Saturday, August 8, 2020

2 Easy Ways to Coach Yourself into Happiness and Success

2 Easy Ways to Coach Yourself into Happiness and Success A lot of people nowadays are hiring life coaches to provide them with accountability and structure in creating a fulfilling life. It’s easy to get complacent, and we are often not our own best coaches. But not everyone can afford a life coach, and even those who can might get coaching for a year then go back to being “self-coached.” In this month’s Success Magazine, an inspiring article about self-coaching (Be Your Own Life Coach) offered two exercises that will help you coach yourselfâ€"if you put them into action, of course. Both options were suggested by coach Marshall Goldsmith, Ph.D. Option #1: Did I do my best to… Here’s the first exercise: Ask yourself each day: Did I do my best to… Set clear goals? Make progress toward goal achievement? Be happy? Find meaning? Build positive relationships? Be fully engaged? When I read this list, I liked it so much that I put it on my calendar to complete at 9pm every night. I am on day 3 and grateful for the ritual! I have shared the exercise with friends as well, and they have enjoyed going through the list for themselves at the end of a day. I encourage you to join me and try answering these questions every day for two weeks. At the end of those two weeks, ask yourself in how many areas you are seeing improvement. I’d love to hear a report! Option #2: Daily Question Process With this exercise, your first project is to come up with 20 to 30 questions relating to your goals and who you want to be. The questions must have either yes/no or number answers. Keep them short and easily answered. And spin them toward the positive! For instance, “How much do I weigh?” “How many minutes did I meditate today?” “Did I treat my employees well?” “Did I make time to spend with my family?” (You would not write questions like, “Did I eat too much today?” “Was I stressed out?” Notice how much your energy dropped just reading those questions!) Put your positively-framed questions in the first column of a spreadsheet, then write the days of the week in the next 6 columns. Although not specified in the description offered, I would put a final column for a rating of your quality of life for the week, with a scale from 1 to 10 (I can’t bring myself to suggest a 0 as another person suggested in describing a self-coaching journal!) Once you create your spreadsheet for the week, you will have a scorecard that will reveal, over time, what activities lead you toward fulfillment and the life you want. Of course you can change your questions over time as you meet certain goals and have others change. Here’s the rub… If you were hoping there would be a self-coaching technique that would not require your thinking or writing about something every day, I’m afraid you’re out of luck. As much as I wish I could have a single thought and change my life, I must accept that it’s daily check-ins and accountability that truly create change. Since human beings are notoriously unaccountable to ourselves, I suggest putting a system into place and having someone to whom you report on your daily self-coaching activities. I put my “Did I do my best to…” exercise on my calendar, and I have a friend I talk to at least once/week about how I’m doing. Consider creating a dinner-time ritual with your family to discuss how you’re doing, or even a check-in at the office! You can create a life-coaching group for yourself! There are many possibilities of how to stay honest as you take on self-coaching. What are your ideas of how to do this? Will you take on one of the exercises offered here? Please share below!

Saturday, May 23, 2020

The Birth Of Modernism And Modern Art - 1157 Words

Ha Lim (Sally) Lee Term 3 / Fall 15’ Intro to Modernism Daniel Spaulding Paper #2 â€Å"Modern painting, breaking through old conversation, has released countless suggestions which are still waiting to be used by the practical world.†(Gropius) The birth of modernism and modern art goes back to the Industrial Revolution, a period that lasted from the 18th to the 19th century, in which rapid changes in manufacturing, transportation, and technology profoundly affected the social, economic, and cultural conditions of life in Western Europe, North America, and eventually the world. Before the 19th century, artists created art pieces for wealthy people and institution places like the church where they can create art works about storytelling of religious or mythological scenes . These arts were there to instruct the viewers.However, this changed when during the 19th century many artists began to create works that were about people, places, or ideas that interested them, and of which they had direct experience. With the popularization of the idea of a subconscious mind, many artists began exploring dreams, symbolism, and personal iconography as avenues for the depiction of their subjective experiences.Challenging the notion that art must realistically depict the world, some artists experimented with the expressive use of color, non-traditional materials, and new techniques and mediums. The Bauhaus was created by Walter Gropius in the city of Weimar. He was a German architectShow MoreRelatedPostmodernism : What Is Post Modernism?1389 Words   |  6 PagesWhat is Post-Modernism? Post modernism is a difficult view point to interpret or describe in a few words, as to provide an insightful description that remains succinct is quite ironic as postmodernism opposes the attempt to ascribe one broad meaning to any â€Å"thing†. Postmodernism has often been referred to as the destruction of the Metanarrative. Thought-out all cultural eras society has usually had a focal point in their cultures. The age of enlightenment used God, modernists used technology, postmodernismRead MoreThe Modernism Movement Essay1133 Words   |  5 PagesModernism started as a movement around late 19th and 20th centuries. It rejected the conventional forms of art, architecture, literature, religious faith, social organisation and everyday life as they felt it was incompatible with the new economical, social and political conditions that was emerging at that period of time. Many distinctive styles can be defined as modernist, but majority of them had very similar values and theorie s on different aspects of society. It gave birth to a whole array ofRead MoreThe Impact Of Wwi For Artists Paul Nash And Marcel Duchamp Essay1049 Words   |  5 PagesResearch Essay Impact of †¨WWI for artists-Paul Nash and Marcel Duchamp As a number of leading artists got involved in the War, most of the art campaigns stopped. Individual artistic creations became less radical and started to step down from abstraction to concrete representations. In particular, the program in which the government appointed the artists as war correspondents has resulted in some of the most exceptional artworks of this century. This is, perhaps, because the artists have been exposedRead MoreModernism : Modernism And Modernism901 Words   |  4 Pages1. Art has evolved over the last century moving from Modernism to Postmodernism. Modernism s birth is somewhat controversial but our text puts it at 1910. Paul Cezanne, who was closely tied with Cubism, has been credited as one of the fathers of Modernism. A lot was changing during this period which produced a slew of new styles such as, Post Impressionism, Symbolism, and Surrealism to name a few. Modernism thrived from the early 20th century until the period denoted by World War II at whichRead MorePost-Modernism Essay1208 Words   |  5 Pagesingredients of her melting pot. These efforts can be best understood by examining post-modernism. Post-modernism is especially important to breaking down stereotypes such as those that exist surrounding the black family. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;To understand post-modernism we must first understand modernism. Modernism is the philosophy that began with the Enlightenment. The Enlightenment was an era when science and art flourished. European society used the Enlightenment to object to the oppressionRead MoreInfluences on Designers Mies Van Der Rohe and Breuer, Europe, 1920s1670 Words   |  7 Pagesand to what extent they contributed to the shaping of modernism in Europe in the 1920’s. Therefore, how these came to become what could now be referred as modern design. The term modern is very abstract and has been defined in many different ways. For the purpose of this essay, the term concerns a design perspective: an embrace of utopian ideas in a desire to create a better world; through machinery, new technologies, and the unity of the arts . Context and life of practitioners In the 1920’sRead MoreSunrise: a Song of Two Humans and The Notebook809 Words   |  3 Pagesindustry, since its birth, has always been the center for producing films and circulating ideologies. With its coexistence with modernity, it is no doubt that Hollywood has produced films, which aim to entertain and to give the new thoughts and experience of modernity to its audiences around the world. Hence, in this essay I choose two films, ‘Sunrise: a Song of Two Humans’ and ‘The Notebook,’ which coming from different eras of Hollywood and functioning as vernacular modernism, for the analysis onRead MoreModernist Modernism : High Modernism Vs. Low Modernism1944 Words   |  8 Pages Modern or Modernist? High Modernism vs. Low Modernism Damian Sun 1238719 University of Waikato â€Æ' Modernism was a movement that was developed during the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century. Modernism developed due to the changes happening in societies at the time. Around the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century there was a rise in the industrial society’s where there were advancements in technologies and machines, and a rapid growths in cities. This lead to aRead MoreEssay about Analysis of the Poems of Robert Frost1316 Words   |  6 Pageswhich he wrote influenced nearly all of his poems in some way. This very famous poet contributed to the modernism era, had a family and an interesting life story, and a unique poetic style as well. The literary era in which Robert Frost wrote was the modernism era. This era was a time when poets, and artists in general, were starting to rebel against the â€Å"normal† way to write poetry, or perform arts. The poetic term for this is known as a poetic license. In Robert Frost’s â€Å"The Rose Family†, he writes: Read MorePostmodernism Versace1781 Words   |  7 Pages Postmodernism Versace Introduction The passageway of modernism has introduced innovative components in the development of an individuals personality. The identity character as a social construct is highlighted through the effect that fashion has brought in, experimenting, producing and changing individual identity. The style and appearance of an individual is a portion of the fashions period and usually refers to the possibility of people to utilize fashion industry products. This takes

Tuesday, May 12, 2020

Utalitarian Principle in Charles Dickens Hard Times

INTRODUCTION Utilitarianism is the assumption that human beings act in a way that highlights their own self interest. It is based on factuality and leaves little room for imagination. Utilitarianism dominated as the form of government in Englands Victorian age of eighteenth century. Utilitarianism, as rightly claimed by Dickens, robbed the people of their individuality and joy; deprived the children of their special period of their lives, Childhood and deprived women of their inherent right of equality. The theme of utilitarianism, along with industrialization and education is explored by Charles Dickens, in his novel Hard Times.. Hard Times written in those times intended to explore its negativisms. Utilitarianism as a government was†¦show more content†¦One has to wonder how different the story would be if Gradgrind did not run the school. How can you give a utilitarian man such as Gradgrind such power over a town? I do like how Dickens structures the book to make one ask obvious quest ions such as these. Dickens does not tell us much about the success of the other students of the school besides Bitzer, who is fairly successful on paper, but does not have the capacity as a person to deal with life’s everyday struggles. Gradgrinds two oldest children, Tom and Louisa, are examples of how this utilitarian method failed miserably. These children were never given the opportunity to think for themselves, experience fun things in life, or even use their imaginations. True, they are smart people in the factual sense but do not have the street smarts to survive. Tom is a young man who, so fed up with his father’s strictness and repetition, revolts against him and leaves home to work in Mr. Bounderby’s bank. Tom, now out from under his fathers wing, he begins to drink and gamble heavily. Eventually, to get out of a deep gambling debt, he robs a bank and is forced to flee the area. When Bitzer realizes that Tom has robbed the bank and catches him, Mr. Gr adgrind begs him to let Tom go, reminding him of all of the hard work that was put on him while at the school. Ironically Bitzer,

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Michael Jackson Biography Free Essays

Michael Jackson Michael Joseph Jackson was born on 29 August 1958 in Gary, Indiana, USA. His father was Joe Jackson. His mother was Katherine Jackson. We will write a custom essay sample on Michael Jackson Biography or any similar topic only for you Order Now His siblings are Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon, and Michael, Rebbie, La Toya, Randy, and Janet Jackson. American superstar Michael Jackson has entertained audiences his entire life. In the early 1960s, the older boys Jackie, Tito and Jermaine had begun performing around the city; by 1964, Michael and Marlon had joined in. Michael’s singing and dancing talents were amazingly mature, and he soon became the dominant voice and focus of The Jackson 5. In 1969, the boys were producing back-to-back chart-busting hits as Motown artists (â€Å"I Want You Back,† â€Å"ABC,† â€Å"Never Can Say Goodbye,† â€Å"Got to Be There,† etc. ). Behind the scenes, Joseph Jackson pushed his sons to succeed. He was also reportedly known to become violent with them. Michael and his brothers spent endless hours rehearsing and polishing up their act. At first, the Jackson 5 played local gigs and built a strong following. They recorded one single on their own, â€Å"Big Boy† with the B-side â€Å"You’ve Changed,† but it failed to generate much interest. The Jackson 5 moved on to working an opening act for such R artists as Gladys Knight and the Pips, James Brown, and Sam and Dave. Many of these performers were signed to the legendary Motown record label, and it has been reported that Gladys Knight may have been the one to tell Motown founder Berry Gordy about the Jackson 5. Impressed by the group, Gordy signed them to his label in 1968. At the age of 13, Jackson launched a solo career in addition to his work with the Jackson 5. He made the charts in 1971 with â€Å"Got to Be There† from the album of the same name. His 1972 album, Ben, featured the eponymous ballad about a rat. The song became Jackson’s first solo No. 1 single. In August 1994, Jackson announced that he had married Lisa Marie Presley, daughter of rock icon Elvis Presley. The couple gave a joint television interview with Diane Sawyer, but the union proved to be short-lived. They divorced in 1996. Some thought that the marriage was a publicity ploy to restore Jackson’s image after the molestation allegations. Later that same year, Jackson wed Nurse Debbie Rowe. The couple had two children through artificial insemination. Son Prince Michael Jackson was born in 1997 and daughter Paris Michael Jackson was born in 1998. Rowe and Jackson divorced in 1999 with Jackson receiving full custody of their two children. He would go on to have a third child, Prince Michael Jackson II, with an unknown surrogate. In 2002, Jackson made headlines when he seemed confused and disoriented on stage at an MTV awards show. Soon after, he received enormous criticism for dangling his son, Prince Michael II, over a balcony while greeting fans in Berlin, Germany. In a later interview, Jackson explained that â€Å"We were waiting for thousands of fans down below, and they were chanting they wanted to see my child, so I was kind enough to let them see. I was doing something out of innocence. † But many were unforgiving of the star’s behaviour, with former fans and media outlets clamouring to have Child Protective Services take Jackson’s children from him. That is some information of the big list of accomplishments of Michael Jackson. By Doron Cassell How to cite Michael Jackson Biography, Papers

Friday, May 1, 2020

Products Differentiation and Wage Rates

Question: Discuss about the Products Differentiation and Wage Rates. Answer: Introduction There are four types of markets structure. It is important for the investor to understand each and every of these structures before making investment decisions. The four structures include; competitive market, monopolistic markets, oligopoly markets and the monopoly. While in some like the competitive markets, the influence on prices is limited, in others, the investor has complete control over the prices. Bain (1962) in his discussion on the barriers to entry noted three major categories (ignoring the legal exclusions). These categories were; the advantages of economies of scale, advantages of product differentiation and the advantages of absolute costs. Product differentiation is a term used to refer to a situation where a product is same as the other, but it has been enhanced to make customers perceive it as different from the other. The products are however not perfect substitutes. Waterson noted that product differentiation is an economic distance between products. Differentiate d products are perceived as unique and therefore are able to fetch higher prices in the market than in the initial form. Wage rate is in the real sense supposed to be determined by the demand and supply forces. However, in order to solve some other economic issues such as poverty eradication, political forces from the government are exerted on the wage rates. For instance, in order to alleviate poverty, the government sets a wage floor below which any employer should not compensate their employees. Product Differentiation and Market Structures The field competition for brands is more crowded than ever. It becomes difficult for consumers to make a decision on what products to buy when they are faced with too many product choices. They become overwhelmed and ends up walking away. This poses the rationale for the need of investors to introduce new ways to make their products stand out by making them unique. Customers perceive a unique product to be of a greater value. The primary goal of all investors in the market is to make significant profits by maximizing their products or service sales. Product differentiation answers the question; why should the consumers by what am selling and not buy from my competitors? Customers need a clear image of what a business is offering and its comparison with what the competitors are offering. Products that are not clearly defined poses some confusion to the customers and puts them off. If an investor goal of maximizing his wealth is to be achieved, a once-off expenditure on product differentiation is a necessary condition. If the differentiated products appeal to the target market, your brand gains a competitive advantage over all other closely related brands. In most cases especially in the competitive markets, the sellers compete in terms of the price of goods and services they offer. Thus, in a competitive market where the sellers are many, and the products are the same, product differentiation may have very little or no value. Welker (2016) noted that this strategy of product differentiation is only applicable and profitable to the markets with imperfect competition. In our case here, we are considering the application of non-price competition. This is as observed in the oligopoly markets, where the products produced are homogeneous. George, Joll, and Lynk (1992) noted that oligopolistic markets could compete by varying their products characteristics rather than altering their prices. It is, therefore, an important sales strategy. In an oligopolistic market, firms make decisions on the quality of the goods to be produced but is also faced with a challenge of competing firms providing a wide range of products that may limit its profit. However, successful migration to differentiated products induces a barrier to entry for new firms that may not be having the huge capital necessary to produce the differentiated products. It therefore raise the profits of the incumbent firm. It is also important for monopoly firms to keep new entrants completely out of the market. Barriers to entry places the industry in four general areas. First, is the blockaded entry, which allows the established firms to price at very high prices (monopoly prices) without allowing inducing new entrants into the market. Second, is the easy entry, which doesnt allow firms to raise their prices even slightly as new entrants will join the market. Third, is the ineffectively impeded entry, where profits is lower when firm operates at a price that doesnt induce entry; entry should be allowed if the firms were to maximize short term profits. Lastly, its the effectively impeded entry, where it is more profitable to operate at a price that doesnt prompt entry than when entry is induced by maximizing short run profits. The cost of production is bound to increase when firms are improving the quality of their products. The increase could either be on the fixed or the variable cost depending on the strategy taken for the improvement. If research and development is the picked strategy for improvement, its the fixed cost that will increase. However, if the improvement depends on highly priced raw materials, its the variable costs that will be raised. It is in the former group where natural oligopoly belongs where the increase in variable costs is slow with the product improvement. Product differentiation allows for the direct association of products with their manufacturer by the consumers; a strategy that benefits both the producers and the consumers. The major benefits to the producers is that it builds up goodwill and brand loyalty among its consumers. Consumers benefit in that the producing firm has to protect its reputation and maintain the improved quality products. The advantages of product differentiation include; the establishment of brands, company gaining some reputation, superior product design control, and favored distribution control Bain (1956). Wage Differentials The BLS Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) survey defines wage as a straight-time gross pay. This includes any other incentive pay such as production bonuses, commissions and tips. The only pay not included in wage determination is premium pays and some other bonuses, for instance, profit-sharing payments. The variation in workers pay is shown by the percentile wages. Fig: Illustration of Percentile Wages and Wage Difference Source: https://www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm As shown in the illustration above, at the 10th percentile point, 10 % of the workers made less than $ 35,250, while 90 % made more than this. The median percentile is the point where half of the workers earned below $75,620, whereas the other half earned more than that. At the 90th percentile, 90 % of the workers earned below $ 141,210, whereas 10 % earned more than that. The wage difference is the difference between the low earners and the high earners. Torper noted that jobs are different from each other and that the skills brought to a job, and the abilities of the workers are unique. In the same occupation, these variations are responsible for the pay variations. The wage difference becomes bigger as these variations become more pronounced. The wage paid to workers in the same industry varies greatly. This is because their ability to work and their working effort varies. Some of the workers have spent many years in training institutions earning the skills they hold today. Most employers request for credentials before they offer someone a job opportunity. Those who lacks the credentials are considered fit for such a position. However, some job vacancies in many firms require people with fewer skills and are able to provide hard labor. Although these are the people who do the biggest proportion of the production activities, they receive the lowest wage rates. Wage differential also exists across occupations because of the supply and demand forces. In economies where the education level for its citizens is low, it means that the highest population wont be able to perform skilled tasks. Therefore, these people seek to be employed in the same areas. This raises their supply for labor, consequently enabling their employers to lower the wage rate. Experience is a major factor in wage differences. Workers who have been in the job for long are considered to have gained more experience and are thus more productive than the beginners. Beginners, therefore, earn less as compared to these experienced workers. Occupational wages vary by employer and industry. The reason why wages differ from one employment to the other is the training requirements, clientele, and diverse working conditions, among other reasons. Similar position descriptions are present in specific occupations. In every business, there ranks in the business operations. The heads of each business operation will earn more than those under his/her command. Also, workers could be holding similar positions, but the job assigned to them is different. Those in more complex jobs earn more. Geographical location also contributes to wage differential. Job occupation in some areas pays well than similar jobs in other areas. For instance, jobs in urban areas pays well than in the rural areas. There exist extreme competition for job occupations. Its only those who succeed and performs better earns more. This is especially when the pay is performance based. The type of institution also matters. For instance, teachers in private schools are said to earn more compared to those in public schools. Most human occupations are industrial specific. Industry specific experience does not attract wage gains (Sullivan, 2008). Occupational specific occupations attract a percentage increase in wages after the experience is gain within some given years. The major challenge facing the explanation of wage rate differential is that of categorizing the human capital skills accumulation process. Sullivan noted that skills are either transferable across all jobs or are firm specific, but not industry or occupation specific, arguing that its the overall labor market experience and employer tenure that determine wages. Kambourov and Manovskii (2007) posed a recent challenge by arguing that its the occupation tenure responsible for wage differential; controlling it leaves the firm and industry tenure with less effect. The empirical result of Sullivan estimation of the wage equation using instrumental variable approach tends to approve of the findings by Kambourov and Manovskii. According to Sunday and Pfuntner (2008), the other challenge in the explanation of wage differentials is that the conduciveness of data sources to studies within establishments is generally low. The unavailability of individual wage records to researchers makes it difficult for individual wage rates examination within occupations, establishments. The most important area where most economists rely on in the determination of wage differentials is the forces of supply and demand. However, this is contradicted with the presence of government intervention. Fig: Minimum Wage Legislation Implementation of a minimum wage legislation above the equilibrium prices benefits the low-income earners. This does, however, have an influence on the demand for labor. Employers willingness to employ is reduced with a minimum wage being set above equilibrium. Therefore, it can be noted that minimum wage distorts the functioning of the supply and demand forces. Conclusion Most consumers always consider a differentiated product to be more desirable. The increase in their desirability perception raises their demand for that product. Hence the business makes huge sales resulting in greater profits. Improvement on a product requires capital investment. Therefore, considering the potential benefits that would accrue from product differentiation, a once off expenditure is necessary as it will maximize the firms future profits. From all the information cited from various economists, it can be concluded that product differentiation is not profitable in any market structure. Its profitability is felt in the imperfectly competitive markets. Competitive markets thus have no need to implement this strategy. Wage differentials exist across and within occupations. In every occupation, there exist a great wage difference between its top and bottom earners. In order to carry out an effective comparison of the wage differentials, only the employed persons should be considered, since the wages of the self-employed vary greatly. In some occupations, human capital is primarily occupational specific while in others it is industry specific. Bibliography Aha.io. (2016). What is product differentiation? | Aha! [Online] Available at: https://www.aha.io/roadmapping/guide/product-strategy/what-is-product-differentiation [Accessed 26 Aug. 2016]. Dean, T. (2016). New Venture Formations in United States Manufacturing. Milton: Taylor and Francis. George, K., Joll, C. and Lynk, E. (1992). Industrial organization. London: Routledge. Hajiha, F. (2016). Employment and Wages by Major Occupational Group and Industry. [Online] bls.gov. Available at: https://www.bls.gov/oes/major.pdf [Accessed 26 Aug. 2016]. Kambourov, G. and Manovskii, I. (2007). Occupational mobility and wage inequality. Kelchner, L. (2016). The Advantages of a Product Differentiation Strategy. [Online] Smallbusiness.chron.com. Available at: https://smallbusiness.chron.com/advantages-product-differentiation-strategy-17691.html [Accessed 26 Aug. 2016]. Piana, V. (2003). Product differentiation - a key concept in Economics and Management. [Online] Economicswebinstitute.org. Available at: https://www.economicswebinstitute.org/glossary/product.htm [Accessed 25 Aug. 2016]. Stuyck, J. (1983). Product Differentiation in Terms of Packaging Presentation, Advertising, Trade Marks, ETC. Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands. Sullivan, P. (2008). Empirical evidence on occupation and industry specific human capital. Labour Economics, [online] 17(3), pp.567-580. Available at: https://www.bls.gov/pir/journal/sp03.pdf [Accessed 26 Aug. 2016]. Sunday, K. and Pfuntner, J. (2008). How widely do wages vary within jobs in the same establishment? [Online] bls.gov. Available at: https://www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/2008/02/art2full.pdf [Accessed 26 Aug. 2016]. thismatter.com. (2016). Wage Differentials. [Online] Available at: https://thismatter.com/economics/wage-differentials.htm [Accessed 26 Aug. 2016]. Torpey, E. (2016). Same occupation, different pay: How wages vary: Career Outlook: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. [Online] Bls.gov. Available at: https://www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm [Accessed 26 Aug. 2016]. Waterson, M. (1984). Economic theory of the industry. Cambridge [Cambridgeshire]: Cambridge University Press. Welker, J. (2016). Product differentiation in imperfectly competitive markets the MacBook Wheel | Economics in Plain English. [Online] Welkerswikinomics.com. Available at: https://welkerswikinomics.com/blog/2009/01/28/product-differentiation-in-imperfectly-competitive-markets-the-macbook-wheel/ [Accessed 25 Aug. 2016]. WeizsaÃÅ'ˆcker, C. (1980). Barriers to Entry. Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer Berlin Heidelberg.

Sunday, March 22, 2020

A distinct advantage over traditional brick and mortar schools Essays

A distinct advantage over traditional brick and mortar schools Essays A distinct advantage over traditional brick and mortar schools Paper A distinct advantage over traditional brick and mortar schools Paper A distinct advantage over traditional brick and mortar schools LATA Language and Communication: Research western Governors university Online Learning: A Distinct Advantage Over Traditional Brick And Mortar Schools As the times change and technology advances, people need to look for new and better ways to apply this technology to their lives. This does not just apply to someones personal or business lives, this also can apply to the way individuals learn. Information Is stored and backed up on computers. While online learning Is the fastest growing segment of learning, this idea is not new. Distance learning began before computers and online classes. It started with correspondence schools, moved to audio books, tapes and videos. Students had little to no interaction with the Instructor or with other classmates (Miller, 2000). There were several Issues with this type of learning, mainly due to materials easily becoming outdated. This changed with the advent of the personal computer and later with the Introduction of the internet in 1994. While the internet initially originated to promote communication between academics, scientist and government organizations, It helped to pave the ay for a new way to deliver education (Miller, 2000). This turned into online learning. This new way of learning has caught on in many households around the world. Traditional brick and mortar schools. They are the following: What technological benefits that a person can come away with after completing an online degree? ; How does online learning offer more flexibility to the learner compared to a brick and mortar school? In what ways are online learning programs more cost effective than a brick and mortar school? With the discussion of these topics this will show that experts agree that online learning is a better learning forum than brick and mortar schools because they utilize the latest technologies, offer flexible learning to a wide variety of people and offer a lower cost solution to valuable degrees. This paper will look at the three factors that support online learning as a better format than brick and mortar schools. Technological Benefits Online learning uses the latest technologies to provide the student with practical knowledge they can use after they have completed their degree. Online education is a microcosm of business practices and prepares the students for the real world Macmillan, 2010). Online school programs help the students gain the knowledge they will need for when they are completed with their degree and enter the business world. They take real experiences from companies and teach based on them. Online programs require the learner to use several programs, maintain files and utilize email and other programs to turn in coursework. All of that coursework is distributed online either through email or websites. The internet also provides access to several tools to aid the learner in completing the required coursework. The traditional brick and mortar schools use text books and examples, whereas online schools use the current technology and focus on student experiences. Online business courses allow teachers and students to utilize the same processes as companies when it comes to the use of computers and the internet, as well as communication, teamwork, self-direction and meeting deadlines from a distance. (Macmillan, 2010). Online learning teaches the student how to multi-task unlike a traditional college setting. The benefits of online education helps the students gain perspective on here they fit into the world and keeps their learning relevant and rigorous (Macmillan, 2010). Online learning prepares students to work in groups, which encourages team building, independent learning and accountability of the stude nts (Lie Ruby, 2008). Online group projects keep the student interacting with each other. Everyone needs to work together, find times coordinate online, and get their part done. This way of team building is similar to a company setting. Employees are busy with their own tasks and sometimes work needs to be done by email, phone, or internet. Not all projects can be completed in person. In the traditional learning experience, textbooks and manuals simply offer fact after fact with occasional static illustrations. Interactive online learning enhances that experience and brings education too more engaging level for the learner (Wendell, 2002). Online learning supports three types of learning experiences, expository instruction (digital devices transmit knowledge), active learning (the learner builds knowledge through online drills, simulations and games), and interactive learning (the learner builds knowledge through interaction with others) (US Department of Education, 2010). Online learning also requires the learner to be focused in learning; there could be distractions in the home that can cause the student to lose focus when learning. The majority of the individuals have full time Jobs or families. These students look at college as an education and not a social experience. Some of the online students go back to school to get career advancement, higher pay, or even for personal growth. Whereas the traditional brick and mortar has students with an average age of 18 21 and can be more focused on their social life. These students get pressure from their parents to tend and can are likely to attend parties, sporting events and even Join a Fraternity or Sorority. They also lack the discipline for time and financial budgeting. Many students rely on their parents for financial support during college. Online learners demonstrate particular ambition and resourcefulness especially when balancing work and family, life that can be an asset in the work place. As the years go on, technology grows and develops. A little over twenty years ago computers were Just starting to Join the household and today it is very common to have many computers with other advanced technology. The explosion of technology has made teaching outside the classroom possible for the learners with easy access to course material (Lie Ruby, 2008). Teachers are able to use the latest technology in their virtual classes, with Just the click of a button a new experience appears. More students are choosing the choice of online learning everyday due to the use of technology that it uses and the convenience that it has. Unlike traditional classrooms where immediate verbal and non-verbal feedback can be given to the entire class, teachers of online programs recognize the significance of offering prompt feedback on dents assignments and questions (Lie Ruby, 2008). If a student has questions online, the teacher is able to respond quickly, compared to a brick and mortar school where the student might have to wait until the next class to ask the question. Even though educators utilize technology in the delivery of online education, those educators have to remain focused on the instructional outcomes not Just the form of delivery. Flexibility The flexibility of online learning allows individuals from varied backgrounds and experiences opportunities to attend school on their own schedules. Not only is there legibility for the students but also for the institutions they attend. Many people have found that an online education is able to fit their lifestyle better. Online education appeals to employees who otherwise could not pursue higher education due to time or geographic constraints. (Merrimac, 2006). Online education allows the employees flexibility to choose a major that might not be available in their local geographic area (Merrimac, 2006). Instead of driving 3 hours to a school, that has a major of ones choice, one is able to get online and not leave the area of their home and major in he area they want to study. This not only saves time for the student, but also money for gas and any car maintenance. An online school lets you attend class anytime be it lunchtime, at home with your kids, or even traveling on vacation (Merrimac, 2006). A student is now able to have a family vacation and go to school at the same time. This would not be able to happen in a traditional brick and mortar school. One would have to take time off school to have a family vacation. Online schools are very convenient for their students. Online method of teaching allows the student to main access to the syllabus, course assignments, scoring guides, power point presentations and other important documents 24 hours a day 7 days a week (Lie times so they have better understanding of the course materials. A traditional brick and mortar school only allow the students to refer to their book or their notes for their class. They only have these two resources to help them through the course. They are not able to go back to a certain days lesson and look at the power point that was used for the day. By delivering flexible means of online education, this has increased the acceptance of online learning to businesses allowing for a better- educated workforce (Merrimac, 2006). More companies are allowing online education for their staff and encourage them to further their education because of the flexibility online schools offer. Employees can now attend school at any time as they are not constrained by their work schedule. The flexibility of online learning has sparked interest in the military. Soldiers in the military are able to attend college even if they are out at sea (Mullein, 2002). The military offers online learning to provide a program that soldiers need. With the amount of movement required by soldiers, all that is required is a laptop and internet connection to bring high quality education to the soldier. Everyone has their own experience when it comes to high education. In Germans 2004 article, students were asked questions regarding their experiences with online courses. Mr.. Irony responded the amount of homework was roughly the same for both online and traditional courses, the amount of class time spent online was minimal. He was able to go online for 15 minutes to see new material and reply to questions whereas in a traditional class he would have to stay en hour for the same information (Ackerman, 2004). The flexibility of online schooling is a great asset when students are deciding where to get an education. Cost Effective Online learning offers more cost effective solutions for not only the learner, but for businesses offering tuition assistance. Online schools are catering to businesses by offering a discounted tuition and customized programs to fit the needs of specific companies and industries (Merrimac, 2006). Companies are able to send their staff through school at a discounted rate and focused on the classes that they seem fit to heir industry. The processing of tuition reimbursement and admissions is often times easier for employees at online schools versus brick and mortar schools (Merrimac, 2006). This is Just another advantage of online schools. In a study performed in March of 2005, some of the most important reasons cited for online education were due to increasing employee satisfaction and retention (Merrimac, 2006). This has not only been effective for businesses but for the military as well. The online programs have been useful in not only recruiting efforts, but in also retaining soldiers for re-enlistment. In the same study 29% of corporate reimbursements go to online programs (Merrimac, 2006). This has increased over the years as more Universities have added more online classes to their curriculum and more students choose the online education. The technology used for online education can be cheaper than those in traditional brick and mortar schools. When a student has a class that involves a lab, online technology can create virtual laboratory simulations. This will be cheaper for the student and the school. The school will save money on supplies for the labs and the students are able to get the same lab experience online without the extra lab and commuting costs. The demand of online education allows institution to broaden their student body without building parking back on the amount of staff they would need for the online base versus traditional schools. More students are able to Join a well-known University without paying extra costs like a traditional student. A traditional students extra costs can consist of a meal plan, room and board, technology fees, lab fees, and even book costs. An online school provides the materials needed online and can cut hundreds of dollars for the student. These costs are cut because most students already have the necessary equipment required for successful completion of the courses, a personal computer and an internet connection. This is another reason students should choose online school over a traditional school. Conclusion Online schooling has an advantage over brick and mortar schools for many reasons. The technologies people learn during their classes can be applied to Jobs they receive after school. The students become more qualified going into positions with already having experience with the technology from their school. Next, flexibility of inline schooling is more appealing to a person than the traditional brick and mortar schools. A person is able to go to class while in their pajamas on their couch. Online classes is the only way a student does not have to miss a day of school and still go on their family vacation. A student is also able access all the forms and coursework needed at any time of the day. Flexibility of the class is an asset for the student. The student is able to go online for as long as they need to, be it 15 minutes or 2 hours. The last point is the cost savings the student and or company will have. Some cost paving are better for online schooling than brick and mortar. The usual fees off meal plan, room and board, technology fees, and book fees are not included for the online schools. This is leaving the costs for online schools to be only at a fraction off cost than traditional schools. Students can get the same education and spend the money saved on other items. Experts agree that online learning is a better learning forum than brick and mortar schools because they utilize the latest technologies, offer flexible learning to a wide variety of people and offer a lower cost solution to valuable degrees. Contain, W. W. (2003). Education into what it used to be.

Thursday, March 5, 2020

How to Prepare for Private School Admissions Tests

How to Prepare for Private School Admissions Tests Unlike most public schools, not everyone who wants to attend, can. In fact, theres an application process, and as part of that process, most private schools require some kind of test for admission, particularly for the middle and upper grades. Independent day schools usually require the ISEE, or Independent School Entrance Exam, while boarding schools often require the SSAT, or Secondary School Admissions Test. Some schools will accept both, and still, others, have their own tests. For example, Catholic schools require different tests, such as the TACHs or the COOP or HSPT. But these entrance exams dont need to be stressful or be an obstacle to obtaining a private school education. Check out these general strategies to prepare for a private school admission test: Get a Test Prep Book Using a test prep book is a great way to get more familiar with the test itself. It gives you a chance to look over the structure of the test and get a sense of the sections that are required, which usually consist of reading, verbal reasoning (such as identifying the word that is synonymous, or the same as, the given word), and math or logic. Some tests also require a writing sample, and the test prep book will offer some prompts similar to what you might experience when you take it for real. The book will also help you get a sense of the format of the sections and the time allotted for each. While the various admission test organizations typically offer review books and practice tests that can be purchased. You may even be able to find online practice tests and sample questions for free. Take Timed Practice Tests Practice taking the test under simulated conditions, by giving yourself only as much time as the test allows. Be sure to pay attention to how you pace yourself on each section and note if you are taking too much time, or if you are rushing. Instead of getting hung up on one question, mark any question you are unsure about and go back to it when youve finished the other questions. This practice helps you get used to the environment in which the test will be given and prepare you to better manage your time and practice test-taking strategies. If you practice the entire test session, meaning, you simulate the full timed test experience, with breaks, it also helps you adjust to spending that much time sitting and working in one place. This lack of ability to get up and move around can be an adjustment for many students, and some truly need to practice sitting still and being quiet for that long.   Boost Your Weak Areas If you find that you are consistently getting certain types of test questions wrong, go back and correct those areas. For example, you may need to work on one area of math, such as fractions or percentages, or you may need to work on improving and expanding your vocabulary by making flash cards with the most commonly used vocabulary words on these tests, which are available in the test review books. Hire a Tutor if Necessary If you cannot boost your scores on your own, consider hiring a tutor or taking a test-prep course. Be sure that the tutor has experience preparing students for the test you are taking and do all the homework and practice tests that are part of the course to get the most out of it. Chances are, youre missing out on key strategies rather than needing to learn more, so a tutor who is skilled in the test itself is more important than a tutor experienced in English or math.   Read the Directions Carefully This seems obvious but is often an important strategy for test-taking success. Students often read the questions incorrectly or skip them completely, which may mean that even though they know the answers to the questions, they get them wrong. Its important to make sure you slow down and read the directions carefully and even underline KEY words such as EXCEPT or ONLY to make sure you are answering exactly what each question asks. Sometimes, there are hints right within the question itself! Get Ready for Test Day Know what you need for test day, including the proper identification and writing implements. And, dont forget to eat breakfast; you dont want a rumbling tummy distracting you (or people around you) during the test. Have the directions to your test site ready, and arrive early so that you can use the restroom and get settled in your seat. Be sure to also dress in layers, as temperatures in testing rooms can vary; its helpful to be able to add a sweater or coat if youre cold or remove your sweater or coat if the room is warm. Proper footwear can also be helpful, as cold toes when wearing flip flops could be a distraction if the room is cool. Once youre there and settled into your seat, be sure to familiarize yourself with the room. Know where the doors are, find the clock in the room, and get comfortable. When the test begins, be sure to listen carefully to the directions that the test proctor reads, and fill in the test sheet properly, as directed. Do not skip ahead! Wait for directions, as disobeying the instructions that are given could result in disqualifying you from the exam. During each section testing period, pay close attention to the time, and be sure to check that your test guide and answer sheet question numbers correspond. Bring snacks and water so that you can refresh yourself during breaks. Follow these guidelines, and youre sure to have a positive test-taking experience. If you dont you can always take the test more than once. Go online to the test organizations site to see how often you may take the exam, and if there are any restrictions you need to be aware of before you register for a second or third testing date. Good luck! Article edited by  Stacy Jagodowski