Alfredo Jaar

The findings in this paper are based on an art publication article â€Å"Images of inclusion – installation art by Alfredo Jaar† which is written by Richard Vine. Alfredo Jaar is one of the uncompromising artists today. He is a film maker, artists and architect.He was born in Santiago, Chile in 1956 but he is currently working and living in New York. Alfredo was trained in film, photography, installations and community based projects. He is able to present events such as political corruption, military conflicts and imbalances of power in developing and industrialized nations in for of art. In his work it includes incidences of toxic pollution in Nigeria, genocide in Rwanda, boarder conflicts of United States and Mexico and Gold mining inBrazil. His work Awards and ExhibitionsAlfredo Jaar is an award winner of many art awards which includes John Simon Guggenheim Memorial foundation in 1985, MacArthur Foundation Award in 2000, in 1987 he worn two awards fellowships from n ational endowment for the Art and Louis Comfort Tiffany Foundation Award.His work has been shown all over the world he has attended numerous exhibitions and the most renown once are in 1992 he attended to three exhibitions in new museum of contemporary art in New York, whitechapel in London and Museum of contemporary art at Chicago.   Alfredo Jaar Art is able to address highly controversial issues and be able to convey moral convictions without violating the honesty of the concept.He does it without misrepresenting the facts or the motive of the case. In most of the art which he has worked on his anger and sympathy is evident on how it is manifested. He ensures that he resist on any propaganda even in the most partisan pieces. In Jaar exhibition has a sense of beauty and professionalism his arts are attractive and has fur reaching effects on human relations especially on political and the differences of the developing and developed country.He has worked on highly politicized topic s which mostly addressed the issues of politics which are done without principles which mostly bring division and bad governance. All over the world cases of politics without principals attracts a lot interest in the public and other nations. So his advancement to present such an event in form of art people is able to relate to it.He also addresses issues of those who gain wealth without toiling and those who practice commercial activities without moral responsibility such as the pyramid schemes. His art also addresses those who gain knowledge without virtues and those who advance to scientific ventures with less considerations well its negative effects to humanity. The most prominent once are arts in commemorations of American civil movement of the early 1960’s; illegal Mexican immigrants into United States and none mechanized gold mining in Brazil.

Mankind Is No Island

Mankind is No Island Focus: The collection of Still Images Sound Not a lot of dialogue Montage of images – together they make an image The words shown are from signs, street signs and shop signs etc. What makes this film visual What is specifically visual about it What makes the video shape my perspective of the situation What is the purpose of the video being made? – To be more aware of the homeless Ideas: There is a lack of giving to the homeless The homeless are taken for granted The homeless are ignored by society It is filmed in the city because it demonstrates advertising and also emphasizes consumerism. Used to contradict or to challenge what they are to present in the cities. The homeless are destitute and deprived from the necessities of life. Techniuqes Soft dramatic piano music is used The music sets the tone. It also makes the audience depressed and feel guilty. Camera angles are placed in the same level as the homeless. This is used to place the audience in the homeless peoples situation and position. By doing this, the audience feels the hardships, the sadness and the uselessness as the homeless have also felt. Repetition of the images of the homeless being ignored Rhetorical Questions are also used to make the audience feel depressed and reflect on their guilt. RQ's are also used to make audience reflect Repetitions of RQ's Religious images Repetition of â€Å"NO† Close up of the Homeless Face – Shows their facial expressions. Also indicates their sadness and their depression. Shows their rugged appearance. Take away the homeless identity and places the audience to look at them face to face as humans. Demonstrates how old they look. Also supports that being homeless ages you. The homeless have literally been forced to live a life of desperation. The homeless have no choices. The fact that two of the largest cities are used symbolises and supports the idea that homeless people are not found in a particular place, but are recognised everywhere. Repetition of â€Å"your† emphasizes that the homeless and the successful are no different. They may be different in social class but they are still the same in species. The images are also negative and focus the negative sides of the city. The sentences are also in a first person register RQ's is used to challenge and contradict on what we love The Heart Balloon –

Cross Cultural Field Experience

Cross cultural experiences can be defined in many different ways. Some people view these experiences as a way to interact with individuals who are diverse, often experiencing things one would not typically experience within their own culture. A cross cultural experience allows someone to share within another’s culture. These experiences can enrich the lives of those who participate by offering experience, knowledge, patience and an understanding into ones culture. Jesus Power Assembly of God I had the pleasure of attending a Sunday worship session on June 2, 2013 at Jesus Power Assembly of God. This church is a bible based and primarily immigrant church located in Columbus, Ohio and founded by Pastor Bismark Osei Akomeah. Reverend Akomeah is the Senior Pastor of Jesus Power Assembly of God church. He has planted four other Assemblies of God churches in Cincinnati and Georgia. He has also created French and Swahili speaking churches. First Impressions My daughter arranged this visit for us since she has a friend that attends the church. As soon as my daughter and I pulled into the parking lot I realized that this was going to be cultural experience for us. We were the only people in the whole church that were not dark skinned. We were starred at. There were whispers behind our backs. We were approached almost immediately by Pastor Bismark Osei Akomeah with welcome arms. I am sure he was wondering how we ended up finding our way into his church as the first thing he asked was if we were invited by a member. Hailey and I found our way into the sanctuary and took a seat in the back. Truthfully I wanted to make sure I could make a break if we needed to. The music and the singing were phenomenal! There was a choir and a band and there wasn’t anyone sitting in their seats. All were up and praising the word of God. The singing went on for a good amount of time before we actually started the sermon. The people were friendly and welcoming. We were approached several times and encouraged to move up closer to the front of the church. Many people came by and shook our hands and spoke to us. In fact, I actually felt more important and â€Å"loved† at this particular church than I have ever felt at any other church I have attended. The Sermon The sermon itself was given in both English and Swahili. The church has large screens in which the words to the sermon were put on so that people could follow along. It was an active service. I was especially surprised at the events for the day. The service started at 10 am with an opening prayer. There was praise and worship for 45 minutes which consisted of a combination of singing and talking. For about 10 minutes following the initial sermon there was time set aside for the welcoming of visitors. Each person took the microphone and said their names and identified how they came into the church. Hailey and I declined to take the microphone and all were understanding and sympathetic. Following the introductions of visitors, there were announcements for the church, more songs and music. The Pastor took the stage at about 11:15 with the sermon for the day. The sermon lasted for about an hour and a half. This was an extremely long service compared to what I am used to at a typical church service. When the sermon was completed there was an additional hour of praying, singing and the passing of the offering plate. The entire service from start to finish was 3 hours long! The one thing that was surprising to me was the difference in the length of the service compared to what I have experienced in the past. The longest service I have ever been a part of was an hour, at the most. These people spent almost the entire day together. Once the service was completed they went into another room in the basement and had a huge spread of food they shared. Church to this group of people was a family event. They prayed together, sang together and broke bread together. There is a clear difference between a Swahili service and a Lutheran or Christian service. Conclusion This experience was an emotional and eye opening event for me. I was able to share in another cultures religious experience and the group welcomed me with open arms. Sharing this experience with my teenage daughter was a valuable lesson for her as well. Although I have always raised my daughter to be accepting of all people regardless of color, religion or culture, she was able to immerse herself in another’s culture and see what it was like.

Influence of modern music on teenagers Research Paper

Influence of modern music on teenagers - Research Paper Example Music has played an important role in the socialization of teenagers. Modern music is present everywhere. The music can be accessed on radios, televisions, Internet, and new technologies and in various recordings. Music has positive effects on social interactions, schoolwork, mood and particularly behaviour.On the other hand, the effects of modern music to teenagers is of paramount concern. Modern music lyrics have become explicit in areas of sex, violence and drugs mostly in particular music genres. Children preference to certain music type may be associated with specific behaviours.Modern music with videos has exposure to sexual messages, substance abuse, violence that might generate significant changes in attitude and behaviors of the teenagers (Cox 2004). Choice of music, interpretation and reactions to teenagers will vary from culture, age and ethnicity. Research has also shown that music will also vary with gender. Parents and other stakeholders have a big role to play in ensuring that their children are exposed to the types of music that will not promote immorality in them. The parents should control and monitor what their kids watch (Kirsh

Ethical standards in business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Ethical standards in business - Essay Example 1987). Thus any virtuous manager aught to be particularly conscious about the validity and credibility of one's ethical affiliations and must ensure that the organization being managed and run by him/her abides by the time tested and authentic standards of integrity and propriety. It often gets difficult for the managers operating in the contemporary organizations to accurately identify the ethical standards, considering the deluge of ethical philosophies circulating in the academic and intellectual spheres. In the given context, it will be highly relevant to consider the opinions pertaining to ethics furnished by various schools of philosophy, which will go a long way in understanding the dilemma faced by the conscientious managers pertaining to the identification of appropriate ethical standards in a given situation. As per the theory of ethical relativism, there exist no universal norms pertaining to what is right or wrong (Ethical Relativism 2008). This gives every individual a free hand in deciding what is right or wrong as per one's discretion and understanding. ... As per the theory of ethical relativism, there exist no universal norms pertaining to what is right or wrong (Ethical Relativism 2008). This gives every individual a free hand in deciding what is right or wrong as per one's discretion and understanding. Ethical relativism holds that the meaning of 'right' and 'wrong' mostly depends on a society's dominant moral perceptions and thus the ethical standards can never be universal and may vary from place to place and from time to time. The confusion pertaining to ethics and in particular the business ethics gets further aggravated when one takes into consideration the consequentialist theories that tend to identify if an action is ethical or unethical on the basis of its final consequences. Utilitarianism is one such consequentialist theory that holds that any action is to be labelled as being truly ethical only if it succeeds in doing the "greatest good to the greatest number of people" (Ethics Matters 2006). As per this theory, an action aught to be considered to be ethical if the net happiness produced by it exceeds the unhappiness associated with it. Thus if any organization decides to build a dam to assuage the water shortages being faced by a state, utilitarianism will consider it to be ethical, even if it involves uprooting and displacing some historical monument situated in the vicinity of such a project. In contrast, the nonconsequentialist theories of ethics like Kantianism and the social contract theory totally negate the individual or group preferences in the overall process of judging the credibility of ethical or unethical actions and give predominance to the fundamental rules and principles cherished by the

Analysing Of The Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Analysing Of The Paper - Essay Example I specifically like this statement which defines how business organizations should go about the extension: "Unless the Brand name is strategically able to brand its extension to their customers and is capable to achieve this goal through similarities then and only then the success is higher. A company should extend their products as long as it is appropriate and along the lines of their products and or services. But, if the company wishes to expand to a class and or category different or other than what they are in, then there is a higher chance of failure." Do you mean that different brands should be used in different sectors or categories Your discussion is very informative. Instead of focusing only in the advantages and disadvantages of brand extensions, you have made the leap through identifying the steps which should be considered by marketers. My question is, can you discuss more on distancing techniques How is it done Richard Branson's extreme personality should be credited for his venture in numerous unrelated product categories.

Property Prices in the UK Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Property Prices in the UK - Coursework Example Our null hypothesis and alternative hypothesis were as follows:H0: ÃŽ ¼w = ÃŽ ¼l (No significant difference in the two means) H1: ÃŽ ¼w ≠  ÃŽ ¼l (A significant difference exist between the two means)A t-test was used to ascertain whether the price data vary vastly, with regard to our assertion or it is steady. We opted for a t-test because, according to Dalgaard (2008), it is best suited for this work and it is easy to interpret. From the results of two sample, t-statistics tells how the mean of one population sample deviates from the mean of another population sample. It interprets the average of each property price and the mean difference between the two property sits. Moreover, t-test gives an explanation as to whether the difference in mean is statistically significant or not especially if the two populations, where the sample prices were gathered, have similar means.      We tabulated the sample prices for property news (sample w) and the sample prices for property live and then calculated the relevant summary statistics using STATA.  The variance of difference for the two means (sd2) was calculated as follows:sd2 = (sw2 / nw) + (sl2 / nl) = (108370.3/8) + (108725.4/7)  = 13546.29 +15532.2 sd2 = 29078.49 Therefore, sd = √29078.49 = 170.52 Our calculated t-statistics was therefore given as:  t = (ÃŽ ¼w – ÃŽ ¼l)/ sd = (85731 - 73329.71)/ 170.52 = 72.73 However, the tabulated t-value, at 13 degrees of freedom (8 + 7 -2) is given as 1.7709. Since the calculated t-statistics > the tabulated t-statistics, we reject Ho and conclude that the two means for the two property prices are significantly different at 5% significance level.

Critically assess the proposition that it is essential to distinguish Essay - 1

Critically assess the proposition that it is essential to distinguish between refugees and other migrants - Essay Example In other words, democracy was introduced after the French Revolution that modified the monopolistic perspective of reign. Moreover, globalization completely altered the concept of geographical locations, and people began to migrate from one country to another for a better living standard. It was observed that Western countries confronted a higher percentage of migrants from eastern part of the globe, such as, Asia, Africa, etc. One of the significant factors of such migration has been the developed region of Western world, which forced Asians and Africans to migrate from their homeland, in order to earn a higher amount, as well as, enjoy other facilities that are not even available in eastern region of the world yet. Until 19th century, immigrants were not categorized, and all used to enjoy the same benefits and confront similar issues; however, in recent century, steps have been taken to differentiate migrants into different categories, such as immigrants, asylum-seekers, refugees, etc. In specific, this paper will discuss and analyze such proposition relation to the distinction between refugees and o ther migrants. In other words, individuals coming after forced migration and other immigrants will be discussed and compared in this paper, in order to decide whether their distinction is essential or useless. In broader terms, refugees can be considered none other than migrants; however, it is essential to distinguish them from other categories due to a number of factors. In terms of definition, race, religious, political, and social reasons have been associated with well-founded fear related to self-persecution that is expressed by an individual, and referred as a refugee. Moreover, such individual is always outside his homeland and shows fear on outcomes that may occur after his arrival in the home country. In this regard,

How to improve the employees' work efficiency Thesis

How to improve the employees' work efficiency - Thesis Example This research will begin with the statement that over a long period, time management has continued to be a contentiously debated and researched area. Inadvertently, work efficiency directly relates to time management. In this research carried out at SDPW, time management is a critical issue that has elicited numerous responses that have shed more light and given a new perspective on work efficiency. Repeatedly, successful companies and organizations, like SDPW, strive to put up measures to reduce time wasting, while employees on their part try to evaluate how to manage their time at work. All these are the parameters for checking time management that would, in turn, bring about work efficiency. While it is known that time is a preciously limited resource, managing it is equally indispensable. As Chinese proverb goes, gold cannot get anyone time that has been lost. It is, therefore, clear-cut: time management is hazardous when improperly utilized. When properly managed, a company can reap many benefits of effectively managing time; work efficiency ultimately influences the outcome of services provided by the company. In everyday life, the amount of work needed to be done inevitably piles up more and more. In the work place, there are many deadlines to beat, assignments to hand in and schedules that need to be kept. In this regard, work efficiency will not be achieved if the time factor is thrown into the backburner. The time always seems to be limited, no matter what we do. (Groves et al., 2004). Time management in essence is the key to overcoming all the bottlenecks associated with work efficiency. It all comes down to how employees manage their time at the work place, which, in turn, determines the amount of work done and the levels of achievements reached. Time management is ultimately the key to doing everything within limited amounts of time given and still being efficiently productive in the end. The research study carried out at SDPW was an involving proj ect. True to its effect, the activities of data collection undertaken between the months of February and March 2012 reflect and capture the views and experiences on employees of SDPW. Work efficiency as acknowledged is a critical area of study that its findings go a long way in shaping up working environments in many companies. There is a growing need for efficiency at the workplace as presented by the study carried out. The specifics and range of research methodologies was particularly put in place to ensure maximum results were achieved. The quantitative method of research, focus group and the absolute structured interview of parameters of time wasting ensured that the researchers put into consideration the different angles of work efficiency. This ensured that the managers, the engineers, officers and employees were specifically sampled. The sampling included those with considerable levels of experience at the company and those who were particularly less familiar with the company . Conclusion The research findings from SDPW revealed that efficiency at work comes down to how many employees maximize their use of the limited time resource. In particular, the essence of an employee working efficiently by adequately using time is a factor that shapes the growth of a company (Jill and

Love in Infant Monkeys Analysis Essay Example for Free

Love in Infant Monkeys Analysis Essay A mother can impact lives greatly. Could you imagine growing up without a mother? You can either be very lucky with a mother that cares for you or be deprived of that sense of love from a mother figure. It is inhumane to destroy any kind of maternal bond because mothers are not people to depend on, but are people to make depending not required. In my opinion, Harry doesn’t understand the true meaning of mothers earlier in the story but does get they have some sort of value. The repercussions of this lie in the story. Many times he brings up mothers whether it’s with his sick wife or the infant monkey’s mother. Harlow must not think much of mothers in general based off of what was said in the story, â€Å"Mother’s are useful, †¦in scientific terms† (Harlow 310). A solid explanation is the fact that he obviously does not totally understand the strip down meaning of mother. Harlow is now drawing a very small part of the very big picture, â€Å"They have intrinsic value, even beyond their breast milk. Call it their company† (Harlow 310). He gets that mothers naturally belong and that they are sort of important to the people they need to influence and care for, no matter if they are human or not. However, at this point in the story he doesn’t comprehend the true values of mother. Harlow later in the story conducts an experiment with an infant monkey and its mother that should give him closure about his hypothesis. Without compassion he begins tests, â€Å"Anxiety first, shown in trembling and shaking; then come the screams† (311). This examines Harlow and his lack of realization and empathy towards mothers and how they have essentials that are beyond scientific. Slowly though, he begins to show and give in to his inner feelings about mothers. It takes a few experiments for him to realize â€Å"Time after time, baby monkeys return. Bad mother is better then none† (312). It took time and cruel methods but Harlow is almost at the point where he accepts the true meaning of Mother. The turning point was the â€Å"Deep swig† (Millet 314). In his drunken self-conscience the truth was released. He began to fathom the underlying details that he couldn’t pick up from his time with the monkeys earlier. Still trying to hold on to thoughts put into his mind, â€Å"He mistook each infant monkey for a beloved soul. In that way the nightmare was confusing† (Millet 314). As you can see it is still in his conception not to believe himself that what he was doing was wrong. This is a battle between his self-conscience and what he was taught to believe. Finally, actuality kicked in, â€Å"He saw each infant in the heart of its mother, precious, unique, held so close because the mother was willing to die for it.† (314). What Harlow saw was the absolute certainty of what his inner being was desperately attempting to communicate to him. It was that he was wrong. The test subjects before him were real living things just like himself. The mother is a complex creature proven throughout the story. These actions all help express why mothers and their presence are so important. As shown, they are very crucial in the development of younger beings. The mother is a helper by nature, impacting by teaching its child to survive at life. Independence is the arch lesson that is taught by the mother. Harlow enduringly grasps the cardinal meaning of why it is inhumane to destroy any kind of maternal bond. Mothers are not people to depend on, but are people to make depending not required.

A Case Study In Chinese Independent Secondary Schools Education Essay

A Case Study In Chinese Independent Secondary Schools Education Essay This study is to examine the role of leadership in teacher professional development in Chinese Independent Secondary Schools in Klang Valley. The specific variables that will be investigated include teachers perceptions of teacher professional development; teachers expectations as well as the principals role in facilitating teacher professional development. Developments in leadership will lead to changes in the ways teachers work. These will subsequently increase the need to review teacher professional development. The purpose of this research is to establish how the dual of the principal and the teachers manifests itself in professional development. This research will be significant as it will examine the voices of teachers on how leadership contributes to teacher professional development. The research will be conducted using qualitative methodology. It will be based on a case study of two Chinese Independent Secondary Schools in Klang Valley. Data will be collected using questionna ires and follow up interviews which will be administered to elicit responses from principals, deputy principals and teachers in both schools. The findings will reveal the need for teachers in Chinese Independent Secondary Schools in Klang Valley to engage more in teacher professional development programmes in order for them to have a better understanding of the concept. This study will also demonstrate if teacher professional development should be the core work of both the principals and teachers in order to create a learning environment in their schools so that both can develop professionally. Based on the results obtained in this study, we will determine if Chinese Independent Secondary Schools in Klang Valley need more awareness in teacher professional development and how it will influence the leadership. Keywords: Leadership, Principals, Teachers, Teacher Professional Development, Teaching and Learning 1.0 INTRODUCTION Having been a teacher for ten years and now majoring in educational management, I am very much interested in finding out the effects of school leadership on the professional development of the teachers in the Chinese Independent Secondary Schools in Selangor. Chinese Secondary Independent Schools are solely governed by The United Chinese School Committees Association of Malaysia (UCSCAM) which coordinates the curriculum used in the schools and organizes the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) standardized test. Generally teachers are not employed through the professional teachers training colleges in Malaysia rather they are appointed through individual school administration which is governed by the directors (share holders) of the school as they are not governed by any central system therefore school management is based on the individual school superiors. As a teacher from a Chinese Independent Secondary School, I had been involved in various professional development programmes in school. These programmes were mostly conducted during school hours and often during the school holidays. Thus it is my interest to find out how the school leadership contributes in molding and producing teachers who are as competent as the trained teachers by the Teachers Training Colleges under the Malaysia Education System. This is because this will determine whether the Chinese Secondary Independent Schools are producing individuals who are intellectually, spiritually, emotionally and physically balanced and harmonic, based on a firm belief in and devotion to God, in line with the goals of the Malaysian National Philosophy of Education. Basically every organization needs routines to function in a good way. In organizations like higher secondary schools, the routines involve being continuously observant about the force of leadership and teaching on students involvement academically. To implement this observation, they also know how to judge students, and the efficiency of all professional activities. Therefore teachers and students solely rely on non-governmental organization to provide relevant professional training and development for further enhancement of teaching outcome. This proposed study will be able to shed some light on various strategies deployed by the school administration in enhancing professional development among teachers of Chinese Secondary Independent Schools in order to stimulate the pupils potentials holistically in accordance with the Education Philosophy. As a school administrator, I strongly believe it is the job and the responsibility of the head teacher to see that the pupils achieve success besides possessing the following qualities : knowledgeable, competent, possess high moral standards and are responsible and capable of achieving a high level of personal well-being as well as being able to contribute to the harmony and betterment of the family, the society and the nation at large. (Malaysian National Philosophy of Education, 1996). This research takes the form of a qualitative study that employs three research instruments: document analysis, questionnaires that are filled in by all the teachers and five semi-structured interview sessions. Therefore, I would very much like to gain an insight into the ways in which the school leadership behaviour and practices affect the teachers overall achievement in professional development in line with the students overall achievement in schools. 1.1 BACKGROUND OF STUDY Teachers are a vital labor force according to the Malaysian educational aims in enhancing the education quality and developing manpower of the nation. The importance for professional development for teachers in Malaysia was realized since 1995 by a special committee established by the Education Ministry to look into teachers professionalization, professionalism and professional development. Teachers professional development was one of the most important factor to enhance the teaching profession. Below are a few suggestions highlighted by the MOE on how teacher professional development be conducted: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Teachers should be encouraged to attend in-service courses à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Teachers should be encouraged to further their education à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Opportunities should be given to teachers for study visits overseas to study current developments in education à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Induction programmes be given to teachers appointed to new posts and with new responsibilities à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Staff rooms should be subject-based à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Teacher centres should facilitate the professional development of teachers; they should be built in strategic locations, equipped with modern technology, fully funded and adequately staffed (as cited in Mohd Sofi Ali, 2002, p. 45). Based on the above needs and requirements the government has made efforts to establish training centres for its teachers. The teacher education division which comes under the MOE and MOHE initiates both the pre-service and in-service training for the primary and secondary school teachers. Chinese independent secondary school is a type of private high school in Malaysia. They provide secondary education in the Chinese language as the continuation of the primary education in Chinese national-type primary schools. The medium of instruction in these schools is Mandarin with simplified Chinese characters writing. There are a total of 60 Chinese independent high schools in the country, including 23 from East Malaysia, and they represent a small number of the high schools in Malaysia. The United Chinese School Committees Association of Malaysia (UCSCAM, the association of Chinese school teachers and trustees, also known as the Dong Jiao Zong, coordinates the curriculum used in the schools and organizes the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) standardized test. Despite this, the schools are independent of each other and are free to manage their own affairs. The teaching workforce for Chinese Independent Secondary Schools is generally made up of three categories: Diploma , Degree and Master Degree holders. There are also a category of teachers who completed seven years of secondary education and are employed as teachers after undergoing a non-residential short course. This was initially done in the initial stages as to produce as many teachers in the shortest time possible so as to cater for the demands of teachers in Chinese Independent Secondary Schools for a simple reason that they are not under the MOE and as an independent organization teachers are to be sourced out on their own. Being private schools, Chinese independent high schools do not receive funding from the Malaysian government, unlike their national-type cousins. However, in accordance with their aim of providing affordable education to all in the Chinese language, their school fees are substantially lower than those of most other private schools. The schools are kept alive almost exclusively by donations from the public. 1.2 AIMS AND OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY Basically the proposed study is to look at the leadership focus in the circumstance of the case study of Chinese Independent Secondary Schools in Selangor. The following are the key aims of this research; What are the leadership styles practiced by school heads in the school vicinity, what is the professional development activities conducted in schools, how does school head and teachers perceived professional development? Professional development is believed to perk up the excellence of teaching and the quality performance of learners. Knapp (2003:109) believes that every initiative that is geared towards improving teaching and learning in schools should consolidate its efforts chiefly towards high quality teacher professional development and this is perceived as one of the roles attached to principalship. This provides a basis upon which teachers can improve their instructional competence and pedagogic skills. Another objective for this study is to examine how have the leadership styles affected the professional development in schools? 1.3 PROBLEM STATEMENT The role of the principal in supporting professional development activities of teachers appears to be crucial to the success of the professional growth of teachers (Berube, Gaston, Stepans, 2004 citing Stepans, 2001). Therefore it is strongly reckoned that a strong school leadership will enhance teacher professional development in a more effective manner. Berube et al (2004) state that, In addition to performing these organisational and managerial tasks, contemporary principals are expected to be leaders, setting directions for the teaching and learning of students. They also are expected to coach, teach, and develop teachers in their schools, and perform their tasks as instructional leaders. Generally it depends on the leadership of the school on the various method they would choose to enforce professionalism among teachers in their respective schools. At the moment the most popular forms of teacher professional development in most Chinese Independent Secondary Schools are workshops and seminars held both within the schools and at the Dong Zhong headquarters. This study hopes to intensify the understanding of the potential role of principals in teacher development. Currently there is insufficient support for teacher professional development which could affect the quality of education that students receive and ultimately impact on their likelihood to pass their final high school external examination and transition into higher education among students of Chinese Independent Secondary Schools RESEARCH OBJECTIVES To investigate the leadership styles practiced by school heads. To explore the professional development activities being conducted in schools. To examine the factors that influence school head and teachers perception in professional development To determine the impact of leadership styles on professional development in schools. 1.5 RESEARCH QUESTION The proposed research questions for this study seek to answer these questions; 1. What are the leadership styles practiced by school heads? 2. What is the professional development activities conducted in schools? 3. How does school head and teachers perceived professional development? 4. How has the leadership styles affected the professional development in schools? 1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY Generally on the contrary not many studies have examined principals role and practices in relation to teacher professional development. However, there is a need to develop a better understanding of what principals do and how they facilitate teacher development in order to be able to shape a positive school climate that supports teacher learning (Drago- Severson, 2004). Drago-Severson put forth a learning oriented model of school leadership that includes teaming, engaging in collegial inquiry and mentoring targeted at attaining that relationship to foster educational growth more effectively. The teachers perceptions of the way the school leader functions appears to be an important parameter for the appreciation of the contribution of the school to the process of professional development (Clement et al., 2000, p.7). This study aims to investigate whether teacher professional development is perceived as central to student achievement by school leadership (principals) at Chinese Independent Secondary Schools in Selangor. Basically there are four Chinese Independent School distinctively located in Selangor where each school consists of almost two thousand students along with 130 staff member. It also aims specifically to examine the role that principals play to encourage teacher professional development in their schools. Professional support. Activities within the professional training category include; short conferences, courses, workshops both in the schools and outside the schools, for which emphasis is put on enhancing the knowledge and skills of participants and formal certification is not provided. As Bolam further points out, professional education in contrast leads to formal qualifications and relevant certificates. Professional support according to Earley Bubb (2004) involves on-the-job s upport that is primarily intended to improve teachersà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã… ¸ experience and performance. Activities in this category may include coaching, mentoring, and induction. The results of this research will contribute to those studies, which have been carried out, in the quest for broadening and understanding the roles of school leaders with regard to professional development of teachers. The study could also assist the Board of United Chinese Secondary School Association policy makers to assess the contents of the courses necessary for prospective and incumbent school heads and teachers of Chinese Independent Secondary Schools, to ensure that they are equipped with relevant skills required to run schools in a way that would enhance the achievement of Vision and Mission alongside with goals of Ministry of Education in Malaysia. CHAPTER 2 2.0 LITERATURE FRAMEWORK 2.1 INTRODUCTION This chapter looks at the meaning of school leadership and teachers professional development and discusses its significance to the teaching profession and the notion of teacher professionalism. Several themes that emerged from the literature base reviewed such as the changing paradigm of leadership styles, professional development, the impact of professional development on teachers and school heads, core features of effective professional development, changing leadership practices and teachers professional development impact in school are also discussed. Figure 1 : Leadership Styles Hopkins (2001b) highlights the centrality of transformational and instructional leadership practices in achieving school improvement in schools facing challenging circumstances. Existing literature also indicates that the most popular theories are located in the transactional and transformational models identified more than 20 years ago (Burns, 1978; Hoy and Miskell, 2008) and lately reinvented through such terms as liberation (Tampoe, 1998), educative (Duignan and McPherson, 1992), invitational (Stoll and Fink, 1996) and moral leadership (Sergiovanni, 1992). Apparently a leader holds full responsibility in creating a conducive school community. He or she needs to diversify the leadership roles so that change can be accepted by subordinates. All teacher working under a leader should be anchored towards the same mission and vission in order to achieve success in the aims and goals of the organization(Farrell, 2003). According to Portin (2003) below are the seven key leadership functions that must exist in all schools regardless of type and size: 1. Instructional: assuring quality of instruction and supervising curriculum 2. Cultural: dealing with history and traditions 3. Managerial: focusing on school operations 4. Human Resource: recruiting, hiring, firing, and mentoring teachers and staff 5. Strategic: promoting the vision, mission, and goals of the school 6. External Development: representing the school in the community 7. Micropolitical: mediating and dealing with internal interests 2.1.1 Leadership Styles Fullan (2000, 2001) presages school leaders that there is no mystic solution to making schools effective. More exactly, leaders should make an attempt to learn moral leadership practices to help assure that whatever changes and change process they see to adopt are as successful as possible. Therefore leadership styles practiced by school heads are the foremost contributing factor to the running of the school organization which subsequently promotes the professional development of its staff. Basically leadership styles practiced are known as below: Figure 2 : Types of Leadership 2.2 TEACHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT 2.2.1 Definitions Definitions on Teacher Professional Development vary according to educational backgrounds and situations. In education systems where teacher education programs are well recognized, Teacher Professional Development is defined as a process taking up all activities that increase professional career development (Rogan Grayson 2004; Tecle 2006) or as formal and informal experiences throughout the teachers career (Hargreaves Fullan 1992; Arends et al. 1998). Furthermore teachers will be able to go beyond their primary training as they fulfill a number of objectives as below: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ to update individuals knowledge of a subject in light of recent advances in the area; à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ to update individuals skills, attitudes and approaches in light of the development of new teaching techniques and objectives, new circumstances and new educational research à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ to enable schools to develop and apply new strategies concerning the curriculum and other aspects of teaching practice; à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ to exchange information and expertise among teachers and others, e.g. academics, industrialists; and à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ to help weaker teachers become more effective. 2.2.2 Importance of Teacher Professional Development In line with changes and challenges faced by the teaching profession various methods, techniques and information are updated regularly and to upkeep with this pace education alone is insufficient for teachers. Professional development is part of life-long learning and educating oneself. Professional development allows an educator to reflect and on decision making and trouble shoot challenging roles in being an educator. Hence due to the importance of teacher professional development the Ministry of Education in Malaysia has set up Teacher Education Division (TED), Aminuddin Baki Institute (IAB),The School Inspectorate and Quality Assurance Division and the Malaysian Institute of Teacher Education to plan, manage and implement teacher professional development activities in all states in order to uphold to the mission and vision in providing quality education to all. The teacher is the heart of classroom instruction (Fullan 2000;Hargreaves 2001). The effectiveness of the teacher depends on her competence (academically and pedagogically) and efficiency, (ability, work load, and commitment), teaching and learning resources and methods; support from education managers and supervisors (Rogan 2004; Van den Akker Thijs 2002; Mosha 2004). Through Professional development an educator or teacher is able to practice effective management in the classroom , it allows a path where a teacher learns to cope with difficulty faced in the classroom. These experiences provide a learning platform for teacher where they are able to improve their personal skills in handling challenges in the classroom in particular and school generally. 2.2.3 Forms of Teacher Professional Development Teachers are the heart and soul of learning; they are in fact lifelong learners. Constant reinvention and revolutionary in the education field makes teachers to stay in par through whatever circumstances in professional development. To date there are various ways and strategies implemented to enhance teachers mode of learning and sharing on the whole whether its a private or government school. Guskey (2000a, p. 22-29) reviewed seven core professional development practices and identified advantages and shortcomings for each. An abbreviated version is provided below. Method Advantage Shortcoming Training presentation, workshop, demonstration, simulation, discussions, seminars, colloquia, etc. efficient for sharing info with large groups shared knowledge base and vocabulary little individualization or choice often need feedback and coaching to supplement Observation/Assessment observation and receiving feedback e.g. peer coaching and supervision positive impact on observer and observed through discussion and feedback lessens isolation takes time, trust, and must separate observation and evaluation need to be focused and well- planned Improvement Processes curriculum/program design development or review, to implement new instructional strategies or to solve problems enhances knowledge and also collaborative capacity generally are invested in it due to local context and/or authentic problems may only involve small group may tend toward tradition and not innovation need access to research to guide decisions/actions Study Groups study regarding common issue or concern may have several groups studying different aspects of issue lessens isolation and bring focus and coherence to learning also focuses on ongoing learning individual involvement may vary or be discouraged by dominant members may become opinion-focused instead of research focused Inquiry/Action Research 5 step AR process of selecting a problem and determining an action to take tends to build knowledge and increase skills of problem solving, empowers teachers in their practice and learning takes significant individual effort, initiative and time Individually Directed Activities identify individual needs create personal plan -assess success of plan flexible, choice, individualization, geared to personal reflection and analysis may be reinventing the wheel or repetitive work if no collegial sharing is built in less likely to be connected to SIP and other areas of PD Mentoring regular meetings of more and less experienced pairs about practice and improvement both individuals learn as mentors become more meta cognitive and also develop adult communication skills time and resources, also connecting to other learners or school plans and initiatives Table 1: Professional Development Practices 2.3 IMPACT OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT According to Dr. Helen Timperley (aitsl,oct 2011) , there are a number of principles identified on how professional development inpacts teachers and principal on the whole. A few of the principles are as discussed below:- 2.3.1 Professional learning is core school business First-class learning, teaching and schooling need professionals who involve methodically in increasing their knowledge and skills as part of their everyday duties. This claim is strongly accepted by the analytical research done by Robinson et al. (2008) in which they found that the leadership activity greatly influence student outcomes was leaders promotion of, and participation in, teachers professional learning and development. Kaser and Halbert (2009) explains that these occasions shall not occur regularly but refer to this principle as developing a learning-oriented design in schools that reflects the complexity required to create appropriate conditions, structures and rhythms for professional learning. 2.3.2 Improving outcomes for students forms the reason to engage in professional learning opportunities and the basis for evaluating its effectiveness Engaging in professional development allows knowledge to be deepen and skills in teaching and learning dignifies. Scholars substantially give importance to the impact of their practice on students. Experts always improvise the routine practices for students in order to create active knowledge seeking. Improving these outcomes becomes the reason to engage in professional learning, the reason to deepen knowledge and refine skills, and the basis for deciding if it is effective. Adaptive experts are constantly focused on the impact of their practice on students, and when their routines of practice are not working for students, they seek new knowledge and skills. Similarly, those leading organisations with high adaptive capacity seek these opportunities at the level of the whole school as an organisation. 2.3.3 Professional learning opportunities build deep pedagogical content and assessment knowledge focused on what is needed to improve outcomes for students Leaders and teachers must restore information at all time throughout their school day. Having this knowledge organised into conceptual frameworks means that it is known both in a practical sense and theoretically. If understandings are introduced in theory only, then problems arise when teachers try to put them into practice in their own teaching and learning contexts (Kennedy, 2004). On the other hand, leaders and teachers need to know why the understandings and practices promoted through professional learning opportunities are more effective than what they did before so that they can tailor new practices to meet the demands of particular situations. Knowing something theoretically also counterbalances the situated nature of learning referred to in the first principle, in that conceptual or theoretical knowledge allows for transfer to other situations with other students or in other curriculum areas. 2.3.4 Professional learning environments are consistent with how people learn All stage of learners are adults or young people, transform new information through the lens of prior understandings (Bransford et al., 2000; Dumont et al., 2010). These prior understandings are, in turn, structured and interpreted through existing mental models. In professional learning situations, if prior knowledge and existing mental models are not engaged, those involved may fail to grasp new concepts because they believe that existing practice is more similar to new ideas than it really is. 2.4 EFFECTIVE SCHOOL LEADERSHIP Leadership achievement always begins with vision.  A intensed vision has that power. It encourages, explains and centres the task of individualsand preferably entire organizationsfor a long period of time. Goleman, Boyatzis and McKee (2002) believes that emotionally intelligent leaders and emotionally intelligent organizations are vital in challenging times. They distinguis 18 aptitudes around four areas: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management. Leaders of such potential are clearly aware of their own emotional makeup, are sensitive and empowering to others, and are able to cope with day-to-day problems as they work on more essential changes in the culture of the organization. (From Fullan, 2001) Figure: 3 Framework for Leadership Concurrently effective leaders need to stay tunes to the big picture, and much more modernized at conceptual thinking, and transforming the organization through people and teams. It was my conclusion when I examined successful leadership for businesses and in school systems (Fullan, 2001). Besides this another element pertaining to successful change is that relationships improve. When relationships improve, things get better. If they remain the same or get worse, ground is lost. Therefore leaders must be consummate relationship builders with diverse people and groups especially with people different than themselves. This is why emotional intelligence is equal to or more important than having the best ideas. In complex times, emotional intelligence is a must. Hence , schools cannot be improved without improving the skills and abilities of the teachers and principals who work in them (Darling-Hammond, 2008, 2009a; Lieberman Darling-Hammond, 2011). Teachers are the ones who ultimately will implement change. Therefore, professional development processes must address their needs and concerns (Darling-Hammond, 2010a, 2010b) 2.5 THEORETICAL AND CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK The theoretical framework of this proposed study is mainly based on the work of eminent educational leadership scholars, specifically Fullan ( 2000,) Hargreaves (2001) Rogan Grayson (2004) and Bransford et al.(2000), Dumont et al.,( 2010), Darling-Hammond, 2011 and Dr. Helen Timperly (2010) relating to professional development and school leadership. The underlying theories state that professional development is important for the preparation and continuous development of teachers and school administrators. Darling-Hammond (2009a) suggested that professional development should provide opportunities for teachers to reflect critically on their practice and to fashion new knowledge and beliefs about content, pedagogy, and learners. Fullan and Hargreaves (2001) leaders of tomorrow should move steadfast in transforming themselves as well as the people around them to achieve stated results. 2.5.1 Theories of leadership Through ages, multiple theories and literature have been created by many scholars with different point of view. Generally all the theories can be categorized

Globalisation Influencing The Development Of International Relations Theory Politics Essay

Globalisation Influencing The Development Of International Relations Theory Politics Essay Globalisation is a relatively new, unpredictable process in which raises fundamental issues within international relations. Globalisation is a contested notion and under much controversy. Jeff Haynes (2003) claims there is precious little agreement about what globalisation really means.  [1]  This suggests that globalisation is constantly debated and ever changing. Shalmali Guttal (2007) argues globalisation, shaped the world over the past 50-odd years.  [2]  The international system has under gone profound changes and has witnessed the end of the war of the ideologies, liberalism and communism. This essay will explain how economic, cultural, social and political changes within globalism have influenced the development of international relations theory with reference to contemporary examples. The definition of globalisation is fundamental in order to understand how it has influenced the development of international relations theory. However it is difficult to come to a singular definition as globalisation is a subject which is underpinned by controversy. It has been described that, globalisation is a historical process à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ that links distant communities and expands the reach of power politics across regions and continents  [3]  , dating as far back as the 19th century with the industrial revolution. Essentially globalisation has in essence, condensed the world which has led to an integrated economy and has diminished geo-political boundaries. It is argued that globalisation is related to neo-liberalism and capitalism which has generated a debate as to whether it promotes wealth or greed as Marxists suggest. On one hand it is said to promote a healthy, booming economy whilst others suggest that the western liberalised countries get richer whilst the third w orld countries continue to suffer, not capable of delivering on its promises of economic well-being and progress for all.  [4]  This becomes apparent when states such as the US and Cambodia are compared. For example, GNP Per Capita in 2002 for Cambodia was $1970 whereas the US was $35244. This highlights the North; south divide caused by globalisation. Globalisation is a multi-dimensional subject which considers cultural, social, economic and political changes. Furthermore according to the United Nations, Extreme poverty remains a daily reality for more than 1 billion people who subsist on less than $1 a day. More than 800 million people have too little to eat to meet their daily energy needs.  [5]  This would argue that globalisation has not helped third world and less developed countries as neo-realism suggested. Modernisation is paramount to globalisation. With new technology, such as the internet, emails, and mobile devices, and with new means of transportation such as air travel, technologies allow the transfer of goods, services and information almost anywhere quickly and efficiently.  [6]  The theory of interconnectedness within the globe has evolved, and with it the added convenience of businesses being able to operate transnationally in order to expand and cut costs. This highlights that international relations theory needs to accommodate to this change as it now involved more people across wider areas. State centric theories have become less relevant with the emergence of globalisation. Non-governmental organisations such as the European Union and Transnational corporations such as Coca cola or Nestlà © are operating with huge turnovers, By the mid-1990s, 51 of the worlds top 100 entities were transnational companies  [7]  . They are able to influence policy due to the substa ntial profits which would benefit the economy of states they operate in however this is detrimental to the population working within the companies. This would suggest that state centric theories have become less significant with the development of international relations theory. Realism argues the importance of states-as-actors however, states have lost sovereign control over non-state actors who are able to expand and operate within different countries. This contradicts theories such as realism threatened to put sovereignty at bay,  [8]  Vernon (1971) as cited by Jones (2008) in which sovereignty stands at the foundations of the state centric theories. The idea of the nation state is argued to be out-dated, for example with the development of transnational organisations such as the United Nations. This shows that the state has little power within the international system, and would argue against theories such as constructivism having an influence in international relations theo ry. Therefore globalisation reduces states ability to make domestic decisions. Balance of power has also been influenced by globalisation. The end of the cold war symbolised the end of the bi-polar regime and a greater distribution of world power. Another state centric theory constructivism argues anarchy is what states make of it. This idea is dismissed by neo realists, there may be peace and quiet in the international system. But in anarchy, states are always seeking security; moves in that direction can be misread by other states; that is what the security dilemma is all about.  [9]  Neo realists argue that you cannot predict what another states action may be; therefore the idea of security within the state is questioned within constructivism. However on the other hand, terrorism is reinforcing state centric theories such as realism, for example, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦a struggle for power among self-interested states and is generally pessimistic about the prospects for eliminating conflict and war (Walt, 1998) Despite terrorists being non-state actors, terrorism reflects the revivification of the tradition of international relations theory. For example during the 1980s Libya sponsored terrorist acts, The first and most crucial thing to understand is this. There is no international terrorism without the support of sovereign states.  [10]  Ã‚   Globalisation has enhanced the technical capabilities and global grasp of terrorism which had enabled them to work through a global network. This has been helped with the introduction of new technology in which has condensed the globe, making it easier for terrorist groups to operate. Realism is also concerned with primarily states interest. National security issues are the most importan t, and with such events as 9/11 in America and 7/7 in Britain it shows that even the stronger powers are to some extent under constant threat from terrorism. The change in international relations theory has seen the spread of Liberalism and western values across the globe. Technology has been used as a tool to promote these western values; for example through means of the media and the internet. Widespread political changes have resulted from the process of Globalisation. For example democracy has been spreading since the mid-1970s which has seen dictatorships across Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America fall to democracy. A domino like effect has triggered a chain reaction in the Middle East, showing that globalisation has promoted Liberalism. Recent developments in Tunisia, Libya and Egypt reflect this profound change in international relations theory reflecting that democratisation of states. Globalisation has promoted democracy which is apparent in these countries opposing the military dictatorship and imposing democracy upon the state. Jeff Haynes highlights an example of democratization influenced by globalisation, the justice and development party in Turkey. Their aim was to promote a liberal market economy and in 2007 was allocated seats. This shows the neo realist foundations of globalisation are appealing to other nation states. Furthermore it shows that are perhaps unhappy with the way their state is authoritarian and want democratic nation. Interdependence has been a key development within international relations theory. During the process of globalisation, the Westphalian system of territorial states has declined whereas interdependence has developed. This interdependence can be viewed in a negative perspective. Realists believe that states should be self-dependent. This inter-dependence is regarded as inequality and some states having power over states. For example, the oil embargo during the 1970s shows that the oil producing countries were able to coerce those countries which imported the oil and used this as a political tool. Decline of hegemony is suggested to produce disorder, as Realists believe a dominant power is needed in international relations. This is apparent in the introduction of the gold standard; the US took the lead in the international exchange of money. Within Cynthia Webbers International relations- a critical introduction the view of neo liberalism and historical materialism is featured which contributes an insight into the globalisation debate. Neo liberalism argues that globalisation influences the development of international relations theory in a positive light whereas the materialists argue capitalism is a bad influence on international relations theory. According to Webber, neo liberalism theory would include a harmonious nature of international relations. They also claim that the economies of the states benefit, and in turn democracy between nation states. However the materialists suggest that the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.  [11]  This exploitation is key into maintaining a capitalist world-system, which highlights the unequal development within international relations theory. They also argue that relationships between sovereign states are conflictual thus suggesting that international relations theory in this case would parallel realism. Ian Clark argues that the globalisation has affected international political economy. The idea of the territorial state is rejected as globalisation has removed barriers which have led to questioning of the concept of a national economy. The viability of the state as provider of security of the state change within the global system has witnessed greater freedom to trade, Non-governmental organisations and interconnected world finance. Globalisation has encouraged interdependence which became apparent in the 2008 financial crisis in which banks had to be bailed out by national governments. This crisis saw a magnitude of countries economies dramatically deteriorate, all because they had some sort of reliance upon each other. This interconnectedness reflects a change in international relations theory. Suddenly a need for a theory in which accommodates for the interconnected states is required which coincidentally highlights the need for outside regulating bodies to manage this change. In conclusion, globalisation is a complex debated issue. Nonetheless, a principal phenomenon present in contemporary international relations theory. Globalisation affects the nature of world order, and has influenced the development of international relations theory by offering a different view on the interconnectedness and how this affects different nation states, for example the spread of liberalism which is reflected in the recent upheavals in the political system in the middle east. These changes in international order highlight the relevance of new and old issues for example the changing politics within the Middle East and the oil crisis in the 1970s. Interdependence is also viewed in a negative way; in which realists believe that less contact with states means less conflict. Different theories offer different perspectives on the international system. International relations are constantly changing so theory needs to adapt in order to explain these changes. The extent to which g lobalisation has influenced the development of international relations theory is much debate. However globalisation seems to demand some new structure and highlights the need for inclusion of the new world order theories in order to explain contemporary international relations. Books.. Governing globalisation- blackwell publishers ltd- Cambridge edited by david held and Anthony mcgrew. 2002 International relations theory- realism, pluralism, globalism and beyond. (3e) Paul r viotti mark v kauppi- Allyn and baco, needham heights 1987 The follies of globalisation theory- Justin Rosenberg verso London 2000

HANDS and Programming :: Programming Technology Engineering Essays

HANDS and Programming Humans were never meant to stare days at a time into a screen and type lines of code into a vast expanse of nothingness. Our minds reject such alien methods with surprising ferocity. It is for this reason that programming has taken a more human-centric approach. Programming is adverse to what humans are naturally inclined to do, and because of this a push has been made for a development of programming where the programmer is not doing that which is against his nature. An example of this is HANDS, which is a programming language that is primarily directed towards children, but incorporates the human-centric ideas. (Myers, Pane, Miller) HANDS bases its programming platform on objects, in HANDS there is a figure sitting at a table that can manipulate a stack of cards, the cards being the programming utilities. This approach lessens the tedious editing of line after line of mundane code. In all actuality the programming is more of a game than a task. This appeals to children greatly (of which the language was geared for), but the basic concept could also be applied to the average programmer. The ability to program without using dry code will be a great step forward in human-centric computing. Once the base level of the computer has been conformed to serve the human’s needs, the other parts of computing that base themselves off of programming will be changed as well. It is only a matter of time. (Myers, Pane, Miller) Another type of progressive programming is in the field of Mechanical Engineering. For fifteen years â€Å"Sammie†--which is a computer model of a human--has been incorporating itself into the workplace. Sammie was a vast improvement for the engineers and their approach to the solving of problems. The engineers at one time had to interpret the anthropometric tables themselves, but with Sammie, the work was done for them allowing quicker, more accurate work to be accomplished. This is a type of program that allowed humans to operate their computers in a way that was much more natural to them, which in itself is a major progression from the previous methods that were sadly outdated and used too often. (Morrissey) Michael L. Dertouzos, the director of MIT’s Laboratory for Computer Science wrote The Unfinished Revolution: Human-Centered Computers and What They Can Do for Us.

Art Throughout History Across the World :: Artists Pablo Picasso Egypt France Essays

Art Throughout History Across the World From stick figures in the sand and the earliest animals painted and carved in stone, people worldwide have reacted to the world by making images. The fundamental goal of art, especially in the past, was to convey meaning and express important ideas, revealing what was significant to every society, by arresting images. In recognizing the subject matter of any painting, you have to look at the artist's intentions, which are regularly connected to social conditions, national or global issues and the demands of the public. To avoid the pitfalls of judging all art by our own personal experiences and subjective views, we have to learn the background surrounding the artist when the work was created- the social and historical conditions of the time and the philosophical views which affected the way in which the artist viewed the world. (Russell, 1984) Art is as varied as the life from which it springs and each artist portrays different aspects of the world they know. Briefly, it may be said that artists paint to discover truth and to create order. The creators of art make discoveries about the wonders and beauty of nature and the dignity and nobility of man. They give these concepts an order to help us understand life in a greater depth. In understanding the history and style of any period of art, we have to comprehend the balance between social and political development of that particular era. Within each and every period, development of style is affected by a response to particular philosophies, social and economic conditions, political and spiritual influences. World Issues have been reflected in art throughout the ages, and this premise is supported by three particular periods of time. This is clearly evident when viewing ancient art, where symbolism was an important part of society. Also, through the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, where art was a critical form of expression and finally in the modern age of art where even in looking into the works of individual artists, one can get a sense of the feelings and events of the time and the world. Let us now examine theses three periods in detail, to support this hypothesis. If we are aware of meaning of religious, political, or other symbols, it will better our understanding of the frame of mind of the artist. Each piece of art is unique, a reflection of the artist's perceptions, insights and experiences. Certain aspects of the world are often exaggerated, or eliminated,

Motivating your employees Essay

Being in the military, but more importantly being a leader for 10 out of my 12 years of military experience, I understand the importance of motivating â€Å"employees†. Most leaders understand that motivating employees not only improves their way of life, but also increases productivity, and in the long run, benefits the company. Motivating employees is not necessarily a difficult task; however, most leaders neglect the techniques discussed in Mr. Weiss’ article due to their personal beliefs. I fully agree with Mr. Weiss’ article on building morale, motivating and empowering employees. His methods are especially helpful and used quite often in the military world although they are titled a bit differently. Personally, I have used the methods Mr. Weiss describes in his article for as long as I have been a leader. As a leader, my philosophy has always been that in order to be a successful leader, you have to lead by example. I feel that Mr. Weiss expresses this point of view in his major means of motivating identification. As stated in the article, identification is â€Å"when a person adopts a behavior associated with others†. In the military, that is called leading by example. As a leader, you should want your employees to adopt your behavior. I do not believe that people come into a job wanting to make mistakes. Therefore, the tendency of an employee is to do as his or her leader would do. Therefore, as a leader, leading by example is detrimental to your gaining the confidence and respect of your employees. You must set the standards and enforce them. Yet another idea Mr. Weiss mentions is to â€Å"avoid favoritism†. I believe that you must treat all people equally. Whether they are abiding by, or violating the standards you have set, you must reward them or reprimand them equally. That is not to say that the rewards and or reprimands should be the same for every infraction. I simply believe that you must be fair and impartial when giving rewards or punishments regardless of how long you may have known an employee, or what the employee’s position is in the company. The military is famous (or infamous) for their use of acronyms. In the military we use acronyms for just about anything you can imagine. So, in keeping true to military form, I created my own acronym to remind myself of  the methods required in motivating my â€Å"employees†. This acronyms helps me remember that in order to be a leader, you must â€Å"Be, Know, and Do†. Be responsible for yourself and your subordinates; Know your subordinates and look out for their well being; Do as you want your employees to do. The acronym I use is â€Å"BASICS†, because in leadership, you should always â€Å"stick to the â€Å"basics†Ã¢â‚¬ . B – Be a leader. When in charge take charge PERIOD. A – Account for your actions and those of your subordinates. Know what you and your subordinates are doing or have done at all times. S – Seek responsibility and take responsibility for your actions. If a mistake is made, do not try to pawn off the results of your decisions or actions as someone else’s fault. Take ownership of the situation, good or bad. I – Inform your subordinates. Try to talk to them everyday. Employees want to know what’s going on–knowledge is power. This way, you can ensure they fully understand what is required of them, solicit feedback, and provide encouragement if needed. Also, if an issue arises during the feedback always look into it immediately and get back with the employee. C – Consistency is essential. Employees will work harder if they know what to expect from the leader. As a leader you must provide purpose, direction, and motivation. Ensure your employees know what they have to do, when they have to do it, and that you are going to support their actions consistently. S – Sensitive leadership inspires success. You have to truly know your employees, and show a genuine concern for them, not only for their needs, but their families as well. I have always believed, â€Å"employees don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care†. In conclusion, I believe that Mr. Weiss has an outstanding motivation improvement program. His motivational methods could offer tremendous results  for companies who are having difficulty keeping their employees motivated. The bottom line is, in order to be a good leader you have to listen to the needs of your subordinates. A leader must â€Å"Be, Know, and Do†. Be responsible for yourself and your subordinates; Know your subordinates and look out for their well being; Do as you want your employees to do. And last but not least, always â€Å"stick to the â€Å"BASICS†Ã¢â‚¬ .

Nursing Leadership and management Essay

Continuous quality improvement (CQI) is the responsibility of all nurses and is vital when addressing the challenges of the health care industry. Provide an example of how you would apply CQI in your current or past position. The purpose of QI is to use a systematic, data-guided approach to improve processes or outcomes (Conner, 2014). Principles and strategies involved in QI have evolved from organizational philosophies of total quality management and continuous quality improvement. Connor (2014) emphasizes that while the concept of quality can be subjective, QI in healthcare typically focuses on improving patient outcomes. So the key is to clearly define the outcome that needs to be improved, identify how the outcome will be measured, and develop a plan for implementing an intervention and collecting data before and after the intervention. Connor (2014) points out QI methods as follows: Various QI methods are available. A common format uses the acronym FOCUS-PDSA: Find a process to improve. Organize an effort to work on improvement. Clarify current knowledge of the process. Understand process variation and performance capability. Select changes aimed at performance improvement. Plan the change; analyze current data and predict the results. Do it; execute the plan. Study (analyze) the new data and check the results. Act; take action to sustain the gains. Unlike research and EBP, QI typically doesn’t require extensive literature reviews and rigorous critical appraisal. Therefore, nurses may be much more involved in QI projects than EBP or research. Also, QI projects normally are site specific and results aren’t intended to provide generalizable knowledge or best evidence states Conner (2014). Examples of QI projects include implementing a process to remove urinary catheters within a certain time frame, developing a process to improve wound-care documentation, and improving the process for patient education for a specific chronic disease. The institution I have been at has been working on decreasing central line associated bloodstream infection and peripheral line blood stream infections. Numerous risk factors for CLABSI associated with needleless connectors have been proposed. Some are attributed to poor hand washing before manipulation, inability to properly disinfect the connection site due  to poor design, aseptic d evice management, and frequency of the connector exchange. In addition, several studies looking at intraluminal contamination from the needleless connector have demonstrated that high levels of contamination can be seen colonizing the connector and subsequently moving into the CVC (Ramirez, Lee, & Welch, 2014). Even with varying levels of disinfection, colonization can still occur. Studies of current I.V. practices demonstrated that 56% of Registered Nurses typically do not believe it is necessary to disinfect catheter hubs and >90% of nurses do not cover an intermittent infusion (Ramirez, Lee, & Welch, 2014). The 70% isopropyl alcohol cap known as â€Å"Curos† is used as an attempt to reduce intraluminal contamination. The cap requires ongoing training and encouragement to change practice. Studies indicate that consistent use of the caps does influence CLABSI rates substantially in terms of morbidity and the financial resources that are expended because of CLABSI’s. References Conner, B. T. (2014). Differentiating research, evidence-based practice, and quality improvement. American Nurse Today, 9(6), 26-31. Ramirez, C., Lee, A. M., & Welch, K. (2012). Central Venous Catheter Protective Connector Caps Reduce Intraluminal Catheter-Related Infection. Journal Of The Association For Vascular Access, 17(4), 210-213. doi:10.1016/j.java.2012.10.002

Women Are Still Treated as Second Class Citizens

Plan: For |Against | |Same jobs, paid less |Able to do any jobs, just not cut-throat | |‘Traditional’ |Can do more jobs than before S&S | |Higher jobs dominated by men |Hard for men to be accepted in women’s jobs too | |‘Old boy network’ |Dangers for women | |‘Glass ceiling’ |Religion | |Just want to be taken seriously |Women saved first on crashes etc | |Exam results |Stay-at home dads | |Not stay-at-home-dads as they can earn more money | | The ‘Old boy Network’? Wrong Frequency For Women. Ladies and Gentlemen; I believe that it is time for change. Change not only to the ‘pecking order’ but to opinions as a whole. Read this with an open mind, as I believe that together in unity we can make women’s voices heard over the noises of vacuum cleaners and screaming children. Is there any reason for women to still be treated as second-class citizens here in the UK? Do their fingers really have the magic touch for housework and not hard work? Of course not! Everyone knows that women are perceived in this way because of tradition. A tradition that we cannot will not and should not be part of. Just because women used to have to stay at home and look after children, or men did all of the ‘dangerous jobs’ why should that still be the case? Women have undoubtedly proven themselves just as capable, if not more, than men in most jobs, so why is it still so hard for them to break through that ‘glass ceiling’? Many women will have been in the position where a male colleague earns more than them for doing the exact same job. This is unfair treatment and should not be condoned. A friend of mine called Annabelle is an excellent banker, the best out her level of the company, yet she has been repeatedly rejected from a higher positioned job in the company. Each of these times the positions have been given to a male. A coincidence? I think not. She was more highly qualified than these men, and had worked for the company for longer, so why was she overlooked? Has The ‘Old boy network’ been on the rampage again? Is it because women occupy only 1 in 20 of the ‘top jobs’? Will it really come to her loosing her femininity to get the job she really deserves? Women just want to be taken seriously and to get the respect they deserve, yet is seems that most of the time to reach their goals they have to loose friends, and dress or act like men. Why is it harder for women to gain the respect of men than the other way around? In a recent survey only 3 out of 50 women said that they would be comfortable being in control of an office or group of men, yet 42 out of 50 men said they would be comfortable being in control of women. Others will argue that women are the ones that are too scared to break out of traditional placements. There are no jobs that only men are allowed to do, it is just that many women won’t go into these jobs, as the dangers are too high, or the hours will not let them see their families often enough. Women are not ‘cut-throat’ enough. They do not want to trample on people on the way to the top, as they do not have that sort of mentality. Most men will go to any extremes to secure their ‘dream job’. Women can do many more jobs than even 50 years ago. Their rights have improved tremendously, and now cannot be discriminated against. It is extremely hard for men to be accepted into predominantly woman-dominated jobs. It is not something against women, just something that is to be expected if any sex is going into the ‘other sex’s territory’. For example, male nurses are often abused or made fun of because they are not doctors, and women doctors find it hard to be taken seriously by the male doctors. The dangers of some jobs for many women outweigh anything else. Men have the physiques to estrain, resist and persist against tough weather, or heavy objects, ‘it is a biological fact that women are generally weaker than men. ’ In many of the religions now observed in the UK the women are treated worse than the men, yet this is their choice. If they did not agree with it, the wome n could leave the religion, and be treated as equals in the multi-religion society that is the United Kingdom. There are 20% more ‘stay-at-home-dads’ than 30 years ago. This shows that the women are free to work, and the men can do all of the ‘traditional’ female jobs. Many women are not taken on at the higher jobs because of the worry of maternity leave. The companies employing them must think of the future and the inevitability that at some point most 30-year-old women will want children. Another main point is that women are saved first, along with children, on sinking ships, or crashes. This means that their lives are put above men’s. The fact that men are not generally the parents who stay at home backs up the argument that men will be more likely to be paid more, whether it is due to a higher position, or a wider range of jobs open to them. Girls have been out–shining boys in the public exams for years now, which shows that they are not only qualified to do the same jobs, but in many cases more qualified. If you think of any type of job that both men and women do, and think of the ‘high-flyers’ within those jobs you will certainly think of a man. This needs to change. Women will inevitably keep fighting for their rights; ‘we will not tire, we will not falter and we will not fail’ when it comes to getting what we deserve. Dr. James Macaroni of Oxford University told us that women get more stressed at work due to the pressure and strain of having to constantly work at the same level, whereas men get breaks within their stress when they get promoted. Do we really want to have women constantly put below men? Should women always stay traditional? So, fellow readers, I ask, why not change the pecking order today? Why wait until it is too late?

Icarus Literary Essay

The modern world has certainly evolved from the time of ancient Greece. In the poem Icarus, by Edward Field, a Greek mythological character is placed in the bustling, ironic reality of the modern world. The once fearless and ambitious Icarus, takes his risk taking too far and finds himself miserable and trapped. His only failure turns out to be his worst failure of all and Icarus cannot get up after this final fall. Field uses euphemism, imagery, dictation, and irony to tell the story of a young adventeurer who is unable to overcome his tragic defeat.Icarus provides a strong message to readers about reaching for the stars, but being able to pick yourself up after you fall. Field uses euphemism to describe Icarsus’ â€Å"hero[ic] fall† (l. 20), not to his tragic death, but rather â€Å"to the middling stature of the merely talented† (l. 21). Icarus is portrayed as a hero in Greek mythology, so when he is transformed into the vastly different, mediocre world, it is his ultimate fall. His life changes from â€Å"compel[ing] the sun† (l. 14), to â€Å"rid[ing] commuter trains† (l. 29).The transition to mediocrity is worse than death to Icarus, and Edward Field emphasises this through the use of euphemism. Icarus’ fall to mediocrity is also emphasised through Field’s strong use of imagery. The reader is able to easily understand and visualize the transition from the first stanza, which describes Icarus’ tragic death and implies the differences between his traditional home and his new home, to the third stanza, where imagery deprecates his life in the new world. Right away imagery illustrates Icarus’ hard fall into the contemporary world when he goes from a hero to a â€Å"report filed and forgotten† (l.6).This use of imagery shows how Icarus is quickly forgotten and his peers have a carelessness towards his new persona as â€Å"Mr. Hicks† (l. 10). The imagery enforced here helps the reader to understand the harsh reality of Icarus’ fall to mediocrity. Field’s use of irony and dictation are the final pieces that illustrate Icarus’ fall to the modern world. In the opening stanza of the poem the ironic culture of the new world is brought to light when the witnesses of Icarus’ fall run off to a â€Å"gang war† (l. 5). Right away this establishes the cruel stature of urban life and the ironic revision of roles for Icarus.When Icarus’ report is â€Å"filed and forgotten† (l. 6), it has an ironic spin on Greek mythology, because in ancient Greece tales resembling this would never be forgotten. Icarus’ new home in the real world is ironic because his new facade as â€Å"Mr. Hicks† (l. 10) is portrayed as a nice, friendly neighbour, which is very farfetched from Icarus’ foolish and disobedient personality in his traditional home. Fields use of dictation throughout the poem is a constant reminder of the new s etting in the contemporary world Icarus is now living in.Words like â€Å"commuter trains† (l.29) and â€Å"committees† (l. 30), constantly clarify and emphasis the mediocre setting. Field strongly employs techniques of euphemism, imagery, irony, and dictation. In doing so, he conveys both poetically personal reflections and an effective change of Icarus’ setting, shaping this work as an even more tragic story for the protagonist than his death would have been. Icarus provokes the reader to self reflect on their attempts to reach the heavens and their abrupt fallings. It is a reminder to us that no matter how hard you fall, nothing will beat the pain of giving up.

Aspects of power in organisations Literature review

Aspects of power in organisations - Literature review Example Based on this context, it is evident that the consideration of organisational politics can offer a basis for challenging the existing paradigm (Sparks, Faragher & Cooper 2001, p. 503). This paper seeks to report the existing literature on power in the context of a noteworthy branch of organisation management, human resource management. The rationale of this paper is informed by the need to raise the profile of the politics of power in HRM. Literature Review The fundamental question that informs this literature review concerns what power has to do with HRM. Reading through HRM textbooks, it quickly becomes clear that power as an idea is rarely examined explicitly (Rigg & Trehan 2004, p. 157). Whenever the issue of power is tackled directly, it is mostly as a question of negotiating power between the organisation and its labour force, the responsibility of empowerment, or the power of organisational leaders to execute punishment or rewards (Ali 2012, p. 983). However, indirectly, power can be termed as an interesting topic in the HRM literature since it prompts the question of the status or influence of HRM as a critical function in organisations. In the context of HRM in organisations, power refers to the deliberate influence over the behaviours, emotions and beliefs of the workforce. However, according to Witt, Andrews & Kacmar (2000, p. 343) power is largely ubiquitous since without power (typified through influence) it is impossible to have cooperation and stability within the organisation. However, by and large, the execution of power often results in problems, which typically stem from the visions of people with power, as well as the way they use their power. Observations have been made regarding the growing significance of HRM in organisations in the last few decades. The human resource (HR) department has become the central figure of organisations, and the question of the influence and role of the HR department has come to the forefront (De Leede & Looise 2005, p. 115). Historical accounts have analysed the emergence of power among HR specialists in organisations, there is no empirical work specifically related to the application of power by HR specialists (Harley & Hardy 2004, p. 378). The ideal of organisations where the entire workforce works collaboratively toward a mutually acceptable goal is common in most HRM rhetoric. However, the reality is quite different since although teamwork is often regarded as one of the most significant organisational virtues, the workplace is often shrouded in demerits such as competition, antagonism and conflict. It is within this context that an in-depth appreciation of influence and power proves essential. All organisations are comprised of individuals with diverse tasks, personal interests and careers (Gotsis & Kortezi 2010, p. 499). According to Sparks, Faragher & Cooper (2001, p. 494) in order to be successful in getting things done, HR specialists need to appreciate the importance of their c apacity to exert influence on the organisation’s entire workforce. In the execution of their power, a vast majority of conventional HRM programs have taken on, whether knowingly or unknowingly, managerialist or functionalist perspectives. Managing typically encompasses the exertion of influence through the use of power. In the contemporary

Shifts in Values from Renaissance to Modern Age Research Paper

Shifts in Values from Renaissance to Modern Age - Research Paper Example This text explores such differences and similarities between these two ages. In terms of philosophy, it is evident that certain cultural values have changed from the Renaissance to today. Perhaps, it is of uttermost importance to start the text by defining the most crucial terminologies involved. Most historians would describe the Renaissance as a cultural rebirth that commenced in Florence, Italy, before dispersal to the other parts of Europe from approximately 1300 to 1600. During this time, â€Å"Europeans underwent a transformed interest in Roman and classical Greek civilization, and consequently, in learning mathematics, science, philosophy, science, and the arts† (Adams, 2005, p. 87). Christianity took a center stage during the renaissance and its influence can be felt in the dawn of modern science. Men during the renaissance were expected to be outstandingly well-rounded and learned in various subjects. The Renaissance brought about the end of the middle Ages and embrac ed for the first time the ideals of the modern world. For this reason, it is seen as a changeover era between the middle ages and modern times. As Adams (2005) asserts, â€Å"no single ideology or philosophy dictated the intellectual life of the Renaissance period† (p. 143). Humanists during the early days had stressed a supple approach to the issues of society and the fast life in service of all human beings. Renaissance philosophers, during the second part of the 15th century including Marsilio FICINO in Florence, embraced metaphysical speculation. Nonetheless, Plato never replaced Aristotle as the leading philosopher in many universities. However, there was an effort aimed towards philosophical syncretism, to combine conflicting theories and philosophies, and establish common ground for accord with regards to the truth just like Giovanni Pico Della Mirandola. Renaissance science comprised largely of the study of physics, medicine, and mathematics, depending on old masters, such as Aristotle, Euclid, and Galen. Experimental science in alchemy and anatomy led to the invention within and outside university surroundings. It is this invention of the university environment that ushered in the modern times. Many of the philosophical though today happens in the confines of universities and institutions of higher learning. Philosophy has taken the form of a discipline. However, the Renaissance had a darker side. Despite interest in philosophical ideas, violent and pestilent death was frequent, and warfare was widespread. There was lots of interest in things that embraced the occult, astrology, and magic. It is during this time that the formally authorized persecution for witchcraft commenced. A number of intellectuals felt a deep cynicism about the corruptions and evils of society as evident in the frequently savage humanist opposers of Desiderius Erasmus and Giovanni Francesco Poggio Bracciolini. Nicolo Machiavelli, one of the supreme Renaissance thinkers ca me up with a realistic science about human nature with regards to reforming the Italian society and the making of a civil life that is immensely secure. Cassirer & Domandi (2010) state that, â€Å"Machiavelli’s republican ideals influenced by a realistic viewpoint of politics and the inevitability of vibrant change were the most innovative contribution of the Renaissance towards the modern world† ( p. 75). Undoubtedly, the Renaissance Era was influential in that it lived on in instituted standards of literature and taste and an

Film Review (Life of Pi) Movie Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Film (Life of Pi) - Movie Review Example However, in a serious context, there is much to the movie than what it discernibly professes to be. The movie tends to rake the consciousness of the unsuspecting viewers at many levels, provided they are patient and willing to extend to it the time and the scope that many modern day movies seldom demand. The movie besides being a tale of adventure and courage undeniably tends to have a spiritual facet that is brought out and embellished by the director Ang Lee using a range of thematic approaches and the commensurate technological innovations that amply succeed in bringing out the actual quintessence of the story. As far as the genre of Life of Pi is concerned, the tale indeed happens to be a modern day masterpiece of magic realism. The movie pokes the viewers’ attention with an ever shifting setting into which the director intends to weave a vivid sense of abject realism so far as the representation of ordinary and mundane facts are concerned, embellishing it much with descri ptive details and nuances, yet brining out the philosophy and message inherent in the movie by resorting to a dreamlike and fanciful imagery, borrowing a lot from sources like fairy tales and myths (French 21). Though, the settings in the movie are deeply etched in the pragmatic realism, yet the visual appeal owes much that could be interpreted and reinterpreted by the viewers in an utterly personal subjective context. The writer of the script of Life of Pi tends to retain much of the realism when it comes to hunger, animal instinct, survival and persistence, thereby making the viewers have a sense of the inevitable and the unavoidable; while at the same time the writer tends to insert in much of the fantastical elements like a bio-island infested with meerkats and the trees that happen to be carnivorous. Doing so, the script enables the viewers to deviate from the mundane realities of the real world, even though for a moment, to allow oneself to be immersed in a creative space wher e it is possible to reconcile the baser human instincts that are akin to bestiality and animalism, with the best that is inherent in the human mind that is expressed as theology, philosophy, empathy, respect for all forms of life, resolution, persistence and hope, thereby making way for an experience that is both human and bestial at the same time. If Life of Pi has been able to emerge as a creative and commercial success, much credit goes for this to the director Ang Lee. Lee has been able to successfully weave a web of survival and coexistence, where the religious iconography and an abjectly Darwinian struggle for survival coexist with each other, hand in hand to bring forward the fact that not only the life is sacred, but as long as there is a trace of life existent on earth, it will do everything at its disposal to survive and sustain (Stern 36). However, it goes without saying that Lee to some extent overestimated the scope and power of the visual effects at his disposal (Gilbe y 84). Many a times the seascapes contrived by Lee though appearing fantastical and attractive, somehow ended up as being imbued with a childlike fancy and appeal, which could have been a bit difficult to be accepted or perhaps digested by the adult viewers (Quinn 44). Yet, much of these shortcomings could be ignored by the realization that Life of Pi happens to be a movie that is as much a technological marvel as a