systems to communicate at a machine level. (William, 2004) The easier way to attain this is for one group to migrate to the same technology functions as the other. The manner that should be followed in selecting the best technological platform to use would be considering the technological superiority of one of the systems over the other. Apart from the superiority of the technology, the major issue is supposed to be the ease at which the transition from one system to another would be achieved from the procedure, organizational structure, and

RMON and RMON Probes Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

RMON and RMON Probes - Essay Example For instance, SNPP is neither convenient nor efficient while collecting network traffic over an overused, low-bandwidth WAN link (Docstore, 2014). This means that SNMP does not guarantee the effectiveness of collected data since the data collected under SNMP is usually not ready for use. This call for a better approach in the collection, processing, reduction, and retrieval of data in a selective manner and hence the concept of a remote monitoring (RMON). The remote monitoring (RMON) should act as an extension to SNMP. Indeed, RMON and SNMP organize and retrieve data in a similar manner (Docstore, 2014). Generally, RMON refers to mechanism that collects and processes data at the collection point (Docstore, 2014). Ideally, we can refer to RMON as a standard mechanism that defines a set of statistics and functions that can shift between RMON-compliant console systems and network probes (Cisco, 2014). Just like in a SNMP, users can implement the RMON as a standard Management Information Base (MIB) on RMON-enabled devices. As a result, RMON offers a better platform to network-fault diagnosis, plan, and fine-tune the collected data (Cisco, 2014). RMON can collect data through a continuous process and offline mechanisms (Docstore, 2014). More so, we can implement the RMON in software of an existing device, hardware, or separate device. The implementation of the RMON helps in achieving remote packet capture (Docstore, 2014). Notably, the ha rdware implementations of the RMON or Remote network monitoring devices define  Remote Monitoring probe (RMON probe) or monitors (Docstore, 2014). Indeed, the RMON-enabled devices include the RMON probes and existing network devices like routers that have an RMON probe embedded into their circuitry (LUTEUS SARL, 2004). In this context, an RMON MIB describes data organization, OIDs identifies the data, while SNMP commands retrieves the data (Docstore,

Internal and external environment Essay Example for Free

Internal and external environment Essay Introduction Internal and external environment of each company is a concept of poles apart. The knowledge of human is influenced by various factors that are surrounding the environment in which that an individual is placed. A continuous and steady improvement is the order of the day for increasing the human efficiency in working environment. â€Å"THE modern business man is the true heir of the old magicians. Every thing he touches seems to increase ten or a hundredfold in value and usefulness. All the old methods, old tools, old instruments have yielded to his transforming spell or else been discarded for new and more effective substitutes. In a thousand industries the profits of to-day are wrung from the wastes or unconsidered trifles of yesterday†(Scott, Walter Dill, 1998 Increasing Human Efficiency in Business, Chap. I. pg. 1) The era of computerization is system based approach at every level of working, whether it is in business, management, information technology or any industrial and social sector. The adherence to system has been fruitful in all aspects and also in locating the risk areas that can be monitored to avoid such risks with appropriate standards of management techniques and tools. Definition of system and Manager’s adoption of principles of system A system is defined as an organized, unitary whole composed of two or more interdependent parts (subsystems) where the whole contains identifiable boundaries from its environment (suprasystem). The practice of system is based on system principles and methods which are to be understood by a manager are : (1) Define company as a system (2) Establish system objectives (performance criteria) (3) Identify wider systems (environment). (4) Create formal subsystems (including a humanistic, psychosocial subsystem (5) Integrate the subsystems with the whole system (if not the subsystems themselves, whatever interrelates them with other subsystems. There are various aspects that are co-related with systems approach in terms of management of external and internal environment and how management theory is applicable in legal matters and what is the status of manager in communication in solving complex issues that arise from time to time in both external and internal environment. This is another way of stating that a manager has to be dynamically competitive and work advantageously in both environments with the prop of system theory. Systems theory as prescribed above, requires a complete in-depth understanding about working of a company apart from day to day analysis of performance within and outside environment of a company. The tools that are effective in measuring and managing the affairs of a company are viz., time management, risk management, supply chain management, team management, customer relation management, operation management, management of information systems, decision supportive systems and organizational behavior. A continuous persisting efforts of a manager produces emergence of new ideas and strategies apart from assisting in identifying key areas of a problem. It can also be stated that problems produce some of the best systematic ideas that are recognized as best strategies in the long term for the benefit and growth of a company. †And while the body is confined to one planet, along which it creeps with pain and difficulty; the thought can in an instant transport us into the most distant regions of the universe; or even beyond the universe, into the unbounded chaos, where nature is supposed to lie in total confusion. What never was seen, or heard of, may yet be conceived; nor is any thing beyond the power of thought, except what implies an absolute contradiction†. â€Å"But though our thought seems to possess this unbounded liberty, we shall find, upon a nearer examination, that it is really confined within very narrow limits, and that all this creative power of the mind amounts to no more than the faculty of compounding, transposing, augmenting, or diminishing the materials afforded us by the senses and experience†(Raleigh, N. C Alex Catalogue, An Enquiry concerning Human understanding, Sec. II. The origin of ideas, pg. 11) Ideas are the final output of thinking process, which has to undergo a brain storming session, group discussion and after several workshops, a company launches a new product.