Balanced And Well Rounded Education Education Essay

Balanced And Well Rounded Education Education Essay According to the mission of Singapore Education, the purpose of Singapore Education is to provide our children with a balanced and well-rounded education, develop them to their full potential, and nurture them into good citizens, conscious of their responsibilities to family, society and country. (http://www.moe.gov.sg/about/yearbooks/2005/pdf/mission-vision.pdf) Eventually, they would become the future leader who would make the right decision for their nation in future. Thus, the Desired Outcomes of Educations (DOE) is being introduced at 3 key stages, namely primary, secondary and post-secondary. It acts as a checklist or common purposes for the educators to help students strive towards the mission of Singapore education. To better achieve the desired outcomes of education, Teach less, learn more (TLLM) comes into picture in 2005. At the National Day Rally in 2004, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong called on our teachers to teach less, so that our students could learn more. (http://www.moe.gov.sg/about/yearbooks/2005/teach.html). This policy is focusing on improving the quality of interaction between teachers and students. The aim of this policy is to drive Singapore education to a direction where teachers only act as a facilitator, nurturing students to become self-directed learners and individuals who are capable of think independently. Teach Less, Learn More is a call to re-examine the fundamentals of teaching and learning why we teach, what we teach and how we teach. (http://www3.moe.edu.sg/corporate/contactonline/2005/Issue13/glossary/glossary.htm#ttml) TLLM reminds teachers that their responsibility is to stimulate the students passion in learning so that students are willing to take up challenges that come to them. Disseminating the information to the students should not be the only way to teach. Teachers should always check for the understanding of students by relating them with the materials. Other than that, teachers should help students learn that they are taught to live the tests of their lives, not to learn that their lives are full of tests. The TTLM initiative also calls on teachers to focus on the whole child instead of the subject. Teachers should put more emphasis on the teaching of good values and attitudes to the students, not their grades. In addition, teachers need to help students learn that the learning process is far more important than the results or the end product. Before jumping into the answers, teachers should treasure the teachable moment by throwing the questions to the students. Let them think and encourage curiosity. TLLM urges teachers to engage student more in learning and depend less on drill, practice and rote learning. Teachers should do more guiding, facilitating and modelling and do less telling so that students could take ownership of their own learning. Every student is different. Therefore teacher should apply various differentiated pedagogies to suit students learning. Student should be accessed more qualitatively over a period of time, and less quantitatively through one-off and summative examinations. Lastly, teachers should promote the spirit of innovation and enterprise among students. I come across one journal that was published in 2005 mentioned that in response to the TLLM policy, MOE was going to provide more time and space to teachers to do the right things for the students. To date, MOE has really made some moves to provide teachers more time; such as assigning a Co-curricular Programme Executives to each school, hiring more new teachers and introduced the adjunct teachers programme. However, we still see teachers rushing for syllabuses and busy preparing students for all sorts of exams. Not to mention the large class sizes and the accompanying heavy marking load, how could teachers stay fit physically and mentally with so many workloads? I do believe that most of the teachers would like to make their lessons livelier and have more flexibility in choosing the materials and teaching methods. I also believe that teachers do not wish their students go for tuitions. Euphemistically, the textbooks, syllabuses and teachers handbooks are said to guide teachers in teaching. As a matter of fact, these materials confine teachers way of teaching. Time allocated to each subject in school is just enough for teachers to run through the concepts and basics due to the tight syllabus. Eventually students would need to sit for the standardized tests, which decide their future. To score high for the standardized test, frequent and repeated practices based on the concepts and basics taught are inevitable. And this is the main reason for the increase of tuition centers in Singapore. A lot of parents have the habit of paving the way that would grant successfulness for their children. These include house moving and become school volunteers to get their children admitted into a good school; send their children to enrichment classes and tuitions in hope that their children could pass standardized test with flying colours. Eventually, their children could get admitted into the university, studying a popular subject which promise good prospect. For most of the students, they bow to the reality at a very young age. Since young, under the influence of the media, friends, community, teacher, school and parents, they got the impression that only by doing well academically; they could have a bright future. If they find the subject or what was taught is not going to help give them promising future, even though they know that is their strength or they have passion on that, they would not pursue them. Students rather give up their passions than face failures. Civic and moral education (CME) is supposed to be the subject that helps students develops their characters and values. Good values, attitudes and characters could also be taught in other subjects; but character development and values education are not their emphasis. Recently, MOE has just completed revising the CME materials, which claim to be more interesting and could engage students more. However, a lot of people do not see the importance of the CME subject; probably because of it is not examinable. Many mother tongue teachers have experienced their CME classes being hijacked by the math and science teachers to rush for syllabuses or to prepare students for exams. The hijacking becomes more frequent especially when the exam period is approaching. School leaders are aware of that but turn a blind eye to it. This indirectly acknowledges that the schools are still more prone to grades-centric instead of values-centric. Thus, it is not surprising that students would have the percept ion that CME is the least important subject and they are less likely learn the subject by heart. Singapore is a country that adopts a highly centralised education system and a strong top-down approach in policy-making. (Catherine Chua Richard, 2007) Changes made at the national level often may be difficult to put into practice at the school level. TLLM is one of them. Catherine Chua and Richard (2007) did a study by comparing the science curriculum between two top schools and two mid-level schools. The top schools appear to exercise more flexibility in their curriculum by introducing a more diverse programme. They are placing greater emphasis on research-based and higher order thinking skills, acquiring beyond the basic knowledge. This is in line with the MOEs initiative. The middle category schools are also embarking on introducing and reinforcing some incentive programmes in their schools, especially for those less able students. However, an important observation shows that there was no corresponding decrease in the number of topics taught in class. On the contrary, the numbe r of periods allocated for the science lessons increased in 2005. They also found that the programmes offered by the top schools are more intensive and research oriented than those offered in the middle category schools. By introducing more intensive programme and increase the number of periods, both top schools and middle level schools actually did not put TLLM into practices. These schools rather play safe by teaching more, and add more to the curriculum. This can has negative impacts on the school climate, as teachers will have less time to prepare, teach and interact with their students. Sooner or later, teachers would develop resistance towards government initiatives. (Catherine Chua Richard, 2007) PSLE test is the ultimate test for all the primary students. This test focus on the end result rather than the process of learning. From time to time, different initiatives, including TLLM are being introduced by MOE to better achieve the purposes of Singapore Education. However, PSLE tests on the whole remain untouched. School principals, teachers, parents and students know that no matter what the changes that will take place, at the end, it is the examination that matters. Thus, when MOE first introduced TLLM, many of the principals and teachers would just take that as another initiative that will come and go. In 2009, MOE announced that semester exams for Primary 1 2 would no longer exist. But later announced that mini test would be in place so that teachers could provide regular feedback on pupils learning to parents. So that is a good change or a bad change? Mini tests are still TEST. They could be the replicas of semester test and could end up having few of them throughout the semester. Students stress over exam is still there and hardly reduced. After six years of study, students still need to sit for the PSLE test. This also means that the pace of preparing the PSLE test would be increased once students step into Primary 3 seeing that the time given has been shortened by 2 years. The aims of education policy are to ensure that students not only master scholastic knowledge, but that they are equipped with the knowledge needed to perform well in the globalised economy (Seaton, 2002). In Singapore Education, the decision-making in curriculum policy always lie in the hands of the government. Thus, we can say that Singapore educational policies are the mirrors of the social, economic and political needs of a society. (Catherine Chua Richard, 2007) From the TLLM policy, we can see that Singapore government would like to mould the future leaders in becoming a confident person, a self-directed learner, an active contributor and a concerned citizen. Although TLLM encourages teachers to teach less so that student could learn more, what students actually learn are still very much depends on what would be assessed finally. We still see some schools hesitating to put TLLM into practice. Thus, I would like to comment that TLLM would be just another MOEs attempt to change the direction of education in Singapore school if MOE still continue its traditional reluctance to let go or downgrade the position of the examination system. Education in Singapore is not education but just a huge examination preparation exercise, namely, the high stakes examination system.

Benjamin Franklin :: essays research papers

Benjamin Franklin took pride in almost every aspect of his life. There are many instances in which one could call him a vain man. Franklin writes to Ezra Stiles and speaks of his portrait being hung at Yale. Franklin complains that the portraits he has of himself do his stunning features no justice, and are certainly not worthy to be hung at Yale. He suggests that a new portrait be painted. Franklin clearly has issues as to how he will be remembered, and also how obsessed the man is with his looks. He writes, â€Å"I do not think any one of the portraits you mention, as in my possession, worthy of the place and company you propose to place it in. You have an excellent artist lately arrived. If he will undertake to make one for you, I shall cheerfully pay the expense.† This vanity of Franklin’s is presented in his â€Å"Apology for Printers† as well. He argues that printers print silly things not worth reading not because they want to, but because people are uned ucated and like to read mindless garbage. Franklin, in his mind, has set himself on a higher pedestal than the everyday man. He has a better education therefore he is a better person. He writes, â€Å"They sometimes print vicious or silly things not worth reading, it may not be because they approve such things themselves, but because the people are so viciously and corruptly educated that good things are not encouraged.† Franklin also presents a vain attitude toward religion. He goes as far in his letter to Ezra Stiles as to indicate Jesus Christ as merely a good philosopher, and he himself does not care to take the time that religion requires. He believes that he will find the truth for himself. The man put himself above others’ intelligence and beliefs and disregarded them as distractions and wastes of time for him. He says, â€Å"I have, with most of the present Dissenters in England, some doubts as to his divinity; tho’ it is a question I do not dogmatize u pon, having never studied it, and think it needless to busy myself with it now, when I expect soon an opportunity of knowing the truth with less trouble.† Franklin clearly displays his vanity throughout his writings. Benjamin Franklin often used his own sarcastic sense of humor to win over his audience. An example is Franklin’s â€Å"Apology for Printers,† in which he defends himself after accepting and printing a routine announcement of the sailing of a ship with a captain thought to be anticlerical. Benjamin Franklin :: essays research papers Benjamin Franklin took pride in almost every aspect of his life. There are many instances in which one could call him a vain man. Franklin writes to Ezra Stiles and speaks of his portrait being hung at Yale. Franklin complains that the portraits he has of himself do his stunning features no justice, and are certainly not worthy to be hung at Yale. He suggests that a new portrait be painted. Franklin clearly has issues as to how he will be remembered, and also how obsessed the man is with his looks. He writes, â€Å"I do not think any one of the portraits you mention, as in my possession, worthy of the place and company you propose to place it in. You have an excellent artist lately arrived. If he will undertake to make one for you, I shall cheerfully pay the expense.† This vanity of Franklin’s is presented in his â€Å"Apology for Printers† as well. He argues that printers print silly things not worth reading not because they want to, but because people are uned ucated and like to read mindless garbage. Franklin, in his mind, has set himself on a higher pedestal than the everyday man. He has a better education therefore he is a better person. He writes, â€Å"They sometimes print vicious or silly things not worth reading, it may not be because they approve such things themselves, but because the people are so viciously and corruptly educated that good things are not encouraged.† Franklin also presents a vain attitude toward religion. He goes as far in his letter to Ezra Stiles as to indicate Jesus Christ as merely a good philosopher, and he himself does not care to take the time that religion requires. He believes that he will find the truth for himself. The man put himself above others’ intelligence and beliefs and disregarded them as distractions and wastes of time for him. He says, â€Å"I have, with most of the present Dissenters in England, some doubts as to his divinity; tho’ it is a question I do not dogmatize u pon, having never studied it, and think it needless to busy myself with it now, when I expect soon an opportunity of knowing the truth with less trouble.† Franklin clearly displays his vanity throughout his writings. Benjamin Franklin often used his own sarcastic sense of humor to win over his audience. An example is Franklin’s â€Å"Apology for Printers,† in which he defends himself after accepting and printing a routine announcement of the sailing of a ship with a captain thought to be anticlerical.

Absolute Appraisal Method Essay

The Absolute Standards Approach is an appraisal method used to assess the performance of employees by presenting a detailed description of the employees’ actual behavior in comparison to a certain set of standards. In this type of appraisal format, the appraisers compare the employees to a certain set of standards, which may come in the form of checklists, rating scales, etc, rather than to other employees within the organization. The Absolute Standard Appraisal method has 4 techniques: Checklists, Essays, Critical Incidents, and Behaviorally Anchored Rating Scales. Checklist is the most common technique used by companies. It is a rating containing statements describing both effective and ineffective job behaviors. Behavioral checklists are well suited to employee development because they focus on behaviors and results, and use absolute instead of comparative standards. An advantage of using checklists is that evaluators are asked to describe rather than evaluate a subordinate’s behavior. The supervisor weighs the high and low points on his list and comes up with an overall rating for employee performance. On the other hand, a disadvantage of using checklists is the money and time it can consume for the construction of its instruments. The essay method is a written narrative assessment for employee performance. The employers indicate the subordinate’s strengths, weaknesses, potentials and areas of improvement in the workplace. A disadvantage of essay appraisals is that they can be very time-consuming, and to a large extent, unstructured. It may also come as discriminatory and susceptible to evaluator bias, which may misrepresent the real picture of the employee or the performance. Critical Incidents are specific behaviors essential to doing a job successfully. Behavioral traits that employees exhibit in the workplace – both effective and ineffective, are documented in writing. Employers then analyze these incidents from which a checklist is developed, indicating employee’s critical incidents that either needs praise for successful performance or training for further improvement. Behaviorally anchored rating scales (BARS) are rating scales, which define scale points with specific behavior statements that describes the varying degrees of performance. The scales represent a set of descriptive statements, ranging from the least to the most effective. It combines the elements from critical incident and graphic rating scale approaches. The evaluator must then indicate which behavior on each scale best describes the employee’s performance.

Explication Essays - Writers, Igbo People, Fiction, Dead Mens Path

Explication Essays - Writers, Igbo People, Fiction, Dead Mens Path Elisha Wallace ENGL 104, Sophomore Seminar I Explication The short story titled "Dead Men's Path" written by Chinua Achebe is about a man filled with hope trying to build a school which was once a ruin into a modern place of education. Even though he seemed to have good intentions his arrogance led him to fail and the short story ended with the school back to its unkempt state. The writer uses the priests dialogue to portray the theme of balance. My explication will be on the last six paragraphs of this short story in which Mr. Obi speaks to the priest and ignores his wise advice. This plot is a traditional "old versus new" where tradition goes head to head against modernization. In the end they realize that balance and a sense of understanding is what they need for peace. Mr. Obi is the new and young headmaster of Ndume school. He has a lot of ideas and changes he wants to make in order to elevate not only the school but the students as well. "Obi accepted this responsibility with enthusiasm. He had many wonderful ideas and this was an opportunity to put them into practice" (Kennedy and Gioia 187). One day Obi sees a woman crossing through the flowers in the compound and is informed that the village people cross through the compound to get to the burial. He blocks off the pathway and is quickly confronted by the priest. The priest is polite but firm in his opinion with Obi. He asks Obi for peace and balance in the hopes that Mr. Obi will open back up the pathway. But Obi is stubborn and insists that the village men and woman create a new way around th e school. "... I would suggest your constructing another path, skirting our premises I don't suppose the ancestors will find the little detour too burdensome" (Kennedy and Gioia 189). From this quote we can also see that Obi has a slight attitude and arrogance with his response to the old and wise priest. He is firm in his belief that the pathway is not of importance. A while later a young village woman dies and as a result the school is completely trashed and the protagonist, Obi, is left with a terrible review of his school. The setting of this short story contributed a great deal in developing the plot. The village is inferred to be small and tight knit with a strong sense of community. This helps readers understand why a large amount of the older village men and women are upset at Obi for blocking away the path to the burial. When the young woman dies it seems like effort of the community is what destroyed the school. "The beautiful hedges were torn up not just near the path but right around the school, the flowers trampled to death and one of the school buildings pulled down" (Kennedy and Gioia 189) "Dead Men's Path" is in third person omniscient. We can see that because the author uses words like he/she. This short story is omniscient because in one part of the story we can see the wife's point of view and how she thinks of her husband but the entire passage is usually in Mr. Obi's point of view. "He was stoop-shouldered and looked frail. But he sometimes surprised people with sudden bursts of physical energy" (Kennedy and Gioia 187). With this quote we get to see into the mind of the wife for just a moment. To find any symbols in this passage you really had to look deep and take everything as an interpretation of something else. I took the title, "The Dead Men's Path" as an object of symbolism. Not to describe the literal pathway to the burial ground but the path that Mr. Obi had chosen. The priest tried to show him the philosophy of balance. The philosophy of balance is an idea that shows up in many religions. It is the idea that you have to have a sense of balance in the world. Whether is be good and evil, right and wrong, or just simply up and down (Darren "The philosophy of balance").

April 1865 The Month That Saved America

April 1865 The Month That Saved America Free Online Research Papers Jay Winik, the author of April 1865 the Month that saved America, shows his writing genius when he writes this book. He has only written two books. Although he has written two books he writes like a veteran. In this book Jay Winik clearly states over and over again that April 1865 is the month that was the most crucial to America. He also writes that April 1865 is the month that could have dissembled America. It was the month that could have destroyed America but instead it saved it. Jay Winik states that the country didn’t rise by its self. He also mentions that the constitution mentioned nothing about a nation. Jay Winik does a lot more than just list the battles in chronological order. He goes thorough and tells of the events that happened before the Civil War. He goes in depth while talking about Abraham Lincoln. He also talked about Thomas Jefferson. He talked about how he owned slaves but he really didn’t like the practice. He begins the book with the life story of Jefferson. On from that he just tells us about the battles. He tells us of the struggles of the North. He also tells us struggles of the South. There are some things is the book that aren’t agreeable to some. He gets the readers to feel sorry for Lee. He also gets the readers to underestimate general Grant. He also often says things over and over again. He says them so the readers can understand what he’s talking about. He wants to get his point across which is fine, but he could have done it in a better way. This is historically relevant because every battle is historically correct. The way he put Lincoln’s assassination is correct also. He also describes Jefferson’s views of slavery correct also. In conclusion this is a very historically correct book. It is filled with action and suspense . This book should be recommended for people who are interested in the Civil War and history fanatics. Research Papers on April 1865 The Month That Saved America19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows EssayEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenHonest Iagos Truth through DeceptionMind TravelThe Effects of Illegal ImmigrationWhere Wild and West MeetQuebec and CanadaThe Spring and AutumnHip-Hop is Art

Rights and potential liabilities of parties Coursework

Rights and potential liabilities of parties - Coursework Example When the goods were loaded from Bristol, Oriental Shipping Limited had to sign the bills of landing. They agreed in the bill that, the goods were in good order but one case was missing. Instead of recording the date as it was, that is 15th August; they recorded the date to be 10th of August. Supreme Coffee Limited obtained an insurance policy for the voyage with Commodity Insurance which incorporated the Institute Cargo Clauses (B). Again, incorrect statement was recorded. They recorded the cost of the cargo as 50,000 pounds instead of 30,000 pounds. This means that the insurance policy was taken out of 50,000 pounds instead of 30,000 pounds. This is over writing of the insurable goods. In this case, it is quit clear that Supreme Coffee Limited obtained an insurance policy with Commodity Insurance. The insurance policy was to cover against any risk of the shipment. Article 1.2.2 of Institute Cargo Clauses (B) provides cover against damage or loss of goods transported caused by washin g overboard or jettison1. Article 1.2.3 provides insurance cover against damage or loss of the subject matter insured caused by entry of river, sea or sea water, into the vessel craft, place of storage or hold conveyance. In addition, Article 1.3 provides insurance cover against total loss of any package whether lost overboard, when unloading from or loading to, craft or vessel2. However, Article 4 provides some exclusion to the insured. According to Article 4.1, insurance policy will not cover against expense or damage brought by willful misconduct of the insured3. Analysis of the case The coffee cases which were taken to the dock were in good condition. When they were taken from the factory by Supreme Coffee Limited, none of them was wet or damaged. It is true to say so because Oriental Shipping Limited confirmed it. Although Oriental Shipping limited was not keen on safety of the coffee cases, it cannot be noted that the cause of damp was caused by spraying of water at the dock. There is no evidence to support this because the fault was not detected when the cases were loaded on to the ship. However, if only part of the cargo was damaged and not all, it will be difficult for the insurance company to be held accountable4. This case is similar to Nelson Marketing International versus Royal Sun Alliance Company of Canada case which took place in year 2006. In the case, the cargo was LTF (Laminated Truck Flooring) and it was moving from Malaysia to California. The cargo was damaged but the main cause was not known. It was no clear whether it was damaged due to moisture inherent or improper care in the laminated truck flooring. The ruling was finally made after 94 days of trial in the Lower Court where a decision of 92 pages was given5. According to the insurer, the exclusion of willful mischief of the insured was applicable. On the other hand, the owner of the cargo complained of the carrier’s negligence in handling and care of the cargo. According to th e court, the damages were not caused by the carrier’s negligence. It was caused by heat in the feeder vessels at voyage time and therefore, the insurer was held responsible. However, in the Court Of Appeals, the decision of the judge was reverse. The court argued that, with the nature of LTF, the damage was bound or certain to happen. The temperatures in the feeder vessels were normal and were expected6. In this case, it is evident and logical to say that, the damage of the cargo was not

A Mobile Application for Home Depot Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

A Mobile Application for Home Depot - Case Study Example The flow of information within the organization network determines the efficiency of operations and the ease of access of information of customers. Maintaining up to date records and managing inventories is an attribute that allows organizations to remain viable within a competitive economy, for this reason, it is crucial for organizations to manage their information distribution networks and manage the people and their access to information to achieve effectiveness in an organization. Home Depot is an organization that has remained behind in innovation and integration of information technology in their distribution networks. Consequently, the organization has underperformed owing to their old information management systems that are ineffective and poor development of their website. The new CEO of new depot has a vision for the information distribution network of the organization. To start with, he builds a mobile network for information flow within the organizations. First phones wi ll allow the organizations to manage their inventories in real time as the selling operations take place. This real time update of the inventories will ensure that business records are effectively maintained without requiring manual entry of information. In addition, the associates of Home Depot can, through the mobile application, seamless monitor inventories remotely from any store. Resultantly, business operations will be automated, making it easier for even one manager to monitor all business operations remotely. Secondly, the organization strategy to develop an interactive website will form a core part of their information distribution network. Through the website, they can disseminate marketing information to their target customers which is expected to make the public more conscious of their products and attract more online buyers (Reynolds 6). Developing an effective information distribution network will harness more profits for the organization by ensuring that information f lows effectively to the customers, and that business operations are timely and automated. Management of people for retrieval of knowledge is a critical aspect of business organizations. The CEO of Home depot has integrated technology in people management to ensure that both employees and customers are well coordinated. His idea to equip the employees with First Phones is geared towards the development of an effective communication between the employees of Home Depot. As Reynolds (6) points out, communication is a key aspect of the people management in a business environment. First phones will allow employees to communicate effectively from their locations and coordinate with each other without having to respond to the fixed walkie-talkies that demand a fixed employee presence, which will hasten communication. The blogger site will allow customers to post their feedback and receive answers from their questions. In turn, customer feedback can be adopted to develop goods that correspon d to customers’ preferences. Consequently, Management of the information systems will be a customer value approach that will help to satisfy customers better. Case Study, Marketing With Facebook Marketing policy is the vehicle that drives an organization’s products from their point of development to their point of selling at the customer site. Currently, information technology has opened an avenue for organizations to distribute their product information to their customers and allow customers to acquire this information. The internet platform has become a superior strategy for organizations to define the face of the marketing policy and roll out their products more efficiently. Facebook is one of the social media online services that have been embraced for organizational marketing. Organizations utilize