Development of Literacy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Development of Literacy - Essay Example Indeed, some studies have emphasized that the development of literacy mirrors the individual’s levels of mental development. On this account, it might be necessary for instructional strategies to recognize the variations in the individual capabilities and social forces that determine the general process of mental development. A study conducted by McVee, Dunsmore, and Gavelek (2005) focused on the schema theory in the understanding of the development of literacy from an individual’s point of view. This study distinguished between the schema theory and socio-cultural theories, which have attempted to explain the process of literacy development within the context of social interactions and historical factors. In order to emphasize on the individual initiatives at the center of literacy development, the schema theory cites the example of the individual efforts employed by a child in the development of language and literacy. Children will tend to devise customized methods th at are appropriate to address their peculiar needs in accordance with the kind of challenges that they encounter. This observation is consistent with a range of studies that have shown that language learners from different socio-cultural backgrounds will tend to manifest different capacities in the process of language acquisition. In the determination of the most appropriate instructional strategies, language teachers should consider the fact that language is basically a naming system. It reflects the manner in which cultures, societies, and communities choose to name the world and things around them. Naturally, this naming system is controlled by the traditions, values, norms, and belief systems of the respective groups (Anderson, 1994). The system of naming varies from one society to another. This means that a literacy classroom may not be necessarily homogenous. If language and literacy development represent worldviews, it follows that literacy students from monolingual and bilin gual backgrounds will have different experiences in the course of the learning process. A monolingual learner may encounter clashing worldviews that are essentially different from the world that he or she is accustomed. This may reflect through the challenges of comprehending the various signs and signifiers that a resident in languages (Casson, 1983). On the other hand, a bilingual student may encounter significant challenges that relate to a mismatch in meanings between the two languages. Therefore, this calls for a multiplicity of strategies in order to address both the literacy needs for the groups and individuals across all observable variations. Some studies have pointed out the need to consider the impact of linguistic variations on literacy developments. Linguistic variations are generally diagnosed in the differences in syntax, lexicon, prosody, and phonology (Kucer, 2009). These four elements, syntax, lexicon, prosody, and phonology are central in the process of meaning ma king. As such, it is important for literacy instructors to examine and explore the various differences that manifest between these elements. Usually, linguistic variations may lead to distortion or misrepresentation of the intended meanings in language (Casson, 1983). It might be important to consider the differences in

Literature Review and Starbucks Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Literature Review and Starbucks - Case Study Example This article declares that comments of customers regarding the service of the company should be considered. This will help the company improve its service towards customers. This aspect is the most important consideration of Starbucks. Customers should be treated properly and in the right manner such that they might return back to the same company – â€Å"You want the customer to know that you care about them and you want to give them the newest technologies available; such as wireless hubs in most Starbucks coffee shops†. A partnership is formed between Starbucks and Conservation International in order to encourage production of coffee in an environment friendly manner such that the supplier bargaining power problem may be resolved to some extent. This report makes a conclusion that the food and beverages industry is the sector where large portions of expenditure of disposable income are made. The coffee industry falls in this category and Starbucks is the largest coffee chain in the world. The chain has faced serious problems in the recent past over their quality and time management. However, with proper care it can address and rectify the problems. The service area should be the first priority of the company and all the employees should be trained to realize the importance of customer service. Customers should be received warmly and more staffs could help in improving the speed of service. The company has already taken important measures in this direction for instance, installation of automated machines at the coffee stores.

Scientific Analysis of Car Crash

Scientific Analysis of Car Crash

The Development of Video Games Essay -- Technology, Arcade Games

In society’s current era of technological advancement, video games have gone a long way since they were first created. Video games in the twenty-first century are no longer just toys or junk in the lifestyles of the youth. They have become innovative inventions that not only entertain its users, but also help aid the people in both the academic field and in jobs. The influences that video games bring about in the culture of the youth today are, in fact, not the negative influences that most people think. Video games are actually this generation’s new medium for educating the youth. The information they learn are also mostly positive and useful things that they may apply in their future lives (Prensky 4). In a generation that revolves around technology and connectivity, developers and educators have already been able to produce fun and interesting games that can teach and train people. Video game developers and educators should continue to collaborate in order t o create more positive, educational, and appealing games. Society in the 1980s saw games as distraction and a waste of time. Arcade games in 1981 were regarded as a reason for cutting classes. Children and the youth were banned from playing arcade games during school hours and past ten in the evening on weekdays, and past midnight on weekends. Laws against children playing in arcades during the banned hours were implemented in order to prevent further disturbances in their studies (Kent 152). Games to the people in the 1980s were merely forms of entertainment that brought about many video game addicts. However, in the early 1980s video game consoles and personal computers were globally popular. This was because most of the machines that had enough power to... ...design and use of learning games through promoting collaboration among scholars, teachers, developers, producers, and so on.† LGN also hopes to educate the youth through well-designed and developed educational games. They help arrange partnerships with developers, educators, and media specialists, and they try to expand the educational gaming field. Presently, video games aren’t merely toys that negatively influence the youth. They have become an alternative means for people to learn and train for work. Games teach values and essential information, and motivate its players to achieve goals. Soldiers and doctors benefit from video games as well. The collaboration of game developers and educators helps improve the quality of educational games. At present, as technology progresses, one can truly see that video games have become an important factor in learning.

Judith Beveridge Essay

According to Judith Beveridge, nature is constantly abused and neglected, as a result of industrialisation, a process occurring under the direction of a patriarchal society. This idea is supported by the context of her poetry, a time where power was something that men were supposed to possess. She demonstrates her opinion to her readers through the use of poetic techniques in her poems Domesticity of Giraffes and Streets of Chippendale. Domesticity of Giraffes portrays themes of environmentalism, when assisted by a feminist reading. Nature is confined, closed off, and lost in a modern, industrialised society. Nature’s inhabitants therefore, are also closed off, and here a giraffe is called a ‘wire-cripple’ (line 16). This metaphor suggests that the wires are oppressing the giraffe and in turn, nature. At the same time, the wire is symbolic of industrialisation and the involvement of a patriarchal society in this process, through the application of Beveridge’s context, in which a male dominated society was seen as unfair and women began to develop and address their own political views. Thus, nature is portrayed as an innocent party, governed by the undeserved power of a patriarchal society. The poem also conveys nature as diminishing and being replaced by an industrialised society. The existing nature and its remaining inhabitants are lost, lonely and longing for companionship. Here, a giraffe looks ‘towards the tall buildings she mistakes for a herd’ (lines 6 – 7). Through the reapplication of Beveridge’s context, it is evident that the use of enjambment after ‘buildings’ is used, once again, to emphasise the recurring symbol of industrialisation due to a patriarchal society, which is represented by ‘tall buildings’. It also emphasises the longing and loneliness of the giraffe, as she is shown to look for anything that she shares a similarity with for companionship. Thus, nature is seen as helpless in an industrialised society. As a result, the techniques in Domesticity of Giraffes collaborate to convey that nature, with its innocence and helplessness, has unjustly become a slave to an industrialised patriarchal society. Additionally, Streets of Chippendale portrays themes of environmentalism when assisted by a feminist reading. Nature here is non-existent. It has been taken over by an industrialised society, and ‘Streets named Ivy, Rose and Myrtle – now lack a single tree’ (lines 1 – 2). Juxtaposition is used here to emphasise the contrast between ‘streets’ and ‘ivy, vine rose and myrtle’, which are all names of trees. The emphasis on ‘streets’ connotes the recurring representation of industrialisation due to a patriarchal society, when coupled with Beveridge’s context. Consequently, the use of enjambment after ‘Myrtle’ places emphasis on the irony, that streets named after trees, have no trees in them due to industrialisation. Thus, nature is seen as being mocked by a dominant, patriarchal society. The poem also conveys nature as a possession. Chippendale is seen as a place that tries to own nature, ‘where residents dressed in slacks and turtlenecks are walking pedigree dogs’ (lines 8 – 9). Here, a pun is used to bring out the meaning of the word ‘turtle’ in ‘turtleneck’, which along with a literal interpretation of ‘dog’, brings about connotations of the ownership of nature. Also, the resident, wearing a turtleneck and walking a pedigree dog, is seen as powerful and upper class, and therefore, through the application of Beveridge’s context, represents a patriarchal society. Thus, nature is seen as the possession of an ungrateful patriarchal society. As a result, the techniques in Streets of Chippendale collaborate to convey that nature is useless and unimportant in an industrialised patriarchal society. In conclusion, Judith Beveridge’s poems, Domesticity of Giraffes and Streets of Chippendale, give its readers the message that nature is constantly abused and neglected because of industrialisation, which is caused by a patriarchal society. This message is created through the application of feminist reading and her use of poetic techniques, while taking into account her context.

Changing Landscape of Unions

CHANGING LANDSCAPE OF UNIONS BUS 372 Employee & Labor Relations November 9, 2011 CHANGING LANDSCAPE OF UNIONS At the inception of unions, its members consisted of â€Å"blue-collar† workers concentrated in the manufacturing sector. Today, only about 35% of union members remain in this sector, requiring unions to expand beyond manufacturing to broaden their membership ranks. Unions are undergoing new developments to increase membership. Entering into the twenty-first century unions will emerge into a new dimension. The labor union is constantly changing, experiencing a decline in membership, losing influence and power but through experience and careful planning things change. Unions have gone through dramatic changes over the past century. The changing landscape of the unions is not only coming from decline in membership but from modern technology also. In order to show that they can change things have to change. Unions need to have the ability to show that they can effectively get their influence back, increase membership, and power. In the last century unions have been successful at negotiations especially when it came to bargaining agreements on behalf of their members. Union membership has evolved it a big way in the 21st century. No one can dispute labor’s staying power, given the labor movement’s deep penetration into virtually all the traditional parts of our economy and it continuing hold on these areas (Sloane, Witney 2011 p. 20). Local unions at times have engaged in a variety of social, educational, and community activities. Union leaders realize that the welfare of their members depends on part on a progressive and well-run community. Having vital interest to the schools since union leaders must pay taxes to operate the schools that their member’s children attend. This will lessen the tension between management and organized labor. Many local unions also conduct regularly sponsored and generally effective educational programs this important since more skilled workers are needed (Sloane, et al 2010 p. 180). With new technology that changes every year it is better to keep members well trained for more skilled jobs. Union’s support of the latest technology will help workers keep their jobs instead of hiring new workers into their workplace. Unions’ purpose is to increase wages and influence better job conditions for all its members. Jobs have moved work from this country to other countries only because they can make more profits from lower wages and more productivity. So with this in mind the labor union can raise hourly wages, better benefits, increase bargaining power and better working conditions, although it seems easy which it will not be but this can help keep American workers with jobs and stop business from going overseas and other foreign countries. Unions can propose to keep manufacturing sector such as plants, factories operating in the United States. Keep manufacturing equipment and parts in the States so more workers cannot be laid off. Stop using manufacturing products from other countries and start a campaign to only use American made products. Getting the members that they already have to come aboard as a force to be reckoned with on one accord the more numbers the more force. Today there are several major organizations under one company umbrella a large number of unions thru mergers such as AFL-CIO, SEIU, UAW just to name a few representing workers (Sloane, et al 2010 p. 18). These unions have come to understand and address issues that are important to their member in the workplace. Unions can reform to increase their membership by campaigning and adventuring outside of the normal places to get new members to join. Unions have given a voice to their many members concerning fair wages, safety, benefits, health care, and training. Unions can continue to support the training programs that will keep their members up to date with modern technology. This would help businesses from wanting to go over to other countries why should a business go somewhere else when they will have qualified workers here eager to keep up with the new technology that change all the time. This will also increase membership when the union is willing to train members especially ones that have not joined yet. This can prevent job displacement. Unions can make a win-win situation for unions and businesses by having more trained workers that can adapt to the ever changing technology in the workplace. Since the changing landscape is not only coming from low membership but new technology. Unions can try to recruit new members so that they can have more bargaining power so that jobs cannot be shifted overseas because of lower wages. The more jobs that the United States can provide the more employees can keep their jobs. Global competition is growing many unions have sought to offset this handicap by banding together for contract negotiations purposes in what is known as coordinated bargaining. This universally denotes the presentation of united union front at the bargaining table and often also involves common union demands (Sloane et al 2010 p. 218). Unions can reform by using reverse tactics, keep corporations from operating in various countries, get control over the combination of tax concessions, control the lower-cost labor abroad, and get more control over accessibility to vital material. Get control over the expanded employment that is going across the U. S. Unions can get together and stop workers from being displaced and passing higher cost to consumers. This will give unions more effective power of collective bargaining agreements to keep manufacturing facilities, keep members, and jobs. Today’s collective bargaining sessions have no place for the uninformed, the inept, or the unskilled (Sloane et al 2010 p. 234). Unions must do everything to survive in this next century by giving member what they want and keeping goals that they have set for each other. Reference Sloane, A. A. , & Witney, F. (2010). Labor relations. 13th ed. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey. Pearson Educational, Inc.