Principles of assessment in lifelong learning Essay

1.1Explain the types of assessment used in lifelong learning. (150 words approx.) Initial/diagnostic assessment can be taken before learner’s enrollment for a course. This is a way of finding out whether the prospective course is suitable for a student and meets the learner’s needs or not. Formative assessment can be taken during the programme or a course. Teachers use assessments in their teaching sessions to make judgement about their learners. Summative assessment is used to outline or work out the level of achievement. Summative assessment is used for a final judgement about the learning achievements. Formal assessment is used where there is a need to assess learners under controlled conditions. Informal assessment is used as an ongoing check on understanding without control conditions. This is an aid for a teacher to monitor progress. Independent assessment applies to courses where the learners are assessed by someone other than their teacher. Peer assessment is us ed where other learners are at the same level of skill and knowledge and can play a vital role in judging a learner’s achievement level. 1.2 Explain the use of methods of assessment in lifelong learning. (150 words approx.) Different methods can be used for assessment in the lifelong learning. Short answers: is a good way of keeping student activities in their learnings. Multiple –choice: is a task in which learner has to select the correct answer from a number of alternative options. Observation: Observation is used i this programme for assessment of micro-teach/ teaching practice delivery. It can be used in any situation where practical skills are being assessed. Project work: involves a piece of written work in which learners take responsibility. Essays: This is a substantial piece of written work as well. It asks learners to show understanding of the subject. Exams: can be taken either by written tests or completion of a practical task under controlled conditions. Oral and aural: These assessment test speaking and listening skills. In this assessment, learners are required to listen to something and respond . Electronic assessment: refers to the use of information technology for any assessment-related activity.

An argument against abortion in relation to considering the mothers well being Essay

Abortion is a highly-debated topic in society today.   People on each side of the argument have very strong views.   They each make good points that are valid.   But they often go so far as to harass the other side of the debate, they openly attack the people with beliefs the opposite of their own.   In this particular debate, were arguing the constitutionality of banning abortion with or without an exception to the ban.   This exception is regarding the health of the mother.   The yes side of the argument says that it was constitutional to ban abortion outright.   They believe in the constitutionality of the ban even without a clause of exception for the health of the mother.   This means that even if the mother’s health is in imminent danger, even if she is in danger of dying, she still cannot get an abortion.   These people believe that abortions are wrong and they don’t even condone them when continuing the pregnancy could mean the mother would die .  Ã‚   The strengths of their argument are that they believe abortion to be murder.   Technically, if you believe that a fetus is a person then yes, it is murder.   They believe that all murder is wrong, even if it would save the mother.   The no-argument says that this ban is wrong in itself.   It needs to have an exemption to protect the well-being of the mother.   They’re all for protecting the health of the mother.   If the mother’s life is in imminent danger, then she should easily be able to get a legal abortion.   It’s not constitutional to ban abortion outright with no clause to protect the mother. A rational choice theory would likely explain why so many people are against these exceptions in banning abortions.   They think the life of this fetus is worth more than the mother.   They believe this because the fetus has a whole life ahead of them while the mother has already lived through a number of years.   They make the rational choice to favor the life of the fetus over that of the mother. The most surprising thing about this argument is how vehemently the yes side argues that abortion is murder.   They believe that an abortion is a murder even if that abortion would save the life of the mother.   That’s ridiculous.   It’s not fair to essentially end the life of the mother just to save the fetus.   You’re killing one to save the other.   That’s their exact argument against abortion.   They abhor abortion for killing the fetus but in these instances, it’s killing the mother.   So if either way, someone will die it’s not fair to automatically favor the mother like this.   I understand that the no argument believes that these exceptions in the ban are not right but I disagree.   I think that the exceptions are necessary.   It’s unfair to arbitrarily favor the wellbeing of the fetus over that of the mother.   I think that exceptions to these abortion bans are absolutely necessary.   We need to provide clauses in case the wellbeing of the mother is in danger.

Effects of Television on Children Essay

Introduction The television is a powerful force in our lives as it is inevitably present in almost 100% of human homes and in its offer of a light, relaxing entertainment is irresistible to many. Children as an audience are especially vulnerable to its harmful effects. With considerably less experience with various facets of life, children are more prone to take what television offers them for granted. This unquestioned absorption of ideas and morals often makes children passive recipients of â€Å"television ideology†, so to say, which often undermines their ability to act on their own and develop their own views of the world. They do not need to probe very deep since the answers to many things lie ready-made on the surface, given in television programs. Thus, television has some harmful effects on the youth, which in the first place depress independent judgement and activity. I agree with Gatto that modern children â€Å"have almost no curiosity, and what little they do have is transitory† (p.474). This can be overdrawn to some extent, however, it is certain that television depresses curiosity in children. This passivity stems from several reasons, among others, from the inherent passivity of the viewing process, brain-washing techniques abundant in TV programs, and effect of TV viewing on reduction in human interaction. Passivity Is Inherent in the Process Passivity is a characteristic trait of the television viewing process, something that stems from the very nature of this activity and shapes certain moral and mental qualities in viewers. Consider the very process of watching a telly as opposed to reading a book. Someone engaged in the viewing activity merely sits there flipping through the channels, inevitably reduced to the position of a passive chooser of a program to watch. Surely, there are choices, but my impression is that most TV programs are very much alike, and this lack of individuality prevents meaningful choice. One can surely dig in the TV program trying to do some research and identify the broadcasts that are really worth watching, but, frankly, how many people do it on a regular basis? After clicking through three or four programs a human mind inevitably gets tires and is relaxed to watch whatever program seems more suitable to tastes – a movie, a comedy show, or a news broadcast, often regardless of the quality. Now compare to the process of choosing a book or a video to watch. A person purchasing a book goes to either an online or bricks-and-mortar store to look up some items and make the final decision depending on the quality of the reading offered.   It takes time, effort, and commitment of some financial resources, even if these are small as compared to other expenses. Anyway, money and effort that go toward choosing a book are a strong incentive to make a meaningful choice, to question oneself: What will I gain from reading this stuff? Do I buy this one simply to while away the time? And this one to expand my knowledge about a certain subject? The same is true for video rentals: a person usually picks a movie since one has heard something about it, a neighbour recommends it, or the plot abstract seems gripping. TV, on the contrary, encourages passivity of choice and prevents active decisions on the part of the viewer. It is true to say that activity on the whole is a sign of superior intelligence, whereas passivity is typical of weak minds. In this sense, television as a medium perpetuates the weakness of viewers’ minds, turning them into passive on-lookers instead of active participants. I can refer to my personal observation of a four-year-old niece, Maggie, watching a TV program. She is too young to know how to switch channels and thus watches whatever the adults turn on for her. In fact, she is aware of how to switch, but she often forgets about it or is lazy to come up to the telly to change the program. The adults need to check constantly if they have not left something inappropriate for her to watch. Television as a Medium for Brain-Washing Modern children, as stated before, too often are left with television as the only medium to provide them with guidance for everyday situations. This is dangerous because here they are more likely to become victims to brainwashing techniques that in themselves encourage passivity. Surely brain-washing can take place in other media as well such as newspapers, magazines, Internet, and the like. However, here its impact is likely to be limited by the active choice of the reader – once again, people tend to go to sites they like and buy newspapers they prefer over others. Books require even more conscious choice, and thus are less likely to become instruments of brain-washing. Television that is often on, providing a background for habitual home activities, can let the message sink in without the individual even noticing it. Besides, images that unite words with movement and color are likely to have increased emotional influence, especially upon young children. Thus, sticking in front of the TV for hours leaves children exposed to norms and values TV staff wants to plant in them. This will take away the capability to make independent judgements, moral and intellectual independence that forms the basis for any freedom. A puppet cannot be free since there is often an invisible force that pulls the cords, much in the way TV advertising and programs make us believe their messages, presenting them in an alluring way. For example, I can already see how Maggie, my niece, already begins to show traces of consumerism she is about to accept as she grows older. She watches bright ads, then trying to talk her parents into buying a certain product. She even goes as far as try to influence their choice of a car to purchase. She once desperately wanted them to buy a Nissan because the commercial is so good. What is important to me is not that she becomes taken with a certain brand, but that she has already picked up the notion that things are very important and worth a lot of attention. This makes her more likely to spend time and effort in her adult life to gain more money and possibility to buy the desired thing. Intellectual passivity stemming from brain-washing will prevent her from questioning the assumptions she learned in her childhood. 3. Television Decreases Amount of Child-to-Child Interactions Television on the whole can also be called an interaction, but a very peculiar one. It evolves between the viewer and the production staff, in most general terms. The role of the viewer is limited, and although he or she may be intensely thinking about what is shown on the screen, the activity is relaxing because it does not call for an immediate response. On the contrary, human interaction demands from participants constant involvement and often calls for immediate action. In this sense, it is highly useful for kids as it helps them to develop their intellectual abilities, at least that part of their abilities that remains neglected by teachers and other educators – interpersonal skills. Talking and playing with other kids and adults, children learn a lot about human nature, but most importantly they learn how to deal with various personality types, what personality types there are, and develop strategies that will shape their interactions for the rest of their lives. Even the school environment, with its accumulation of children, is much more developing that passive sitting in a room with the telly on. A boy who faces the threat of a fight with older and stronger guys has to invent immediately what to do in order not to be beaten. Conflicts in particular stimulate a child’s intellectual development as they teach one to act on the spot. Gatto states that children on average watch TV fifty-five hours a week out of 168 total. This time can surely have been used for play with other children or communication with adult relatives. Recently I paid attention to the fact that today one can see very few children moving around, running along the streets. They seem to be stuck inside their homes, and it seems that the easiest pursuits for them there are either TV or computer. This means that most probably they feel isolated from other children, except for family members such as brothers and sisters. Siblings, however, cannot provide an adequate basis for development of communication skills in kids as family communication is surely different from ‘external’ interactions. Thus, in missing human communication, children can miss a chance to develop a part of their brains responsible for interpersonal skills. Human communication is perhaps the most challenging sphere of our activity that boggles representatives of such professions as managers, teachers and priests with years of experience. Thus, missing a chance to develop this sphere through lack of communication, children risk underdeveloping their overall cognitive abilities. Conclusion Television can clearly contribute to the development of intellectual curiosity in children if it is used wisely and in reasonable doses. Contemporary families often allow their children to overload themselves with the information stream from TV, which, as observations suggest, leads to intellectual passivity. Passivity stems from the very nature of the viewing process that depressed active choice involving the use of reason for decision-making. Heavy viewing leaves children’s minds open to brainwashing that can supply them with ready-made answers instead of stimulating the ability to seek for answers on their own. At the same time, replacement of direct interactions with TV watching deprives modern children of a chance to polish their communication skills, developing their cognitive abilities through interactions with others. Gatto, J.T. Why Schools Don’t Educate.

An examination of the cowardice of the character Johnny in A prayer for Owen Meany

An examination of the cowardice of the character Johnny in A prayer for Owen Meany In John Irving’s A Prayer for Owen Meany, protagonist Johnny experiences outward conformity while inwardly questioning throughout the duration of his entire life. An exemplar of cowardice, Johnny uses passive aggression and the voices of others to disguise his inability to take a stand. The tendency of Johnny to silently question while taking no action creates the trait of cowardice that dominates his character throughout the entirety of the novel. It is said that â€Å"actions, not words, create change†. Johnny, although inwardly critical of the Vietnam War, not only took no actions to create a change, but was not even vocal or expressive about his feelings. In a time dominated by protests, rallies, and demonstrations, Johnny could not even bring himself to voice his distain for the war, expressing that â€Å"even when the Anglicans asked me what I thought of Prime Minister Pearson’s â€Å"old point of view†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. I actually said I agreed! Eve though- as I’ve admitted- I’d never met a harsh deserter, not one† (463). The generation of the Vietnam soldiers, upon return to America, worked to create an America that supported and listened to those who had, previously, not been listened to. Arizona Senator John McCain is just one example. McCain, unsatisfied with the war and the treatment of those who served, ran for office to combat these issues with more productive policy. Johnny never s hared his opinion, let alone took action to combat the problems in society that he saw. Because Johnny was inwardly critical of the Vietnam War, but did not take any actions to create change, he was a coward. Prior to the Vietnam War, Johnny conformed to agree with his classmates within the Academy, leaving the questioning to Owen and The Voice. â€Å"I did, or tried to do, everything Owen did† (287), said Johnny, dependent on Owen to be outspoken due to his inability to use language and speak well. As Johnny struggled throughout his educational career to succeed in English, reading, and writing, he was willing to give Owen the power to speak on his behalf. â€Å"The Voice was our voice; he championed our causes; he made us proud of ourselves in an atmosphere that belittled and intimidated us† (295). Johnny was dependent on Owen to vocally question events and standards, even though Johnny shared the same criticisms and questions Owen did about society. Johnny was too much of a coward and simply lacked the confidence and ability to say so. He settled for conformity, never voicing his true feelings. Thus, the inward criticism and outward conformity spurred from his dependence on Owen and struggle in English and made Johnny a coward. Johnny is also a coward because he cared more about impressing people than standing up for his own beliefs. This standard led him to a life of inward criticism, and outward conformity. â€Å"I never actually said— to any of my Canadian friends— that I suspected these deserters were no more likely to become â€Å"public charges† than I was likely to become such a charge. By then, Canon Campbell has introduced me to old Teddybear Kilgore, who had hired me to teach at Bishop Strachan. We Wheelwrights have always benefited from our connections† (463). While working in a church and dedicating his life to teaching both English and the value of Christ, Johnny preaches morality and Christian superiority. However, this message conflicts with his actions as he inwardly criticized the war that represented the opposite of morality, while outwardly conforming in his words of support. Johnny placed more value on his societal status and networking abilities, thus hinderi ng his ability to stand up for what is right, even if it means standing alone, leading to a lifetime of conformity. Johnny’s interpretation of history and political issues showcases his cowardice. â€Å"When some of the Grace Church on-the Hill Anglicans asked me what I thought of Prime Minister Pearson’s â€Å"old point of view†Ã¢â‚¬â€ that the deserters (as opposed to the war resisters) were in a category of U.S. citizens to be discouraged form coming to Canada- I actually said I agreed! Even though- as I’ve admitted I’d never met a harsh deserter, not one† (463). The â€Å"Church on-the Hill Anglicans† is a reference to John Winthrop’s speech, A City on a Hill, from the founding and settlement of Massachusetts Bay Colony. Winthrop said that â€Å"America was to be a City on a Hill†, a model of superiority and moral purity. The phrase was used by both Presidents Kennedy and Reagan in major speeches. Johnny does not hide his love for Kennedy and despise for Reagan; his views strongly reflect the environments in which he was in- the popular opinion of the Academy strongly favored Kennedy, while the views of Canada in his time there did not support Reagan because of America’s involvement in Vietnam. The fact that both men had the same outlook on America shows Johnny’s cowardice as he is unable to go against what is popular and accepted in his environment. Johnny is a product of his environment as he cherry picks who he will criticize and who he will admire, thrusting him into a cycle of outward conformity. Over the course of his life, Johnny conformed to be like those surrounding him, while questioning society inwardly. A lifetime of silent protest and dependence on those around him to voice their opinions and teach him what to think caused him to be a coward and unable to form and voice his own opinions.

Leadership Skills in Practice Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Leadership Skills in Practice - Essay Example Leadership theories are diverse in their nature explaining and establishing different view points on the problem of leadership skills and effective management. Following Boehnke and Bontis (2001) the transforming leader recognizes an existing need for a potential follower, but then moves forward seeking to arouse and satisfy higher needs (in terms of Maslow's need hierarchy) to engage the full person of the follower. The followers themselves may be converted into leaders. The main disadvantage is that the transforming leader is seen as a benevolent father who remains friendly and treats the employee as a child and a less experienced person(Barker 2001). The leader provides a model of integrity and fairness with people as well as being one who set clear and high standards of performance (Segriovanni & Glickman 2006). Other characteristics less frequently mentioned include: seeking others' highest good, treating others with dignity, showing respect for others and genuine interest in th em. A transformational leader can be seen to be firm and to reprimand when necessary, to give autonomy to followers, to encourage self-development of followers, to be participative, to be willing to teach followers, and to mix easily socially with followers (Armandi et al 2003). The advantages of participative (democratic) leadership are that it allows greater independence to employees and values individual culture and uniqueness of everyone. Good administration is the hallmark of good management and the proper and efficient use of resources. Managers become leaders when their personality and character, their knowledge and functional skills of leadership are recognized and accepted by the others involved. The main disadvantage is absence of strong power and influence upon employees. Situational leadership allows organizations to overcome current problems and respond effectively to coming changes. Leadership may be exercised from any direction in the space, or any value location, depending upon the dynamic constellation of the pattern of unification polarization in the group at a particular time, thus, depending upon one's value system, leadership at a given time may be malevolent as well as benevolent. Servant leadership is marked by great responsibility to wards society and his follows, the organization and customer. A person may be appointed or elected as leader with the expectation that he or she will lead in a particular direction or directions of behavior and value realization, but may find that to hold leadership under changing conditions of polarization and unification, he or she must deviate from the expected directions, at times even need to controvert them (Hoyle and Wilmore 2002). In contrast to other theories, servant leader does not respond effectively to economic and social changes limited by social responsibility and ethical issues. All the theories mentioned above, transformational and participative (democratic), servant and situational leadership, can be effectively used Tesco and its management. The effective leader for Tesco stores as the kind of

How print press stimulated social and political change in Europe Essay

How print press stimulated social and political change in Europe - Essay Example People such as Martin Luther openly opposed the rule of the Roman Catholic Church. He argued that its acts went against the values of Christianity. In the political arena, people had the platform to voice out their political opinions. Wars and revolutions emerged because people realized that their leaders were either dictatorial or had propaganda agendas. The paper will discuss how the printing press stimulated social and political change in Europe. The Printing Press The printing press (movable type) was the indicator innovation in the early contemporary information technology. Between the years 1446 and 1450, Johannes Gutenberg introduced the first printing press in Mainz, Germany. In the following five decades, the technology was widely adopted across Europe. In the same period, the prices of book decreased by two thirds and this transformed the conditions of intellectual work and the ways in which ideas were distributed. Historians indicate that the printing press was one of the greatest inventions in the history of humanity.12 How Print Press Stimulated Social and Political Change in Europe The rise of modernism is attributed to the invention of the printing press and the spread of literacy throughout Europe. ... crucial in the success of modernism in the West.3 It is important to note that before the printing press invention, owning a Bible or any other book was a rare feat. As the printing presses proliferated, so did the Bibles and other books. These books became increasingly available to the population, thus the information accessible and available to individuals increased rapidly. Consequently, it encouraged the development of literacy. In the 17th century, political pamphlets and technical literature, storybooks and novels, as well as commentaries on religious matters and the Bible became very common. Magazines and newspapers began appearing in the 18th century. In the 19th century, the levels of literacy were well spread enough to develop a market for cheap press. It is during this time that advertising found its place in the market.4 The printing press created significant changes in the economic, political, and social spheres. It increased the speed and reduced the costs of reproducti on. Printing press made the dissemination of ideas much easier. Manuscripts and books ceased to be isolated to a particular group (monarchs) in the society, and became accessible and available to most people in the society. Thus, they started serving as important forums for public discussion. Happening at a period of political and religious turmoil, the printing press presented the European monarchs with both an economic opportunity and political threat. The development of the law of copyright was to deal with this threat and take advantage of the opportunity presented.5 Direct censorship was the viable means for confronting the political threat coming from the printing press. It also muffled the printing industry and consequently limited the economic benefits of the government from the

Argument - the Aeneid was a pro-Augustan work which can be seen Essay

Argument - the Aeneid was a pro-Augustan work which can be seen through the themes, arguments, and specific scenes of the Aeneid - Essay Example Associations with Augustus The associations with Augustus in the work of â€Å"The Aeneid† are first seen through the direct quotes that describe the political scene of the time and how Augustus was meant to be a powerful leader. Virgil states this by associating Augustus with the line of Caesar while showing how this automatically leads to him being an exalted leader. He states â€Å"Caesar himself, exalted in his line; / Augustus promis’d oft, and long foretold, / Sent to the realm that Saturn rul’d of old; / Born to restore a better age of gold, Africa and India shall his pow’r obey; / He shall extend his propagated sway / Beyond the solar year, without the starry way† (Virgil, 192). The direct reference in this quote shows Augustus as the promised leader, not only for Greece, but also as ordained with the time, planets and alignment of the stars. This creates a belief system from the direct reference to the leader, showing him as a natural leade r that was meant to rule over other countries and to become one of the most powerful and influential individuals of the time. Actions throughout the Aeneid The direct reference pointed out with â€Å"The Aeneid† is followed by specific actions and situations that show the same political propaganda. The first six books of the journey are written as a part of the Underworld in which all men are in. The hellish state is one which becomes symbolic of how life has been to this point in the ancient city. In book 6, there is a specific shift that leads to the belief that the situation will be overcome. The actions which follow after the journey lead to the Trojan War and the victory of the land. The beginning of this is when Aeneas is given the golden bough and is told to leave the underworld. The propaganda is based on Aeneas leading the city out of a state of hell and into a sense of life giving and an end to human suffering. The references of these actions throughout the plot lin e are known to relate directly to the celebration of the new political leadership of the time as well as the overthrow of the old government and the desire to have Augustus in power to overcome the darker ages of the city (Minson, 48). There are several moments which point to the happiness of the city and what can be after changes occur. More important, the author points to the ideals of victory which he believes are most important to the bringing in of Augustus as a leader. The main association is with the Trojan War and how this led to the rightful place of the city mentioned. Virgil refers to this with the past state and how the time was better because of the triumph and the alterations in leadership which occurred. He states â€Å"Relate what Latium was; her ancient kings! / Declare the past and state of things, When first the Trojan fleet Ausonia sought, / And how the rivals lov’d, and how they fought. / These are my theme, and how the war began / And how concluded by t he godlike man† (Virgil, 198). The recounting of the Trojan war then leads to an understanding that this was led first by politicians and was followed by those who moved according to the strategies desired by the land. The propaganda of the war then leads to one referencing the Augustan leadership while showing that this was the main reason why the victory occurred among the land. Themes of Politics The actions which