Computers and English Language Teaching Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5250 words

Computers and English Language Teaching - Essay Example Thus students in one country can and do take classes in another. Before dealing with the details of computer aided teaching of English as a foreign language and teacher training, it will be useful to consider briefly the online education environment in general. The online teaching environment may be divided into two basic different types: synchronous courses and asynchronous courses. A synchronous course occurs in "real time", i.e. the instructor and the students are logged on to the internet at the same time and are within the online course, perhaps exchanging IM's or with a lecture occurring on a live whiteboard program. However, the best use of online education is in the asynchronous mode, in which lectures are available on the course website as P.Points and/or audio-visual files, students take part in threaded discussions and assignments are submitted to a digital drop-box (Kearsley, 1999). Some of the major advantages of online teaching are the ability of students in remote geographical areas to take classes, introduce new types of pedagogy to the 'classroom' and create a more reflective atmosphere for students. One major feature of online classes is that the dominant personalities that are found in all physical classrooms can no longer dominate all class discussions. More shy students who are likely to be silent and even unnoticed in the live classroom are 'heard from' in the online situation. Thus there is an equalization and a democratization of the student learning system that cannot occur in the actual classroom. This sense of equality comes at what some have seen as a considerable price. Bender (2003) poses a question that is difficult to answer, but which the online teacher (and especially the online teacher instructing language) must consider: Students generally like to have a sense of belonging. When they attend a class on campus, they become familiar with the room in which the class is held . . feeling included in a group is an important factor for encouraging the true potential for learning taking place . . . but is it possible for a class that does not occupy spatial coordinates to still generate a feeling of place . . . does the association of "distance" and "learning" constitute an oxymoron After all, education is surely about the meeting of minds, not their separation. (Bender, 2003) These are difficult questions that have yet to be answered because online teaching is still in its embryonic stage. As the Internet itself develops, and as bandwidth speeds increase to the point where real-time teaching and complex audio-visual materials will be available as easily as television is today, then a real test of whether there is a "place" within the online teaching environment will be set. As it is, all the signs seem to be that a sense of place can occur, as long as the teacher has a sound knowledge, both of her subject and also of the special opportunities and challenges of the online teaching environment. The Blackboard online platform is currently one of the most utilized within the world of online teaching. It offers the teacher a number of different teaching possibilities and strategies. These include the inclusion of lecture notes (often Power Point

Memento analysis Essay Example for Free

Memento analysis Essay The movie that is going to be discussed is â€Å"Memento†. The theme of the movie is based on cognitive psychology that includes the realm of human perception, thought process and memory. Various cognitive responses such as memory, planning, as well as intelligence and problem solving are highlighted during the course of the movie. The central character in the movie, Leonard Shelby, damages his hippocampus, which subsequently affects his ability to make new memories. The hippocampus is a part of the brain that is important and responsible for creating and recalling memories, as a result of which Leonard has lost the ability to generate short-term memory. Leonard, in the movie is an insurance agent who through the course of the movie attempts to track his wife’s killer and the man responsible for his current state. Leonard’s condition post accident and the death of his wife, can draw parallels with anterograde amnesia, because he doesn’t seem to remember new things, however he retains memories leading up to the accident. The movie Memento continues Hollywood’s fascination with the psyche of the human mind and the genesis of movies based on amnesia is a recurring theme. While the movie does reasonably well in bringing to light the plight of people suffering from anterograde amnesia and similar neurological disorders following brain trauma, it does offer enough loopholes to guarantee criticism from experts. Leonard believes that he does not have amnesia. This is a slight aberration from the true picture of a patient with anterograde amnesia because they do not seem to lose track of who they are and the condition they are suffering from. It can be argued that some patients with a more seething disease do offer a mixed profile, into which Leonard’s character can fit. Also, another aspect of cognition is the evidence, that Leonard is still capable of using his procedural memory that includes doing routine things and following certain procedures like driving a car. His declarative memory on the other hand is functional up to the point of his accident. Declarative/explicit memory is essentially conscious memory, while procedural memory is more of a subconscious or unconscious action that can be done. Additionally, with the hippocampus part of his brain being destroyed, Leonard is incapable of moving things from his short term memory to his long term memory, and thus forgets things if not written down or taken note of. Short-term memory lasts or stores items for less than 20 seconds, unless rehearsed. Thus, in order for him to remember things, and have enough time to write them down, he rehearses them, which allows him to remember them for a longer period of time, and if interrupted that memory is lost. This was portrayed very well in the movie when he hits Natalie. Natalie throws all of the writing utensils out and then hassles Leonard about his wife and his condition trying to get a reaction so she could in essence set Leonard up, and this she did accomplish. After hitting Natalie, she leaves the house and Leonard rehearses what has just happened while looking for a writing utensil, however there are none to be found. Further, Natalie did not go anywhere when she left the house, she stays in the car and hence, when she slammed the door, purposely, Leonard stopped the rehearsal, and essentially forgot what he was doing, when she comes back into the house, Leonard has no recollection of hitting her. Thus, although his hand is sore, Leonard does not remember anything that had just occurred, this is due to a stop in rehearsal, and with nothing written for him, he cannot remember what has occurred recently. Leonard is always prepared with something to write on, he always has his camera and his pictures that allow him to remember things; in essence he keeps generating a working memory through out the course of the movie to catch the killer. Thus, planning is somewhat prevalent in this movie however, although planning requires knowledge about the problem space, or understanding of the constraints of the problem space to mentally construct it well, this is not always available to him. Thus, he is unable to use partial planning, because he did not always think of the outcome that might occur, such as when he killed Natalies boyfriend, and realized he was not the one responsible after he had done it, instead of thinking ahead, before he had done it. However, with his pictures he was able to get back to particular destinations, and with direction, even if simple, but written down, he was able to use them and plan ahead. Further, in relation to the murder of Natalies boyfriend, counterfactuals were also used, and Leonard is trying to imagine past events differently than they actually did and thus, he burnt the picture that he took of the event because that was the only recollection that he had of the situation. Furthermore, drives, emotions, and problem solving are all clearly used in this movie as well. Drives, are generally associated with bodily needs whereas emotions are generally associated with more complex personal and social needs, in this case finding the individual who caused Leonard so much pain by raping and murdering his wife, and damaging his memory is very important. In addition, heuristics were also commonly utilized and, heuristics undoubtedly allow individuals to avoid searching paths that are unlikely to lead to a solution, and this is exactly what Leonard is doing with all the facts he was collecting to narrow down the suspect to find out who raped and murdered his wife. Basically, by slowly collecting and putting together different facts about the rapist and murder of his wife, Leonard was emotionally driven to find the individual responsible for essentially ruining his life. His emotions and feelings of anger, sadness, and love were all affected by his motivation and drives from the pain that was within him due to his present circumstance. In the movie, many of the cognitive aspects were relevantly presented and shown in a realistic manner however, at times in the movie, things that were not rehearsed or written were remembered, which at times did not allow for it to be fully realistic. This was evident when Dodd was involved, and in the closet and Leonard woke up, and saw that there was a gun in the drawer of the hotel room and it was not his room or his gun, and so when Teddy got there he showed him the gun in the drawer, which probably would not have been remembered realistically. Thus, to improve, and make this aspect of his condition more realistic, not only at this point in the movie, but throughout the movie would have been for Leonard to actually rehearse things out loud, until he had written things down to clearly show that rehearsal is necessary for things not to be forgotten. 1: Cipolotti L, Bird CM. Amnesia and the hippocampus. Curr Opin Neurol. 2006 Dec;19(6):593-8. Review. 2: Mayes AR, Isaac CL, Holdstock JS, Cariga P, Gummer A, Roberts N. Long-term amnesia: a review and detailed illustrative case study. Cortex.2003 Sep-Dec;39(4-5):567-603. Review. 3: Kopelman MD. Disorders of memory. Brain. 2002 Oct;125(Pt 10):2152-90. Review. 4: Aggleton JP, Brown MW. Episodic memory, amnesia, and the hippocampal-anterior thalamic axis. Behav Brain Sci. 1999 Jun;22(3):425-44; discussion 444-89. Review. 5: Mishkin M, Vargha-Khadem F, Gadian DG. Amnesia and the organization of the hippocampal system. Hippocampus. 1998;8(3):212-6. Review. 6: Tulving E, Markowitsch HJ. Episodic and declarative memory: role of the hippocampus. Hippocampus. 1998;8(3):198-204. Review.

The History Of Jazz Essays -- essays research papers

The History Of Jazz The first jazz was played in the early 20th century. The work chants and folk music of black Americans are among the sources of jazz, which reflects the rhythms and expressions of West African song. Ragtime, an Afro-American music that first appeared in the 1890s, was composed for the piano, and each rag is a composition with several themes. The leading ragtime composer was Scott Joplin. The first improvising jazz musician was the cornetist Buddy Bolden, leader of a band in New Orleans. The first jazz bands were usually made up of one or two cornet players who played the principal melodies, a clarinetist and trombonist who improvised countermelodies, and a rhythm section (piano, banjo, string bass or tuba, and drums) to accompany the horns. These bands played for dancers or marched in parades in the South. Some of the first New Orleans musicians were among the most stirring of all jazz artists. They include clarinetist Johnny Dodds, clarinetist-soprano saxophonist Sidney Bechet, pianist Jelly Roll Morton, and cornetist King Oliver. The first jazz record was made in 1917 by a New Orleans band the Original Dixieland Jazz Band, made up of white musicians who copied black styles. The New Orleans musicians discovered that audiences were eager for their music in the cities of the North and the Midwest. In the 1920s Chicago became the second major jazz center. White Chicago youths, such as tenor saxophonist Bud Freeman and clarinetist Benny Goodman, were ex...

Media and Juvenile Delinquency

Mass media refers to the impersonal channels used to disseminate information to the public.   The information is meant for public consumption and not for personal consumption.   There are a number of channels used which include radio, newspaper, motion pictures and television.   Media is used mostly to portray cultural values and beliefs through the articles and programmes contained in them. (Travis, 2000)   For instance, through the media, national public days are aired; local shows with local touch are aired, as well as sports programs.   In addition, some societal values regarding patriotism, religious and motherhood are shown.Some sub-cultural patterns that have to do with the policeman, business executive or juvenile delinquency are shown via the media to all the people of the community or the mass society.Right from young age to the old age, the members of society are frequently bombarded by the type of stimuli which is presented in a number of mass media. (Travis, 20 00) Mass media’s perverseness is usually reflected in the statistics which are in circulation.   Studies have shown that around 5.000,000 copies if television guides are sold every week and millions of people have access to newspapers. (Joseph, 1975)From this wide dissemination of these articles, the social scientists and the laymen have become interested to find out what type of consequences those media have on human behavior and especially the children.   To be more specific, most parents have deep desire to find out the impact some books on crime and movie dramas have on young children. (Michael, 1999)On the other hand, the advertisers want to find out if their products advertised on the media are selling or not.   Unfortunately, there have been very little scientific studies of the specific impact of mass media on how they motivate humans.   Paul Lazarsfeld, an outstanding researcher on the effect of mass media on the behavior of human, gave his testimony and pres ented it before senate subcommittee in charge of investigating Juvenile delinquency.   He reported that very little is known concerning the kind of impact media has on young children.(Travis 2000)   He therefore appealed for more scientific research to be done to replace impressionistic evidence which has been quoted by some lay individuals. (Joseph, 1975)The Effects Media Has On Juvenile DelinquencyMedia has been accused many times of contributing to the juvenile delinquency.   The lawlessness which is more prevalent among the young people is mostly associated with media.   There are no restrictions placed on the youth and therefore they can access books, television programs, and pornographic magazines at will.   As a result, their way of thinking and acting has been seriously affected. (Rodney, 1990) For instance, action packed movies; detective programs which are full of crimes have a way of training young people on the effective ways of robbery, violence and murder.As a result so many cases have been received regarding youth who have been arrested for committing robbery.   There has been an increase to the crime content, sadism, horror as well as brutality in most comic books, motion pictures and television programs.(Robert, 2001)   The three types of media according to most critics deserve special attention.   They also served as a special focus for senate subcommittee in charge of investigating juvenile delinquency from the year 1954 to 1956. (Michael, 1999)Television, radio, comic books and motion pictures films have been named as significant factors contributing to juvenile delinquency.   The presentation of horror, crime and sequences of brutality is imputed in movies and more so by the lay observers, to be partly to blame for the current juvenile delinquency. (Rodney, 1990) Other effects are moral decadence as a result of watching pornographic movies and reading pornographic magazines.Many young people can be found at the brothels a nd others acts of prostitution.   There are so many dancing styles which have come as a result of the media influence, which can also be called ‘dirty dancing styles’. (Joseph, 1975)The values which have been traditionally believed in no longer matter, whatever young people see on TV are what they tend to believe in more. (Michael, 1999)According top early delinquency researchers, they were only interested with the effect the motion pictures had on the youth.   Cyril Burt made a report around 1925 that approximately eight percent of the delinquent boys had deep interests in motion pictures.   Burt’s report in the film reveals the techniques used to commit crimes as well as crimes which have been positively advertised.   Other studies on delinquents were made by Bronner and Healy. (Rodney, 1990)According to their study regarding non delinquents and delinquents in Boston and Detroit around the 1930, they revealed that the largest number of delinquents were frequent attendees of movies and films. (Michael, 1999) There were reports however, that very small number of delinquents had imitated the techniques used to commit crimes that they had seen on screens.   From the way Bronner and Healy treated movies in their studies the conclusion to be made is that they dismissed films as inconsequential as far as juvenile delinquency is concerned. (Robert, 2001)Other studies were done by Hauser and Blumer, on the impact the films and motion pictures had on juvenile delinquency.   The studies were conducted under auspices of Payne Fund for a period of four years from 1929-1932.   The studies were done by psychologists and sociologists from the university and their aim was to establish the impact motion pictures had on children’s psychological, physical and social behavior. (Rodney, 1990) The most interesting study about delinquency made by Bulmer and Hauser (Sociologists) was from entitled delinquency, movies and crime. (Joseph, 1975) The focus was on the role of motion pictures in the careers of female and male delinquents as well as criminals.   The impact of films on inmates in the rehabilitation centers and non-delinquents girls and boys was also made.   The findings however, were definitive and conclusive and should not be dismissed as rough estimations.   (Michael, 1999)It was obvious that individuals will always perceive the content in the film and make interpretations of the meaning based on the experiences they have had previously on socialization as well as the unique personality they have. (Michael, 1999)   Motion pictures therefore exert effects described as antithetical.   The conventional behavior while in some, they may be more inclined to participate in crime and delinquency.   (Rodney, 1990)According to Blumer and Hauser, the effect of movies, TV program and other media cannot be studied without studying the people watching them.     There is always an interaction between the cont ent of the film and those viewing them. (Joseph, 1975) Blumer further said that films were a significant factor in delinquent and criminal careers of around 10% of males and 25% of females studied.   To conclude their studies, Blumer and Hauser observed that those kids who are more exposed to movies are more inclined to delinquent behavior. (Robert, 2001)A study was made by Paul Cressey on the effect of media on the juvenile delinquency.   He made conclusions which were opposing those ones of Hauser and Blumer.   His study was made in New York City believed to be high delinquency area.   After making a number of observations under conditions which were controlled, Cressey made the conclusion that movies and motion pictures lacked appreciable effect on juvenile delinquency. (Michael, 1999)ConclusionIt is obvious that media has influenced the behavior of the youth in so many ways.   The dressing styles and hip hop styles are largely influenced by the media.   The situation has been made worse by the number of channels that are currently accessible in the comfort of one’s living room.   Regardless of the perspectives that are given by the researchers, we can also make our own observations and narrate our own personal experiences. (Joseph, 1975)First hand information is gotten from the media.   Wrestling techniques are also received from the television.   Despite the warnings that media gives its audience such as ‘not suitable for a person below 15,18 or 20 years’ it is still not adequate to keep off the youth. (Rodney, 1990) Even airing these programs very late at night is still not enough, because some kids stay up late.   It is the moral obligation of the media to censor programs being aired or air only those shows which cannot affect the youth negatively. (Michael, 1999)This move will go along way in reducing the juvenile delinquency currently witnessed and especially at homes.   Children have disrespected their parent s and use vulgar language without understanding the implications. (Michael, 1999) The overuse of derogatory remarks and crazy styles of dressing have made the world difficult to live in.   The erosion of moral values and failure of media to give us the role models who can be emulated by the children has largely contributed to juvenile delinquency. (Joseph, 1975)There is no middle ground.The fact of the matter is juvenile delinquency is made worse by the motion pictures among other types of media. (Travis, 2000) Talk show should replace programs which are full of scenes of violence so that virtues and societal values can be inculcated among the youth.However, we cannot deny that media has had positive impact in terms of the news channels and a host of other entertainment programs but it may not earn credit that it deserves if more of the programs that impact negatively on the youth continue to be aired. (Michael, 1999)The mass media should therefore present to the audience and the public at large, particularistic cultural norms.   There should also be other forms of recreational facilities and thus the children would not be so much into TV. (Rodney, 1990)The internet which has also become a vital part of media should also be censored since the youth can access any information they want and hence controlling juvenile delinquency has become increasingly challenging.   A better society is achievable if measures are taken to reduce juvenile delinquency, through censoring information disseminated by media. (Michael, 1999)ReferencesJoseph, S. (1975) Juvenile Delinquency, Ayer Company Publishers, 2nd EditionMichael, J. (1999) Age, Sex and the Versatility of Delinquent Involvement, Palgrave   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Press, US.Rodney, S. (1990) Deviant Places: A theory of the Ecology of Crime, Harvard Press, US.Robert, J. (2001) Social Disorganization and Theories of Crime and Delinquency, New York Publishers, US.Travis, H (2000) A Control Theory of Delinquency, Palgrave P ress, UK

Judicial Activism and Empowerment of Indian Women Essay

Women’s empowerment is a noted concept in social change, which is much discussed, often elusive and sometimes abused. Yet in the context of development, women’s leadership and agency in social change have been levers for women’s empowerment within communities. Women have sought to fight entrenched interests for community benefits, and have garnered through their collective strength, a new identity. Women’s rights around the world are an important indicator to understand global well-being. â€Å"Creating the environment which imparts equal status to women in family, society and country is the sole motive behind various facets of programmes being run for women empowerment.† –Pratiba Patel, President of India (Express newspaper apr.14, 2011) Though Women have a unique position in every society whether developed, developing or underdeveloped, she still belongs to a class or group of society which is in disadvantaged position on account of several social barriers and impediments. This is particularly due to the various roles they play during various stages of their life, as a daughter, sister, wife, and mother etc. However, she tries too hard to stand equal to that of the men. The historical phase of development of women very well portrays the empowerment of women, in different periods. Vedic period: During the Vedic period women enjoyed a fair amount of freedom and equality. The Vedic period can be termed as feminine glory. Women participated in all spheres like men. They studied in Gurukulas and enjoyed equality in learning Vedas. In Aitereya Upanishad, the wife was called as companion of husband. In the Rig-Veda, the wife was blessed to live as a queen in the house of her husband. The word Thampati, so often used in the Veda, characterizes both wife and husband. According to MacDonnell and Keith, this word signifies the high status of women in ancient India. Men and Women together performed religious duties and carried out other function. In the Mahabharata the wife was called the root of Dharma, prosperity and enjoyment. No man was allowed to perform religious duties without his wife. Thus, like the status of women in the contemporary western world, the status of women in India was based on liberty, equality and co-operation.[1] Post – Vedic period: In post – Vedic period the status of women suffered a setback when various restrictions were put on women’s rights and privileges by Manu. This decline dates back to the period of the Manusmriti and the increasing authority of man. The birth of a daughter which was not a source of anxiety during the Vedic period became the source of disaster for the father. Education, which had been an accepted norm for women, was neglected and later on girls were totally denied access to education. Despite the overall social and cultural subordination of women, it is surprising to find that law givers recognized the right to property, particularly that which was known as streedhana, women’s property. [2] Medieval Period: With invasion of India by Alexander and the Huns, the position of women was further degraded. Their education and training came to a sudden halt. For reasons of security, movement outside was restricted which in turn denied opportunities in community affairs. Uneducated and devoid of any status, they came to be treated as chattels. Social evils like sati, child marriage, and female infanticide arose. Women suffered great disabilities. The evil of dowry had become deep–rooted and the system of Devadasi has already spread. The medieval period saw women living oppressed in the feudal social order and patriarchal families.[3] British period: The attitude, behaviour and living pattern of Hindu society changed drastically during the British regime due to education and western impact on the socio-cultural life of India. During the period there were two major movements which affected the position of women. There were the Social Reform Movement of the nineteenth century and the Nationalist Movement of the twentieth century. Both these movements raised the question of equal status of women. The issues which attracted the attention of the nineteenth century social reformers were sati, ill-treatment of widows, the ban on widow remarriage, polygamy, child marriage, denial of property rights and education to women. The Reformers thought that by giving women access to education and by enacting progressive legislation social change could be initiated. Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, M.G. Ranade, Mahatma Phule, Lokhitwadi, Aurobindo and others from all parts of the country raised their voice against the unjust practices while revivalists like Dayamanda saraswati, swami Vivekananda and Annie Besant Believed in receiving the old Vedic society presumed to be ideal for women.[4] Mahatma Gandhiji too, vehemently criticized the custom of child marriage, prohibition of widow remarriage, temple prostitution and the custom of purdah. The nationalist movements not only draw a large number of women to political activity but also generated strength and confidence among women which helped them to organize and fight for their cause. The formation of the All India Women’s Conference in 1927 was a crucial event in women’s march towards equality. Many laws were enacted which tried to eradicate certain social evils. These included an Act legalizing remarriage of widows, child marriage Restraint Act 1978, an Act recognizing Hindu women’s right to property, etc. Besides the social legislation, there were other laws affecting women’s work status, such as limiting hours of work in organized industries, prohibiting night work, restricting work in mines, establishment of crà ¨ches for the children of the women workers etc. Thus in short, during the British rule, awareness was created for the removal of social malaises, while education and organizing political participation increased women’s mobility. PRESENT STATUS OF WOMEN IN INDIA: The most important event after independence has been the drafting of the Constitution of this country enshrining the principles of equality, liberty and social justice. The framers of the Constitution were aware of the problem of emancipation of the female sex. They realized that equality was important for the development of the nation. It was evident that in order to eliminate inequality and to provide opportunities for the exercise of human right it was necessary to promote education and economic interests of women. It became the objective of the state to protect women from exploitation and provide social justice.[5] All these ideals were enshrined in the Preamble of the Constitution. The Preamble to the Constitution of India resolved to secure to all its citizens justice–social, economic and political; liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship, equality of status and opportunity; and to promote among them fraternity assuring the dignity of an individual and the unity of the Nation. To attain these objectives, the Constitution guarantees certain fundamental rights and freedom, such as freedom of speech and expression, protection of life and personal liberty. The principles of gender equality and protection of women’s right have been the prime concerns right from the days of Independence. Accordingly, the country’s concern in safeguarding the rights and privileges of women found its best expression in the Constitution of India. Article 14, confers the equality before the law or the equal protection of the law to every person. It not only prohibits discrimination but also makes various provisions for the protection of women. And there is a prohibition of any discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth, however, Art. 15(3) empower the state to make any special provision for women and children.[6] And also equality of opportunity is guaranteed for all the citizens in matters relating to employment or opportunity to any office under the state, forbidding discrimination on the grounds only of inter alia sex.[7] Article 19(1) (a) deals with the Freedom of speech and expression and Article 19(1) (g) provides for the Freedom to practice any profession or to carry out any occupation, trade or business. Article 21 ensures that â€Å"No person shall be deprived of his life or personal a liberty except according to the procedure established by law†. Women have a right to lead a dignified, honourable and peaceful life with liberty. DIRECTIVE PRINCIPLES OF STATE POLICY Article 39 mentions that the state shall direct its policy towards providing to men and women equally the right to means of livelihood and equal pay for equal work. The state is directed to make provisions for ensuring just and humane conditions of work and maternity relief.[8]And there is a fundamental duty imposed on every citizen to renounce the practices derogatory to the dignity of women.[9] In short, Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles provide the framework to achieve the ideals of the Preamble of the Constitution. Fundamental Duties too, recognize upholding the dignity of women as one of the duties. The perceptions on Fundamental Rights and the guidelines of Directive Principles of State Policy, is well reflected in various progressive labour legislations such as: ââ€" ª Industrial Dispute Act, 1947 ââ€" ª Minimum Wages Act, 1948 ââ€" ª Factories Act, 1948 ââ€" ª Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 LEGISLATIVE MEASURES: Inspired by the constitutional safeguards, the State has enacted various legislative measures to provide protection to women against social discrimination, violence and atrocities and to prevent child marriages, dowry, rape and practice of sati, etc., the Equal remuneration Act of 1976 provides for equal pay to men and women for equal work. The Hindu Marriage Laws Amendment Act 1955 has been amended by the Marriage Laws Amendment Act of 1976 to provide for the right of a girl to repudiate a child marriage before attaining maturity whether the marriage has been consummated or not. The Act 1956 for Suppression of Immoral Traffic against Women and girls was amended in 1986 to make the sexual exploitation of female, a cognizable offence. It was renamed as â€Å"The Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act of 1986†. An amendment brought in 1984 to the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 made women’s subjection of cruelty a cognizable offence. A second amendment to the Act in 1986 makes the husband or in-laws punishable, if a woman commits suicide within 7years of her marriage and it has been proved that she has been subject to cruelty. The Child Marriage restraint Act of 1929 raises the age for marriage of a girl to 18 years from 15years and that of a boy to 21years. The Factories Act of 1948 provides for establishment of crà ¨che where 30 women are employed. The Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act of 1971 legalized abortion by qualified professional on humanitarian or medical grounds. The enactment â€Å"Indecent representation of women (prohibition) Act, 1987† has also been passed to protect the dignity of women and prevent violence against them as well as their exploitation. Some of the other measures which were taken for the progress of women were that in pursuant to a request by the United Nations General Assembly to prepare a report on the status of women in India (CSWI) was constituted in 1971. The terms of reference of the committee was to examine the Constitutional, legal and administrative provisions that have a bearing on the social status of women, their education and employment and to asses the impact of these provisions during the last two decades on the status of women in the country, particularly in the rural sector and to suggest more effective measures; It was also to consider the development of education among women and determine the factors responsible for the slow progress in some areas and suggest remedial measures and to survey the problem of working women, including discrimination in employment and remuneration. TOWARDS EQUALITY: In order to examine the status of women, as house wives and mothers in the changing social pattern and their problems in the sphere of further education and employment, the committee was to undertake survey or case studies on the implication of the population policies and family planning programmers on the status of women in addition to the above mentioned aspect. It was empowered to suggest any other measure which would enable women to play their full and proper role in building up the nation. The committee submitted its report entitled ‘Towards Equality’ in December 1974. The report was a landmark in the social history of India heralding a conscious change in attitudes, behaviour, law, establishment of special institutions and creating both infrastructure and environment for equality for women. The National Commission for Women was set up as a statutory body on 31st January 1992 under the National Commission for Women Act, (1990) to review constitutional and legal safeguards for women and recommend amendments to meet lacunae, inadequacies in such laws, participate in economic development of women and evaluate the progress made. However, there are many areas of inequality where working women still strive to overcome like: More women are in lower skilled part time work; Women are promoted less and earn less; Women are not equally represented in Government as Men; Women undertake significantly more of household work and childrearing than men and are often depict ed as weaker sexes and are sexualized. JUDICIAL RESPONSE: Over the years, the general public has come to repose absolute faith in the Judiciary. The Supreme Court of India has responded to issues of gender justice in a positive manner. Some of the decisions given by the apex court in the recent past has significantly advanced the cause and dignity of women. In Nigammar vs. Chikkaiah Case (2000)[10] compulsory blood test to determine paternity was held to be violative of fundamental right of life or liberty. In Chandrimadas Case (2000)[11], the Supreme Court has held that where a national Bangladeshi woman was gang raped, compensation can be granted under public law (Constitution) for violation of Fundamantal rights on the ground of Domestic Jurisprudence based on Constitutional provisions and Human Rights jurisprudence. In John Vallamatton V. Union of India (2003)[12], the Supreme Court struck down section 118 of Indian Succession Act, 1925 restricting bequeathing of property for religious or charitable use except in the manner provided the rein. It was that the right to equality of women vis-à  -vis their male counterparts is accepted worldwide and it will be immoral and illegal to discriminate women on the ground of sex. In CEHAT V. Union of India (2001)[13], the Supreme Court referred to the repercussions of unhindered female infanticide effecting overall sex ratio in various States. The Court issued directions to Central government, State government, Union Territories, and appropriate authorities for the implementation of the enacted Act, further in CEHAT & Others. Petitioners V. Union of India & Others Respondents (2002)[14], the apex court made the registration of the clinics with ultrasound machines mandatory and directed the State governments to take suitable action for creating awareness in public. In this way, judiciary has acknowledged the concept of ‘Gender Equality’. The formal equality given by the Constitution and the Law is however, not equivalent of substantive equality which enables enjoyment of all rights on an equal basis. While formal equality has afforded women access to areas of Education, empowerment and even political participation, on terms that are often equal to those by men, it is in the so-called private sphere, in areas such as marriage and the family that women continue to be denied equal rights. In the present situation, women are better educated and have entered all possible fields proving their might. They hold more jobs worldwide, yet most women continue to suffer from occupational segregation in workplace. There are artificial barriers, created by attitudinal and organizational prejudices, barring women from top executive jobs. Women, though more educated are not more equal. Gender equality is a multifaceted concept which implies equality of opportunity in economic as well as socio-political and legal aspects. Gender equality is not just morally right, it is pivotal to human progress and sustainable development. Economic opportunity does not mean their mere presence but includes the quality of women’s economic involvement. In developed countries, women may gain employment with relative ease, but their employments are usually transitory and are paid less than men. Herald Sun, an Australian newspaper has also recently raised issues relating to this. The question of gender equality is a very old and burning problem. Twenty years ago in Mexico the First World Conference on Women inspired a movement that has helped, to reduce gender inequality worldwide. Illiteracy among women is declining, maternal mortality rates are beginning to fall, and more women are participating in labour force than ever before. Now a days, women has broken their ill-social shackles and are ready to face the contemporary challenges without any help and hesitation and consequently, March 8, is formally observed and celebrated in several countries, including India as a mark of integrated achievements towards the equality of rights, status and dignity of women and their equal participation in economic, social and cultural development in contemporary world scenario. CONCLUSION: To curb down the menace of existing gender inequality many steps have been taken at the national as well as the international levels, but still a lot needs to be done to stamp out the growing violation of women’s dignity. Is there Gender Equality in Reality? I would say in the Gender Equation, women are evidently the victims. At this juncture, society needs to see women as dynamic promoters of social transformation, and have a powerful influence on their ability to control their environment and contribute to economic development. There should be a kind of positive respect for women. Only then, her rights can be well protected and nurtured. Physical violence is only the tip of the ice berg, what we don’t see below the surface is the lack of respect. Once we ensure that society in general and men in particular show a positive kind of respect to women, to their wives, the other rights are bound to follow in normal course. Though umpteen steps are taken in this direction like discouraging discrimination, lengthy legislations invoking equality but the picture is still disheartening and remains only in the talks. And the war on inequality, discrimination, violence and unempowerment is still continuing, making the road to success a not-reachable one.

Job Recommendation Letter Sample for a Remote Worker

Job Recommendation Letter Sample for a Remote Worker SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips In our brave new world of ubiquitous internet, some employees work on a remote basis, communicating with teams via email and video chat. Whether they contribute as programmers, writers, or in another field, they might work from anywhere with a wifi connection. This letter represents this remote relationship with a clothing company manager writing for a freelance web designer. Even though the manager hasn't worked with the candidate on a day-to-day basis, he can still attest to the quality of her work, as well as touch on some of the personal characteristics that he has gotten to know. Read on to see how the remote manager weaves a strong reference for a web designer. Sample Letter #4: Written by a Remote Manager for a Freelance Worker Lucia GomezChief Operating OfficerSunStar, Inc.10 Solar RoadPortland, Oregon 97207 Dear Ms. Gomez, I’m very pleased to recommend Sara for the position of Web Designer with SunStar, Inc. Sara has worked with our clothing company, Oak Tree Co., on a freelance basis over the past several years. While I've communicated with Sara remotely via video chat and email, I’ve gotten to know her as a reliable employee with rock star web design skills. I have no doubt that she’ll continue to create outstanding work as a full-time web designer with your company. Sara began contributing to our E-commerce company over two years ago. She jumped in during a major push to rebrand and worked on design across the site. Sara elevated our company’s aesthetic by creating elegant designs across our pages. In fact, she redesigned our central logo, which we use across all our pages and email newsletters. She’s fluent in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript and has experience with website builders, like Wordpress and Wix. Sara has an artistic eye and a keen sense of user experience. We owe a great deal of the appeal and ease of use of our new website to Sara's efforts. In addition to working on front end design, Sara also worked across our social media platforms. She helped shape our Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest pages and engage users with viral content. She was especially skilled with curating content on Instagram and Pinterest. Most recently, she put together a style story on one of our jewelry designers, a feature that's gotten over 2,000 shares. Between her strong sense of aesthetics and attention to detail, Sara was able to create a sleek visual experience that drew in customers and boosted sales. While Sara has been a great talent on our team, she seeks to work for a cause about which she’s passionate- environmental protection. She’s excited about SunStar’s mission to make solar energy affordable to the average consumer. We’ve had conversations about her commitment to a sustainable lifestyle and efforts to reduce her carbon footprint. I’m excited she’s found this opportunity to apply her expertise as a web designer to a cause that’s so close to her heart. Sara is a creative, detail-oriented, and savvy web designer with a passion for the solar and renewables industry. She’s great at working independently and can produce high-level work with little supervision. I have no doubt that she will make an excellent addition to the SunStar team. Please feel free to contact me with any questions. Thanks for your time. Sincerely, Arjun GopalInterface Design DirectorOak Tree Co.agopal@oaktree.com555-555-5555 Arjun's complimentary letter makes Sara sound like a stellar web designer who can wear many (metaphorical) hats. Recommendation Letter 4: The Breakdown Some managers don’t get to know an employee on a personal or day-to-day basis. They may not work closely with them or, in this case, conduct their business remotely via video chat and email. When it comes to industries like web development, design, and marketing, the work can often largely speak for itself. Sara likely shared a portfolio with her prospective employer, and her remote manager, Arjun, can further attest to her web design skills. Even though he didn’t work with Sara on a daily basis, Arjun can still speak to the personal strengths and interests he has gotten to know. For instance, he knows she’s reliable, artistic, detail-oriented, and able to produce high-quality work with a great deal of independence. He also discussed her commitment to environmentalism and sustainability, a passion that will appeal to her prospective employers at the solar energy company, SunStar. Arjun talked about Sara's contributions to Oak Tree and skills in web design and social media. His letter testifies to the quality of her work and her qualifications for Sunstar’s full-time Web Designer position. What's Next? Can't wait to read another sample letter of recommendation? We've got you covered! Check out this reference letter sample supporting an employee's internal promotion! Care to navigate back to the complete collection of sample recommendation letters, along with some pointers on how to make yours stand out? You can find our full guide on sample reference letters here. Want to provide a strong recommendation for your employee, but don't have the time to craft the perfect letter? PrepScholar's new recommendation tool, SimpleRec, takes you from good intentions and a blank page to a fully written and formatted letter of recommendation in under 5 minutes. All you need to do is give us some simple pieces of information about your employee and your experience working with them, and we'll do the rest. Try out SimpleRec risk-free today:

Relative Deprivation and Deprivation Theory

Relative Deprivation and Deprivation Theory Relative deprivation is formally defined as an actual or perceived lack of resources required to maintain the quality of life- diet, activities, and material possessions- to which various socioeconomic groups or individuals within those groups have grown accustomed, or are considered to be the accepted norm within the group. Key Takeaways Relative deprivation is the lack of resources (money, rights, or social equality) necessary to maintain the quality of life considered typical within a given socioeconomic group. Relative deprivation often contributes to the rise of social change movements, such as the U.S. Civil Rights Movement.Absolute deprivation or absolute poverty is a potentially life-threatening situation that occurs when income falls below a level adequate to maintain food and shelter. In simpler terms, relative deprivation is a feeling that you are generally â€Å"worse off† than the people you associate with and compare yourself to. For example, when you can only afford a compact economy car, but your coworker, while getting the same salary as you, drives a fancy luxury sedan, you may feel relatively deprived. Relative Deprivation Theory: Definition, Examples, and History As defined by social theorists and political scientists,  Relative Deprivation Theory suggests that people who feel they are being deprived of almost anything considered essential in their society- whether money, rights, political voice or status- will organize or join social movements dedicated to obtaining the things of which they feel deprived. For example, relative deprivation has been cited as one of the causes of the U.S. Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, the struggle of Blacks to gain social and legal equality with whites. Similarly, many gay people join the same-sex marriage movement in order to acquire the same legal recognition of their marriages enjoyed by straight people. In some cases, relative deprivation has been cited as a factor driving incidents of social disorder like rioting, looting, terrorism, and civil wars. In this nature, social movements and their associated disorderly acts can often be attributed to the grievances of people who feel they are being denied resources to which they are entitled. Development of the concept of relative deprivation is often attributed to American sociologist Robert K. Merton, whose study of American soldiers during World War II revealed that soldiers in the Military Police were far less satisfied with their opportunities for promotion than regular GIs. In proposing one the first formal definitions of the relative deprivation, British statesman and sociologist Walter Runciman listed the effect’s four required conditions: A person does not have something.That person knows other people who have the thing.That person wants to have the thing.That person believes he or she has a reasonable chance of getting the thing.   Runciman also drew a distinction between â€Å"egoistic† and â€Å"fraternalistic† relative deprivation. According to Runciman, egoistic relative deprivation is driven by an individual’s feelings of being treated unfairly compared to others in the group. For example, an employee who feels he or she should have gotten a promotion that went to another employee may feel relatively deprived. Fraternalistic relative deprivation is more often associated with massive group social movements like the Civil Rights Movement. Relative vs. Absolute Deprivation Relative and absolute deprivation are measures of poverty in a given country. Absolute deprivation describes a condition at which household income falls below a level needed to maintain the basic necessities of life like food and shelter. Relative deprivation describes a level of poverty at which household income drops to a certain percentage below the country’s median income. For example, a country’s level of relative poverty could be set at 50 percent of its median income. While absolute poverty can threaten one’s very survival, relative poverty is more likely to limit one’s ability to participate fully in their society. In 2015, the World Bank Group set the worldwide absolute poverty level at $1.90 a day per person based on purchasing power parities (PPP) rates. Critiques Critics of relative deprivation theory have argued that it fails to explain why some people who, though deprived of rights or resources, fail to take part in social movements meant to attain those things. During the Civil Rights Movement, for example, Black people who refused to participate in the movement were derisively referred to as â€Å"Uncle Toms† by other Blacks in reference to the excessively obedient slave depicted in Harriet Beecher Stowe’s 1852 novel â€Å"Uncle Tom’s Cabin.† However, proponents of relative deprivation theory argue that many of these people simply want to avoid the conflicts and life difficulties they might encounter by joining the movement with no guarantee of a better life as a result.   Relative deprivation theory does not account for people who take part in movements that do not seem to materially benefit them, such as the animal rights movement. In many of these cases, for example, straight people who march alongside lesbian and gay rights activists, or wealthy people who demonstrate against policies that perpetuate poverty or income inequality, are believed to do so more out of a sense of empathy or sympathy than feelings of relative deprivation. Sources Curran, Jeanne and Takata, Susan R. Robert K. Merton. California State University, Dominguez Hills. (February 2003).Duclos, Jean-Yves. Absolute and Relative Deprivation and the Measurement of Poverty. University Laval, Canada (2001).Runciman, Walter Garrison. Relative deprivation and social justice: a study of attitudes to social inequality in twentieth-century England. Routledge Kegan Paul (1966). ISBN-10: 9780710039231.

What You Need to Know about an Advanced Higher English Dissertation

What You Need to Know about an Advanced Higher English Dissertation What You Need to Know about an Advanced Higher English Dissertation If you want to show off a bit in front of your professors while you are writing an Advanced Higher English dissertation, it is important to follow the right steps. Remember that the Advanced Higher English is a course for learners who want to improve their understanding and their ability to use more sophisticated language by taking part in higher level writing skills training. Such a course provides personalized academic assistance, challenging students to improve their reading and writing, as well as comparative insights. If you want to know how to write your Advanced Higher English dissertation, you need to understand some core facts: It Is a New Experience for You Up until this point, work as a graduate student is often an extension of an earlier life in school. Most people are good at school which is why they continue onward with more of it. They enjoy self-confidence and success that accompanies school. Many students enjoy the labs, reading, papers, and tests, and find that with a bit of studying similar to what they did in undergrad, they can pass. But the one thing that is vastly different from all other work you may have completed as an undergrad is this final project. This is something new, this is something unlike anything you have experienced in the past and it is something that helps to mark the transition you are making from the role of â€Å"student† to the role of â€Å"scholar†. It is a Very Independent Task This kind of writing is much the same as writing a book; you do most of it on your own, and you are self-directed. This is something that often takes students by surprise. Even those who are not accustomed to being held by the hand and certainly don’t expect it are still a bit shocked by how much they are on their own, working completely independently of everyone else around them. Even if you know someone working on this same final project, your work is completely different which can leave you with feelings of isolation or intimidation. It Brings a Great Deal of Stress This project is one which can change your life dramatically once you are done and that can bring with it a great deal of stress, especially stress about the future. But there are things you can do: Consider doing some soul searching to ask yourself if this is absolutely something you want to commit yourself to. Remember that not pursuing this is not shameful. Keep in mind that the skills built during this process can be used throughout your career. Your final document may be something you use in your early career moves. You need to manage your topic well. Communicate with your advisor as much as you can. You need to manage your committee. Overall, when you set out to write, make sure that you follow these steps in order to ensure your professors are impressed. Your Advanced Higher English dissertation can be completed with ease and completed well. Also, you can enjoy professional dissertation help provided by our online academic writing service .

John D. Rockefeller, critical analysis. Did he make America better Research Paper

John D. Rockefeller, critical analysis. Did he make America better. NON-Biographical - Research Paper Example Whether his intention in giving back to the country that made him super wealthy was altruistic is debatable and shall be debatable. Saint or capitalist sinner, John D. Rockefeller undoubtedly changed the face of business in America as well as its attitude toward education. John D. Rockefeller, the storied industrial mogul and philanthropist â€Å"...appeared to the general public either as a demon of avarice and extortion...or as a high-minded philanthropist, bestowing his bounty with charitable devotion to good works† (Latham, Introduction v). It is undeniable, however, that perhaps one of the most important contributions by Rockefeller was in the area of education. Generally today we think of the State University of New York (SUNY) system as one of the finest in the country and we credit Rockefeller for its original and ongoing funding. Yet one wonders based on evidence presented whether his motives were as pure as most would like to think. Gatto’s quote of Benjamin Kidd, the British evolutionist, provides a chilling analysis of these intentions as a way for him and the â€Å"Education Trust† of the early twentieth century to â€Å"impose on the young the idea of subordination† (Chapter 2:2) – a subordination that would ultimately further the goals of capitalist endeavors by creating a malleable workforce. Rockefeller himself in the 1906 Occasional Letter Number One is quoted by Gatto: â€Å"...In our dreams...people yield themselves with perfect docility to our molding hands† (Chapter 2: 2) Rockefeller goes on to admit his intention [and the intention of capitalist support of mass education] is not to educate great thinkers but to â€Å"organize children...and teach them to do in a perfect way the things their fathers and mothers are doing in an imperfect way† (Gatto, Chapter 2:2). Intentions aside, and Rockefeller’s view of what he was actually promoting

First National Federal Bank Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 2

First National Federal Bank - Case Study Example In business today, the old adage about honesty is the best policy still holds true and it is more important than ever. Problem – this case deals with an ethical issue regarding the business practices of the First National Federal Bank located in the state of Wyoming. Loan officers are now required by the bank to adhere to changes implemented after the savings and loan debacle with regard in particular to ethical business practices. This emphasis on ethics is to avoid those problems that arose due to unsavory policies and procedures concerning the approval of bank loans. In this particular case, the issue at hand is whether to let a loan applicant pay for the cost of the officers out of town trip purposely to inspect the hard collateral offered by a client for his loan. It is a standard practice in the banking industry to require collaterals in exchange for a loan. A bank requires collateral as a guarantee for repayment because a loan client would rather not be in a position of abandoning his hard-earned collateral and lose it through foreclosure if a loan turns sour (bad). There is also ambigu ity between what is legal and what is ethical (moral). Inputs - the issue that bothered Shelby Grant the most was the question of whether to let one of their potential loan clients (Mr. Doug Whitton) pay for their trip to a ranch he owns as part of the bank's due diligence process of conducting an on-site evaluation (appraisal) of the offered collateral. At this point, it may seem unethical to let a client shoulder the expenses since there is no assurance the loan would be granted. Besides the collateral, there are factors that may work against loan approval such as credit history and repayment capacity (source of income to pay back the loan). If the two loan officers, Shelby Grant and Ben Garrison, would allow or accept the clients offer to pay for their trip, it may appear a bit awkward for them.

Benito Mussolini and Italian Fascism Research Paper

Benito Mussolini and Italian Fascism - Research Paper Example His beliefs in socialism began when he fled to Switzerland, for purposes of escaping being drafted into the army. However, in 1904, Benito Mussolini returned to Italy, and decided to serve in the army, in return of being pardoned. It is important to understand that after his service in the army, Mussolini became an editor of various socialist newspapers in Italy, advocating for the principles of socialism. During the First World War, as an editor of socialist newspaper, Benito Mussolini strongly advocated for neutrality. However, after accepting a series of bribes, notably from the French, Mussolini advocated for Italy to support the cause of the allied forces. Deakin (2000) denotes that Italy made a poor judgment in the war, and this made the country to experience an economic downturn, leading to massive loss of jobs, inflation, strikes, riots, etc. Mussolini took advantage of this chaos, and built a nationalist party referred to as Fasci di Cambattimento. This party was named after the Italian revolutionaries of the 19th century. This party, commonly referred to as the Fascist party of Italy strongly advocated for Italian nationalism, and it used violence and intimidation against its opponents to advocate for its ideals. It is important to denote that while intimidating its opponents, the Fascist party claimed that it was crushing the violence and riots that were taking place in Italy during the time (Painter, 2000). This made Mussolini to have the respect of King Emmanuel the 3rd who later on invited him to form a government. It is important to understand that it was the Fascist party that was promoting anarchy, through its violence activities targeted at opposition parties. On this basis, the King misjudged Benito Mussolini, and his party, the Fascist Party. Deakin (2000) denotes that the Fascist party appealed to the war veterans, and this is because it advocated for the protection

English - College Literature Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

English - College Literature - Essay Example The tone of despair and anger underlines a theme of hidden suffering, where people cover up their feelings, only expressing them in prayer, â€Å"We smile, but, O great Christ, our cries / To thee from tortured souls arise.† (1. 0-11). The speaker is not definable as male or female, young or old, but has a voice that could apply to many, as the poet shares the suffering experiences across a whole range of humanity, evidenced by the use of â€Å"we†. The metaphor of â€Å"the mask that grins and lies,† (l. 1) and the reason for using this protection, â€Å"Nay, let them only see us while / We wear the mask† (l. 8-9), signified how people may hurt inside for many reasons but want to hide the pain. It seemed to be a matter of pride, as in â€Å"why should the world be over-wise, / In counting all our tears and sighs?† (l. 6-7), to keep the suffering hidden. Dunbar was a child of slaves and he understood the suffering of slavery. But the concept of covering up our pain can apply to anyone; the mask is a symbol of the human need to protect itself. Often, at school or hanging out with friends, somebody can say something hurtful, maybe as a joke, so we smile or laugh in response, pretending not to be vulnerable and covering up our hurt. The poet expressed exactly how much we hurt and how the pretence can damage us. He makes us feel other’s pain and relate it to our own, and maybe realize that if we take off the mask, we could suffer less and become stronger. â€Å"Incident†, with the simple, repetitive rhythms of a child’s sung rhyme and point of view, gives a difference perspective on how people hurt each other. The boy speaker, most likely the poet, recalled a childhood memory with an ironic tone that suggests he had risen above that experience. Though the poem reads like a child telling a story, with true rhyme such as â€Å"glee† (l. 2) and â€Å"me† (l. 4), â€Å"bigger† (1. 6) and â€Å"nigger† (l. 8), its message is stark. The theme of racism and its

Identity theft through the use of the internet and how businesses and Literature review

Identity theft through the use of the internet and how businesses and people are affected by its continuous threats - Literature review Example In the end, the mission critical data is compromised, resulting in severe losses for organizations. Generally, the business functions and processes, which exist electronically and digitally within the organization needs to be protected. The people who use Internet, provides a lot of personal information on the Internet in order to perform banking, registration, subscription, purchasing a product or service. The personal information has enormous dimensions to get extracted and become vulnerabilities. One of the most common threats in the context of misusing personal information is identity theft A network dictionary demonstrate the concepts of Identity theft as â€Å"Identity theft is a crime in which an imposter obtains key pieces of personal information, such as Social Security or driver’s license numbers, in order to impersonate someone else. The information can be used to obtain credit, merchandise, and services in the name of the victim, or to provide the thief with false credentials.† In order to protect identities of the customer, organization need to protect and manage identities. A good definition of identity management is illustrated in the network dictionary as â€Å"Identity Management is an integrated system of business processes, policies and technologies that enable organizations to facilitate and control their users’ access to critical online applications and resources while protecting confidential personal and business information from unauthorized users†. In the code of deferral regulations (CFR), identity theft is defined as a fraud that is conducted by using the identity information of another person without permission. Identity theft can also contribute to other crimes. For instance, identify theft is successful in document fraud, bank fraud, immigration fraud and in the form of burglary and robbery. Consequently, the challenges for eliminating identity theft including victimization, offending and prosecution rate s, needs to be considered by the congress, as these threats are arising by the contribution of identity theft and related crimes (Finklea 2009). Online privacy policy is of great concern, when considering identity theft as privacy policies of some websites does not satisfy the users for disclosing their personal data. There is no undertaking from the website owner for securing the contents provided by the user online. This is one area, which needs research and improvement, in order to provide a mechanism of securing data privacy, policies that are implemented by web services to ease privacy concerns associated with information related to their clients and adhere to legislative measures. Moreover, this also involves the undertaking for personal data usage including, what organizations would do or not with the personal information of their clients. This is crucial as some websites may sell personal information of their clients to cyber criminals or other competitors in terms of cash. This personal information is substantial for online cyber criminals to extract and guess passwords and retrieve credit card numbers, once they break into the email account of users. In order to eliminate identity theft appropriate measures are required. Identity theft is categorized into two domains i.e. Physical identity theft and

Sonnet by Shakespeare to Explicate Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Sonnet by Shakespeare to Explicate - Essay Example While the sonnet is largely straightforward, it does have a number of challenging images. In the third line, Shakespeare writes, â€Å"And trouble deaf heav'n with my bootless cries† (Shakespeare 3). Here, the narrator is indicating this in his loneliness he cries out to heaven with useless (‘bootless’) cries. Shakespeare advances this theme of despondency and loneliness, indicating that the narrator wishes that he had the life of others; Shakespeare writes, â€Å"Desiring this man’s art, and that man’s scope† (Shakespeare 7). The sonnet follows a Petrarchan structure, which is visible in the final six lines when the narrator indicates that despite his despondency, â€Å"Haply I think on thee, and then my state,/ Like to the lark at break of day arising† (Shakespeare 10-11). In these regards, the overriding theme and rhetorical strategy indicates that while the narrator experiences considerable despondency, the thought and image of his love make the trying times bearable. In conclusion, this essay has considered Shakespeare’s ‘Sonnet 29’. It has considered theme and rhetorical strategy, indicating that the poem is a love sonnet with a Petrarchan structure. Ultimately, the sonnet is a powerful and unique one within Shakespeare’s canon. References Shakespeare, William. Sonnet 29. Shakespeare Online.

Identity theft through the use of the internet and how businesses and Literature review

Identity theft through the use of the internet and how businesses and people are affected by its continuous threats - Literature review Example In the end, the mission critical data is compromised, resulting in severe losses for organizations. Generally, the business functions and processes, which exist electronically and digitally within the organization needs to be protected. The people who use Internet, provides a lot of personal information on the Internet in order to perform banking, registration, subscription, purchasing a product or service. The personal information has enormous dimensions to get extracted and become vulnerabilities. One of the most common threats in the context of misusing personal information is identity theft A network dictionary demonstrate the concepts of Identity theft as â€Å"Identity theft is a crime in which an imposter obtains key pieces of personal information, such as Social Security or driver’s license numbers, in order to impersonate someone else. The information can be used to obtain credit, merchandise, and services in the name of the victim, or to provide the thief with false credentials.† In order to protect identities of the customer, organization need to protect and manage identities. A good definition of identity management is illustrated in the network dictionary as â€Å"Identity Management is an integrated system of business processes, policies and technologies that enable organizations to facilitate and control their users’ access to critical online applications and resources while protecting confidential personal and business information from unauthorized users†. In the code of deferral regulations (CFR), identity theft is defined as a fraud that is conducted by using the identity information of another person without permission. Identity theft can also contribute to other crimes. For instance, identify theft is successful in document fraud, bank fraud, immigration fraud and in the form of burglary and robbery. Consequently, the challenges for eliminating identity theft including victimization, offending and prosecution rate s, needs to be considered by the congress, as these threats are arising by the contribution of identity theft and related crimes (Finklea 2009). Online privacy policy is of great concern, when considering identity theft as privacy policies of some websites does not satisfy the users for disclosing their personal data. There is no undertaking from the website owner for securing the contents provided by the user online. This is one area, which needs research and improvement, in order to provide a mechanism of securing data privacy, policies that are implemented by web services to ease privacy concerns associated with information related to their clients and adhere to legislative measures. Moreover, this also involves the undertaking for personal data usage including, what organizations would do or not with the personal information of their clients. This is crucial as some websites may sell personal information of their clients to cyber criminals or other competitors in terms of cash. This personal information is substantial for online cyber criminals to extract and guess passwords and retrieve credit card numbers, once they break into the email account of users. In order to eliminate identity theft appropriate measures are required. Identity theft is categorized into two domains i.e. Physical identity theft and

World War I Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

World War I - Essay Example Through conscientious study of the events depicting imperialism, militarism, nationalism, the immediate cause, as well as the underlying intricacies of the alliances formed, threatening unrest to all other nations, I would attempt to figure justification for the next plan of action. Having found that the aforementioned grounds are ceaseless and bearing impact on a global scale, marching out to join and support the Allies must then prove reasonable. Participating in warfare does not have to mean exhibiting competitiveness yet as a measure to suppress the imperialists along with the height of their militaristic principle, it becomes necessary to demonstrate that emergence of power via American forces in addition to the Allies in defense is likely to intimidate the enemy. In the hope of possibly exhausting the enemies with the idea that endless wars are futile and would only yield to further damages regardless of any projected goal to gain advantage by the opposing parties, combat ought to proceed. As a U.S. president, I understand that I have sworn a delicate responsibility to protect my nation. With the prevailing world crisis, however, accepting the armed challenge to fight in the battlefield is rather an innovation than a mere act of impulse to help others subdue the enemy and fulfill the common objective of world peace. At this point, to me the presence of U.S. troops overseas, expressing the motive to cooperate with the armed men of the allied nations is a response of envisioning a kind of renewed life for the Americans where, after all the military and political hostilities, living exists with the desired quality of peace and economy. By engaging in the war, Americans can be accustomed to dealing with violent encounters which would serve as tests to strengthen individual courage or make resolute the overall character of American citizenry. In time, once the joint forces with the European ‘Allies’ consisting of France, Russia, Britain, and Serbia

Culture and Ethnicity Essay Example for Free

Culture and Ethnicity Essay Belarus has a diverse culture and ethnicity. Statistics from the 1989 population census revealed that the Belarusian in soviet union were majority making up over 77% of the total population, the Russians cover 13. 2%, the poles 4. 1% Ukrainians 2. 9% and others who include Tatars, Lithuanians and Latvians cover 2. 9%. I am a Belarusian, a community that makes up the large majority of the people (Mongabay 2009). The Belarusian language is east Slavic tongue which is intimately related to Ukrainian and Russian. The language is the soul of the nation and an important aspect of culture a part from being a means of communication. The Belarusian, have diverse religious affiliations. I am a Russian orthodox Christian though other religions also exist in the region; the Protestants, roman Catholics, Jewish and Muslims (Mongabay 2009). Family and community history describe the current multi-culture as a product of millennium development with several external influence like physical surroundings; merger of Slavic and Baltic natives, paganism, orthodox religion interaction with literary customs, lack of natural borders and a diversity of religions. Education in Belarus region is compulsory for all the age groups seven to seventeen years especially in the primary school and secondary school. During the communist reign, teaching was chiefly done in Russian with no Belarusian but this was changed in 1992 when Belarusian was made the national language and to be used in schools. The healthcare services have failed to meet the requirements of the large population, the staffs is poorly trained and substandard technology cannot conform to new changes (Mongabay 2009). The human service organizations have created some centers like the republic centre on AIDS to help manage the national problem. Reference Mongabay. com (2009) Belarus Society: Country Studies. Federal Research Division retrieved on 20th January 2009 from http://www. mongabay. com/reference/country_studies/belarus/SOCIETY. html

Development plan Essay example -- Leadership, Personal Experience, Coa

Introduction â€Å"To look forward with acuity you must first look back with honesty.† This quote from Warren Bennis is one of the greatest philosophies by which I attempt to lead. Good leaders understand that this ability to reflect honesty on the past is critical to success in the future. In order to lead and coach a team from a position of resonance leaders must engage in a continuous journey of self-discovery. In gaining a deep understanding of themselves they are more readily able to coach and develop their teams. The process of self-discovery requires that leaders be willing to learn and adapt to both strengths and opportunities in their leadership styles. This singular skill is central to the success of any leader. In fact, it is likely the most important skill leaders need to incorporate in order to become truly remarkable. (Eikenberry, 2007, pp. 21) Over the past nine weeks I have embarked on another process of self-discovery. I have had the pleasure of speaking to a le adership coach on multiple occasions. I was able to seek insight from trusted stakeholders regarding the way I lead and coached constituents. I was even given the opportunity to provide coaching to a fellow learner. These various experience have allowed me to again take inventory of my abilities as a coach and access any relevant gaps in the way I am currently coaching in comparison with the coach I aspire to become. The following will explore the necessity of developing others, the value of coaching from a strength-based approach, the importance of good communication skills, and action items for my continued improvement as a leader/coach. Developing Others â€Å"The goal is to begin building leaders to take your place someday-to build leaders wh... ...ery. I have learned things about the way I coach that have allowed for a great deal of insight. I was glad that I scored the way I did on the Coaching Process Questionnaire, I was upset with myself because I did not feel as if I adequately prepared for my coach a fellow learner session, and I was surprised at the length by which a fellow coach will go to get through to his client. Ultimately I am pleased that I was able to gain the insight that I have and I will continue to progress towards the coaching style that I aspire. In doing so I will continue to build capacity in individuals in order to ensure the readiness of the next generation of leaders. I will coach clients based a strength-based approach in order to engender a more profound sense of purpose and direction. I will do this by asking the â€Å"right† questions and listening actively to my clients.

Essay --

INTERNATIONAL ACCOUNTING ASSIGNMENT Q.1) A brief history of the two organisations, and their objectives, in as far as theyrelate to accounting practices regionally and/or internationally, as necessary. A.1)1. EUROPEAN UNION (EU) The EU was initially formed in the mid 1940's to unite neighbouring nations developed to have a considerably more critical and important purpose. In 1957 the European Economic Community (EEC) was made to fabricate and incorporated economic market between the six establishing parts of the EU. The EEC was referred to a common market between the countries and over the time period more and more and more nations joined the EU, the EEC later got known as the European Community (EC). The EC turned into one of the primary mainstays of the EU and its point was to help make a local market between membered nations where there is an opportunity of transporting products and labour. As the amount of nations expanded the EU set directives for every nation to accompany to harmonise bookkeeping practices, these directives are listed below: ï  ¶ The endeavor to harmonise bookkeeping practices was by means of the issuing of directives ï  ¶ EU directives have the power of law and the member states are obliged to join the directives into their laws ï  ¶ They are trying to bind the member states, yet the outcomes that are accomplished are at the discretion of each member nations. ï  ¶ Two directives pointed at harmonising bookkeeping ï  ¶ The fourth directive of 1978 includescomprehensive bookkeeping standards for the individuals, and not for united records ïÆ'Ëœ Measurement (Valuation) guidelines, ïÆ'Ëœ The guidelines for the making of financial statements ïÆ'Ëœ Disclosure of data for both public and privately owned businesses ïÆ'Ëœ Establish the 'tr... ...combinations leading to the SEC removing the requirements for reconciliations CONCLUSION: The globalization is increasing in the world and the companies are going abroad to enter into new markets and capture new customers as well as the investors. The companies need to make accounts according to the new country and the investors need to study the financials of the company before investing into it. This is a problem as due to difference in the accounting standards are causing problems and hence.The financial reporting systems are converging, as international capital markets become more investor oriented since the investors now want to invest more in oversees and the globalization is increasing day by day there is an urgent need to make the accounting information comparable. The International Accounting Standards Board is at the center of the convergence movement now.

Tim Horton’s Website Analysis

On October 25, 2010, I examined the website of Tim Hortons Company. I did this as part of my assignment for Business Communication course in University of Toronto Scarborough. The assignment requires students to compose a website analysis report of a business. And I chose Tim Hortons because it has always been one of my favorite coffee shops. This report describes the strengths and weaknesses of Tim Hortons’ website. And at the end of the report, you will find my personal recommendations on the points that could be improved. The report’s purpose is to help Tim Hortons establish a more customer-friendly website. I will explain more on the word â€Å"customer-friendly† through the following parts of the report. Strengths of the Website I am quite impressed by the design of Tim Hortons’ website. By simply looking at the theme colors when I first entered in, I am able to recognize the brand. These brown and red colors are what we commonly see in a local Tim Hortons store. The use of the colors makes the store and website an integral whole. Another thing that attracts me is the flashing banner. Those well-designed advertisement videos give customers a quick view of what is new at the store. They also lead to a better trade promotion. I compared the webpage of Tim Hortons with Starbucks and Second Cup’s. And I discovered that Tim Hortons has some competitive advantages over the other two famous coffee shops. Here are four most prominent ones: * An Offer of Healthier Products Options. Many customers today are not in favor of eating traditional donuts that contained large amount of fat and sugar. In order not to lose those customers, more healthier food options are offered on the website. In the online menu, customers can find one category named â€Å"Healthier Options†. By applying those options, customers may add milk instead of cream to their coffee. They may also choose bagels that are high in fiber instead of donuts. People who enjoy a healthy lifestyle will find Tim Hortons’ products appealing to them. Moreover, for customers’ convenience, there is a link to the â€Å"Nutrition Calculator† beside each category of food. By clicking the link, customers can quickly obtain further information on the products. * Clear Classification of the Products. The catalog appeared in the menu helps to arrange all productions into detailed classes. The arrangement makes the menu more organized and clearer to look at. Customers who want to look for a certain type of products will quickly find their targets. This is a demonstration of â€Å"customer-friendly† webpage. * The Idea of Weather Forecast. On the front page of the website, I discovered a window shown the weather forecast and the best product option to choose under this weather. I found this idea very attractive. The weather forecast transfers a message that Tim Hortons is very concerned about it’s customers. It deserves a brand loyalty. Besides, customers who are aware of this information may come to the website everyday to check the weather. This will result in a higher click rate to the website and more exposure to the advertisements. * Online Shopping Option. A link to the online shopping website is attached to the front page. Not only can customers find cans of grind coffee there, but they can also find gift baskets and other accessories available. This online shopping option will contribute to a larger sale of Tim Hortons coffee. Weaknesses of the Website On the other hand, I discovered some weaknesses of Tim Hortons’ website after compared with other coffee shops’. Speaking critically, there are certain places that could be made better. To demonstrate my findings, I listed four problems below: * Catalog is Not Clearly Indentified. Most customers come to Tim Hortons website to search for information on coffee and baked goods. However, the catalog shown on top of the front page does not include these two items. It takes some time for customers to find their desired information. Besides, all the menus and nutrition information are under the category of â€Å"In Our Store †. I personally think this title is inappropriate. Because â€Å"In Our Store† can mislead people to think about locations, staffs and other unrelated information. * Nutrition calculator is difficult to use. The idea of making a calculator to track calories is very creative. However, the calculator did not function well when I was using it, especially on a Mac computer. The button for â€Å"Detailed Information† is often hidden behind the product category list. This makes the button difficult to click on. Fonts are Too Small to Read. Except for the headlines, the font sizes for most of the written materials are too small. This will result in unwillingness for customers to go further reading. Though the storyboard tells a thrilling adventure, customers may have no interest to look at. * No Sounds for the Banner. Research shows that people’s retention becomes stronger when they can be provided with both visual images and sounds. Having a banner is absolutely a good promotion choice, but without any audio inputs, the advertisements are a bit lack of excitement and harder for customers to remember. Conclusions A website can be said to be â€Å"customer-friendly† if it is able to offer the most to its customers. For the design, the website should be attractive and fun to look at. And for the function, the company ought to focus on an idea of clarity, convenience and simplicity. Compared with the webpage of other famous coffee shops, Tim Hortons is good at making convenience accesses for its customers and delivering sales messages. This is demonstrated by its strengths of clear classification, option of online shopping and an offer of eather forecast and healthier options. Nevertheless, Tim Hortons is a bit weak at providing clear information. Because some titles of the catalog fail to transfer definite information and the fonts of the words are too small to read. Things can be improved also include the nutrition calculator and the sounds of the banner. Recommendations Competition between coffeehouses is quite fierce these days. Though Tim Hortons are most well known in Canada. It does not have such popularity in other countries, even in the United States. One of the accesses for people to gather information of Tim Hortons is through the Internet. Therefore, it is of top primarity for Tim Hortons to establish a more customer-friendly website. Here I provide four recommendations that will contribute to its success: * Change the Titles of the Catalog Categories. Make Category titles clearer to indentify. For example, name â€Å"Coffee† or â€Å"Menu† instead of â€Å"In Our Store†. Also, put the items customers most interested to prominent places. For example, modify the â€Å"Menu† button as the first icon appeared in the catalog at the front page. Improve the Nutrition calculator. If the technical problems cannot be solved, simply add a list of nutrition information containing all products to the website. It is also a good idea to provide a search engine for that information. * Make the Fonts Larger. Make the size of the fonts larger so that customers can easily read the information they are looking for. * Make Banner’s Alive. Deliver music commercials. Add more fun and excitement to the website. This will catch customers’ attention and result in a higher click rate of the website.

Essay on Biography of Barak Obama

Research Front Arnab B Chowdhury – Founder and Knowledge Architect, Ninad Consultancy Services www. ninad. in, [email  protected] in When Technology Meets Health Care in Knowledge Society†¦ Aurosiksha: online learning platform for blindness prevention workers â€Å"Intelligence and capability are not enough. There must also be the joy of doing something beautiful. Being of service to God and humanity means going well beyond the sophistication of the best technology, to the humble demonstration of courtesy and compassion to each patient. † – Dr. G Venkataswamy (Founder Chairman – Aravind Eye Care System) Abstract: This case study (www. urosiksha. org) is about two great movements one in Technology (the FOSS) and the other in Health Care – the Aravind Eye Care Systems (AECS) and LAICO that trains blindness prevention workers. At the con? uence of the two is an eLearning platform called Aurosiksha, which is based on Moodle. Aurosiksha seeks to r each out to the global user, share its rich knowledge base, and in the process create a community of lifelong learners. Keywords: FOSS, ICT, LMS, MOODLE, mLearning, Mobile Moodle, AECS, Aravind, Aravind Eye Care System, Vision 2020, WHO, LAICO, Aurosiksha, eLearning Platform, knowledge society, ocial health care. Introduction As we all know, the Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) movement began as a renegade call to what was felt to be increasing restrictions on collaborative development, distribution, and ownership of software[2]. Free software focuses on the philosophical freedoms (a matter of liberty rather than price) it gives to users, whereas open-source software focuses on the perceived strengths of its peer-topeer development model. Openness, coownership, and transparent collaboration continue to drive the FOSS movement. Development, modi? cation, ownership, and redistribution of software could now e cohesively managed by communities of like-minded developers. This also le d to an evolutionary model of copyright and licensing (GPL) ensuring community ownership. The FOSS movement has evolved from the stages of philosophy and licensing into a complex and pragmatic ecosystem for software production and distribution bene? ting humanity globally. FOSS has introduced technological self-reliance, efficient use and sharing of resources, and C SI Communications | June 2012 | 12 collaborative innovation  and development. One of the most signi? cant areas where the FOSS movement has made strides is in the ?eld of education.During the past decade, education has been rapidly reorganized to leverage information and communication technology (ICT) within the classic teaching-learning-assessing cycle. At the foundation of FOSS is a desire for an equitable and open model of access to knowledge. If one of the aims of FOSS technologies is dissemination of educational content, then Aurosiksha is a case in point. The Case Aurosiksha is an online learning management syste m (LMS). An initiative launched recently (25th July, 2011) in its beta version by Lions Aravind Institute of Community Ophthalmology (LAICO), established in 1992 with the support of he Lions Club International, SightFirst Program, and Seva Sight Program. LAICO is Asia's ? rst international training facility for the broad range of blindness prevention workers from India and other parts of the world. It contributes in improving the quality of eye care services through teaching, training, capacity building, advocacy, research, and management consultancy. It offers university-affiliated long-term courses in Eye Care Management, with eye care management programs for directors of eye hospitals, program managers, as well as several skill development courses in the areas of instrument maintenance, community utreach and social marketing, counseling in India, Africa, and South East Asia. LAICO accomplishes this objective within the broader environment of Aravind Eye Hospitals and Aravind Medi cal Research Foundation – all aspects of AECS. Headquartered at Madurai, India, AECS is the world’s largest eye care service provider, which performs 300,000 surgeries per year. Aravind Eye Care was founded and directed by the legendary Padmashree Dr. G Venkataswamy known as Dr. V. Fig. 1: Inspiration and Inspirer www. csi-india. org Fig. 2: LAICO's global reach Designated by the World Health Organization as a Collaborating Centre forPrevention of Blindness, Aravind is studied as a model in prestigious business schools around the world, including Harvard, Stanford, Michigan, IMD-Lausanne, and the Indian Institutes of Management. Currently, LAICO works with over 270 hospitals across the developing world replicating Aravind model of high-quality, low-cost eye care service delivery. Followup studies have shown that several of the programs exposed to the Aravind model have doubled (and in some cases even tripled) surgical productivity and as a result are now ? nancially se lf-sustaining. †¢ †¢ 270+ hospitals (and still growing) that are partnering with Aravind?How do we create courses that cover the broad needs of our trainees that include paraprofessionals, ophthalmologists, eye care program managers, administrators, and others? How do we continue to empower our all-women team of paraprofessionals who form the backbone (about 60%) of Aravind’s workforce? Since †¢ †¢ most of them come from humble, rural background and are trained as assistants and nurses, can this eLearning platform give them the opportunity for continuous training? How can eLearning work consciously toward the empowerment of women and gender equality – an important objective within the Millennium Development Goals?How do we collate, aggregate content to create an interactive Knowledge society The Challenge The real challenge for knowledge society then is in creating equal opportunity in offering the ability to access, to create, to develop, and to ut ilize the right information at the right time in a cost-effective manner. This applies to the public (consumer) as well as the service provider professionals. In this case study, we focus on a decisive initiative with the objective of providing quality training and management skills via the virtual medium for eye care, which is an important area of social health care. †¢ How do we train more than 10,000 lindness prevention workers worldwide, year after year, across Education FOSS ICT Aurosiksha AECS LAICO Education & Management Fig. 3: The case for Aurosiksha C SI Communications | June 2012 | 13 ophthalmic technology evolving so quickly, everyone recognizes the importance of keeping our eye care management skills and knowledge up-todate for the bene? t of our patients. The eLearning solution will allow especially the paramedics to access continuous educational opportunities over the Internet and provide a valuable forum for our members/experts to exchange views and tap into the expertise of their colleagues and fellow olleagues around the world. † Aurosiksha has leveraged ICT in an inclusive way. It is meant Fig. 4: Aurosiksha home page and introduction to provide a one-point Internet access to eye training mechanism that does care training for professionals worldwide justice to the enormous data and with the premise that ‘up to 80% of experiences that Aravind has the world's blindness is avoidable†¦ ’ collected over decades and share it where ‘avoidable blindness is de? ned as with the world so that other blindness blindness which could be either treated prevention professionals and social or prevented by entrepreneurs may feel inspired to nown, cost-effective create Aravinds elsewhere? means’ (VISION 2020 †¢ How do we create a viable way Action Plan 2006to share this ocean of aggregated 2010  © World Health experiences into meaningful content Organization). harvested since 1976? The Solution †¢ How do we instill the Aravind model into our courseware? Especially since Aurosiksha – the the Aravind model needs to be ‘lived’ need of the times and ‘experienced’ as a broad set of LAICO came up values of service, compassion, and with Aurosiksha to self-reliance at its core, along with enhance the reach and management principles that identify quality of education uality care and efficiency that drawn from the rich Aravind stands for? knowledge base that These were perhaps the broad AECS has harvested questions that LAICO asked itself after it since 1976. In this age trained and consulted 60 hospitals in 29 of knowledge society, [1] countries and 213 hospitals in India . its four essential On the eve of the launch of characteristics Aurosiksha, Mr. R D Thulasiraj, Executive digitization, Director (LAICO) said, â€Å"I think this immediacy, is a very important development and virtualization, and underscores the AECS’s commitment globalization – drive to continually enhance the range of nowledge sharing. services we offer to eye care service. With C SI Communications | June 2012 | 14 Aurosiksha was developed and implemented by the LAICO team with the help of instructional designers who joined the AECS as volunteers for the sole purpose of developing its own online educational program. Promoting lifelong learning The goal is to allow all users to take highly engaging and interactive units in order to learn about the theories, techniques, and practical aspects of both clinical and nonclinical management. The idea is to provide an online space where AECS staff can learn, share, and develop their nowledge of providing the best eye care services in all aspects ranging from fundamental concepts to advanced skills using assessed, accredited, and selfre? ective activities and resources. The program The program includes: †¢ Courses & stand-alone sessions: These have been developed by internal and external subject matter experts (SMEs) with the assistance of instructional designers and technicians by using standard training curriculum. They are also assisted by JCPHO, ICO, and other professionals from leading noneye care institutes, such as the Indian Institutes of Management (IIM). Quality Fig. 5: Course on cataract ww. csi-india. org Camstasia studio Moodle environment MOODLE usability Pedagogy Technology: MOODLE Information transfer †¢ Add resources (docs, web links) †¢ Forum †¢ Wiki †¢ Glossary †¢ Lessons †¢ Assignments Communication and interaction Assessment of learning †¢ Tests †¢ Discussion forum Co-creation of content †¢ Quiz (self-test) †¢ Lessons †¢ Assignments †¢ Discussion forum †¢ Wiki †¢ Database Articulate quizmaker Fig. 6: The Moodle-based Aurosiksha environment check is performed by including sessions in Aravind’s acclaimed training program. The material is interactive with voice narration, with short quizzes in between ideos to assess the learning. †¢ Assessment with immediate feedback: Assessment is featured in different ways like an organized discussion forum, Q forum, blogs (students are allowed to create), and exercises/quiz. After quiz/exercises, immediate feedback will be given to the student on each submit. For example, if a student chooses a wrong answer, the feedback will spell out why the answer is incorrect and give the correct answer to ensure learning is happening with each and every activity. †¢ Course completion tracking: The tracking feature controls the student/ teacher to provide a better learning/ teaching experience.The tool gives accurate course completion and grading report. This includes customized reports for the bene? ciaries on the impact side. Selecting the tool – a con? uence of spirit and values LAICO’s systems division began with an open mind and explored various Content Management Systems (CMS) and related technologies (Course Manageme nt Systems) both proprietary and FOSS, such as WizIQ, Joomla! , ConferenceXP (an open-source videoconferencing platform from Microsoft Research), and MOODLE (abbreviation for Modular ObjectOriented Dynamic Learning Environment). Echoing Aravind’s values – quality, compassion, self-reliance – Aurosiksha’s bjectives resonated with Moodle. At its core, Moodle is an educational software grounded in a philosophy of collaborative learning, often referred to as social constructionist pedagogy. Additionally, Aurosiksha’s pedagogical approach matched with that of Moodle. The organization and design of Moodle’s interface supports learners and learning tasks, rather than technology and tools. Moodle presented the ideal vehicle for Aurosiksha. LAICO adapted its knowledge resources to the Moodle mould; customization was minimal. It was a happy con? uence of technology and LAICO vision; both shared the same spirit and values.Moodle is based on a social co nstructionist approach, which helps us understand how learning happens in a group and how learning is a product of innumerable human choices. Moodle was built with elements and tools that embody pedagogical understanding. A Moodlebased course can consist of lessons, including reading materials, activities (such as quizzes and projects), and social events that encourage participation between students. In Aurosiksha, one ? nds the Camstasia Studio software to be integrated in Moodle for quality and streaming-like videos for the audiovisual elements in its courses. Similarly, Articulate Quizmaker andles the self-test modules at the end of the lessons. An open (institutional) learning environment Cloud environment Educational institutional environment WEB PAGES Student ID database se Student information system WEB 2. 0 apps Assessment tools Proprietary and licensed content Collaboration tools Student generated content Personal publishing tools Open content Fig. 7: Open learning environm ent C SI Communications | June 2012 | 15 Fig. 8: Beta users statistics As Aurosiksha grows in terms of content repository, user base, and feedback from users, it will trigger a proportionate scaling in features, tools, and technologies ithin and outside Moodle. The following pointers can be considered for Aurosiksha’s future: †¢ Interoperability: Aurosiksha may want to communicate and share its data with that of other medical research institutions. It also needs to be SCORM-compliant (Sharable Content Object Reference Model). †¢ Deeper reach with low-cost handheld devices and low Internet bandwidth leading to low footprint m-learning: With greater penetration of ICT and hand-held devices ranging from tablets (such as Akash) to mobile phones (voice and short messaging services), a strippeddown version of Aurosiksha can be An open learning environment:Moodle and Aurosiksha Apart from being part of FOSS family and therefore free, Moodle is an Open Source Course Managem ent System (CMS). It is also known as an LMS or a virtual learning environment (VLE) and is very popular among educators around the world as a tool for creating online dynamic web sites for their students. Aurosiksha as the learning arm of LAICO-AECS is an experiment in a similar space, moving from Constructionism to Constructivism – an environment in which human beings don’t just act (Construct) but also make sense of their actions as a group (Constructivist). This happens as humans make sense of reality, learn and reate new knowledge continuously while learning. Effective learning happens while learners are in an actively constructing knowledge mode rather than in a passive reading, viewing, and memorizing mode. The kind of knowledge generated impacts attitudes of learners, which in turn re? ects in their actions (practice). Aurosiksha is a Community of Learners in the making, offering insight and reaching out with a sense of service. Future Direction Aurosiksha, in its beta stage, is currently being tested by over 500 beta testers worldwide that range from paraprofessionals, managers, eye care professionals to faculty members.C SI Communications | June 2012 | 16 Fig. 9: Course creation www. csi-india. org †¢ Mentor-guided courseware †¢ Turnitin (functionality to let the student submit assignments) Acknowledgment Fig. 10: E- and M-learning: logical system architecture †¢ a source of knowledge to especially paraprofessionals on the ? eld. Extensive reach with browserbased handheld devices leading to m-learning: With proliferation of 3G and upcoming 4G, Aurosiksha can be experienced on devices, such as iPhone, iPad, and Android-based phones quite extensively with Mobile Moodle (a set of mobile apps and server components from Moodle). †¢ †¢Right now, Google Analytics and Google Maps are being applied to study the online learning behavior of the beta users. This initiative could be further explored with other statistics gen erated dynamically. Relevant pedagogical applications that can be included (already available in Moodle) are as follows: †¢ Grade report †¢ Timer-based courseware Fig. 11: Google maps: geographical spread of beta users We wish to thank Mr. R D Thulsiraj (Director – Operations, AECS; Executive Director – LAICO) and Dr. R D Ravindran (Chairman and Director – Quality, AECS) for all the insightful and frank conversations we had with them. We thank Prof.R K Shyamasundar (Faculty of Technology & Computer Science – Tata Institute of Fundamental Research) and Mr. M D Agrawal (President – Computer Society of India) for their encouragement. We acknowledge the spirit of FOSS and the World Wide Web (WWW) to continue to grow as active members of the knowledge society they foster. Finally we wish to acknowledge the spirit and values of Dr. G Venkataswamy (Dr. V) that pulsate through everything that Aravind is and does. We bow with deep reverence to the spiritual teachers of Dr. V: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother. References [1] P. Mehta, and S Shenoy, In? nite vision: how Aravind became the orld’s greatest business case for compassion, 1st ed. , Berrett—Kohler Publishers Inc. San Francisco [2] Satish Babu, â€Å"The FOSS Movement and its impact on Education†, CSI Communications, vol. 35, Issue 6, September 2011, pp. 19-20 [3] http://moodle. org/about [4] http://aravind. org/ [5] http://laico. org/ [6] http://aurosiksha. org/ [7] h ttp://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Free_ and_open_source_software [8] h t t p : //w w w. i f o s s f. o r g /i f o s s f _ library_0 [9] h ttp://www. vision2020india. org / orbiscourse/homepage. htm [10] h ttp://www. vision2020. org/main. cfm? Type=NI=4460 [11] h ttp://www. ats-pyjamas. net / wp-content /uploads/2010/05/ M o o d l e To o l G u i d e fo r Te a c h e rs _ May2010_JS. pdf n Selected among the top 4 papers expressing ‘Collaboration for inclusive growth' at   SEARCC 2011    seminar (South East Asia Regional Computer Confederation, Mumbai, December 2011) [With inputs from Prarthana Kalaskar – Design Principal (Ninad), Remi Boutinet – Outreach Consultant (Ninad), Shwetav Agarwal – Solution Architect (Sri Aurobindo Institute of Culture), LAICO team (Deepa Krishnan – Senior Manager – Operations; Vinoth Palanichamy – Online Manager – Education)] C SI Communications | June 2012 | 17