What it Means to become a Teacher

I used to think that the best part of being a teacher was the brightly colored bulletin boards, the smell of freshly sharpened pencils, the Crayola Crayons, and the endless supply of organized office supplies neatly placed on the teacher’s desk.I spent countless summers of my childhood assisting my mother, a third grade teacher, with the annual set up of her classroom. On those hot summer days, I admired the creativity, organization, and enthusiasm my mother holds for her profession. It inspired me so much that I decided I too wanted to be a teacher. I’ve come a long way in my initial reason of why I want to me an educator. With my experiences and education in ED109, the reading requirements, class discussions and interview, I now know that teaching is much more fulfilling than what I first observed so many years ago. It takes dedication, willingness to learn, thoughtfulness and compassion to thrive and survive in this profession.The following paper will explore my obse rvations of this experience. I’ll begin with my interview with my mother, a third grade teacher for the past fifteen years, in a low socioeconomic school district. I sat down with her and asked her to share her insight that might help me continue my journey as an up and coming educator. I asked her, ‘what is the best part of being a teacher?’ She responded, ‘every day you feel that you have made a difference in a child’s life. Whether it is teaching them to read, enhancing their social skills or celebrating their achievements – you know that you mattered. When it’s the end of the day and kids say ‘I want to stay here in school – it’s so much fun!’ you know you are the one that got them to love to learn.’When discussing this with my mother is made me look back at my experiences and helped me to anticipate the fulfillment of student success and the joy of learning. This made me understand the importance o f teaching and how teachers impact students every day. I went on to ask her about the challenges she faces in the teaching profession. My mother explained that it can be the work outside working and teaching students. She gave me examples of the paper work involved in keeping accurate scores and grading papers, bus duty, and at times endless school meetings that could be done more efficiently.She explained that is comes with the profession, but definitely not a favorite amongst teachers. When reading the chapters in Pearl Rock Kane’s book My First Year as a Teacher, I  saw other challenges teachers face. For example in chapter two, Ms. Nehemiah struggles to get her class on topic. The book states â€Å"I wanted to discuss F. Scott Fitzgerald’s use of metaphor in The Great Gatsby. They wanted to throw spitballs and whisper dirty words in the back of the room†(Kane 1991). This shows me that it is difficult to control a classroom as a first year teacher and how f irst year teachers need to come up with effective strategies to be in control. Ms. Nehemiah figures out strategies by communicating with her peers and other teachers that have the experience she doesn’t.This helped her realize her strengths and weaknesses. Her ability to take constructive criticism and reflect on herself is why she is still a teacher today. When interviewing my mother and reflecting on my readings, I was able to gain a better understanding of challenges in a classroom and what I can do to surpass the challenges to be the most effective educator. I wanted to know what she felt new educators needed to know before entering the profession.My mom clearly stated that â€Å"if you are not going to give it your all, don’t do it.† She reflected on a poor experience she had with a student teacher placement she had several years ago. She explained that the student teacher’s heart and passion just wasn’t there and the students and staff could feel it. I gathered from my mom’s response that a strong work ethic, passion for the profession, and willingness to reflect is what is needed to be an effective educator. Her response went along activities on pursuing the profession of teaching.During the class discussions and activities, I learned that there are multiple steps to become a teacher, such as in the state of Massachusetts, you are required to take the MTEL tests for you area of study to become a licensed teacher. Also, you have to maintain a master’s degree in art or science. I would not have had the knowledge of this if I wasn’t in this education class. This class has provided me with a deeper understanding on what it takes to become a teacher and what life as a teacher will be like. Later in the interview, I asked what do colleges need to so in order to prepare new teachers for the profession? My mother’s response was that all colleges and their education students need to dissect and inter pret the new Common Core Standards.I gathered from our conversation that new educators will be required to know the standards and will have to develop instruction accordingly. Principals and school districts will search out new educators that are experienced and  familiar with the Common Core. This conversation about the Common Core Standards made me realize that although we have not explored this topic in ED109, as I delve deeper into the education classes at Lasell College, I will look for opportunities to grasp these standards. Finally, I asked what can I expect if I become a teacher? She said ‘Expect that you will lose sleep at night thinking about how you will help Johnny read or that Mary needs a winter coat for recess.You will get out of bed and search your closets for a coat for Mary. You will finally get Johnny to read and when he does, you will celebrate on your car ride home with the radio blasting. You will celebrate and get discouraged. Your patience will be tes ted, but your heart will be filled. You will have to manage your time and give it your all every day.’ Her response can be connected to the reading and the discussions in class.I remember in class Jess stated something along the lines of ‘You worry about your students even though you aren’t in the classroom. You will lose sleep thinking about lesson plans and you will be stressed out. You can’t let the students see you crumbling if something doesn’t work out exactly as planned, because many things do not go perfectly in a classroom.’ This really stuck with me after being in the class, because it shows the passion and heart you have to have for the profession and if you don’t have that heart and passion you will not survive in the classroom. As for the readings, they connected to my mother’s response, especially in chapter six of My First Year as a Teacher by Pearl Rock Kane because it explains that this teacher worries about her students even after she has taught them.Ms. McClurg says â€Å"And I wonder if any of the students who shared in that fourth-period class remember the long dark winter that turned into spring and how they changed the life of a friendless boy named Leo – and the life of an inexperienced teacher†(Kane 1991). When reading this quote it really shows that a teacher really thinks and reflects about every student they have and had over the years. My thinking about education has developed over the course of the semester.I’ve been able to integrate the class discussions/activities, readings and experiences to develop a deeper, more meaningful understanding of what it takes to become an educator and why I belong in this profession. I plan to further investigate the best teaching practices and skills needed for teaching right here at Lasell College. I will utilize what I learned and now know I too  will make a difference in a child’s life.

Managing the Diverse Workforce

Everybody is created uniquely as compared with others. There might be qualities that some people or groups possess that the other group does not. This is diversity. A diverse workforce can give many advantages that the problems associated with it are carefully studied and solved for. Variety of ideas and views regarding important matters within the organization can contribute a lot to the success of the work. Although there might arise conflict and misunderstanding, it can be addressed properly to be converted as strength of the company. Efficient diverse workforce management requires a lot of effort and even money, yet it is very worth it for it gives a lot of benefits to the company.                                                 Managing the Diverse Workforce With further advancement in technology, health issues are continuously being addressed. As such, the life expectancy of people is increasing. This has an immense effect in the business sector. According to Sheldon Steinhauser, the median age of workers raised from 38 years in 1994 to 55 or more in 2005. Also, more and more people from poor performing countries or states are going to richer countries or nations to apply for jobs. The days when women are left in the houses for housekeeping and baby-sitting are also over. Women are pursuing their own careers nowadays. With these happenings, diversity in the workforce is very evident and is expected to increase in the coming years. The question now is what its effects in the business are and how this issue should is addressed. Everybody is created uniquely as compared with others. There might be qualities that some people or groups possess that the other group does not. This is diversity. Oftentimes, diversity is associated with demographic-related factors such as ancestry, gender or age. Aside from those mentioned above, this may also cover sexual orientation, educational and professional training, civil status and religious preference. Cultural background is also a major dimension. According to Bateman and Snell, a diversified workforce may include, but are not limited to: ethnic groups and minorities, migrant workers, disable, women, and people with varying expectations, values, affiliations, economic status and work style. In order to manage diversity, the systems and practices must be reviewed and changed if necessary to maximize the capabilities of the people in it. Implementation of the systems must be ensured to extract the abilities of the employees so as to maximize their contribution to the company. In order to do this effectively, the employer or the human resource personnel must know the individual differences of the workforce. Just like in other setting, diversity can be taken as advantageous to the company if handled well. People with varying values and skills may contribute to the aggregate success of the whole. However, to be able to achieve such success, each difference must be preserved and nurtured. Bateman and Stale noted the existence of a glass ceiling in the company. This is an invisible barrier that hinders women and members of the minority groups from reaching a higher level in the hierarchy of the organization. As such, the potentials of these groups are not maximized. However, f or the sake of profit and improvement, this barrier is being removed nowadays. As different ways to manage diversity are being discovered, discrimination in the workplace is slowly exiting. Although there is really no definite formula in handling diversity, researches and experiences help the human resource personnel and leaders extract the full potentials of their employees from all walks of life. Employing people amidst their cultural and demographic background allows the company to have a good share in the labor pool. Many skillful workers belong to ethnic groups or are women, or are older people. Thus, not including them in the search would lessen the already small labor pool. Also, according to studies at the Stanford Business School, as written in the Business and Legal Reports, diversity among employees can generate better performance when it comes to out-of-the-ordinary creative tasks. For instance, business developments are more effective if the decision-making body is composed of diverse individuals. Their different views could be taken into the advantage of the company. Their varying experiences can be put together to achieve a solid and effective decision. In sales and promotions, a team composed of people from different regions or age brackets or lifestyles can have their own suggestions based from what they themselves want or favor. The target customer could be re presented by the members of the team so their needs would be addressed even at the start of the project. Discussions about the differences of ideas can also be taken as positive since more options will arise and more factors would be considered on the initial planning, thus reducing the chance of error or unseen circumstance. Also, a company that crosses boundaries and differences creates a good impression to the labor pool. In effect, workers would be the ones to approach the human resource personnel, thus, saving more money for the promotions and employee search, and more often than not, those highly-skilled workers are the ones who go for such companies. Furthermore, traditional practices may no longer be applicable to the current policies and need and a diverse workforce is more unbounded to deviate from this, resulting to a better system. Businesses and organizations are sprouting all over during the course of time. In effect, competition is high not only for the share of the market, but also for the shrinking labor pool. Aside from attracting workers due to effective diversity management, homogeneity can also address the need for flexibility and change. By valuing the differences of the individuals, the company is rewarded by its employees by means of loyalty and excellence. A secret in effective management is making the subordinates feel its worth as part of the team. If this is given to him, he would strive to return this sense of importance by means of excellent work and loyalty. This is when the employee shows his best capabilities. Managing a diverse workforce creates a good impression not only to the employees and members of the organizations but to the people outside it as well. According to Bateman and Stale, diverse customers tend to favor these kinds of organizations. Also, the diverse market can be better addressed if they are well-represented in the company by the diverse employees. As such, customer satisfaction is higher and patronage would be awarded. To marginalize the workforce is to waste money, time and skillful workers. Such action would create a bad impression to the market and to the labor pool. Also, it would hinder the entrance of highly-skilled workers who happened to not belong to the widely-accepted group. It may also illicit complaints and conflicts from members of the marginalized group. Having a diverse workforce is not all glory. Diversity also creates conflicts especially if it involves ideas or beliefs. Yes, varying opinions create a healthy atmosphere for discussion and debate but this oftentimes lead to misunderstanding and conflict. Interpersonal conflict may arise and eventually destroy the group. Sometimes, attack is taken not just against the idea but on the person as well. Discrimination among workers may also be difficult to handle. People from different groups tend to be more protective of their identity or beliefs and this often lead to discord. Discussions may also take longer than usual in order to entertain all differing and sometimes conflicting views. Lack of cohesiveness does not only involve ideas or views but even understanding of the goal. The aim may be interpreted differently and this would lead to people walking towards different directions, making the finish line more difficult to reach. This must be attended to at the start so as to ensure that the team is walking towards the same direction in order to save effort, time, money and other resources. According to the Business and Legal Reports, problems also include the answer to the question of how the employees must be treated. Should it be fair or same? What is the basis of fairness? Treating different employees is not an easy task. A simple task of distributing a memo for all the employees poses a problem. The language to be used, the capacity of all the people to understand and a lot others must be taken into primary consideration. Biases must be kept far from decision-making and management but individual capacities of the employees must also be taken into account. As for members of the workforce, the major problem is miscommunication. Differences may hinder smooth transfer of information from the people inside the organization. People from different races might have different understanding in words or expressions. Misinterpreting the gestures or actions of others may yield to conflict or argument within the organization. Also, stereotyping may also arise. An individual or group may think that they are superior to others. This would affect the performance of all the people in the workforce. Instead of focusing on the goal, stereotyped members of the team may be distracted and concentrate on being within the â€Å"more superior† group. Also, perseverance and efforts of the members might be disregarded as several members focus on their colleagues. Researches and experiences claim that to manage a diverse workforce is never easy. It is a task that has to be well-taken cared of. Yet, it is also possible. In fact, there are several multicultural organizations that employ a diverse workforce. There are advices for management and human resources personnel as to how this issue must be handled in order to extract the best abilities of the members of the team. First and foremost, the top management must have an eye on the effectiveness of the diverse workforce. They must be sensitive to the feedbacks of diverse groups regarding company policies or ordinances. They must be also aware to the response of the other members of the team. The plans and objectives of the organization must also incorporate diverse workforce. Most of all, top managers must participate and take the lead in the programs that aim to learn about diversity. Trainings and seminars can also be conducted to better handle and manage a diverse workforce. Rewards can be given to further affirm the good works of the team members. Lastly, a team building is essential to create a bond between members of the company. In doing so, the risk of miscommunication is lessened, as well as the possibility for conflict. With the growing competition in the labor pool and the market, any organization cannot afford to lose a skillful individual just because he belongs to a minority or because he is outside the margin line. A diverse workforce can give many advantages that the problems associated with it are carefully studied and solved for. Variety of ideas and views regarding important matters within the organization can contribute a lot to the success of the work. Although there might arise conflict and misunderstanding, it can be addressed properly to be converted as strength of the company. Efficient diverse workforce management requires a lot of effort and even money, yet it is very worth it for it gives a lot of benefits to the company. References Bateman and Snell. Managing the Diverse Workforce. Retrieved November 22, 2007   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   from http://management.uta.edu/Dr.Wheeler/Mana5312/Chap011.ppt Business and Legal Reports. Diversity Can Improve Decision-Making. Retrieved   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   November   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   22, 2007, from http://www.vault.com/nr/newsmain.jsp?nr_page=3 Human Resources, University of California, Berkeley.Guide to Managing Human   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Resources: Chapter 12: Managing Diversity in the Workplace. Retrieved November   Ã‚  Ã‚   22, 2007 from http://hrweb.berkeley.edu/guide/diversity.htm Improvement Network. Managing a Diverse Workforce. Retrieved November 22,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   2007 from   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   http://www.improvementnetwork.gov.uk/imp/core/page.do?pageId=10912 Piturro Marlene, PhD.. Recruiting and Managing a Diverse Workforce. Retrieved   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   November   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   22, 2007 from   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   http://www.vault.com/nr/newsmain.jsp?nr_page=3&ch_id=402 Steinhauser Sheldon. (1999, January). Successfully Managing an Age Diverse Workforce.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Managing Diversity, Vol. 8, Retrieved November 22, 2007 from   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   http://clem.mscd.edu/~steinhas/managing_diversity.htm    United States Department of Trade (2007). Leading a Diverse Workforce. Retrieved   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   November 22, 2007 from http://dothr.ost.dot.gov/Toolkit/Diversity/   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   leading_a_diverse.html      

The Success Of Project Portfolio Management - 824 Words

Jeffrey Pinto defines project portfolio management as, â€Å"the systematic process of selecting, supporting, and managing a firm’s collection of projects.† (p. 92). Many large firms can have multiple projects going on at the same time. These projects might support each other or can be stand-alone projects. This essay will examine the keys to successful project portfolio management and analyze the key difficulties in successfully implementing them. The success of project portfolio management is determined by three key factors. The factors include: flexible structure and freedom of communication, low-cost environmental scanning, and time-paced transition. Projects that involve difficult channels of communication can be very difficult to develop. The projects that involve lots of â€Å"red tape† and other levels of administration can hinder them from meeting milestones and can be doomed to fail from the beginning. One of the main keys to a projects success is communication. Pinto writes, â€Å"Successful portfolios emerge from environments that foster flexibility and open communication. When project teams are allowed to improvise and experiment on existing product lines, innovative new product ideas are more likely to emerge.† (p. 95). This open communication and flexibility allows team members to voice their concerns when issues arise and allow them to come up with alternatives freely with having to get approval fr om project leaders or management. The next key to success is low-costShow MoreRelatedCritical Analysis Of The Heathrow Terminal 5 Project1236 Words   |  5 Pagesanalysis of the Heathrow Terminal 5 project Programme and Portfolio Management: Analysing the Strategic Multiple-Project Environment Introduction: Project portfolio management (PPM) deals with the coordination and control of multiple projects pursuing the same strategic goals and competing for the same resources, whereby managers prioritize among projects to achieve strategic benefits. (Martinsuo 2012) Heathrow Terminal 5 success is attributed to the project management approach, this is needed in orderRead MorePortfolio Management And Strategic Management Concepts.836 Words   |  4 PagesPortfolio Management and Strategic Management Concepts Portfolio and project management are similar and sometimes thought of as being one another. Between the project and portfolio management the goals and the intended strategic action is similar. The process between the portfolio management includes and involves the resources that list a process, which includes the evaluation, selection, and prioritization. Portfolio management and strategic management assist with the organizations missions andRead MoreThe Importance Of Creating Strategic Goals At Strategic Planning Essay1322 Words   |  6 Pages Institution 1.0 Introduction In the process of strategic planning, each and every part of the involved process happens to be very important. Despite the importance, one of the most important aspects of planning entails the development of a project strategic, objectives, and corporate goals as well as the goals of the business (Bearce Tirone, 2010). A large proportion of the all the analysis done by people in strategic planning happens to be designed for purposes of helping the individualsRead MoreOrganizations And Project Management Organizations955 Words   |  4 PagesOrganizations and Project Management Organizations use governance to establish strategic direction and performance parameters. The strategic direction provides the purpose, expectations, goals, and actions necessary to guide business pursuit and is aligned with business objectives. Project management activities should be aligned with top-level business direction, and if there is a change, then project objectives need to be realigned. 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In 2012, APM Body of Knowledge 6th edition was published, and unlike the old version, the 6th edition is based on analysis of the functions rather than on a project life cycle. APM Body of Knowledge 6th edition provides the standardRead MoreEssay on Analysis and Synthesis of Prior Research1253 Words   |  6 PagesSynthesis of Prior Research The companies that efficiently solve their projects issues and portfolio concerns will differentiate themselves from their competition. The projects that companies work to complete with the many different project methodologies demonstrate where the business is now, and the portfolio of projects of the organization demonstrate where the organization is headed. To effectively manage the tremendous number of projects that leaders face today in their organizations, they look to methodsRead MoreProject Managment Essay779 Words   |  4 Pagesor renewed interest in the field of project management? There is a new or renewed interest in the field of project management because there is new technologies that are significantly used in many different countries and to keep in contact with these industries. World wide project management is used to develop the many different projects that are important within the industries. 2. a. What is a project, and what are its main attributes? b. How is a project different from what most people doRead MoreFinding The Right Project Managers1407 Words   |  6 Pagesexplains that â€Å"finding the right project managers begins with the organization’s definition of the role, and its project management processes. Most often companies look for project experience when evaluating new project managers, followed by communication skills. The generally described project manager competencies, such as project-specific expertise, problem-solving competence, leadership and social competence have to be complemented with entrepreneurial and project management competence.† In addition,Read MoreProject Portfolio Management : Project Management1432 Words   |  6 PagesProject Portfolio Management (PPM) is the centralized management of the processes, methods, and technologies used by project managers and project management offices (PMOs) to analyze and collectively manage current or proposed projects based on numerous key char acteristics. The objectives of PPM are to determine the optimal resource mix for delivery and to schedule activities to best achieve an organization’s operational and financial goals ― while honoring constraints imposed by customers, strategic

Freud s Theory Of Instincts And The Individual Psyche

In Sigmund Freud’s â€Å"Civilization and its Discontents†, we are introduced to a new outlook in the way we view our lives due to his analysis of civilization and how it has affected our happiness. Freud uses his theory of instincts in order to explain what encourages us as well as how our behavior is all linked together and is motivated by our instincts. He explains why humans seek happiness and how it is one of the toughest things to achieve. Towards the end of his book he also gives an insight on how the individual psyche which consist of the id, ego, and super-ego leads us to feel guilt and its impact on civilization. Through his theory of instincts and the individual psyche, Freud is able to demonstrate how civilization has set limits to†¦show more content†¦The pleasure principles goal is to avoid pain, which Freud later states it is not always a good thing because the longer things follow the pleasure principle the happiness received begins to decrease and no longer has the same affect. Overall, this makes it harder for individuals to stay happy. Along with the pleasure principle, Freud states there are three main things that also make us unhappy which are our body, the external world, and our relations with others. And out of all these three, the worst comes from our relations with others, we hurt one another more than anything else on earth. Freud states, â€Å"happiness †¦ is a problem of the economics of the individual’s libido† libido meaning sexual desires, he demonstrates how an individual’s sexual desires and being able to fulfill them leads them to their happiness. At the same time, Freud’s use of libido can also represent a person’s desires and pleasures as a whole and not limiting itself to sexual pleasure. Libido connects to Freud’s theory of instincts. Freud believes that our instincts influence our behavior, and our behavior is caused by our desires. â€Å"Satisfact ion of instinct spells happiness for us’ , this implies that if our desires are satisfied, our behavior is better and we will be happy. However, there seems to be a problem when it comes to Freud’s theory of instincts and civilization. Freud states that civilizationShow MoreRelatedIs The Human Race?868 Words   |  4 Pagesetc†. Although civilization has a positive cognition, Sigmund Freud, a neurologist and initiator of the concept of psychoanalysis, acquainted civilization as being something inadequate. Thus, civilization enables the human race to feel genuine happiness by outlawing actions that come instinctively by our individual psyche. 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The two men had seemingly identical beliefs about human behavior, but also had contrasting beliefs about concepts such as the ego, the psyche, and the state of unconsciousnessRead MoreTheories Of Personality And Psychology1382 Words   |  6 PagesPSY8100 CLIFFORD THEORIES OF PERSONALITY 3 (DEBATE EXISTENCE OF THE UNCONSCIOUS) Faculty Use Only Debate on Psychoanalysis vs. Behaviorism: Freud and Skinner Moderator: Good evening, and welcome to the Northcentral University?s debate on psychanalysis versus behaviorism. My name is Nisaa Kirtman and I am from the Department of Psychology. It?s an honor to be the moderator of tonight?s debate. The topic for tonight?s debate are the contrasts betweenRead MoreOne Flew Over The Cuckoo s Nest1226 Words   |  5 Pagesspectacles of Sigmund Freud, esteemed Austrian psychologist. Freud’s highly regarded contribution to the study of the human brain and mind opens the curtains of the books reality. Things like mental illness and depression were not well known or understood traits for a person to have in Freud’s lifetime, those of which have heavy representation in Kesey’s story. One of Freud’s biggest theories is the â€Å"id†, the â€Å"ego†, and the â€Å"superego†. He believed that the â€Å"id† represents one’s instincts, â€Å"ego† representsRead MoreThe Unconscious Mind Is Not Some Black Hole Of Unacceptable Impulses933 Words   |  4 Pages†(â€Å"Unconscious†). The Unconsious is the place a large portion of the work of the psyche completes; it s the store of programmed aptitudes (, for example, riding a bicycle), the wellspring of instinct and dreams, the motor of much data handling. The unconscious mind shows the real intentions behind the mask.Freud added to a geological model of the psyche, whereby he depicted the components of the mind s structure and capacity. Freud utilized the relationship of an iceberg to portray the three levels of theRead MoreModernism Vs. Modernist Modernism1185 Words   |  5 Pagesthinkers such as Karl Marx and Sigmeud Freud played important roles in this ti me. Therefore, we discussed some of their more important works in class. For instance, you cannot study Marx thought without mentioning The Communist Manifesto. Similarly, Freud cannot be mentioned without his Outline of Psychoanalysis. Marx and Freud, after World War I, began to question the rationality of mankind. The difference being Marx focused primarily on political issues and Freud on psychology. Still, both were veryRead MoreEssay about Sexual Frustration in Alfred Hitchcocks Rope2778 Words   |  12 Pages On May 21, 1924, two highly intelligent university scholars from Chicago, Richard Loeb and Nathan Leopold, executed their highly-calculated plan for the cold-blooded murder of a distant relative of Loeb#960;s, 14-year old Bobby Franks. As students of Nietzsche#960;s philosophy, Loeb and Leopold had set out to commit the #8805;perfect murder#8804; in order to actualize the belief that they were of an elite group, superior to the common man, to whom the standard moral code did not applyRead MoreMarx, Mill And Freud s Critique Of Political Economy And The Communist Manifesto Essay1133 Words   |  5 Pagessometimes merely implicit) notions of freedom and unfreedom we find in the texts we have read by Marx, Mill and Freud. Use the esoteric traditions we have examined thus far (from the Book of Job to Plato) as a comparative yardstick, or point of reference, but without letting them take over the foreground in your paper -- the latter should be reserved for these three figures. Karl Marx, Sigmund Freud, and John Stuart Mill are three authors who tackle the topic of freedom in unique ways, but their messages

Current Art Vs Ancient Art - 1901 Words

Yazeed Alamri Argumentation and Research August 19/2015 Final Paper Current Art Vs Ancient Art Introduction Since time immemorial, art has always been a product of man’s emotional and intellectual connection with the world. The primary aim of art is to create a message that will either trigger an inexplicable consciousness within the spirits of its audience, or provoke wisdom among the minds of the curious persons. Owing to its deep-rooted role for man, art has long been explored in several manners, with some scholars pursuing the mere aspects of art, while some take on deep comparative examinations. However, the act of connecting ancient art to contemporary art is not, as easy as taking into account, the time both came into existence. More so, how current artists perceive the ancient art, and how it influences their current works. There is a more precise, more diverse approach in understanding how ancient art measure up to the contemporary ones. The overall purpose of this research paper is to gain insight of the perception and attitude towards ancient art among current artists. To understand and complete this research topic, the paper will offer deep research, which will also include interviewing current artists with an aim of completing the set objectives. Nonetheless, current artists have the obligation to appreciate ancient art, so as to develop the act of appreciating art works in the society, including the works of current artists. Background of the topic BeingShow MoreRelatedThe Art Of Feng Shui1328 Words   |  6 Pages The Art of Feng Shui Topic: Feng Shui General Speech Purpose: To inform my audience about the art of feng shui. Specific Purpose: To have my audience be able to use this information and the decorating tips I provide to rearrange their living spaces so that they can live in a harmonious environment filled with positive energy. 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Factors Influencing Tourist Attraction to the Adelaide zoo Samples

Question: Discuss about the Factors Influencing Tourist Attraction to the Adelaide. Answer: Introduction The tourism industry is important as it generates revenue for country to boost the economic development. The tourists visit various destinations for leisure, business or any other purpose and while on stay or entry to those regions they are able to pay for services. The customer satisfaction is important in tourism due to its influence on their decision to visit a given tourist destination and thus strategies can be adopted to maximize customer satisfaction and retention (Kouthouris and Alexandris, 2005). Customer satisfaction has long been used in marketing to measure how organizational products meet or surpass customers satisfaction. A study by Cronin et al. (2000) found that customer satisfaction is important for the success of business. Adelaide Zoo is one of the largest tourist destination in Australia and it is particular of interest since it experiences fluctuation of visitors annually (Orams, 2002). The current study of customer satisfaction provides best indicators and facto rs tourist consider before visiting Adelaide Zoo. If tourist is satisfied, then there is high chance of coming back to the back or mobilizing friends and family to visits the place. The tourists who are unhappy are at high risk of not visiting Adelaide Zoo thus affecting revenue generation. There is a high competition in tourism industry worldwide just like any other business activities necessitating the government to adopt strategies to improve local tourism. The indicators of why customer chose one destination over another provide useful information for the tourism sector and local government to support Adelaide Zoo by creating political, social and infrastructure developments that create environment for greater tourist satisfaction. It has been established that there are many factors that affect tourist destination including price, expectation and perceived quality (Beerli Martin, 2004). Other studies have highlighted significant influence of behavioral, demographic and socioeconomic factors on tourists' satisfaction with destinations (Murphy et al., 2000). In this study, we evaluated customers satisfaction of people in campus who have visited Adelaide Zoo in order to inform the destination on how to improve its competitive advantage. Background information on Adelaide Zoo Adelaide Zoo is one of the oldest tourist attraction in Australia located near Adelaide City, South Australia. The Australian government made the park to be run on a non-profit basis to increase conservative measures and encourage the locals to visit the site. The park is rich in plant and animal diversity with over 300 animal species and approximately over 2000 animals. The park was open in 1883, making it one of the oldest tourist attraction site in Australia occupying 8 hectares of land (Anderson, 1995). Early in 1950s the park was negatively affected by bird trade where live birds particularly finches and parrots were exported. A proper legislation has curbed many risk factors that was threating wildlife in the park and many community and private organizations are involved in conservation. This site was chosen particularly due to its uniqueness as having display of all Australian zoos. Furthermore, apart from its closeness to central business district, the site has huge variety o f exotic and native mammals, fish, largest panda and reptiles in surrounded by magnificent botanic garden. The resident gets to enjoy free tour in the park thus offering motivation for locals (Adelaide Zoo, 2017). Limitations One of the problem encountered in the study is randomization. Since there were few individuals who have visited Adelaide Zoo it was difficult to pick interviewee randomly. In this study, the respondents were restricted to three variables, there is possibility that there are other intervening variables affecting individuals decision to visit the park. The study further could not establish link between tourist motive and level of satisfaction. Methodology Research Design This study adopted descriptive survey research design. This design was chosen because it uses data collected from research questions to answer questions concerning current status of a phenomenon. Mertler (2008) argued that when dealing with people, situations and conditions about which we wish to know more, then descriptive survey is best. These arguments favor this study hence the choice of this design. This research used both quantitative and qualitative methods. sampling techniques and target Population This study adopted purposive sampling technique to determine the sample population who have visited Adelaide Zoo. Approximately 100 people were asked if they had visited the park from which 20 individuals were picked. Target population is the list of all individuals or members that the study is about or interested in (Kitchenham Pfleeger, 2002). The target population of the study comprise of 20 individuals attached college and must have visited Adelaide Zoo. Research Instruments In this study, data was collected through structured questionnaires which was circulated to study participants in the college. Questionnaires are selected because they provide a high degree of data standardization and adoption of generalized information amongst any population (Hsieh et al., 2005). The questionnaire was presented with closed and open ended questions. The questions seek factual information such as position in the college, sex, and professional qualifications. The other part aimed at seeking opinions, perceptions and attitudes of the respondents with regard to the variables used in the study. A 5 point Likert scale for establishing visit frequency (5=very frequently, 4= frequently, 3=occasionally, 2=Rarely and 1= Very rarely) and another scale for determining level of satisfaction (5= very satisfied, 4 = satisfied, 3= neither satisfied or dissatisfied, 2= dissatisfied and 1= very dissatisfied) were used to solicit respondents perceptions and opinions regarding the selec ted effect action variables. Opportunities were also provided to respondents through open ended questions to provide extra relevant information. Data Collection Procedure The questionnaires were administered to the sampled respondents using the drop and pick method. The respondents were allowed adequate time to fill the questionnaires after which the questionnaires were collected after one week for analysis. Data Analysis and Presentation Once the raw data was collected, the first step was to clean the data for any inconsistencies. The coding of the data was the next step. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to explain results of the findings. The data collected was be coded, and analyzed through Excel. The results were presented in tables and charts. Results There were equal number of male and females in study sample (figure 1). However, during the initial 100 samples that were questioned to determine whatever they have visited Adelaide zoo there were more males (62 %) than females (38%) (data not shown). Figure 1: Gender of the participants Socio-demographic variables showed that majority of the interviewed were between the age of 21-30 years old (65%) followed by 31-40 years (15 %) and over 4 years were the least (20%) (Table 1). The participant who have enjoyed local tourism destination (55%) were slightly above the lovers of international travel (45%). Similarly, many people had visited other destination apart from Adelaide Zoo comprising of 55%. There were many undergraduate (80%) participants compared to graduate (20%) (Figure 2). Figure 2: socio-demographic characteristics The study showed that majority of the of the respondents visited Adelaide Zoo very frequently and frequently by 25% and few visited very rarely (10%). Accessibility stood to be the most motivating factor to visit Adelaide Zoo (45%). The number of respondent who were satisfied Adelaide Zoo were similar to undecided respondent. However, it was evident that significant number of respondent were very dissatisfied (10%) with Adelaide Zoo services. Table 1: dimensions influencing participants to visit destination Variable Results (n-20) Age (years) 21-30 (65%) -31-40 (15%) over 40 (20%) Rate of visiting Adelaide Zoo Very frequent (25%), frequent (25%), occasionally (20%), rarely (20%) and very rarely (10%) Motivation to visit Adelaide Zoo Affordability (35%), accessibility (45%) and income (20%) Level of satisfaction Very satisfied (30%), satisfied (30%), neither satisfied nor dissatisfied (25%), dissatisfied (5%), very dissatisfied (10%) Discussions The majority of the respondent were undergraduate students with age between 21 and 30 years old on campus and few staffs. The respondents preferred local tourism that is encouraging so as to save foreign exchange and offer revenue to the local industries. However, the studied further identified significant number of people prefer to travel abroad though the country has many enjoyable attractions. The government has a lot to do to promote domestic tourism. In other study, Felsenstein and Fleischer (2003) suggested that making arrangements with local tours and offering benefits at reasonable prices lower than that offered to foreign tourist boosts local tourism. The government has to invest heavily on infrastructural developments like hotels and shopping malls that support tourism industry (Littrell et al., 2004). Majority traveled more often to the Adelaide Zoo and they cited accessibility as a motivating factors. This is in harmony with previous studies where a universal accessibility has been cited to promote tourism irrespective of race, gender, age color, nationality, religion and physical conditions. The participant attributed accessible heritage and infrastructure in Adelaide as welcoming. The park is a walking distance from the central business district and one can take approximately 15 minutes to get into the park. Adelaide Zoo has met international standards by designing infrastructures around the park to gather for handicapped. The cheap transport system including road, air, sea and train transport network (Allan, 2011) that connect Adelaide city to the rest of the world is promoting tourism in the city. The increased use of technology has promoted information services (Buhalis Law, 2008). The respondents cited using internet to make travelling arrangement easy. One reported to booking and paying for fair and accommodation online. Affordability was further a great motivating factor for individuals to visit the park. As indicated earlier, the park is non-profit and thus little entry fee is charged on Australians. The efficient transport system has lowered the cost of travel to Adelaide city making it affordable for tourists. The cheaper flexible price of airlines in certain seasons of the year has enticed more people to travel (Pearce et al., 2007). High infrastructural development in the city has further contributed to affordable accommodation for the tourists. The income was least factor since majority of respondents were students who depend majorly on income from their guardian and parents. The respondents were generally satisfied with services of Adelaide Zoo. The park has adequa te tour guide to take people around the park. Conclusions This study proved that students are contributing significantly to the tourism sector in Australia with majority of them reporting to enjoy leisure travel. The Adelaide Zoo has opportunity to increase tourism activity from the student as evident from proportionate number of students who have visited the park. Affordability and accessibility were the major factors affecting individuals to visit the factor. This means that the government has to do more to make tourism affordable and accessible to encourage domestic and international tourism. Recommendation This study was conducted in college with small sample size. It is recommended to include more participants in the next studies that must be chosen randomly to increase its reliability. The following studies further need to include more variables so as to come up with conclusive findings that can apply generally to tourism industry. References Adelaide Zoo. (2017). Adelaide Zoo Animals. Retrieved on April 24, 2017 from https://www.adelaidezoo.com.au/animals/. Allan, A. (2011). Land Use Planning and its Role in Transforming the Adelaide-Gawler Line into a Transit Corridor of Connected Transit Oriented Developments. Anderson, K. (1995). Culture and nature at the Adelaide Zoo: at the frontiers of'human'geography.Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers, 275-294. Beaumont, N., Dredge, D. (2010). Local tourism governance: A comparison of three network approaches.Journal of Sustainable Tourism,18(1), 7-28. Beerli, A., Martin, J. D. (2004). Factors influencing destination image.Annals of tourism research,31(3), 657-681. Buhalis, D., Law, R. (2008). Progress in information technology and tourism management: 20 years on and 10 years after the InternetThe state of eTourism research.Tourism management,29(4), 609-623. Cronin, J. J., Brady, M. K., Hult, G. T. M. (2000). Assessing the effects of quality, value, and customer satisfaction on consumer behavioral intentions in service environments.Journal of retailing,76(2), 193-218. Felsenstein, D., Fleischer, A. (2003). Local festivals and tourism promotion: The role of public assistance and visitor expenditure.Journal of Travel Research,41(4), 385-392. Hsieh, Y. C., Chiu, H. C., Chiang, M. Y. (2005). Maintaining a committed online customer: a study across search-experience-credence products. Journal of Retailing, 81(1), 75-82. Kitchenham, B., Pfleeger, S. L. (2002). Principles of survey research: part 5: populations and samples. ACM SIGSOFT Software Engineering Notes, 27(5), 17-20. Kouthouris, C., Alexandris, K. (2005). Can service quality predict customer satisfaction and behavioral intentions in the sport tourism industry? An application of the SERVQUAL model in an outdoors setting.Journal of Sport Tourism,10(2), 101-111. Littrell, M. A., Paige, R. C., Song, K. (2004). Senior travellers: Tourism activities and shopping behaviours.Journal of Vacation Marketing,10(4), 348-362. Mertler, C. A. (2008). Action research: Teachers as researchers in the classroom. Sage. Murphy, P., Pritchard, M. P., Smith, B. (2000). The destination product and its impact on traveler perceptions.Tourism management,21(1), 43-52. Orams, M. B. (2002). Feeding wildlife as a tourism attraction: a review of issues and impacts.Tourism management,23(3), 281-293. Pearce, D. G., Tan, R., Schott, C. (2007). Distribution channels in international markets: a comparative analysis of the distribution of New Zealand tourism in Australia, Great Britain and the USA.Current Issues in Tourism,10(1), 33-60.

Publisher Interview What to Expect with Publishing Your Book - The Writers For Hire

PUBLISHER INTERVIEW: WHAT TO EXPECT WITH PUBLISHING YOUR BOOK The fairytale version of finishing a book goes something like this: You dramatically pull a final book page from the typewriter carriage, stack it on top of a huge pile of papers, stuff it into a bulky package, rush ship it to your favorite publisher, and immediately get a call praising your book and offering you top dollar. Of course, we all know that’s not how it really works. With the advent of self-publishing, authors have a significant amount of choice in their publishing process, and with so many traditional, self, and niche publishers to choose from, the publishing process looks different for everyone. So what should you really expect when publishing your book? To help us understand how to separate the publishing fairytale from the reality, we recently spoke with Ella Hearrean Ritchie from Stellar Communications, a company that specializes in helping authors through the publishing process. TWFH: What are the pros of traditional publishing and self-publishing, respectively? MS. RITCHIE: Let’s start with traditional publishing. This is where you take the time to research the publishers that may be interested in your manuscript, send them a query letter, and wait to find out if they will represent you and your book. The pros here are the publishing house often bears all or most expenses. Also, you and your book have instant credibility as well as an instant audience for broader reach, which could mean greater royalties. At the other end of the spectrum is self-publishing. As a self-published author, you own the rights to your book, and you stay in full control of the content and marketing. TWFH: What would you consider to be some of the cons of traditional publishing and self-publishing? MS. RITCHIE: The cons of traditional publishing include waiting to hear back on whether your book is accepted, which can take a while. And because many people are vying for a chance with the publisher, the chances of being selected are slim. The publishing house might also have additional stipulations, such as required attendance at book events. Some of the downsides to traditional publishing are that you are working with a really large team, and are ultimately accountable to the publishing house itself. Expect to ask someone for approval every time you want to make changes or conduct an outside-of-the-box marketing campaign. You’re not necessarily an entrepreneur, but more of an employee. The downside to self-publishing and making every decision on your own is that you may not be making the best decisions. This path can also feel pretty confusing and overwhelming at times because of the hundreds of big and small decisions that come with creating a book on your own. Unfortunately, a telltale sign of a self-published bookis when quality is sacrificed for the sake of the budget. Readers can often spot a â€Å"do it yourself† book and won’t take the writing seriously. This takes away from your credibility and can hurt your marketing efforts. You can, however, engage a project manager to help coordinate the process. This option is more costly than self-publishing completely on your own, but may prove a worthy investment in the long run. TWFH: What is the first thing someone should do before approaching a publishing company to self-publish? MS. RITCHIE: Picking the right publisher, for you, is the first step to a peaceful process. Take the time to list your goals and expectations as the driving points for your conversation with any publishing company. Beyond your list of goals you’d like to accomplish, if you’re a first-time author, it can be difficult to know what to look for and what to avoid in a publisher. Before you approach any company, talk to other self-published authors about their experiences. Educate yourself on any potential pitfalls or areas of concern, and then you’ll be better prepared to ask the right questions. TWFH: What are the most common misconceptions you hear from people when a writer approaches you about a potential project? MS. RITCHIE: One common misconception is that a quality book can be quickly and easily produced. While it’s true that â€Å"printing on demand† has made book publishing more accessible than ever, the reality is that a lot of time and attention to detail go into each step of the publishing process. When an author tells me that there’s â€Å"not much to do† to develop a manuscript into a book, there is always a little more to do. Whether the remainder is really big or small, there’s always another detail. Another big misconception is that books reap profits. The truth is that it can take a lot of time and money to produce and market a book, and there is no guarantee that an author will recoup the investment. TWFH: What is the biggest initial hurdle to starting the publishing process with a new client? MS. RITCHIE: One thing that I notice in manuscripts is that great detail is taken when preparing the manuscript itself. But, the overall marketing of the book and the cover concept hasn’t been given much thought. Most authors come armed with the body of a manuscript and maybe one or two additional elements, and it’s often the job of the publisher to create a complete marketing plan and cover concept, and show how this can enhance the author’s overall story. Most authors don’t realize that their manuscripts are not complete when they are submitted. TWFH: What should an author expect to do to make his or her book successful? What does a successful book look like? MS. RITCHIE: A successful book is all about being clear on your goals and expectations. Some authors want a family history book that captures their legacy for future generations, so a beautiful, durable hardcover book that is printed for the family is their definition of success. Other authors want to spread a message to as many people as possible, so an affordable paperback book with appealing content that is available on Amazon and Barnes Noble is their definition of success. It’s really up to the author’s vision. TWFH: What are some of the stereotypes that you’ve run into when approached by writers? MS. RITCHIE: Some of the negative comments that I’ve heard about self-publishers are that they take money without fulfilling promises, that they’re unresponsive, and that they don’t pay attention to details that matter to the author. The comments seem to boil down to one stereotype, which is that publishers don’t care about the author. Unfortunately, there is some truth to this stereotype. I’ve heard some horror stories and have experienced a few disappointments myself. This is why it is so important to take the time to choose a publisher that is right for you and your book. *Stellar Communications is a book publishing team that delivers quality content on time to nonfiction authors, business leaders, nonprofit organizations, and federal government agencies.