Italian Baroque Characteristics Essay Example For Students

Italian Baroque Characteristics Essay One of the characteristics of the Italian Baroque is the realistic depiction of human figures, vivid use of color and foreshadowing techniques, especially in the paintings In addition, the figures of the paintings seem to emerge from the background, giving huge differences between light and dark. The Italian baroque structure has a sense of movement and that of energy when in static form. The sculptures make the observers to have multiple viewpoints. The Baroque architecture has characteristic domes, colonnades, giving an impression Of illume and void. Michelangelo ¶s David does not react with the surroundings but it stands alone With the little movements disguised behind it. The sculpture brings out David as a soldier preparing for war and not a person engaged in a battle (Miller, Bandore, Newscaster, 2010). The hands are larger than normal and the arms are longer than his body. This is meant to illustrate the renaissance period. In contrast, the Berings David has aspects of motion, showing that he was already engaged in the battle with Goliath, The idea of went is enhanced by the loosely flowing robes. In addition, the sculpture demonstrates that unlike Michelangelo David that has longer hands, Berings David has contracted muscles. The Michelangelo sculpture was created during Renascence period while the Berings sculpture was done during the Baroque period. Aggravations painting is unique due to its wonderful use of chiaroscuro, which is the contrast between light and dark, For example, the painting Supper at Museum (1 602) illustrates Jesus and his disciples in bright colors and uses a ark tint for the background (Miller, Bandore, Newscaster, 201 0), Looking at the painting The Incredibility of Saint Thomas, the power seems to lie in the skepticism exhibited by Apostle Thomas. The painter seems interested in Thomas doubt at the time he is pushed to the limits to believe about Jesus resurrection (Miller, Bandore, Newscaster, 2010). Enlightenment deals with the use of human reason to combat ignorance and enhance political, religious and educational achievements. The enlightenment period enhanced art and evolutionists the themes and topics that relate to this area of study. The subjects and topics that used to be discussed in arts have now been altered and turned into political and economic issues. One of the paintings done by Rococo was that of a girl in a field, in the presence of string wind that blowing up her dress and hair. This painting uses a wide range of pastel colors and has graceful curves that embellish the ladys figure (Adams, Adams, 2010). The background is also well developed due to the wonderful combination of colors and the right background. Jacques Lois David painted The Oath of Horntail, which was illustrates soldiers holding swords up high, The simplicity of the painting makes it one of the most spectacular pieces tot art. The art is subdivided into three different components, including three swords, three brothers and three people in a group (Adams, Adams, 2010). The background also has three people and this gives the painting a triangular perspective. This painting demonstrates Jacques creativity as he used it to represent a time when the world was slowly

Essay Topics That You Must Research Before Writing Your Essay

Essay Topics That You Must Research Before Writing Your EssayThere are several topics of a persuasive essay that you must try to research first before writing your essay. These topics can help you see which ones to include in your essays. There are several strategies that can help you see whether the essay is effective or not. Here are some of the topics of a persuasive essay.Using personal opinions and views of other people in your essay helps you avoid sounding like an expert. What you need to do is make sure that you write from your perspective and not from an authority. Make sure that the topic of your essay is a reasonable one. This is not the time to make up facts and then mention them in your essay. You will just confuse your reader.One of the topics of persuasive essay is going to be getting and using people's loyalty. When writing an essay, try to read your audience first before writing about them. If you get their loyalty by being very generous with your information, it wil l surely be very hard for them to reject your argument later on. Another good thing about this is that you can use these to persuade other people. So when you want to impress someone, you can use this topic of persuasive essay.Another topic of persuasive essay is going to be the power of words. You have to avoid using big words as this can give your essay a poor reputation. Try to be more descriptive with your sentences, and do not make them so long as they make you look boring.The topic of persuasive essay that you must always try to focus on is to convince your readers. In order to persuade, you have to convince them. When you want to persuade them, you have to present them what you want them to believe. Then give them proof that you are right about it. People love to be convinced by others.One of the topics of a persuasive essay that you need to try to focus on is that you need to persuade them without making them feel awkward. Many people get nervous when they are forced to talk about something they don't want to. This is why you should never force them to talk about something they don't want to. You can also avoid making them feel uncomfortable by asking them something that is related to the topic of your essay. However, this requires a lot of patience.Another topic of persuasive essay that you must try to concentrate on is the relationship between words and action. When you want to write an essay, it is important that you actually put your thoughts into words. However, you also need to keep in mind that writing an essay has to be done in a logical manner so that you get the right idea and not just go with your feelings.

Education in Iceland

Introduction Traditionally, education was viewed as a need that was optional and could be substituted to meet other life’s important basics. Today, provision of education has become a government’s social responsibility in a majority of the countries.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Education in Iceland specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More However, the challenge remains on the provision of inclusive education and schooling, and how best to tailor the country’s educational system to produce citizens who can effectively meet the society’s desired qualities. The needs of the society have been continuously transformed by globalization and as such, countries and societies have had to constantly undertake reforms in their educational systems. Background Information on Education in Iceland In Iceland, the provision of compulsory education is the responsibility of the government. According to the r eforms made by the government in 2008 on compulsory education, it is the responsibility of the local municipalities to provide education to all the children in the pre-primary and compulsory school level (European Commission. 2009). Compulsory education is applicable to all children between the ages six and sixteen. The state is charged with the responsibility of providing upper secondary and higher education (European Commission. 2009). The law requires that pupils attending compulsory education to do so on a full time basis and. In addition, the state has also defined the roles of the parent as that of ensuring that children register for school (European Commission, 2009). It is also the parent’s role to ensure that children attend school. The local municipalities ensure that pupils are given instructions recommended by the law while the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture supervises the implementation process. According to the Ministry of Education, Science and Cult ure (2010), the educational structure of schools in Iceland comprise of the pre-primary level, the compulsory level, the upper secondary level and finally, the higher education. The compulsory level comprise of the single structure-primary and the lower secondary. Pre-primary education is available for children between the ages of 3 and 5, after which they progress to primary schools at the age six and later on enter lower secondary schools at age 11. Students enter upper secondary schools at age 14 after completing their tenth grade and graduate from the upper secondary in the thirteenth grade at age 16 or 17 (UNESCO, 2008).Advertising Looking for essay on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More All the state and municipality levels, schools are expected to follow the national curriculum provided by the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture. At the pre-primary level, the teachers in the schools are given the responsib ility of determining the school’s curriculum. According to the European Commission, (2009), the subjects covered at the compulsory level of education include Mathematics, natural sciences, English, social sciences (including History and Geography), art and craft, Physical Education, religious studies, as well as equal rights affairs. The pupils at this level of education are also taught Icelandic as a second language. The curriculum also includes information and communication technology, life skills as well as other foreign languages like Danish, Spanish, or French. At the upper secondary level, the students are taught Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics, and Biology, information technology, Economics, History, arts and craft, psychology, environmental systems as well as other languages. Teaching of the Icelandic curriculum is done using the country’s native language, Icelandic (European Commission, 2009). The curriculum also provides for extra-curricular and social activi ties which are incorporated in the daily school activities. Teachers have the autonomy to decide on the teaching methods and materials appropriate for achieving the objectives in each situation. However, instructions for each subject are clearly defined in the curriculum and those that require exposure of learners to their immediate environment normally takes place in the form of field trips. The curriculum requires that assessment be done regularly so as to monitor the learners’ progress. There is no examination at the end of the compulsory curriculum in grade ten, however, the principal of the compulsory school awards the learner with a certificate of completion (European Commission, 2009). However, at the upper secondary and tertiary levels of education, the subjects are divided into modules and students are assessed at the end of every semester and are graded according to the unit-credit system. Theories of learning supporting Education in Iceland This approach is derived from the Humanistic theories of learning which emphasize on the natural desire by learners to always gain more knowledge and the need to allow learners to control their learning process as the teachers are reduced to facilitators of the learning process.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Education in Iceland specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Constructivism Theory One such humanistic theory is the constructivism theory which argues that human beings develop knowledge and meaning through the interaction of their ideas and experiences. Thus, learners would normally build knowledge upon that that they have already acquired. It also implies learning from experience is very important and therefore it is essential to apply teaching and learning process that incorporates learning through experience. According to Wertsch, (1997), the learner takes an active role in the learning process. This theory recognizes that each lea rner is unique and has complex needs and therefore it is important that teachers understand the entry behavior of each learner and the learner’s unique learning ability. According to Wertsch, (1997), the learners background and culture help shape the knowledge and facts that the learner discovers and acquires during the learning process. The teacher has to consider all these when planning any learning content to be delivered to the learners. Social constructivism theory According to the social constructivism theory, learners learn best through experience and therefore discovery approach should be aimed at providing experience that would enable learners construct knowledge and make sense of the concepts being learnt (Pajares and Schunk, 2001). It also states that learners can conceptualize any information no matter the level or the age of the learner provided that the knowledge is reinforced. Thus a learner centered approach should prepare learners with the specific capacities that are necessary for the learner to interact with and in the world that may not be acquired in any other social settings (Pajares and Schunk, 2001). This theory suggests that teachers should take into consideration learner’s interest. It is also important for teachers to provide an environment and learning opportunities that enable learners to articulate the knowledge. Repeated experience on the concepts being learnt will enable learners to internalize and apply the concepts in a more sophisticated constructs (Gardner, 2005 and; Pajares and Schunk, 2001).Advertising Looking for essay on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More These experiences provided in terms of experiments should not be provided in the school setting alone but should include the wider society so as to integrate societal experience and school experience (Gardner, 2005). This theory also suggests that there should be no limits to learning and therefore learners should always be encouraged to gain more knowledge. Purpose and Scope of the Study The main purpose of the study is to investigate the education system in Iceland. It seeks to find out what the government and the Icelandic society as a whole is doing in order to achieve an inclusive education and schooling for its multicultural society. The aim of the study is to acquire best practices employed in the Icelandic educational systems and to analyse the deficiencies that exist in the education system that needs to be improved. The objective of the study is to enable the education providers achieve highest quality of professional development for their learners especially at the primar y and secondary levels of education. This study was done so as to provide future education reformers with base line or reference for carrying out reforms. The scope of this study covers the Icelandic curriculum and pedagogical strategies applied in imparting the society’s desired knowledge, skills, values and morals. It discusses the assessment strategies applied to gauge the level of learning in the learners. The study also looks into the role played by the school environment including collaboration with the school parents in shaping the behaviuor of the learners and the learning outcomes. The study also covers the role played by the school culture in the learning process as well as the roles played by the school curriculum and school community in shaping the leadership and organization of the individuals. Methodology The study critically examined incidences in educational systems and practices so as to discover factors that help teachers and the general school community pro vide quality and an all inclusive education and schooling. This was done in order to determine the activities and practices which best foster successful learning in Iceland Schools. The research methodology that was used to collect information was a one-to-one interview. Selecting the school of study involved an underground research through the internet. The selection of the school was based on how modern, the school environment and the school’s mission statement. Finally I decided on Nordlingaskoli , a new school in Reykjavishire. The principal of Nordllingaskoli was contacted to request for a meeting with him which he confirmed and thereafter an appointment was booked. A questionnaire was designed to cover all the areas of study. The questionnaire prepared consisted of open-ended questions only; to help gather more information and the attitude of the principle towards the education system. The School’s Background Information Nordlingaskoli is a new school located in the rural Reykjavishire in RVS District. It has a small student population of about 200 students but this is anticipated to increase before the end of the year. The school uses the national curriculum guidelines in planning its school activities. However, the school’s educational system is unique since it applies a mixed-age group in its teaching and learning programmes. Besides, the system focuses more on provision of art and craft and environmental studies. The school has a very unique system of education which applies mixed-age group learning. The principal’s name is Sif Và ­gà ¾Ãƒ ³rsdà ³ttir. Findings Curriculum, pedagogy and assessment Và ­gà ¾Ãƒ ³rsdà ³ttir explained that the school uses the national curriculum guide to plan and carry out its school activities although the planning of the school activities is also based on the aspirations and objectives of the school. Besides, teachers joining the school have to pass an orientation system and be fully info rmed on the objectives of the school and how the school is meeting the learners’ unique needs. The principal also explained that the assessment of learners takes different forms. Learners can be assessed in their learning groups or individually. The assessment includes both formal and informal evaluation done by the individual teachers. The school has various electives available for the learners. Although it focuses more on art and environment studies, there are also other practical and interesting programmes like home economics, music, drama, information technology among others. The school provides many elective subjects to give the students wide options to choose from and to offer flexibility to learners as well as to give the teachers the time to offer individual tutorials to learners. The school also has plans to increase the number of teachers, introduce more programmes and expand its facilities in order to meet the speculated increase in demand for its services. The sch ools programme of differentiation has been successful according to the school principal. Students are allowed and helped to choose the groups they prefer to join according to their learning abilities and their learning aspirations. Differentiation and mixed-age groupings enables pupils learn from each other particularly from the older members and therefore pupils are better enabled to grasp knowledge and thus they are better enabled to achieve their learning outcomes. Besides, the teachers can easily provide for the needs of the groups rather than for an individual. Differentiation enables teachers to plan for every individual and at the same time makes school activities to be flexible. Differentiation and mixed-age groups enable learners achieve maximum results and inner motivation to acquire more knowledge and skills. The learner identifies the area of interest and both the teacher and parent help the learner choose his or her area of interest. The teacher discusses the ability of the learner with the parent in order to help the learner choose the area of interest that best suits his or her abilities and meets is or her needs. The school is very much prepared to meet the needs of learners who join the school while they are still very young. The instruction materials are tailored to motivate them and help them concentrate in learning activities. The instruction contents given to them do not cover wider learning content and also involved more activities that develop their motor skills like play and other outdoor activities. According to the principal, school systems with shorter working periods are not able to complete their programmes or even adequately provide for the individual needs of their learners. This means that in most cases learners have to endure with daily classroom activities which may be boring if done continuously. Besides, the teachers do not get the time to expose learners to the realities in their environment and thus the learners may not be able to apply or connect the knowledge and skills learnt in class to the real world. According to the principal, the students are easily assimilated in other learning systems particularly in the upper secondary schools since most of their learning is practical. The workshops which the school organizes for the learners impart practical skills which are very much related to the vocational training offered in the upper secondary schools or even in job applications. The practical skills offered to the learners make them more competent and better equipped to solve problems that occur in real life situations. The outdoor activities and the mixed-age groups in the school enable learners develop life skills and social skills which are very important in socializing within the society. Và ­gà ¾Ãƒ ³rsdà ³ttir explained that the school operates in accordance with the guidelines provided by the national curriculum which require that learners should be automatically promoted to the next class . Therefore the age and the year of entry determine the promotion to the next level. Surroundings and material The outdoor activities carried out as part of school activities are normally under the close supervision of the teacher who provides guidance on the activities. Besides, students are normally in their groups hence easier to manage since members of a group are responsible for each individual in the group. Students’ health is the responsibility of both the teacher and the parents. Since the goals of the school are shared by the parents and they understand what the school plans to achieve, they understand that their children need to keep their children warm always. This helps the school protect the lives of the learners from the weather conditions that might affect the learners’ lives. Besides, the learners also have free health care provided by the government. Enhancing the students’ concentration while in class is very important in the school, therefore the teachers ensure that the instructional materials provided are interesting and that the learning content and the instructional materials have been decided upon by the learners and the teacher. These enhance the learners’ concentration and also motivate the learners. Conflict resolution is a very important aspect of education in a multicultural education today. According to Và ­gà ¾Ãƒ ³rsdà ³ttir, the school is committed to promoting learners’ appreciation of diversity and how to overcome prejudice. According to Wendy (1994), it is also important to teach the learners how to manager their anger and be tolerant to each other. This enables learners control their emotions (Banks and Banks, 2005). The guidance and counseling department takes the lead in helping the learners understand the need to exist in unity in diversity. According to the principal, the school understands that wherever the learners come from, there is normally prejudice instilled into them by their respective societies; therefore it is very important to teach learners to avoid acting on their prejudice that they come with from their respective communities. The school organises bonding workshops at the beginning of each academic year in autumn in what the school considers to be the biggest workshop in the school called the â€Å"The Homestead†. Since the school exists in an environment with trees it is not difficult acquiring the materials for the wood work lessons. Again, since the school is a public one, these materials are provided for by the government (European Commission, 2009). According the principal, some materials are also bought by the school and at the same time, learners are given the chance to go for field trips to observe what happens in woodwork workshops or tree forests. According to Và ­gà ¾Ãƒ ³rsdà ³ttir, the school organises and sponsor many local and international community outreach programmes such as Habit for Humans. Learners collaborate with t he school community activities such as cleaning the environment, garbage collections and sorting, tree planting and many others. Languages of the school The official languages that the learners are supposed to use while in school are English and Icelandic. However, learners are also encouraged to keep their native languages since the school believes that one can better learn a second language through his or her mother tongue. According to Và ­gà ¾Ãƒ ³rsdà ³ttir, the school does not find it difficult dealing with the diversity of languages since the teaching staff also comprises of diverse languages. The staff operates as a team, shares and cooperatively solves problems that they meet while dealing with the learners. School culture: Communication, collaboration and atmosphere The uniqueness of the school system is not at all a barrier to the learners’ interaction with the outside world. According to the principle, the school is involved in many programmes which ensure that they are not cut out of the outside world. They are involved in music, drama and sports activities such as basketball, football, volleyball and baseball, and tennis, dance, cheerleading, and swimming among many others. These activities are distributed across the three seasons of autumn, winter and spring which find the learners in school. The sports activities give the learners a chance to compete and interact with other schools and the outside community. Besides, the learners are also given the opportunity to participate in inter-school academic activities, science congress and other students’ forums. The school has computer laboratory connected to the internet. This gives the learners the opportunity to connect to the outside world and to even invite community resource persons of their own choice. The school also invites experts, professionals, artists and other community resources persons to come share with the learners. The school appreciates the uniqueness of the other n eighbouring schools and organises collaborative activities with the neighbouring schools to gain from the different learning experiences that the other learners are exposed to. The school also organises collaborative activities with the neighbouring schools to enable its learners better develop their social skills and to increase their network of friends. The school is aware of the diversity of cultural backgrounds among the teachers, learners and teachers. According to Và ­gà ¾Ãƒ ³rsdà ³ttir, the teachers have in mind the school’s code of conduct and code of ethics. The code of conduct provides them with a guideline on how they are supposed to carry out their duties and how they are supposed to interact. It also provides a guideline on how they are supposed to enhance teamwork in the various groups that exist in the staff which include academic departments and other activities; as well as in the staff as a whole. Besides, the leadership structures within the school admini stration enable the teachers work harmoniously as a team. They also use the internet to share the learning contents, learning materials and other resources which enhance teaching and learning. The environment created by the diversity in teachers, learners and parents is stimulating and provides the learners with a rich experience and exposure. The diversity that exists in the school community gives the school an international image and in turn an international exposure and international understanding of other people’s culture. The diversity in the school community especially the involvement of parents in the learning activities of school enriches the learners’ learning content. Since its inception, the school has applied teaching strategies that involve differentiation and co-operative learning which have ensured that each student’s work and learning corresponds to his or her needs. Nordlingaskoli believes in the uniqueness of its learners and provides the best environment for optimum achievement of learners’ objectives. The school offers tailor-made conditions that meet individual learners’ needs. The school is also on course to developing a new reference table which would better enable the school to apply its differentiation programmes to the speculated large numbers of learners in the near future. The programme is being developed in collaboration with the municipal as well as the national education authorities. This would ensure that the programme meets the national education standards in provision of learners’ areas of interest such as art and craft, environmental studies and many more. According to Và ­gà ¾Ãƒ ³rsdà ³ttir, this would enhance flexibility in meeting the needs of the learners. Besides, the diversity in the staff would enable individual learners’ attendance. The principal also noted that the school plans to recruit even more diverse teachers to meet the needs of the expected increase in cultu re. According to Ragnarsdà ³ttir, (2010), it is important to develop a common organizational culture which respects every idea from other cultures. More teachers from different cultures will enable provision of more languages taught in the school and hence help teachers provide for individual tutorial programmes to the learners (Bennett, 1999). Collaboration with homes/families and communities Although fully engaging parents has been a bit challenging since much of their time is consumed by their work, most parents have occasionally turned up whenever called upon. The parents are very much committed to their children’s development. The first day of the learner’s attendance at school takes place at home and two teachers, male and female visit the learner and the parent(s). According to the principal of the school, the parents are involved in setting the objectives of the outcomes of their children, assessing the progress of their children, providing resources, counseli ng their children and evaluating the performance of the school. All the teachers and the administration have access to the parents’ email addresses which are available in each learner’s file and the school’s database. This makes communication with the parents to be easier in case of problems or any issue that requires the parent’s involvement. The surrounding community has also been involved in the various school activities. The surrounding school community provides security to the learners and the school as a whole. They also protect the surrounding environment which includes the local river and the nearby forest which are used by the teachers to provide the needed experience during outdoor activities. The school also collaborates with surrounding community in community outreach programmes such as tree planting and other environment conservation measures. The principal explained that modeling the school culture and environment to fit in the community inv olves creating a common organizational culture that understands the needs and applies the ideas of the community. The teaching materials and learning contents have been tailored to utilize the resources from the local community. Most outdoor activities take place in the local community environment and the experiences which learners are exposed to are derived from the local community. Leadership and organization The principal explains that the school has various outbound activities, workshops, outdoor activities and mixed-age groups which enrich the development of leadership skills and also provide opportunities for learners to practise their leadership skills. The students therefore behave responsibly and are responsible for their friends. There are student leaders in various respective levels of leadership including group leaders, class leaders and other capacities. The students are given guidance and counseling on leadership and management skills by the guidance and counseling dep artment to enable them carry out their responsibilities and duties effectively and efficiently. The student leaders are also given the opportunity to attend leadership workshops and forums with students from other schools. Besides, the school administration recognises and awards students who have demonstrated strong leadership skills in the school community. According to the principal teachers undergo an orientation process to inform them of the mission and, the objectives, the shared aspirations and goals of the school, the parents and learners and the school programmes in order to enable them adapt to the school system. This is done by the school principle, the respective department and all the teachers. The school has room teachers who are responsible for all the activities and needs of each mixed-age groups. The learners’ workshops are organized through a coordination of the respective subject teacher, the class teacher, the room teachers, the department involved and the school administration headed by the principal. Learners are also involved in deciding the learning activities of the workshops. These workshops are part of mainstream learning activities and therefore do not involve other schools. According to the principal, the teaching and learning structure of the school is unique since it involves the mixed-age groups and therefore can not be integrated with the teaching in the neighbouring schools. School development and school policy According to the school’s principal, the school is more concerned with providing education that meets individual learner’s needs and aspirations. Therefore it is in the process of completing the reference time table to enhance differentiation. According to the principal, the school is also developing a software that would enable it disseminate information to learners. The software would enable the school link its website to the National Library Consortium which is owned by the state. The school also encourages and supports teachers’ innovative programmes for developing better teaching strategies and instructional contents and materials. The school policy, according to Và ­gà ¾Ãƒ ³rsdà ³ttir, is to ensure that each learner is exposed to learning experiences which best meets his or her objectives and aspirations so as to enable the learner complete his or her education as a happy, independent and strong individual. To ensure that this is achieved, the teachers evaluate the outcome of the learners and the feedback from both the parents and the learners. The teacher and the learner sign a study contract and both set the objectives for the outcome of the study contract. They decide the learning content and the instructional materials. At the end of the programme, the teacher and learner evaluate achievement of the objectives. Evaluation of learners involves the teachers and the parents and discusses the progress of each student. Theories of Learning Explaining the Educatio n System at Nordlingaskoli The school uses the cognitive theories of learning and in particular, the social cognitive learning theory as well as the multiple intelligence theory of learning. Multiple intelligence theory of learning argues that learners should be allowed to exploit their strengths. It states that each learner has multiple intelligence levels therefore the learner should be exposed to various learning experiences in order to help the learner develop all the learning forms (Gardner, 2005). Learners are always curious to acquire knowledge by themselves and therefore should be given the opportunity to do so. What the government is doing According to the European Commission, (2009), the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture provides the national curriculum guidelines for all schools. The curriculum provides pedagogical guidelines, instructional organisations and policies to be applied in schools. It also stipulates the guidelines for the organisation of school activi ties as well as the objectives for the respective levels of education. The ministry also develops and distributes instructional materials to compulsory schools for free through its National Centre for Educational Materials and is coordinated by the District School Boards. The District School Boards are also responsible for monitoring the implementation of schooling as well as instruction in the respective municipalities. They also monitor the school curriculum structure and make recommendations to the local government or the principal of the school on improvements that could be made to improve the school’s operations (European Commission. 2009). The government also recognises that the country’s demography is diverse and therefore has included many foreign languages in the curriculum as well as employs teachers from diverse backgrounds. According to Ministry of Education, Science and Culture (2004), the government has increased the parents’ participation by trans ferring the management to the municipals. The national curriculum guidelines require that the schools should enable learners acquire Christian and charity values as well as tolerance to each culture and towards each other. It requires that the education offered should enable learners who are Icelanders acquire cultural consciousness and to respect other nations cultures. Recommendations Given that the parents are given the opportunity to participate forums for discussing their children’s schooling, it is important that those heading each parents association to consider ways in which their objectives could better help each school achieve its objectives. It is also important for schools to help learners develop a common organizational culture that respects all cultures. Finally, the curriculum gives the learners more authority to control their learning process. Teachers and parents should be enabled to have more control over the learning process particularly for the younger age s in the primary level of education. Summary The study discusses the Icelandic education system and in particular the compulsory education. Provision of compulsory education is the responsibility of municipalities while upper secondary and higher education is provided by the state. The municipality monitors the progress of the education system in accordance with the national education guidelines. However, the challenge for provision of education to the Icelandic community is providing an education system which meets the needs of the multicultural society. The study discusses the measures that have been taken by Nordlingaskoli to ensure provision of education that meets the needs of all learners including their objectives and aspirations while at the same time respecting and shaping their cultural backgrounds. The study discusses theories of learning that form the basis of the Icelandic curriculum which are cognitive and social cognitive theories of learning as well as multiple intel ligence theory of learning. The major characteristic of the school is that it uses mixed-age groups in providing learning experiences for learners. Conclusion Education in Iceland has succeeded in providing multicultural education to its citizens. This programme should be recommended for many nations in Europe and other parts of the world still struggling to provide multicultural education to their citizens. However, in adopting this system the particular nation should consider its population. Reference List Banks, J.A., Banks, C. A. M. (2005). Multicultural education: Issues perspectives. New York: John Wiley Sons. Bennett, C. I. (1999). Comprehensive multicultural education. Theory and practice Boston o.fl.: Allyn and Bacon. Gardner, H. (2005). Multiple lenses on the mind. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. European Commission. (2009). Organisation of the education system in Iceland 2008/09. Armsterdam: EU. Ministry of Education, Science and Culture. (2010). The Educational system in Iceland Ministry of Education, Science and Culture. (2004). The national curriculum guide for compulsory school. Pajares, F., Schunk, D. H. (2001). Self-beliefs and school success: Self-efficacy, self-concept, and school achievement. In R. Riding S. Rayner (Eds.), Self- perception. London: Ablex Publishing. Ragnarsdà ³ttir, H. (2010). Internationally educated teachers and student teachers in Iceland: Two qualitative studies. Helsinki: CJEAP. UNESCO (2008). Inclusive education and schooling in Iceland. Helsinki: International Bureau of Education. Wendy, S. (1994). Anti-bias and conflict resolution curricula: Theory and practice. New York: ERIC Clearinghouse. Wertsch, J.V. (1997). Vygotsky and the formation of the mind. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. This essay on Education in Iceland was written and submitted by user J0nah to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Relationship Between Stress and Smiling

Relationship Between Stress and Smiling Free Online Research Papers Investigation 1 hypothesis: In the present study I wanted to test the relationship between stress and the number of smiles because, based on what we learned in class, I expect there to be negative correlation between the variables. I predict that, as stress increases the number of smiles I give will decrease because in chapter 1 it gives the example of a student who studies more will decrease in parting with friends. See figure 1 for a scatter plot of these two variables. Investigation 1 results: according to the scatter plot, the variables seem to be negative though strongly correlated. It appears that stress and smiles (given) are related. This may be due to a number of factors, like I recorded my variables at the same exact time each class period (11:20a.m.), making sure I had a consistent recording time that did not affect my variables. Investigation 1 discussion: The results suggest a negative relationship between the variables of interest. This was stronger than expected and could be because of the consistent time recording my variables and setting a phone alarm to make sure I recorded at that exact time. As a person with respect to the variables is why I may have a stronger correlation compared to someone who does not respect the variables. Some may say that due to my irregular sleep may case for my stress to differ therefore change my smile (given) variable. Overall, I believe there is a negative correlation between these variables for most people, and while it did show up for me, my consistency in recording as well as keeping track of my personal variable strengthen the relationship for me. Investigation 2 hypothesis: For my second investigation, I predict a positive correlation between variables: sleep and mood. As I get more sleep each night, my mood improves tremendously. In class we discussed the relationship between getting proper sleep and overall well being. When you are well rested you have a tendency to be in a better mood and have a better day. The better I sleep, the more attentive I am in class and less easily irritated I am. Also, we talked about how sleep can give you more energy inter having a better mood. See Figure 2 for a scatter-plot of these variables. Investigation 2 results: According to the scatter-plot, my hypothesis appears to have been supported. The variables are closely linked and travel in a positive direction. As my hours of sleep increase, my mood improves. When I get fewer hours of sleep, my mood scores are lower. Investigation 2 discussion: I expected this relationship, and I believe it is true of most people, not just me. Sleep helps you to have more energy and relax, which improves your mood. I was very consistent in recording my variables, which caused this relationship to be strong on the chart. However, because the relationship was expected and is probably true to most people, I do consider this a great concern because more people would get more done on the job and in school. It is interesting to examine variables that exist within me and see that they are related in some meaningful way. Research Papers on Relationship Between Stress and SmilingResearch Process Part OneEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenIncorporating Risk and Uncertainty Factor in CapitalThe Relationship Between Delinquency and Drug UseStandardized TestingInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesThe Fifth HorsemanThree Concepts of PsychodynamicComparison: Letter from Birmingham and CritoRelationship between Media Coverage and Social and

Organizational Management Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Organizational Management - Term Paper Example The range of theories on leadership highlights the multidimensional nature of the concept. However, the primary theories of leadership such as trait theory, behavioral theory, and contingency theory have more or less remained the same. This paper on Leadership Theories, studies the various theories of leadership against the background of U.S. military, and explores the manner in which these theories influence the various aspects of the military as an organization. The armed forces continuously seek to improve their efficiency and leadership by evaluating various forms of leadership and application of various leadership principles. In order to achieve effective leadership, the army relies on both the traditional as well as contemporary leadership theories and instances of effective leadership drawn from corporate organizations and applies the same within their own setting. According to the army, the term leadership is defined as â€Å"influencing people by providing purpose, directio n, and motivation, while operating to accomplish the mission and improve the organization† (NA, 2004, p.5). The various concepts and theories of leadership as it pertains to the U.S. Army are described in the following sections. Leadership in the U.S. Army: The army believes in effective leadership which aims to not only motivate the followers / soldiers but also ensure that they are trained appropriately to enhance their skills. The officers in the army are likely to encounter various critical situations in their day to day lives, and particularly in cases of war, where they are entrusted with a responsibility to lead their troops safely and successfully towards the final accomplishment of their missions. The leaders in the army, hence, are expected to motivate their followers, and apply their skill, personal and ethical values, tactical expertise and most of all, lead them fearlessly towards their common goals. Leadership as observed in various cases, comprises of a wide var iety of elements and characteristics, and hence in order to truly understand the true essence of leadership as applied in various forms of organizations and organizational sectors, it is essential to study various theories and models of leadership, as there is no single and right way to study leadership. It is multidimensional in nature, and every theory can be applied differently in different situations. It must be taken into consideration that in order to become a good leader, the application of various theories of leadership is essential, one theory alone cannot help in making a good and efficient leader. The primary theories of leadership, discussed in the following section, help in understanding various leadership theories and the various ways in which these leadership theories can be and are implemented by the U.S. Army. Primary Leadership theories: The primary theories of leadership include trait theory, behavior theory and contingency theory but for the purpose of this study other theories of leadership such as transformational theory and servant-leadership style, and the situational leadership theories are also included for a broader understanding. Trait theory Northhouse (2007, p.3) the term leadership refers to a process by which an individual seeks to influence the others for the accomplishment of a common goal. The leaders seek to motivate their subordinates to achieve the common organizational goals based on their own personal characteristics such as

Management-managing change in organisation Essay

Management-managing change in organisation - Essay Example The expectations and changes that are within the organization when expanding into the global market are affecting the way that the organization operates as well as the developments that are currently a part of the system. Defining how Gap has been able to associate with the organizational change management is then able to provide a stronger basis for the needs that are within the store. Gap Inc began in 1969 by Doris and Don Fischer in San Francisco, California. The main concept was to provide new trends in clothes with the first line of clothing being based on fashion jeans. The Gap store was built not only to provide specialty clothing from their own line of production, but also provided a consolidated area for other jeans and clothing items, such as Levis brands. The store was able to develop into providing a space that offered other lines of clothes as well as the Gap brand as well as other pop culture concepts that were popular during the time. Music, records, tapes and other smaller items were initially placed in the store to ensure that there was the ability to have different popular concepts and ideas as a part of the store (Gap, 2010). The main concept that is associated with Gap Inc comes from the vision slogan, â€Å"wearing your passion.† They have developed several outlets that provide insight into what customers need for popular wear and different cultural concepts. More importantly, there is a connection to providing quality clothing with creative results that are a part of the store. Gap also focuses on specific ethical considerations that are able to enhance the lines of clothing that are offered through the store. The priorities that are built from Gap include the ability to deliver results while keeping a sense of responsibility toward the consumers that are interested in the line and brand of clothing. To follow

Nursing Essays Knowledge and Skills for Nursing

Nursing Essays Knowledge and Skills for Nursing Knowledge and Skills for Nursing The Setting The setting is a medical ward; patient was admitted due to diarrhoea and vomiting as a result of alcoholism and malnutrition. Hospital medical ward consists of patient that needs proper approach and nursing care to shorten their stay in the hospital. The patient will be treated not only physically and physiologically but also mentally since the patient was having such difficulties because of depression. The patient started to become depressed when her husband dies. She became an alcohol dependent and her health started to deteriorate due to malnutrition. The Approach The patient was brought to the hospital with diarrhoea and vomiting. The patient is physically not well, pale and has a poor hygiene. Based on the background check patient had suffered severe depression because her husband died and live alone. The patient became alcoholic and her health deteriorated because of malnutrition. The patient looks underweight but can survive by giving proper medication and patient care. The nursing process can best be described as a framework for planning individualized care for patient with intellectual disabilities. Since the care for patient is a process it does not conclude into anything but rather it changes constantly and it is the nurses’ responsibility to respond to these changing needs whenever necessary. The nursing process usually comprises four or five stages depending on the resources available and work setting, and includes: diagnosis, assessment, planning, implementing and evaluation. The nursing process should be undertaken using a collaborative and participative approach with other professionals, gathering and implementing resources, in order to improve the care process (Department of Health 2000b; Department of Health 2001). The focus of this study will be on the design care plan for our patient on study. Assessment Assessment is the most important part of care planning and delivery. It includes areas such as health and health needs, daily living skills, activity programmes, mobility, mental health, risks to the client, finance, respite, social events/outings, support requirements, spiritual needs and, possibly, accommodation issues (Department of Health, 2000b;Sox, 2004a). As a start, a background check is needed to be able to assess the situation of the patient. Our patient is conscious but was not able to respond properly because of her condition. So we need someone close to the patient or a relative to answer questions needed for the care plan. Data such as previous hospitalization, medication taken and others related to the patient condition is important. Diagnosis The patient was brought in the hospital because of diarrhoea and vomiting. The initial diagnosis is that the patient is dehydrated base on the physical appearance of the patient. Diarrhoea usually gets better on their own, often without treatment. If the diarrhoea continue within several days it is best to check patient’s medical history and physical exam. Planning In planning, the nurse plays an important role in the recovery and stay of the patient in the hospital. The patient upon admission was given attention on the main complain which is diarrhoea and vomiting. However further diagnosis and assessment of the medical team discovered that the patient is suffering from malnutrition. Our plan focuses on malnutrition; the reasons why the patient is having this kind of condition, and the treatment and the protocol that the nurses should follow for the welfare of the patient. Implementation Implementation of a care plan is the most challenging part of the nursing process. The patient is pale and has lost a lot of weight. The patient also lacks proper hygiene as a result of her appearance upon admission. The implementation of the care plan will begin upon admission. The patient will be forwarded and referred to the nursing staff on duty in the medical ward and will be given the care plan as agreed upon by the medical team and the patients relative. Malnutrition Evaluation will assess the effectiveness of the care plan and the implementation of the care. It is important to evaluate the point for care to be able to reach its desirable care plan. An updated review should be done to correct and improved the plan. The Model In simple language, a model is described by  Pearson and Vaughan (1993) as a descriptive picture of practice which adequately represents the real thing. Riehl and Roy (1980:11) cited in Roper et al (1990) provide   a more elaborate definition of a model as a systematically constructed, scientifically based and logically related set of concepts which identify the essential components of nursing practice, together with the theoretical bases of these concepts and the values required for their use by the practitioner. Choosing an appropriate model is important to help the care planning effective. In UK, the model of nursing used most predominantly is that of Roper et al, 1980 that bases its principals on a model for living. It provides a holistic care approach and involving the important component of the daily activities of a person. The model is made up of five components: Activities of daily living (ADLs), Lifespan, Dependence/Independence continuum, Factors influencing ADLs, and Individuality in living. (Roper, Logan, Tierney, 2002). The case of our patient needs to be assessed physically, physiologically but also mentally. The effect of losing a husband has led our patient to become ill. The Roper, Logan and Tierney are believed to be a useful approach in dealing with our patient since it involves a holistic approach. The model was named after the author of the model, Nancy Roper, Logan and Tierney. It was first developed in 1980 based upon the work by Nancy Roper in 1976. The model is based on the 12 activities of living in order to live. The model has been revised several times 1985, 1990 and the latest version 1998. The 12 activities involve the following: maintaining a safe environment, communication, breathing, eating and drinking, elimination, washing and dressing, thermoregulation, mobilisation, working and playing, expressing sexuality, sleeping, and death and dying. Each of the activities might be seen to be conceptualised as lying on a continuum from dependence to independence. There are times in our life that we may be more dependent on others to meet our needs. The role of the nurse is to help people move towards independence in all activities of daily living. Biological, physiological, socio-cultural, environmental and politico-economic variables are factors that impact on the individ ual and affect their levels of dependence /independence. Advantages and Disadvantages of Roper, Logan and Tierney Based on the study done by Pearson and Vaughan (1993) model of nursing is important in hospital ward or department. One of the advantages of the Roper, Logan and Tierney model is that it leads to consistency in the style of care received by patients and thus to a continuity of care patterns and treatments. The Roper, et.al. Model will give rise to less conflict within the team of nurses as a whole. Because of the rationale and definition behind the model other healthcare involved will understand better the logic of care. Roper, et. al model is said to be self explanatory or not too complicated as compared to others. It is said to be done this way in order to assist learners to develop a way of thinking about nursing in general terms. It is mentioned above that main concept of the Roper, Logan and Tierney model is based mainly on twelve activities of living which is the main elements of nursing and is referred to as â€Å"basic human needs†. According to Roper, Logan and Tierne y the activities of living have an advantage for nursing model since they are observable, describable, and in some instances, objectively measured. The model is mainly focused on the twelve activities while the theory is built on living and addresses the nursing activities as a deliberative approach to meet the twelve components of nursing care. It conceptualises the Person as a biological being with inseparable mind and body and Health as the ability to function independently in relation to the twelve components (Fitzpatrick and Whall 1989). The Care Plan The initial diagnosis on the patient under study is diarrhoea, alcoholism and malnutrition. However as the process of identifying the cause of the patient’s condition, nurse attending to her needs found out about the death of her husband. After background check they have found out that the patients’ husband died and became depressed because of the situation. During assessment on the patient’s health it has been noticed that the patient has mental health problem. The health needs of a patient is also important and the nurse involve should be aware of these needs. To help the patient, nursing process and nursing model should be working hand in hand to help the patient survive. Assessing the need of the patient is important. The Roper, Logan and Tierney model will ensure that the patient should be able to have a safe environment, should be communicating with her nurse attending to her, breathing, eating and drinking, working. Because of its holistic approached, Rogan. Logan and Tierney model is widely used. To evaluate the situation of our patient, the alcoholism of our patient might lead to liver disease and will be affecting the daily activities of life. The patient should trust her nurse and they should have a good relationship to have an effective care plan. The chosen model Roper et al have described the course of life as someth ing that starts at conception and lasts until death. The model involves maintaining a safe environment; our patient should be living in an environment that she will be comfortable and clean. The patient upon admission has seen to have poor hygiene. In identifying the activities of living the individual should be engage in personal cleansing and dressing. As described in the admission of the patient, the patient has poor hygiene. The patient may have pressure sore due to her stay in the hospital. This should be treated and approached very well by the nurse handling her. Pressure sore is the result of being immobile of the patient. The length of stay of the patient in the hospital should be shortening to avoid such condition. The nurse must assess how to help the patient to cooperate on the agreed care plan. Implementing the care plan will need the cooperation of the patient. It is important to help the patient to overcome the depression that she is experiencing. In this case the patient may not cooperate at the start of the plan but will be eventually cooperate as the process continues. The success of the plan depends on the cooperation of the patient and the nurses. Throughout life, our ability to perform ADLs will move from one extreme and possibly back again. This aspect of the model of living, therefore, interlinks with the model of nursing with effectively, each reliant on the other. The patient will have a chance in recovering from the health problem that she is encountering. The Roper, Logan and Tierney model is appropriate to approach the case of the patient in a holistic way. Conclusion The nursing process includes stages that should be completed to help the patient overcome the disease she is in. By means of this we will be able to identify which factors should be given enough attention to prevent the occurrence of such disease. The study includes the nature of care planning, person centred are planning, care management, health action planning and the care program approach. This study also introduced some relevant actions that need to be taken. The use of the Roper, Logan and Tierney model are described to help the nursing process to become successful and effective. The Roper Logan and Tierney is a holistic approach and are important to work with the nursing process. This study has also advocated the need for robust, professionally prepared care plans based on a systematic nursing assessment. Proper planning is important in dealing with the patient especially on those that are in admitted in the hospital because of different illnesses which can be cured and overcome if proper nursing process and model will be used. A nursing process is important to evaluate, assess, cure and eliminated illnesses of person. Our patient became sick because of depression and problem, which needs to have a proper attention on different aspect. She must be treated physiologically, physically and psychologically. Nursing model should be holistic if this is the case. The patient’s daily living activity is affected and she needs to understand why such activity such is done for her wellness. Patient should be very well educated or informed on the benefits that she will be having if she will cooperate on the agreed care plan. Reference Roper, N; Logan, W; Tierney, A; 2002 The Elements of Nursing 4th edition. Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh Department of Health (2000a), Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors (training) Amendment, London Department of Health. Department of Health (2000b) The NHS Plan. www.nhs.com.uk Goddard M, McDonagh MS Smith DH (2000) Measuring appropriate use of acute beds: a systematic review of methods and results. Health Policy 53 157-84. Coast J, Inglis A Frankel S (1996) Alternatives to hospital care: what are they and who should decide? British Medical Journal 312 162-6. Pearson A. and Vaughan B.(1993) Nursing Models for Practice. Oxford. Butterworth Heinemann. Riehl J. and Roy C.(1980) Conceptual Models for Nursing Practice (2nd. Ed.) New York. Appleton Century Crofts. In Roper N., Logan W., and Tierney A.(1990) The Elements of Nursing (3rd. Ed.) London. Churchill Livingstone. Fitzpatrick J. and Whall A.(1989) Conceptual Models of Nursing: Analysis and Application (2nd.Ed.) London. Prentice Hall Int.