Learning Skills For Open Distance Learners (part 8)

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Article 1

Distance Learning: Principles for Effective Design, Delivery, and Evaluation

Journal article by Cleborne D. Maddux; Journal of Higher Education, Vol. 75, 2004

Recent popular and professional literature is replete with news about explosive present and future growth of distance education, and faculty on campuses across the country are debating the advisability of this new trend. As Mehrotra, Hollister, and McGahey point out, however, the question is no longer whether or not to implement distance education, but how best to do so. Therefore, the book is timely and needed.

The text is intended for instructors and administrators planning their initial foray into distance education. The authors have wisely chosen to focus on principles that will lead to quality distance education rather than on rapidly changing details of hardware and software. They maintain that when educators are aware of the principles that lead to excellent programs, and when the content, the student population to be served, and the desired student outcomes are identified and analyzed, good technical decisions can, with some minimal advice from technology experts, easily be made. Thus, rather than a book about technology, the authors aspire to producing a practical guide for those launching new distance education courses or programs.

The authors begin by stating their belief that most of the principles of good distance education can also be applied to traditional, on-campus courses. This, they believe, is particularly true given the recent interest in student-centered learning; countering the isolation felt by many students enrolled in very large, on-campus courses; and the considerable potential of technology to make active learning a reality.

The authors then present a brief history of distance education, an informative timeline of events, and an excellent discussion of the reasons for the implementation of distance education courses and programs by American institutions of higher learning. The next five chapters (dedicated to what should occur before students enroll) address the planning and preparation that should take place prior to implementation of distance learning courses and programs. Highlights include several pages of very detailed, practical ideas for promoting and marketing; a list of seven "good practices;" a lengthy chapter on course syllabi and how they should differ from traditional course syllabi; and a very usable decision tree for help in selecting course delivery methods.

Learning Skills For Open Distance Learners (part 4)

Anchored instruction has proved very successful in engaging students and getting them to solve problems more complex than their teachers thought possible. The basis of their success is student ownership of the problems.

  In the above depicted models, what is on-campus and what is off-campus in most traditional institutions is growing more difficult to discern. Online instruction is increasingly mixed with learning theories. Technologies are also rapidly converging, so that video, audio, and print are all coming together through the Web in support of learning, and access to these advanced technologies is growing (Halpern, 2003). Nowadays, whether a learner in online Web-based courses is required to interact only with his instructors or also with other learners is decided by the tutor. In fact, this may emerge as a remarkable point of distinction between degree programs and online graduate instruction, which otherwise will likely become more and more similar from one institution to another in the areas of technology employed, modes of access, services provided, and content delivered

Data sources

Some negative motivational patterns seen from the effort/ability framework may be fostered by school and classroom practices. One of the most prevalent is characterized as the competitive learning game (Harmin, 1994). This game refers to classroom practices that force students to compete against each other for grades and recognition. Such practices include ability grouping, a limited range of accomplishments that receive rewards, and recognizing ability over effort.

In 1989, Nicholls asserted that motivational inequality was prevalent in the schools. By motivational inequality, Nicholls meant that students who do not have optimum motivation for intellectual development are at a disadvantage compared with those who do. Students who have optimum motivation have an edge because they have adaptive attitudes and strategies, such as maintaining intrinsic interest, goal setting, and self-monitoring. There is evidence that this motivational inequality has increased rather than decreased in the years since it was first introduced (Good and Brophy 2003).

Unfortunately, in many cases the problems are compounded by school climate and teaching practices that may inhibit students from reaching their potential. One of these practices is the separation of students into groups based on their ability. When ability grouping is in place, many students are not exposed to rigorous subject matter that might better prepare them for college entrance examinations and college work, nor does it prepare them for jobs (Schunk 1999). In addition, the lower group is deprived of peer models of motivation strategies that would help them to achieve. Finally, teachers are likely to have lower expectations for this group and teach them accordingly.

Impact of Markets (part 3)

The constituents of the catalogue are very resolute quarterly; the biggest businesses in the FTSE 250 Index are encouraged if their market capitalisation would location them in the peak ninety companies of the FTSE 100 Index. As of December 2008[update], the threshold for addition is about £1.7 billion. As of December 2008, the five biggest constituents of the catalogue were BP, HSBC Holdings, the Vodafone Group, GlaxoSmithKline, and Royal Dutch Shell which were each treasured at more than £60 billion. (Eran, 1)

Component businesses should rendezvous several obligations set out by the FTSE Group, encompassing having a full records on the London Stock Exchange with a Sterling or Euro overridden cost on SETS, and gathering certain checks on nationality, free ride high, and liquidity.

With only chronicled exclusions, the businesses recorded on this catalogue should by regulation encompass the abbreviation ‘plc’ at the end of their title, showing their rank of public restricted company. (QuIC Financial Technologies, Inc. completes us$10 million financing led by JMI Equity; Increasing market demand accelerates growth for financial risk management provider, 1-3)

Trading lasts from 08.00–16.29 (when the concluding auction starts), and concluding standards are taken at 16.35. Principality Building Society selects market-leading financial planning software tool from Distribution Technology; Wales’s largest mutual building society, Principality (Building Society implements Dynamic Planner for enhanced and easy-to-use financial planning and improved client servicing for its multi-tie, 1)

Works Cited

McGuire, Kara (2008). In a crisis, financial advisers also need a hand: You think it’s tough being an investor in this stock market? Then slip on a financial adviser’s shoes. Star Tribune (Minneapolis, MN). pp 1-3

Rimon, Ran (2009). BRIEF: Demand for financial sector employees doubles: Alljobs: Demand for workers is up despite the financial market crisis. Globes (Israel). pp 1-3

Peer, Eran (2002).  Leumi Mortgage Bank moves to black with NIS 43m Q1 profit: Israel’s largest mortgage bank reported excellent financials, with increases in new loans, financial spreads, and market share. Globes (Israel), pp 2-4

Peer, Eran. BRIEF: Former Banks Supervisor Yoav Lehman to join Quattro: Quattro Financial Markets is also seeking financial investors. Globes (Israel), 11/12/2007) pp. 1

Principality Building Society selects market-leading financial planning software tool from Distribution Technology; Wales’s largest mutual building society, Principality Building Society implements Dynamic Planner for enhanced and easy-to-use financial planning and improved client servicing for its multi-tie. M2PressWIRE, 10/04/2005. pp 1

QuIC Financial Technologies, Inc. completes us$10 million financing led by JMI Equity; Increasing market demand accelerates growth for financial risk management provider. Preview M2PressWIRE, 01/10/2006. pp 1-3

Gender and Politics (part 1)

On Gender Issues and Differences

Gender differences have long been the issue of different debates within social concerns in the human population. Philosophers believe that the separation of men from women actually shapes the healthy diversity that exists within the human activities. To sociologists, this particular factor in the society is the primary reason why there is color in life. However, how do the differences between men and women actually shape the personal or individual perception of each person within the society? How do these differences actually affect the ways by which people tend to think of themselves in connection with the other’s perceptions of who they are? Are there any particular elements that affect the personal growth of a person that is most likely dependent on the gender that he or she is supposed to live with? These particular questions shall be examined and discussed within the paragraphs that follow.

A Look at Gender Inequality Issues

  Most of the time, debates occur because of the fact that there are instances when the recognition of each gender’s special traits as a person is disregarded by the society during certain circumstances. This is primarily because of the fact that men and women are viewed differently by the human society. By the different legends, the accounts of creation, the different mythological stories, the shaping of the characteristics of both men and women becomes more vivid, thus making it possible for a person to receive a certain “mark” in their forehead as they grow up basing from their gender, even before they could even make a name for themselves.

  What are these marking differences all about? Men are primarily noted as the “strong” sector of the human society. They are viewed to be the primary ones to receive authority and thus imply power upon all others. Through the myths and legends [as mentioned earlier]; men were perceived to have a greater command over things compared to that of the women’s capability of exercising authority over all. On the other hand, women were viewed as the weaker sector of humanity (Jervis, 2001, 17). They are referred to as the complimentary partner of men who are intended to give assistance to the men when they are to carry out their responsibilities over humankind. Because of the social philosophy based on the theory of essentialism, this traditional recognition of the role of men and women in the society became much easier to accept for so many years. (Jervis, 2001, 18)

  However, during the 1800’s, the birth of liberalization gave way to the feminist movement of the female sector of the population. Things have really changed and the supposed unwavering capability of men to rule over others began to shiver because of primarily being disturbed by the different stresses that the said gender actually had to deal with in life. After all, men were faced with the many responsibilities that they have to complete for their families, their wives, their fellow citizens and their nation. Attending to these responsibilities mainly made some of the men’s capability to handle multi-numbered responsibilities began to whither. Hence, the women, being known as the complimentary gender to that of the men, began to long for a more important role in the society as progressive individuals of the human civilization. The women then began to create movements that would actually carry their “banners of pride” towards recognition form the entire human society. The liberty from simply being a wife, being a mother or being a child has been achieved during the 1990’s when women were allowed to run for positions for government administrative offices; when they were given the chance to take over high positions on business corporations; when they were allowed to consider becoming members of the military force; and when they were accepted as a major role-player in the humanity’s leap towards a progressive future in terms of science and technology.

Commercial media analysis (part 2)

One of their advertisements through the Internet posted the following claims:

“Any moisturiser – regardless of price – can claim to smooth wrinkles because it will temporarily plump the skin. "Using any moisturising product will help reduce fine lines and wrinkles by between 12 and 15 per cent," says Dr John Sullivan, acting head of dermatology at Liverpool Hospital. "A more expensive moisturiser might smell better and feel nicer on your skin. But it’s not actually anti-ageing; it’s just a temporary effect while you’re using the product."

  Obviously, the advertisement cited above encourages the consumers to purchase the product that they advertise through stating that the product ensures the user of a wrinkle-free skin. Hence, beauty is rather portrayed in terms of having a flawless skin and un-aged physical features. Everything is obviously based upon the physical attributes of a person.

Social Effects of the Advertisements

  Where did all this wanting to stay young and remain ‘immortal’ in a sense came from? Mostly, as Susan Mc Carthy mentioned in her article entitled “On Immortality”, the source of this social wanting of being young at all times possible is based upon the fact that the system of the human body is obviously able to support its own self towards immortality. This study has been proved through the continuous research of scientists with regards the amazing structure of the human body and the wondrous make up of the human cells as well as their ability to reproduce on themselves.

  Hence, knowing this, many people, especially the experts, claim that immortality is indeed possible. The certainties though of producing human genome projects that would rather cater to this human demand for longer life are not as strong as it may seem. As a result, the human society at present is trying to make itself feel at ease through the beauty products produced through cosmetics companies.

  However, instead of feeling more at ease, there are numerous people who feel more obliged and frustrated with regards to being ‘beautiful and young’. Those who are especially unable to purchase beauty products feel the doubts of being totally beautiful or socially accepted in terms of their physical appearance. Most often, they end up wanting more than what they could actually have.

  The feature of advertisements towards anti-aging has led the society in viewing life as a mere epitome of the need of being beautiful. The constant posts of the said television or even the printed ads have created a notion on people’s minds regarding the need of a person to stay beautiful and young amidst their age gains.

Conclusion

  Aging is not bad. As a fact, aging is a sign of experience and wisdom. During the earlier times, it could not be denied that the aging features of the physical attributes of a person set him in a higher level of integrity compared to others in the society. However, with the development of technology and further enhancement of marketing strategies in media, old age has been viewed by the modern society as an unwanted truth in human life. Hence, the production of products that would help alleviate the doubts brought about by aging symptoms which becomes obvious on the physical features of a person have been boosted and still continuously developed. True, the want of being young at all times and the notion of incurring immortality would continuously interest people. Perhaps, the creator pf mankind has undoubtedly implanted this though upon the human mind because of the fact that HE himself plans something better for humans in the future. For who else is better to provide the needs of the creations than the creator himself?