Community College Essays - California Community Colleges System

Community College Through the years, community colleges have always had a negative stigma attached to its name. Even today, this negative stigma is still present. However, the misconception of an undergraduate curriculum from a junior college is inferior to an undergraduate curriculum from a university is becoming widely accepted. The popular notion that people foresee in a community college is that it is mainly a place for those people who did not possess the knowledge to attend a four-year university. This, however, is a big assumption towards some of the students that attend community colleges because many people enter into a community college for many different reasons. One reason, for example, people attend a community college first is the financial disadvantage many people have; therefore, it seems that going to a community college is their only choice. The price for a general education in a community college is significantly lower than that of a general education in a university. Because of the lower costs, the possibility to receive a quality education or trade comes into reach for everyone who is financially challenged or hasn't made a career choice. Despite the negative misconceptions of junior colleges, they bridge the gap between high schools and universities and create opportunities for more of the United States population to achieve higher education. Understanding the need to establish a college, of which, provides an opportunity for the United States population to achieve a higher level of education, William Rainey Harper, the first president at the University of Chicago, created the first junior college in the year of 1892. He did this by dividing the university into two different parts; one was called the upper division and the other called the lower division. The upper divisions were known as the "Senior Colleges" while the lower divisions as the "Academic Colleges" (Witt et al. 14). Harper wanted these two separate colleges to focus on the different levels of training; primarily, the "Senior Colleges" was to focus more on the advanced courses while the "Academic Colleges" focused more on the less advanced courses. Harper also envisioned that a two-year school would soon stand on its own; however, it would still be affiliated with the university. Junior colleges, also mostly known and referred today as a community college, were first thought about because educators began to realize that students needed more educational opportunities after high school. The idea of these smaller colleges came about because educators saw that a lot of students were not able to go away to a four-year college after high school and they also saw that extending high schools for two more years could never happen (Brick 8). Although Harper was highly associated with these ideas in the creation of a two-year institution, he was not the only one involved with them. Alexis F. Lange, Dean of the School of Education at the University of California, also wanted to encourage students to further their education. Lange realized that there were a lot of students that did not need, nor want, to go on to a four-year college and he felt that community colleges should focus more on providing vocational preparation. Thus, he urged college administrators to prevent the "wrong persons" from attempting to fulfill transfer requirements when these courses would only hurt them instead of help them. Lange proposed that community colleges should prepare students to be active and effective in community life. As more people became aware of the many benefits that a community college would offer a student, the creation of such an idea was inevitable to stop. The first actual junior college was Lewis Institute in Chicago and was established in 1896. Since then, hundreds of junior colleges have been established throughout the United States, with most of them being affiliated with a major university. This also made it easier for students to transfer to upper levels of education. To date, there are 106 junior colleges in the state of California, of which, San Diego encompasses a good portion of them (Mesa 1). These include City, Mesa, and Miramar community college. As of yet, Mesa community college is one of the most prestigious of these colleges. The notion of establishing a San Diego community college was in 1914 when the Board of Education authorized a decision to bring the many benefits of a community college into San Diego. In 1916, the first real community college classes were held in the classrooms of San Diego High School, but later moved into its own facility. Having only 4 faculty members and 35 students, classes were

Performance Management Analysis

Performance Management Analysis Introduction In the recent past, there has been a shifting paradigm from Taylor’s model of organizational management to more productive methods of production. The new methods aim at increasing production through efficient management of human and capital resources. A number of scholars have conducted extensive research to establish the effects of various managerial techniques on the performance of employees.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Performance Management Analysis specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Some researchers note that task formulation is the most notable aspect of management, whereas others observe that the availability of human resources is the crucial factor that influences the performance of the management team. However, scholars concur that three factors are essential as far as the best managerial practices are concerned. One of the factors is production management while the other is the organi zation of work. In addition, the relationship between various groups in the organization influences the performance of employees. Scholars agree that a new model of management should be applied in case the organization is to achieve high results. The new model must incorporate the tenets of neo-liberalism into its productivity structures. Currently, scholars focus on exploring the new management dynamics that relate to post-Ford model of production. Scholars in the UK and the US perceive that the model should be adopted in order to enhance productivity in organizations. However, changing the work structure has micro and macro implications. Scholars of political economy and ethnographic sociology have posted their findings on the topic given its importance in the performance of organizations. This paper reviews a number of articles in order to shed some light on the topic. Views of Various Scholars on Post-Ford Production Model As earlier noted, scholars have posted various views reg arding the management models in the current managerial systems. Their views can be categorized into a number of models. Under high performance work systems model, scholars such as Danford and Thompson have contributed enormously in enriching the topic. Handel and Gittleman are some of the scholars who have contributed to the development of high-performance work practices model. Ashton and Sung have conducted extensive research to establish the influence of high-performance work on organizations.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More A number of scholars have also discussed the issue of high involvement in detail. Some have talked about high involvement work systems while others stick to high involvement work practices. Harmon is one such scholar who talks about high involvement work systems while Fuertes and Sanchez capitalize their study on high involvement practices. The issue of high involvement management is also of importance to scholars. Forth and Millward are some of the scholars who analyze the relationship between high involvement practices and the management strategies. Scholars such as Brown and Reich have postulated their findings regarding the relationship between high performance and employment systems. High commitment management is another model employed in analyzing the performance of employees. Baird, Whitefield, and Poole are some of the scholars who have posted their findings on commitment management model. Danford (2004) notes that the idea of high performance work systems is a mechanistic model that does not take into account the demands of human beings. He conducted a study on JetCo manufacturing company and came up with a number of suggestions. The company had a number of efficient practices at the start, but ended up with practices that were unpleasant to the workforce. The company had prolific initiatives aimed at improvin g the quality of production. The introduction of team leaders created tension among employees, which lowered the firm’s productivity. Employees perceived that their views were not given serious attention. On his part, Thompson (2003) notes that a significant factor regarding high performance work systems is reciprocity. In this regard, employers have a responsibility of ensuring that they develop trust and commitment towards employees. Therefore, the employer is charged with the responsibility of ensuring that the employee is provided with adequate training and efficient reward system. However, Thomson admits that employers in the neo-liberal economy are unable to fulfill the wishes of employees due to the challenges posed by the economy. On high performance work practices, Handel and Gittleman (2004) criticize the model by observing that it does not create a working relationship between workers and employers. The model is only known to increase wages. Therefore, the new mode l of high performance management is simply aimed at benefitting an individual, but does not increase productivity in the organization.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Performance Management Analysis specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Ashton and Sung (2002) assert that it is proven scientifically that a strong relationship between human resource practices and improved performance exist. In particular, the relationship is strong in matters related to profitability and productivity. Therefore, the two scholars suggest that performance practices are closely related to the skills acquired by the employee. The relationship serves to strengthen the effectiveness and efficiency of the organization. However, the scholars caution that the model is only applicable to certain industries. This means that the model does not solve managerial problems in all scenarios. Harmon (2003) conducted a research to explore the efficiency of the American health care sector. In the study, a conclusion was drawn suggesting that a relationship between high performance management and employee efficiency existed. The study can be interpreted to mean that high involvement work systems are related to financial aspects. Fuertes and Sanchez (2003) extend the works of Harmon by observing that some factors motivate employers to adopt certain models. Employers calculate the benefits of the model before adopting it. Employers might prefer using less costly strategies, as opposed to using strategies that would drain their resources. Employers do not prefer some of the practices, such as rewarding employees with financial benefits because they eat up their profits. Employers prefer using non-financial rewards to appreciate their employees, such as awarding a promotion. Forth and Millward (2004) assert that high performance management is a concept that cannot be neglected given its effectiveness and influence on the performance of the organization. They further observe that all management practices are related to the high performance management model in one way or the other. Forth and Millward note that the high performance management model might be interrupted by deregulation of financial markets. Organizations in the modern financial markets go through a number of challenges that make it hard for employers to implement high performance management models.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Competition in the market is stiff implying that employers are concerned with sustaining market competition, not enhancing structural organization of firms. Brown and Reich (1999) conducted a study on one of the Australian manufacturing companies. The company formulated a number of strategies aimed at improving the performance of the organization. The firm emphasized on team building, development of staff, and training. The firm adjusted its policies that focused on Taylor’s model to reflect modern managerial practices. Efficient planning and role allocation were some of the new strategies employed by the firm. The new tactics improved the performance of the organization in a number of ways. Whitefield and Poole (1997) observe that high commitment management is a highly sensitive issue. Therefore, it must be handled carefully. The main concern of employers is to increase production and organize work. The scholars note that before talking about performance management, the caus es of perennial problems in the organization must be handled. The above scholars suggest that organizations utilize their competitive advantages in the market to formulate innovative practices. The researchers conclude that implementation of high performance managerial practices generate new techniques that improve the performance of the organization. High performance management strategies are extremely costly, but their outcomes are productive. In this regard, they observe that high performance management models must produce high results for them to be maintained. In a study conducted in Europe, it was established that organizations with comprehensive new work practices tended to have high training needs. Regarding high commitment management, Baird (2002) notes that all stakeholders in the organization must be consulted before formulating any policy. Through consultative forum, the organization utilizes its resources in the most cost effective way. Moreover, embracing dialogue help s the firm in achieving its competitive advantage in the market. The role of professionals in the organization is to ensure social bonding and commitment to the new techniques of production. Conclusions Model managerial theories suggest that the work place is the main learning institution that enhances the capacity of employees. Older models suggest that employees are expected to join organizations when they are already equipped with adequate knowledge from colleges and universities. Things have since changed in the modern society. For instance, the works of modern scholars suggest that teamwork is one of the most crucial aspects of management. Employees are expected to be given chances to explore their potentials in the organization. This implies that employers are expected to allow some flexibility that permits sovereignty. References Ashton, D., Sung, J. (2002). Supporting Workplace Learning for High Performance Working. Geneva: International Labor Office. Baird, M. (2002). Chan ges, Dangers, Choice and Voice: Understanding What High Commitment Management Means for Employees and Unions. The Journal of Industrial Relations, 44(3), 359-375. Brown, C., Reich, M. (1997). Micro-Macro Linkages in High Performance Employment Systems. Organizational Studies, 18(5), 765-781. Danford, A. (2004). High Performance Work Systems and Workplace Partnership: A Case Study of Aerospace Workers. New Technology, Work and Employment, 19(1), 14-29. Forth, J., Millward, N. (2004). High-Involvement Management and Pay in Britain’, Industrial Relations, 43(1), 98-119. Fuertes, M., Sanchez, F. (2003). High-Involvement Practices in Human Resource Management: Concept and Factors that Motivate their Adoption. International Journal of Human Resource Management, 14(4), 511-529. Handel, J., Gittleman, M. (2004). Is There a Wage Pay-off to Innovative Work Practices? Industrial Relations, 43(1), 67-97. Harmon, J., (2003). Effects of High-Involvement Work Systems on Employee Satisfa ction and Service Costs in Veteran Healthcare. Journal of Health Management, 48(16), 393-418. Thompson, P. (2003). Disconnected Capitalism: Or Why Employers Cannot Keep Their Side of the Bargain. Work Employment and Society, 17(2), 359-378. Whitefield, K., Poole, M. (1997). Organizing Employment for High Performance: Theories, Evidence, and Policy. Organization Studies, 18(5), 745-764.

Female body obsession through the media Research Paper - 2

Female body obsession through the media - Research Paper Example Irrespective of the actual weight, most of the females are concerned about their body image of being thinner, due to which, they develop a sense of strong body obsession. Emphasizing this phenomenon, researchers have revealed that British females conceive losing their body weight will positively change their lives and help in making it better, alleviating their social status among friends and the society on the whole. Studies have also revealed that while most of the American females conceive that losing their body weight will help them achieve the desired results in life, it can be argued that cultural differences and varying ideologies have negated influence on the impact media has created on females, fuelling their body obsession. As a consequence, maintaining a good body image along with appearing thin and beautiful can be observed as an increasingly prominent trend in almost every culture around the world, especially those wherein media has had a strong penetration and worthines s. The trend of food consumption for females has significantly changed over the past few years, wherein the females have become more conscious about their dietary habits, often, directly indicating their body obsession. This particular trend has allegedly induced eating disorders among females, as the food they consume lack proper nutrition and proteins. On the whole, the trend of food consumption has adversely affected the health of females worldwide, causing the major threat to the long-run social health in the global economy.

INTRODUCTION TO LAW OF FINANCIAL SERVICES Essay

INTRODUCTION TO LAW OF FINANCIAL SERVICES - Essay Example rittenden (1968), it was held that a person who advertised a bird for sale in a magazine was guilty of offering the bird for sale, an offence under the protection of birds Act 1954, because the advertisements was not an offer but an invitation to treat. Also displaying goods in a shop window or on a supermarket shelf is an invitation to treat as held in Fisher v Bell (1960) where a shopkeeper was found not guilty of the offence of offering an offensive weapon for sale by just displaying a flick knife in a shop window. (Emanuel, 2004) However, if there is a definite promise to be bound, an advertisement is an offer. In Carlil V. Carbolic Smoke Ball Co, the case contained a definite promise to be bound if certain conditions were performed. The dependants were the makers of patent medics called a smoke ball which they claimed could cure and prevent a number of illnesses including influenza. They promised a reward of 100 to anyone who used to smoke ball as directed and caught influenza and said that to show their good faith, they had put 1000 into bank to pay any claims. Mrs. Carl used to smoke ball as directed and caught influenza but they refused to pay to reward claiming. Among other arguments that there was no contract because it was impossible to have a contract with the whole world. It was held that though one cannot contract with everyone-: â€Å"the entire world†, such was an offer mad to the entire world and it could ripen into a contract with anybody who could cure forward and perform to condition. On that basis, most websites seem to be making advertisement e.g. in this case, the company had the rare French cuisine cookery books at a price significantly lower than the rest of the market. However, because it contained terms and conditions for delivery and other details, the advertisement ceases to be an invitation to treat and is an offer, i.e. there is a definite promise to be bound if certain conditions were performed. It is an offer made to the

The Second Letter of Clement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

The Second Letter of Clement - Essay Example While the other texts contained many that will pertain to the subsequent tagged anti-Semitism in the faith, Clement II was undeviating in its message.1 The major tone of it was salvation and the steps necessary to obtain it. It contains teachings such as we shall regard him with importance as it may translate to diminutive degrees if we consider him small. Demeaning Jesus Christ will lead to suffering and those who worship him will be compensated and deemed worthy of his grace. He is the savior of all mankind and with his kindness we will be void of our sins.2 These early writings that have contributed so much in our understanding and teaching of the religion today are virtually unknown to many who follow the religion. They have shaped and cultivated what can be considered the biggest religion in the globe today. Professor Bart Ehrman, a prominent figure and scholar provides for many of the recent explanations associated with these writings. He pronounced that in many times these writings are treated in various ways. The epistle of Clement II for instance is in so many levels a misnomer. It was neither written by Pope Clement, which is the letter’s namesake, nor was it transcribed by the same person who was responsible for Clement I.3 The erroneously attributed manuscript was considered to be a homily by an unknown writer. This is what Professor Ehrman refers to as a product of an inspired reading of the Book of Isaiah that is found in the Old Testament. This he adds demonstrates the varied figurative elucidation to shape it in such a way that the text from were it was adapted from can be rendered in a manner that it can move the congregation though it may be drastically diverse compared to the past.4 The sermon also made use of the book of Matthew and Luke extensively. Two of the most prominent books included in the new testament of the bible. Excerpts from the book of Matthew can be found on chapter 2

Health Education through Social Marketing

Health Education through Social Marketing Social Marketing According to the WHO, information and education provide the informed base for making choices. They are a necessary and core component of health promotion, which aims at increasing knowledge and disseminating information related to health. Health promotion is one of the most important components of health care and health education forms the core of such promotional activity. Health education is a process that informs, motivates and helps people to adopt and maintain healthy practices and lifestyles, advocates environmental changes as needed to facilitate these goals and conducts professional research and training to the same end. Health education is any intentional activity which is designed to achieve health or illness related learning to bring about a relatively permanent change in an individual’s capability or disposition. There are different methods of health education. For small groups the usual methods employed for health education have been health talks, demonstrations, role plays, and the use of audio-visual aids. For the general public, the health education tools have conventionally been the television, the radio, the press, films, health magazines, posters, health exhibitions and health museums. Mass media is not very effective in changing human behavior because communication is usually one-way. If health education is provided, but the products or services necessary to change behavior are not easily available, then the value of the health education is lost. It is therefore important to provide cheap and reliable services along with behavior changing health education. For instance, if health e ducation brings about an awareness in a community that the occurrence of HIV/AIDS can be significantly reduced by use of condoms, this message alone is of no value if condoms or not readily available either because of an unaffordable price or because of a difficult location. Making available these services is therefore as important as making people aware of the benefits of the services. Health education is not a substitute to other health services, but it is needed to ensure the proper use of available services. If the behavior of the individual group or community can be the main cause of a health problem, then that same behavior can be altered to serve as the main solution as well. In the world of marketing and advertisement, it is often said that propaganda is one of the most powerful instruments in influencing people. Television, radio and the popular press have emerged as the most potent vehicles for propaganda. There are three widely accepted strategies of mass communication. The psychodynamic model depends on modifying cognitive factors to influence behaviour namely the needs, fears and attitudes of the individual. The socio –cultural strategy requires persuasive messages to define the rules of social behaviour for individuals or to redefine existing ones. This method is used widely by television commercials. The meaning construction approach works differently. It identified certain unintended influences on target audience that were undesirable. Meaning construction or modification of meanings which people assign to some product, person, cause or issue can also bring about change in behaviour. Methods traditionally used to deliver health products and services in developing countries often do not reach a large portion of the population, especially those at the lower end of the economic ladder. Overburdened public health systems generally do not have enough outlets and provide services that are often not valued by the consumer. Many studies have found that when people do not pay for a service – they are less likely to value and utilize it. Marketing health generally raises awareness and increases utilization rates. This has been effective in the case of diarrhea, malaria, undernutrition, vitamin deficiency, voluntary HIV counseling and testing and reproductive services. When people pay for these services, they tend to value it better. In social marketing, two concepts are important – the exchange theory and the four P’s of marketing namely the product, the price, the place and the promotion. The product is the behaviour, program or service exchanged for a price. The price is the cost to the target audience in terms of money, lifestyle and effort of engaging in that behaviour. The place is the outlet through which the product is available or the situations in which behaviour change can be made. Promotion is the combination of advertising, media relations, promotional events and entertainment to communicate with the target audience about the product The choice of a tool for health education depends on a variety of factors – the objectives, the target audience, the time constraints and the availability of resources. The concept of Social marketing was introduced by Kotler and Zaltman in 1971. Social marketing is defined as the design, implementation and control of programs which attempt to increase the acceptability of a social idea or practice, in a target group. Social marketing is the use of commercial marketing concepts and tools in programs designed to influence individuals’ behaviour to improve their wellbeing and that of society. It draws from diverse fields like economics, psychology and medicine. Social marketing is a new approach to very old human endeavours. Attempts have always been made to inform, influence and motivate people to reinforce positive behaviour or to modify risk taking behaviour. Traditional Educational programs are found to be more effective when the target groups are involved in the planning process and participatory approach has been found to increase uptake of health services. Many studies have been found to be limited in that the evaluation of health education programs is based more on distant outcomes like morbidity and mortality rather than attitude change. For a social marketing program to be effective, two different research approaches are required to obtain the best picture about the issue being addressed, the target audience and the effectiveness of the program. These methods are qualitative and quantitative research. Both these methods have their strengths and weaknesses when used in isolation, but complement each other when combined to produce the best research results. The research has to be consumer focussed – quantitatively to produce data that can be generalised for a larger target group and qualitatively to understand the nature of pe ople’s attitude and behaviour both to the health issue involved as well as to the health services provided to them. Social marketing is a process of continuing development and testing. It has borrowed many of its techniques like focus group discussions, consumer marketing databases and intercept surveys from commercial market research, the difference being that social marketing sells ‘public health’. Issues that have to be examined are what the consumers feel they have to know, how they would like to know this and what are the barriers to change potentially harmful behaviour. Before any new educational material is launched, prototype materials have to be pre-tested with consumer focus groups Social marketing has been used for health promotion in various fields like smoking, drinking, drug abuse, HIV/AIDS, breast cancer and mental ill health. Other issues like environmental pollution, education and human rights have been most effectively addressed by this process. Social marketing involves many different stake-holders – the funding agency requires outputs in terms of gains made and the target group gain the health outcome, but apart from these obvious stakeholders, there are many others involved in partnerships for the social marketing of health education. This partnership helps to maximise limited resources, promote consistent messages and also help to reach diverse audience thus maximising impact of the program. This has been shown to function well in the case of HIV/AIDS. A nationwide strategy has been organised by many developing countries. The funding agencies are international bodies that work in collaboration with local governments. Non governmental or charity organisations are identified and trained by an initial training workshop. These agencies then conduct focus group discussions and key informant interviews with those most likely to benefit from the health education program. These target groups could be those at high risk for HIV/AIDS due to sexual contact – women in prostitution, youth and adolescents. The groups are identified and their key concerns are discussed. Barriers to their seeking healthy behaviour are identified. The groups also discuss the best health education methods and techniques suitable for their unique situation. Concerns of time and place of the health education session are detailed. Target groups from conservative societies did not prefer being given in formation about HIV/AIDs in public places or in the presence of the opposite sex or their family members. They were more willing to listen to health messages that were non judgmental or coercive. All these suggestions are incorporated into the health education strategy. Along with the health education campaign, local and international agencies are involved to provide essential health services in the form of cheap but reliable condoms, doctors trained in counselling and diagnosing HIV/AIDS as well as reliable referral and treatment centres. A small sample is then identified and a pilot project is undertaken to do a field trial of the health education tools. Further changes are made as required and a large scale program is put into effect. Mid term participatory evaluation is conducted regularly using external evaluating agents to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practice of the high risk group. The other stakeholders are also involved in this evaluation to see how they could furth er improve their contribution to the health education and health seeking process. Thus the process is constantly evolving. At the end of the program, final evaluation is undertaken and the results are available for all the stake-holders. This serves as a learning lesson. During the final evaluation, issues of sustainability of the project are also addressed. This approach is very different from the regular health education sessions which are primarily a top-down approach and hardly participatory. The other example of social marketing being very effective is in the case of nutritional educational programs targeting teenagers. The food intake data in countries like Britain and America indicate that the intake of nutritious food like fruits, grains, vegetables and dairy products is low while intake of foods rich in sodium, saturated fats and sugars are high. Any large scale intervention to target the scale and magnitude of this problem requires an in-depth knowledge of the target population, their food sources, their barriers to seeking healthy foods, the methods of health education available and required as well as the available resources in terms of healthy foods. Volunteers in the adolescent age group are asked what benefits they associate with increased consumption of nutrient rich food, what factors prevent them from consuming these foods, how they prefer to learn about foods and nutrition. They are also asked questions about what they think would be a ‘cool’ advertisement for food, where they usually hang out and how they would market products to their own age groups. Many of the youngsters indicate that they like yoghurt, chocolate drinks and fruits but not vegetables. They also prefer foods that are convenient and familiar while increasing scholastic and physical performance. Some of the suggestions given by the teenagers included disguising the taste and appearance of less favoured foods and improving the taste of some foods by adding other foods. They also felt that the nutrient rich foods were less available as forms of snacks and more difficult to procure and prepare. The potential channels of delivery were posters, tele vision, computers, billboards, cooking shows and radio contests. They also preferred hands on experience of preparing foods. This then leads to the next step of social marketing of the health education program with focus on the placement, pricing and promotion of these nutrient rich foods. Traditional methods of health education do not take into account many of these issues. They may be outdated and ‘out of sync’ with the new generation which might most require the educational input. Repeating the same message over and over again amounts to ‘flogging a dead horse’ and is unlikely to have the desired outcome. The media can provide very strong and contradictory messages that can confuse the audience. Many television programs may re-inforce the message that drinking and smoking is a sign of maturity or that it is fashionable. Many of these commercial advertisements are televised following extensive Market research about what attracts and appeals to the audienc e. Beauty, style, health and being better than one’s peer group are important reasons for the target audience to choose certain products. This play on psychology can be adopted to improve the health seeking behaviour of the target groups. Social marketing combines the best elements of the traditional approach to social change using the latest advances in communication techniques and marketing strategy. Though public health educators do not sell products, they use similar marketing skills to understand the consumer’s knowledge, the barriers to changing risky behaviour and the best methods of communicating. Before any new educational campaign is launched, prototype materials are pretested with consumer focus groups. This provides vital information on how well the target audience understand the materials. This knowledge can be used to tailor the educational material to suit specific target groups. Charity organisations or other funding agencies contribute to subsidise the process to make it financially accessible and available for those marginalised groups that most need them. Some Primary Care Trusts had brought out videos for public screening on key health messages as envisaged in the White Paper. These videos were screened in busy shopping areas and a qualitative study was conducted to assess the impact of the video. No baseline research was conducted and the target group was not involved in the decision making process. The study found that many people found the video irritating and intrusive; some ignored it while others thought that it was a marketing gimmick. The suggestions given were that the video be screened in places where people are more likely to be relaxed like eating places. Many people also found the video clips to be boring and inconspicuous, the suggestion being to add more colour or cartoon characters. If all these suggestions had been initially obtained and incorporated into the making and presentation of the video, the impact would have been a lot more beneficial. Thus traditional health education strategies would do well to adopt the social marketing methods before they embark on any program of intervention. Thus health education is a constantly evolving process. It does not force people to modify their behaviours, but encourages them to make their own choices for health. Health education must acknowledge the experiences and requirements of target groups. Preventive health education goes a long way in improving health of societies and the benefits gained are many, but a poorly planned and executed health education program is a waste of money and resources. Public health would gain to learn from the acumen of the market that sells products purely for a commercial purpose. The ultimate goal is for the target to use the product. This is best achieved by using social marketing skills. Thus social marketing of health education ensures maximum output to bring about behaviour change in large groups of people. This behaviour change is the basic requirement to make people responsible and responsive to their own health needs and is the only way to bring about empowerment of people for their own he alth. References Gilbert GG and Sawyer RG 2nd Edition (2000) Health Education: Creative Strategies for School and Community Health. Jones and Bartlett Publishers. Lefebvre RC and Flora JA (1988) Social Marketing and Public Health intervention Health Education Quarterly 15 299 – 315 Neumark-Sztainer D, Story M, Perry C, Casey MA (1999) Factors influencing food choices of adolescents. Findings from focus group discussions with adolescents Journal of the American Dietetic Association 99(8) 929 – 937 Vaughn S, Schumm JS and Sinagub J (1996) Focus group interviews in Education and Psychology Thousand Oaks CA Sage Publications. Ghai OP and Gupta P (1999) ‘Essential Preventive Medicine: A clinical and applied Orientation’ Vikas Publishing House.

Lisa Sherman Case Analysis

Lisa Sherman worked for Verizon for many years. While there she never revealed her sexual orientation . Then one fated day, there was a diversification workshop with her fellow managers. The outcome of this was that her coworkers were bigoted towards homosexuality. Lisa Sherman had a tough decision to make, whether to stay or to leave. The following analysis shows a suggested solution. Lisa Sherman Case Analysis: Lisa Sherman spent many years not being true to who she was. She never told her coworkers that she was gay during her 15 years at Verizon Communications. Then, the company decided they wanted to hold diversity training. This is what led Lisa Sherman to the tough decision of whether to stay working at Verizon or put in her notice. The diversity training displayed general statements about different types of people, with statements such as â€Å"gay people are†¦Ã¢â‚¬  written on poster boards. The corporate leaders then formed groups and wrote on the poster boards what their first concept of a particular group of people was. Their statements of groups such as Blacks and Jews involved only positive messages. However when they got to the board regarding homosexual people, it was nothing at all positive, with comments such as â€Å"immoral, pathetic, perverse, and spreading disease. † (Audenaert and George, 2008). How could Lisa now open up and tell these people that she herself was Gay, when they thought such horrid things? Not only were negative derogatory statements bad for Lisa Sherman they were also bad for the company. The CEO Ray Smith wanted to enact a policy of diversification, to take Verizon into a more flexible and creative company. He planned to establish policies that barred not hiring someone because of their ethnic background, religion, race, sex, and sexual orientation. However if his highest level managers felt this way about Gay people what did the rest of the company feel? Lisa Sherman was with Verizon for 15 years, working her way up the chain. She had always hid her sexuality and the existence of her partner Sophie, using pronouns such as â€Å"him† and â€Å"we† for â€Å"her† and â€Å"she† (Alboher, 2008). She felt that if she were to tell anyone it would affect her career, which allegedly proved to be a correct assumption, from the comments that her co-workers made. One of the most homophobic individuals turned out to be one of Lisa’s mentors. In essence, the people Lisa had been closest to turned out to be bigoted individuals. When deciding what to do, Lisa needs to be sure it is in the best interest of her needs. Since she has been with the same company for 15 years, and quickly worked her way up, she probably has a myriad of opportunities waiting for her. She can inform the CEO Ray Smith of her sexual orientation, as he wants the company to become more progressive and would (allegedly) not be bothered by her sexuality. However, the rest of her coworkers still feel that Gay people are immoral, disgusting people. Even if the CEO did not mind her sexuality, her coworkers would still see her in a different light. I feel the best decision that Lisa can make is to look for different work, with a more open, progressive company, then resign from Verizon. This decision would allow her time to get her finances in order. However, if she had a large savings, then the best decision would be to resign immediately, because being around such bigoted individuals would cause her undue stress, and her performance may be affected. If Lisa Sherman chooses to resign, since the CEO Ray Smith is so open to becoming a more diversified workforce, perhaps he can use her and her experience, when she informs him of her sexuality, as a consultant for future policies. Lisa could be a great asset to the company, as she has experienced the bigotry and discrimination about her sexuality her whole adult life, since she first came out. She understands what it means to not admit to others your true self, for fear of losing a job, or not gaining a job. Policies can be changed but unfortunately it takes much more work to change people’s opinions. People are afraid of the unknown, they fear change (Pratt, 2005). To help change people’s opinions training would need to be done, to show that Gay individuals are no different than anyone else. They do not choose their sexuality anymore than someone chooses their skin color. Someone should not be judged by something that they cannot choose. If Lisa Sherman chooses to resign, Verizon Communications and the CEO need to reeducate their employees on what a diversified workplace should be like. There are currently no federal laws that prohibit workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation (Smith, 2010). However many states and companies have laws and regulations that prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation. The company should respond by offering condolences to Lisa Sherman, then start by making policies to make all workers comfortable. Lisa Sherman was a good employee and a hard worker for many years, yet she had to hide who she really was. No employee should have to hide their family life; it affects their stress levels and their mood. Lisa stated that while others had pictures of their wives and kids on their desks, she had a picture of her dog. Lisa should have been comfortable with having her partner’s photo on her desk, as she was her family. Unfortunately, as the office was not a comfortable place for a lesbian woman to state that she was a lesbian, she was unable to. Whatever the actual outcome was in this case, Lisa Sherman should leave the company for her own peace of mind, and sense of self worth. Verizon Communications and Ray Smith need to take the company to a modern, progressive state, by hiring openly gay people, and enacting policies to prevent discrimination in hiring, and the harassment of workers. Such a progressive policy is not only good for the workforce but for the company. As a company that is so open to diversification, they are bound to increase their customer base. Works Cited http://www.life-with-confidence.com/life-change.html http://www.hrhero.com/topics/sexual_orientation_discrimination.html

Returning to a Place Special to You Essay

Have you ever returned to place and asked yourself â€Å"Boy I miss those days† ! We all return to a place that holds many memoires, good or bad. For every person, some places hold great importance in their lives. A special place that is really important to me is my home country, Somalia. Somalia, most notably, Kismayo, is my birthplace and a place that I hold dearly in my heart. So many childhood memories of me and my family occurred in kismayo. All of my brothers, including myself, were all born in Kismayo. My mother and father met and married in the same neighborhood we live in. Family is of major significance to me, and living near many uncles, aunts, and cousins was a great experience. Returning to my birthplace was always a dream of mine. As a child, returning to my birthplace was all I thought about. I left Kismayo at the tender age of 10. A civil war broke out in Somalia in 1991, three years before my birth. The war destroyed and demoralized many families in Somalia. My family was fortunate enough to escape unscathed during this horrible and gruesome civil war. My mom and dad, along with my brothers, relocated to Kenya in exile, hoping one day to return to the place we knew before the civil war. My family returned mid-1994, and find life in kismayo very challenging. My mother gave birth to me during this year. I remember the stories my mother use to tell me about our return to Somalia and the troubles and hardships we faced upon our return. Reminiscing about my childhood, I remember the neighborhood we lived in and the daily activities I took part in. We lived in a small two room house, which at the time was large enough for are family. We lived near many of our relatives and we visited each other every day. Family is a big part of the Somali culture, and living near one another ensured a close bond with one another. Religion is perhaps the biggest value in Somali culture. I remember running up the dusty hills along with my father and brothers to perform prayer at the local mosque. We would take the same path to the mosque five times a day to perform the five mandatory prayers. Another significant value I loved was language. Every Somali shared the same language, but there are some minor regional differences. I remember enjoying the comfort of my friends and cousins after school; we would often joke with one another. We walked up hills and dirt roads for 40 minutes to school, which was an old brick house. We were taught English and math, and most of the time was devoted to religious studies. Food is another value in our culture, the common meal in our household was oatmeal and rice. I remember eating those two meals nearly every day, which at the time was a luxury because of the state of the country. During our leisure time, we would often play soccer in a dirt field, which was better than nothing. Even though we lived in poverty, our homeland was very important to us and it was all we ever knew. Everything changed once we moved to the United States during the summer of 2003. As an adult, I have lived in the United States for nearly 9 years. We came to Minnesota from the advice of our Uncle, who traveled here alone to settle down and eventually take us in. Coming to the United States was a big technological and cultural shock. The technology all around was advanced and we never seen such a sight. The buildings were humungous and exquisite, vehicles of all kinds roamed the streets like a herd of animals, and so many different ethnicities and cultures integrated into one country. The luxury of electricity to light your house, clean running water from your sink, and eating foods other than rice and oatmeal was surreal. Eventually, my family and I settled in and after approximately 10 years I returned to my homeland. Returning was a special and troubling moment. The neighborhood we once lived in has not changed since the war. Most of Somalia is still underdeveloped and many live in extreme poverty. We once lived in these conditions and my mother always reminds us of where we came from and the conditions we once lived in. Many of my family members relocated to the United States, but some stayed preserving the way of life the always knew. It was rewarding seeing them after so many years; I left a child and returned as a man. Almost nothing changed and I was somewhat elated to see my homeland, and saddened by the lack of progress made to better the lives of the ones living in poverty. In the end, returning to my homeland taught me a life lesson. Even though it was some time ago, I fondly remember the conditions we lived in and it has made me more appreciative for what I have today. Aside from the difficult moments, I’ve many extraordinary childhood memories from my childhood. Returning to my homeland fulfilled a lifelong dream of mine. I will always look back at those memories with great pride and joy.

Examples of Balanced Chemical Equations

Examples of Balanced Chemical Equations Writing balanced chemical equations is essential for chemistry class. Here are examples of balanced equations you can review or use for homework. Note that if you have 1 of something, it does not get a coefficient or subscript. The word equations for a few of these reactions have been provided, though most likely youll be asked to provide only the standard chemical equations. 6 CO2 6 H2O → C6H12O6 6 O2 (balanced equation for photosynthesis)6 carbon dioxide 6 water yields 1Â  glucose 6 oxygen 2 AgI Na2S → Ag2S 2 NaI2 silver iodide 1 sodium sulfide yields 1 silver sulfide 2 sodium iodide Ba3N2 6 H2O → 3 Ba(OH)2 2 NH3 3 CaCl2 2 Na3PO4 → Ca3(PO4)2 6 NaCl 4 FeS 7 O2 → 2 Fe2O3 4 SO2 PCl5 4 H2O → H3PO4 5 HCl 2 As 6 NaOH → 2 Na3AsO3 3 H2 3 Hg(OH)2 2 H3PO4 → Hg3(PO4)2 6 H2O 12 HClO4 P4O10 → 4 H3PO4 6 Cl2O7 8 CO 17 H2 → C8H18 8 H2O 10 KClO3 3 P4 → 3 P4O10 10 KCl SnO2 2 H2 → Sn 2 H2O 3 KOH H3PO4 → K3PO4 3 H2O 2 KNO3 H2CO3 → K2CO3 2 HNO3 Na3PO4 3 HCl → 3 NaCl H3PO4 TiCl4 2 H2O → TiO2 4 HCl C2H6O 3 O2 → 2 CO2 3 H2O 2 Fe 6 HC2H3O2 → 2 Fe(C2H3O2)3 3 H2 4 NH3 5 O2 → 4 NO 6 H2O B2Br6 6 HNO3 → 2 B(NO3)3 6 HBr 4 NH4OH KAl(SO4)2Â ·12H2O → Al(OH)3 2 (NH4)2SO4 KOH 12 H2O Check Equations To Make Sure They Are Balanced When you balance a chemical equation, its always a good idea to check the final equation to make sure it works out. Perform the following check:Add up the numbers of each type of atom. The total number of atoms in a balanced equation will be the same on both sides of the equation. The Law of Conservation of Mass states the mass is the same before and after a chemical reaction.Make sure you accounted for all types of atoms. Elements present on one side of the equation need to be present on the other side of the equation.Make sure you cant factor out the coefficients. For example, if you could divide all of the coefficients on both sides of the equation by 2, then you may have a balanced equation, but not the simplest balanced equation. Sources James E. Brady; Frederick Senese; Neil D. Jespersen (2007). Chemistry: Matter and Its Changes. John Wiley Sons. ISBN 9780470120941.Thorne, Lawrence R. (2010). An Innovative Approach to Balancing Chemical-Reaction Equations: A Simplified Matrix-Inversion Technique for Determining the Matrix Null Space. Chem. Educator. 15: 304–308.

Informative Essay Sample on Reliable Nutritional Information How to Evaluate Sources

Informative Essay Sample on Reliable Nutritional Information How to Evaluate Sources No one would argue that health is a key component of happiness, which has great impact on all other spheres of life. Taking into account that a right diet is an important factor that influences health, it is obvious that a lot of people seek ways to improve it. As a result, a large amount of products is proposed and it is essential to be well informed about products’ properties and possible impact on organism to make a right decision. The question is how to find information one can rely on? Obviously, one can find nutritional information in various sources, such as: books, articles, Web sites. But it is important that you find objective, reliable and up-to-date information. Therefore, when you read a book or an article, take time to look up author’s biography, name of the publishing house or magazine, references to other works. Evidently, well-known magazines are more likely to be trusted, but none-the-less it is essential that the author has a medical background and supports his/her thesis with facts and up-to-date researches. Nowadays, many people search Internet resources for needed information. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine lists 10 questions people need to answer to evaluate medical resources on the Web. These questions are the following: Who runs the site? Who pays for the site? What is the purpose of the site? Where does the information come from? What is the basis of the information? How is the information selected? How current is the information? How does the site choose links to other sites? What information about you does the sit collect and why? How does the site manage interactions with visitors? Answers to these questions will help you to reveal goals that site is aimed to accomplish, which in turn gives you valuable insights on reliability of information. For example, if Web site is sponsored by a drug company, you could expect that articles on the site will tend to explicit information that favor certain companys products. Sometimes you might decide to buy some product that you have seen in commercial, but remember to ask the firm to substantiate the claims made for the product. You should also be aware that sometimes firms may provide undocumented reports from satisfied consumers, or internal graphs and charts as a proof of their claims that often could be mistaken for evidence-based research. To get relevant information ask whether the company conducted tests on the safety or efficacy of the ingredients in the product, whether it has quality control system and whether adverse reports from its consumers were received. On TV, radio, in newspapers and magazines you find a lot of information as to improving your health much of which is supported by recent studies. But you should be critical as to such news for it is well known that research results of various scientists might contradict each other. Therefore, it is important that you analyze whether given information is based on one study or on the entire body of evidence on a topic, you should also take into account whether the study was large and done in humans, whether it studied real disease endpoints or only markers of these diseases. All of the above is essential for it sets ground for a justified decision as to reliability of provided information. At present, the major question is not where to find needed information but how to evaluate its reliability. When you seek nutritional information remember that every resource has its goal to accomplish that impacts its content. Therefore, be critical and use resources that are interested in providing unbiased, objective data like those supported by government agencies, well known research centers and educational institutions.

Christian METAPHYSICS Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Christian METAPHYSICS - Essay Example But that which is called secondary and extrinsic is any effect whether positive or negative, which so results, from the union of form with its subject that it may be adequately distinguished from or remain extrinsic to the form, e.g. the driving out of cold from the water (Runes). God is the highest, ultimate being, assumed by theology on the basis of authority, revelation, or the evidence of faith as absolutely necessary, but demonstrated as such by a number of philosophical systems, notably idealistic, monistic and dualistic ones (Runes), and interpreted by those who do not support theological assumptions to be an intellectually useless assumption, which some find emotionally satisfying (Maartensz). Supersensible refers to realms which are beyond the range of what is perceptible by the five senses; not belonging to the experienceable physical world. Heaven is a supersensible realm (definition-of.net). Rudolf Steiner claimed two portals to supersensible experience and knowledge: nature and mysticism (Steiner). Based on the assumptions that reality is socially constructed, the primacy of subject matter, the emic point of view, and the understanding that variables are complex, interwoven, and difficult to measure, it is an inductive process whereby the personally involved, partial and empathic researcher serves as the primary research instrument, ends with hypotheses and grounded theory, seeks pluralism and complexity in naturalistic observation and participation, searches for patterns in experience, paying attention to emergence and portrayal, makes minor use of numerical indices, and does descriptive write-up. The purpose is contextualization, interpretation, and understanding actors’ perspectives (Del Siegle). Based on the assumptions that facts have an objective reality, the reliability of an etic point of view, the primacy of method, and the identification and measurability of

Risk Assessment Paper Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Risk Assessment Paper - Coursework Example An analysis of the possible dangers of using this pesticide in dealing with the problem becomes essential in decision-making. A comprehensive and critical understanding of the inherent dangers remains fundamental in making informed and sound decisions. A measurement of the dangers needs to be analysed from two perspectives; severity of the danger and probability of danger occurring. A solution providing severity that could be classified as catastrophic might be classified as risky to pursue. In the case of Malathion, the pesticide continues to be graded as having low toxicity. However, ingestion of the pesticide might bring fatal results. The greatest danger posed by Malathion on human beings remains application of Malathion in enclosed environments. Within the case of Genericville City, the pesticide shall be utilized within open environments, therefore, reducing the inherent danger immensely. The probability of a hazard occurring should be calculated to determine the possibility of utilizing the proposed solution. According to available sources, the probability of a Malathion related hazard occurring might be categorized as remote. Dose response Dose response could be identified as the observable change in organisms resulting from exposure to chemical. It enables the decision-makers to understand critically the effects of the chemical under different exposure levels. This understanding becomes fundamental in determining the safe dosages for possible environmental pollutants. The dose response could potentially assist decision maker in determining dosage levels safe for humans. Malathion preparations of 0.5% could be utilized in treating head lice and body lice. This means that Malathion could possibly be utilized in controlling mosquito infections without negative effects on humans. Malathion remains one of the two recognized agents potentially utilized and approved for treatment of pediculosis. The utilization of Malathion in treatment of several ailments cl early indicates the possibility of the pesticide causing minimal hazard. In the treatment of the mosquito infected areas, mixing Malathion with diesel becomes essential in diluting the concentration of the pesticide. Adding diesel essentially makes the pesticide concentration weaker, hence reducing the hazardous danger created by concentrated Malathion pesticide. Though the chemical has been classified as low toxicity, children remain susceptible to negative effects of the pesticide regardless of the dose response. The symptoms that could be exhibited include irritations of the skin and eyes. During the time of spraying, remaining indoors could essentially reduce the possibility of coming into contact with the insecticide (National Pesticide Information Center, 2011). The inhabitants of Genericville should be informed when the activity should be carried out. This would essentially allow safety precautions to be undertaken. Exposure Exposure provides a measurement of the magnitude of harm realized from exposure to harmful elements. Exposure could assist in establishing protective standards within a specified environment. The Malathion pesticide could be exposed through several routes. These methods include inhalation, ingestion, and dermal absorption. When performing the proposed solution, safety precautions shall be installed to ensure none of these exposure routes causes potential harm