Monday, December 23, 2019
Paradoxes of Power in Sociological Insight by Randall Collins
Paradoxes of Power in Sociological Insight by Randall Collins It may be said that the institution of power has always been a prevalent force in our society. It is a large part of what holds society together; without it civilized society as we know it would not exist. The functions of power range from keeping crime at bay to the more commonplace aspects such as allowing patrons to be served in a restaurant. The notion of power is almost invisible until further analyzed; it is something that we perceive as being simple and therefore take for granted. Yet there are so many intricacies in regard to power that still remain to be seen. In Chapter Three of Sociological Insight by Randall Collins, the authorâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦Yet some forms of power are certainly more effective than others. The key to realizing power most effectively lies in the acknowledgement of occasional concession and knowing when to giv(e) in on something less important (74). For instance, once again consider the example of a mother and child. Assume that the child wants to go over to a friends house to play, but he has promised his mother that he would do his chores that afternoon. The child begs his mother to let him go and play, assuring her that he will do his chores immediately upon arriving home. The mother concedes, and the child is happy. If we are to analyze this situation in terms of gains and losses, the mother has gained points with her son and has essentially suffered no loss-the chores will still be done, only a few hours later. Throughout the entire scenario, the mothers power is evident, both explicit and implicitly; the son does not forget that his mother has the ultimate say in what he does, and in letting her son go she has not only made him happy but is also asserting her power as a parent. In sum, the mother has most effectively realized her power by knowing when to sacrifice something that is of lesser importance while gaining more long-term benefits. Another way that power may be asserted is by the influences of certain situations, namelyShow MoreRelatedContemporary Issues in Management Accounting211377 Words à |à 846 Pagesalso those of the profession and the wider public sphere. Ever helpful to regulators, the senior civil service, and international agencies, Michael Bromwich is respected for the ways in which he can combine conceptual understandings with pragmatic insights. He has been sought out to provide that extra element of conceptual clarity for the most complex of practical accounting endeavours. No doubt such abilities reflect Michaelââ¬â¢s early grounding in both the practice of accounting and its economic theorizationRead MoreManagement Course: MbaâËâ10 General Management215330 Words à |à 862 PagesGeneral Management California College for Health Sciences MBA Program McGraw-Hill/Irwin abc McGrawâËâHill Primis ISBN: 0âËâ390âËâ58539âËâ4 Text: Effective Behavior in Organizations, Seventh Edition Cohen Harvard Business Review Finance Articles The Power of Management Capital FeigenbaumâËâFeigenbaum International Management, Sixth Edition HodgettsâËâLuthansâËâDoh Contemporary Management, Fourth Edition JonesâËâGeorge Driving Shareholder Value MorinâËâJarrell Leadership, Fifth Edition HughesâËâGinnettâËâCurphyRead MoreStephen P. Robbins Timothy A. Judge (2011) Organizational Behaviour 15th Edition New Jersey: Prentice Hall393164 Words à |à 1573 PagesPerception and Individual Decision Making 165 Motivation Concepts 201 Motivation: From Concepts to Applications 239 3 The Group 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Foundations of Group Behavior 271 Understanding Work Teams 307 Communication 335 Leadership 367 Power and Politics 411 Conflict and Negotiation 445 Foundations of Organization Structure 479 v vi BRIEF CONTENTS 4 The Organization System 16 Organizational Culture 511 17 Human Resource Policies and Practices 543 18 Organizational Change
Sunday, December 15, 2019
Can you remember the last time you had a sweet Free Essays
Surely the last time you had a sweet wasnââ¬â¢t because you worked hard for it, or because you were on your bestest behaviour that your mum decided to treat you. In fact, youââ¬â¢re probably having something sugary as your reading this; what is it this time: A Sherbet? A Skittle? Or a plan and simple, sugar filled frothy fizzy drink. If youââ¬â¢re not drinking it now, the last time you probably drank it was to ease the chicken and chips going down your throat for lunch. We will write a custom essay sample on Can you remember the last time you had a sweet? or any similar topic only for you Order Now Itââ¬â¢s more attractive than the healthy stuff. Itââ¬â¢s cheaper than the healthy stuff. No doubt tastier than the healthy stuff. So why are fizzy drinks and sugary snacks being replaced by the healthy stuff? Shouldnââ¬â¢t they be banned altogether? Decaying of the teeth are the main reasons for toothaches. 60%, thatââ¬â¢s almost 2 out of every 3, children in Scotland have a dental disease from as young as 3 years old. Sweets and fizzy drinks allow this to happen. The unnatural sugars they contain erode your teeth to make them thin and see through. I once knew a boy who had no front teeth! Well thatââ¬â¢s what it looked like anyway. He drank so many Coca Colas that his teeth started looking like glass. Not only did he get laughed at but he wasnââ¬â¢t allowed sweets for the rest of his life. I donââ¬â¢t know bout you, but I definitely think sweets are not worth that, even if they taste unbelievably scrumscious. While your mouth bathes in the sweet syrupy substances, itââ¬â¢s sometimes easy to forget where you left the wrapper. Nearly everyone throws itââ¬â¢s in the bin. But the minority donââ¬â¢t dispose of it as sensibly. This is a health hazard. Imagine slipping on a slick silk like chocolate wrapper and cutting yourself on an open tin can, all because a one child didnââ¬â¢t throw his rubbish away. And when your classrooms full of sweet wrappers, cans of coke, and tables looking like theyââ¬â¢ve been moulded from chewing gum, learning is not easy. Learning is important while youââ¬â¢re young. Itââ¬â¢s where the basic yet very crucial information is taught. Without knowing the basics, itââ¬â¢s almost impossible to progress in life. But when youââ¬â¢re tied and feeling lazy this too can make it difficult. And the main reason why youââ¬â¢re tied during the day is because youââ¬â¢re up during the night. And the main reason why youââ¬â¢re up during the night is because you drank to much caffeine during the day. And the main reason why you drink caffeine is because itââ¬â¢s in fizzy drinks; and fizzy drinks are addictive. I know this seems like just another article telling you that sweets are bad and that you should stay away from them. You probably get enough of that from your parents, teachers and dentists. But itââ¬â¢s true. They damage your health, create hazards and in all stop you from reaching your full potential in life. And besides, there are only so many pounds the tooth fairy has. I donââ¬â¢t think she can afford to pay you everyday for every tooth that will eventually fall out if you carry on consuming candy. Ban the sweets and fizzy drinks: Ban the damage, hazards and create yourself a better future. How to cite Can you remember the last time you had a sweet?, Essays
Saturday, December 7, 2019
Efficient Wastewater Treatment and Recycling Systems
Question: Discuss about the Efficient Wastewater Treatment and Recycling Systems. Answer: Introduction Water is one of the most key natural resources to the survival of mankind and is very much unlimited though a bit scarce in some societies. It surrounds the lands both far and near. Its usage in some of the regions across the world currently has augmented past the limits that natural water resources can sustain since it results in a reduction of some natural water resources including ponds, rivers, reduced the quality of drinking water, pollution of the environment and lastly increased periods of drought. For instance, Australia has been affirmed to be a high-stress region in regards to problems associated with water. All these are attributed to the factors that there is continuous increasing world population in addition to the impacts of impulsive climate in most regions creating adverse effects on the water supply on earth(Chris Binnie, 2008, p. 60). Despite the availability of a variety of water reuse supplies, this report is directed to only the desalination of sea water and treated water. Recycling of water and see desalination are the strategies that will help to decrease the stress on the water resources while making them more sustainable to mankind despite debates and arguments about acceptance of the recycled water. Two aspects are mainly discussed in this report; the perception of the community in the acceptance of the desalinated water and recycled water including the approaches for community involvement. Surveys and studies were carried out earlier on public perceptions and the methods for engaging the public to adopt the use of recycled water and desalinated see water is also discussed(Chris Binnie, 2008, p. 65). Background on Sydneys Metropolitan Water Plan Sydney as a city in Australia is one of the most populated and its population is increasing at a very high rate. Currently, its population is approximately 5 million, and it is projected to go up to 6 million by the year 2036. Thus there is a need for a very strong, sustainable and efficient water plan by the state authority to manage this vast population. The metropolitan water plan comprises of water supply, and the management system of the plan takes into account the security, safety, sustainability and the cost-effective water supply to Sydney city. Besides, the metropolitan ensures the handling of drought and the law rainfall situation, good health to the citizens and the state of water bodies that are obstructed by the dams constructed to stream water all over the state(Fereidoun Ghassemi, 2007, p. 235). The estimation of this plan is the provision of water security until the year 2025 to the NSW. Sydneys metropolitan water plan has major characteristics as outlined below; A Higher percentage of Sydneys drinking water will be obtained from the dams. Introducing innovative water efficiency programs will help to minimize water consumption in industries, agriculture, households and in governments. The estimated water supply plan will help to satisfy at least 15% of the current water requirements Investing in the recycling project will help to minimize the demand for drinking water hence lowering the load on water bodies(Fereidoun Ghassemi, 2007, p. 243). Presently, various environmental issues such as weather inconsistency, global warming, etc. have been on the mention and extracting water from the natural water bodies and land is a contributing factor to these challenges. Therefore, the techniques involved in this plan and community engagement will surely help to decrease the demand for water. The engagement of the community is also an effective method since it has created a friendly partnership between the government and the community on water harvesting, recycling and minimizing water loses especially the leakage loses(Fereidoun Ghassemi, 2007, p. 247). The introduction of water meter helps to inspect the quality of water regarding the nutrients contained and the recycling water release in water bodies. The investment in these technologies will greatly help to solve the issue of water and increase the usage of recycled water and desalinated water in the future(Fereidoun Ghassemi, 2007, p. 266). Community Views on Advanced Water Treatment Adoption There are several views on the application of desalted water as opposed to reuse of wastewater. Various countries currently are facing the water challenges since they poses limited water resources and provisions to meet both their current and impending water demands. Besides, there is also a possibility of heavy pollution in their water bodies. With an increase in population, climate change and uncertainty of rain among others, these problems are deemed to becoming worse. Thus to curb the water crisis, the state authorities have a task of coming up with technical solutions to increase the water supply, quality, and the water level. The engineers have come up with new technologies which make water to be used once again after its use and also making the seawater drinkable through a process known as briefly described below(Gayathri Devi Mekala, 2008, p. 566). Recycled water is water which is treated after it has been used once. The treatment involves various stages whereby the physical, chemical, and biological impurities are eliminated through various processes such as ultrafiltration. After treating the wastewater, the state authorities discharge it in large water bodies where it gets recombined with water devoid of impurities thus reducing the level of concentration of contaminations in the water body thereby being able to be used once again. On the other hand, it can be used directly without mixing it back to the fresh waters. Below is a diagram of the whole process(Gayathri Devi Mekala, 2008, p. 570). Desalinated water Desalinated water is water that is void of salts and minerals .thus through a process of reverse osmosis, these salts and other harmful particles are eliminated making the water safe for human use. Below is the diagram for the desalination process The studies and surveys that have been conducted in the past concerning the adoption of recycled water and desalinated sea water show that the public adoption was very little. Related research have been done in the recent past and the response is almost the same. These type of studies are carried since the 1970s. In most cases, the response was that people have the general acceptance to use of recycled water, but on a low personal contact, for instance, they will prefer to use it for gardening purposes and for purposes of flashing in the toilet. Personal contact such as drinking, washing, and bathing was mostly not for the opinion of many(Gayathri Devi Mekala, 2008, p. 600). The survey conducted in Australia by Hurliman and Dolnicar records that 92% of the residents consented to the use of recycled water for non-contact purposes such as gardening. Only 36 % of the residents were positive about the use of recycled water for drinking. On the other hand, the survey on acceptance of desalinated water showed that 53% of the residents were positive for its use in drinking, bathing, and washing but 84% were ready to use it for gardening purpose and other outdoor usage. Thereby this study implies that desalted water is most favored over water that has been recycled for contact usage i.e. drinking, bathing and washing(Gayathri Devi Mekala, 2008, p. 720). Though the acceptance level of this water is increased, majority of the people still are not prepared to consume recycled water for purposes of personal use such as drinking. A recent study by Ransburg indicates the barriers that are posed by the public in regards to the use of recycled water. The barriers are either technical or non-technical. The technical barriers are the appropriate technical solutions that will be suitable to manage health risks. The acceptance of the public to the usage of recycled water falls under non-technical issues. Ransburg states that the reality is that despite the fact that sufficient and available information to substantiate the high-tech submissions of water treatment systems, the view of the public remains a major setback(Fereidoun Ghassemi, 2007, p. 288). The quality of water is among the major factors that people consider on the acceptance of recycled or desalinated water. The water that is recycled from the municipal wastewater consists of harmful releases such as chemicals from industries and organic compounds and human excrete. Also, there are biological materials such as pathogens, protozoa, impurities and viruses. The risk of treatment failure is usually likely in almost all the water treatment systems thereby reviewing these possibilities makes most people reluctant about the adoption of recycled water(Chris Binnie, 2008, p. 90). Cost and Environmental factors It is easier to convince the people to adopt the usage of desalinated water weather for purposes of contact usage or outdoor. In contrary, the cost of the desalination process is way too costly as compared to the normal fresh water. Besides, desalinated water is not environmental friendly since the energy consumption of desalinated water is very high thereby resulting in greenhouse gas emission and air pollution. The sucking of huge amounts of water from the sea endangers the life of tiny sea creatures such as plankton, babyish and other animals. Also, the removal of salt disposes of the brine concentration thereby harming aquatic life. Furthermore, the disposal of the removed salt is very harmful to plant life since it makes the soil lose its fertility. Despite all these negative environmental effects most people prefer using desalinated water over recycled water(Chris Binnie, 2008, p. 100). People will easily accept to drink recycled water without their knowledge. But telling them to drink recycled water however much it is clean will be impossible since it creates some negative psychological impact on them as they will be thinking that they are drinking water from their toilet. On the other hand, it will not be much hard to convince them to drink desalinated water. Only a few people do care about the source of water they are drinking, but to most people, the source is a major factor to consider. Socio-demographic factors Some belief in certain religions permits one to only drink water after performing some ritualistic process. Thus it is hard to convince the people to use or drink recycled water nor to convince them to go against their beliefs. Though in such communities, acceptance of desalinated water is not a big factor to them. Besides, the demographic factors such as age become a factor i.e. the aged h do have a weak immune system, and drinking recycled water may expose them to being vulnerable to illness. The engagement of the community is one of the toughest parts in the recycling and reuse of water. The community is essential in all the aspects since by getting the peoples problems; sound strategies can help to improve the decisions made which could turn out to be great .hence below are sound strategies that will help the adoption of recycled water(Chris Binnie, 2008, p. 116). Engaging the public from the onset i.e. the planning stages very essential in winning the trust of the public and gaining their confidence. This involves conducting of surveys, questions, seminars, studies and awareness programs this, makes the public to have more knowledge on the process. For instance in Toowoomba advanced water recycling plant, the authorities did everything from planning process design and implementation only to bring to the public notice after everything is done. The people could not buy the idea, and despite attempts to buy their trust, it failed terribly to the extent that protest groups and political influenced ensured the people wane and consequently the project failed(Fereidoun Ghassemi, 2007, p. 299). Before applying any strategy, there is need to get the opinions from the public and the current market scenario. These surveys could be in the form of online questionnaires. I .e in 2009; an online data survey showed that 3094 people out of 13884 invitations voted for acceptance of recycled water usage. The questionnaire was about their mindsets, beliefs, demographic views and social views and recycled water and reuse. This kind of survey helps to decide on which best strategy to apply Branding and marketing The branding and marketing are also a crucial factor in making the public to accept the recycling process. This entails providing an intricate elementary and the most striking statistics about the recycling plant. I.e. providing a preview of a film that encloses the best sections of the process. This makes the persons enthusiastic about the plan or the method. Thus the name of the plant for example green water will help to compensate the feeling of yuck thus building the publics confidence. This involves conducting of seminars and presentations where people share ideas and information regarding all data about recycled and desalinated water. If possible give a comparison of the recycled water and the water they use using a practical data base. Provided they will realize that the recycled water is superior to the one they are using theyll be more at ease in accepting it. Also, engaging the media by providing them with technical and qualitative information helps to publicize the plant. Lastly conducting of competition and in the process providing the participants with questionnaires helps to remove the misconceptions about the product(Fereidoun Ghassemi, 2007, p. 445). Conclusion Most people do not prefer recycled and desalinated water, but they would opt for natural water. The survey conducted shows that there is a gap in the knowledge of general purpose concerning the recycled and desalinated water. Most of them would prefer to use recycled and desalinated water for outdoor purposes such as agriculture but not in contact purposes such as bathing washing and drinking. This report showed the reasons as to why this happens and provided the best sound strategies that can be applied to make the process more successful and adoptable by the public. The results from the surveys and studies show that the people are more concerned about the health issues and the water source. The sound strategies such as creating awareness through the media, conducting seminars and technical knowledge sharing, engaging the public from the onset will help to eliminate the misconceptions about the product thereby increasing the confidence and adoption from the public(Gayathri Devi Meka la, 2008, p. 631). References Chris Binnie, M. K., 2008. Water Reuse,Scientific and Technical Report Series. 2nd ed. edinburgh: IWA Publishing. Fereidoun Ghassemi, I. W., 2007. Inter-Basin Water Transfer. 3rd ed. london: Cambridge University Press. Gayathri Devi Mekala, B. D. M. S. A.-M. B., 2008. A framework for efficient wastewater treatment and recycling systems. 2nd ed. sydney: IWMI.
Saturday, November 30, 2019
The Present Moment Is Always Where You Are free essay sample
To a large degree, the measure of our peace of mind is determined by how much we are able to live in the present moment. Irrespective of what happened yesterday or last year, and what may or may not happen tomorrow, the present moment is where you are always. Without question, many of us have mastered the neurotic art of spending much of our lives worrying about a variety of things all at once. We allow past problems and future concerns to dominate our present moments, so much so that we end up anxious, frustrated, depressed, and hopeless. On the flip side, we also postpone ourgratification, our stated priorities, and our happiness, often convincing ourselves that someday will be better than today. Unfortunately, the same mental dynamics that tell us to look toward the future will only repeat themselves so that someday never actually arrives. John Lennon once said, Life is whats happening while were busy making other plans. We will write a custom essay sample on The Present Moment Is Always Where You Are or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page When were busy making other plans, our children are busy growing up, the people we love are moving away and dying, our bodies are getting out of shape, and our dreams are slipping away. In short, we miss out on life. Many people live as if life were a dress rehearsal for some later date. It isnt. In fact, no one has a guarantee that he or she will be here tomorrow. Now is the only time we have, and the only time that we have any control over. When our attention is in the present moment, we push fear from our minds. Fear is the concern over events that might happen in the future we wont have enough money, our children will get into trouble, we will get old and die, whatever. To combat fear, the best strategy is to learn to bring your attention back to the present. Mark Twain said, I have been through some terrible things in my life, some of which actually happened. I dont think I can say it any better. Practice keeping your attention on the here and now. Your efforts will pay great dividends.
Monday, November 25, 2019
How to Meet People in College
How to Meet People in College Knowing how to meet people in college can be more challenging than you might have expected. There are tons of students, yes, but it can be hard to make individual connections in the crowds. If youre not sure where to start, consider one of these ten ideas: Join a club. You dont need to know anyone in the club to join; you just need to have a general interest about the clubs activities and mission. Find a club that interests you and head to a meeting even if its the middle of the semester. Join an intramural sports team. Intramurals can be one of the best features of being in school. Youll get some exercise in, learn some great athletic skills, and of course! make some great friends in the process. Volunteer on or off campus. Volunteering can be an easy way to meet people. If you find a volunteer program or group that shares your values, you can make a difference in your community while also making some personal connections with people just like you. Win-win! Attend a religious service on-campus. Religious communities can be like a home away from home. Find a service you like and the relationships will naturally bloom. Get an on-campus job. One of the easiest ways to meet folks is to get an on-campus job that involves interacting with lots of people. Whether its making coffees in a campus coffee shop or delivering mail, working with others is a great way to get to know a lot of people. Get involved with a leadership opportunity. Being shy or an introvert doesnt mean you dont have strong leadership skills. Whether youre running for student government or just volunteering to organize a program for your club, serving in a leadership role can allow you to connect with others. Start a study group. While the main goal of a study group is to focus on academics, theres also an important social side. Find a few people who you think would work well in a study group and see if everyone wants to help each other out. Work for the campus newspaper. Whether your campus produces a daily newspaper or a weekly one, joining the staff can be a great way to meet other people. Youll not only connect with your fellow staff members, but youll also connect with all sorts of other folks doing interviews and research. Work for the campus yearbook. Just like the newspaper, the campus yearbook can be a great way to connect. Youll meet tons of folks while working hard to document all that happ ens during your time in school. Start your own club or organization! it may sound silly or even intimidating at first, but starting your own club or organization can be a great way to meet other people. And even if only a few folks show up for your first meeting, thats still a victory. Youll have found a few people you share something in common with and who, ideally, you can get to know a little better.
Friday, November 22, 2019
Analysis of the Public and Private Sports Industry
Analysis of the Public and Private Sports Industry Public, private and voluntary sectors in the sports industry, advantages and disadvantages of the leisure centre being in the public sector, how the local leisure centre can meet the aim of getting more local clubs to use its facilities. Introduction ââ¬Å"Since the opportunity to participate in sport or recreation requires facilities, the central task of organisations, and associated individuals, is to provide a service which focuses on people and which satisfies that need.â⬠[1] The sports industry has changed beyond all recognition since the beginning of the 1990ââ¬â¢s in each of the public, private and voluntary sectors. The impetus has come from top level government policy with the creation of the UK Sports Council and the formation of the chief sporting bodies such as Sport England offering both funding and structure to the previously ad hoc nature of leisure and recreation in modern Britain. Moreover, the lure of professional sport has also irrevocably changed in tan dem with the structural changes in amateur sport with the result that there is, at the dawn of the twenty first century, more people are taking an active part in sport, which has further increased the pressure on local services such as leisure centres. There are though vast differences between the way that the public and private sector sports providers are run and funded as shall now become apparent. The Private Sector With regards to the sports industry, the private sector refers to those leisure services that are funded by private capital and open only to private membership. This can mean anything from specialist professional sports clubs to health and fitness clubs to local sports teams that have been established and sponsored by local and national businesses alike. The advantages of this kind of sporting industry are predominantly economic with the funding of private sports clubs historically far outstripping the economic resources available to equivalent public sector sports se rvices. Certainly in the 1970ââ¬â¢s and 1980ââ¬â¢s, private sector sports industries were far more popular and productive than their public sector counterparts mirrored in the elevated sporting achievements of private school sporting institutions as opposed to the relative failings of the same public (comprehensive) school sports bodies. There are, however, inherent disadvantages to sports and leisure services that rely exclusively on the private sector for funding. First and foremost, there are no guarantees that the source of that funding will remain constant for any fixed length of time. Benefactors are subject to the ups and downs of the free market economy, which can result in sharp reductions ââ¬â as well as rises ââ¬â in the level of funding provided. In addition, any leisure service that is inexorably tied to the private sector also inevitably suffers from the lack of community spirit that can only be adequately garnered through association with the local publi c authorities. Thus, while the advantages to sports services in the private sector appear on the surface to be all encompassing, the reality is that the lack of stability that characterises all facets of the private sector economy hampers the sustained growth and popularity.
Wednesday, November 20, 2019
Value-added Model (VAM) of Teaching Evaluations and Its Implications Research Paper
Value-added Model (VAM) of Teaching Evaluations and Its Implications - Research Paper Example In not more than a decade, there has been a heated debate about the best value-added model of teaching. However, as much as this debate is vital in the effort to offer quality education, less people have an idea of what it entails. The key players in this discussion are people working in the education sector and who in one way or another tend to benefit or lose from value-added teacher evaluation (Early, Imig & Michelli, 2010). With these deliberations, it would be necessary first to understand what value-added model of teaching evaluations entails. The context of value- added model in teaching evaluations The most and obvious meaning of value-added model of teaching is a method of teacher evaluation that gives an account of teacherââ¬â¢s contribution in terms of evaluating current school year test performances of students to performances of the same students in the previous year (Raudenbush, 2004). This also includes comparison of performances of other students in the same level. Value added model also tends to evaluate each teacherââ¬â¢s performance in comparison with performances of other teachers. Nevertheless, this model has not come without criticism. Opponents of this model argue that the use of tests to measure teachers contribution is not scientific and has not been proved by and scientific study (Raudenbush, 2004). Additionally, they argue that some students results and performances are beyond teacherââ¬â¢s reach since some of the factors that determine students performance include behaviors of the students, and, which they claim most of these behaviors are acquired outside tutoring (Cater, 2004). However, it is paramount to focus on issues other than generalizing notions. For example, it is of considerable importance to articulate on possible likelihood of using VAM. Studies have indicated that use of this model will create accountability to teachers and administrators (Schwab, 1991). They tend to shape their behaviors, and work hard to prod ucing top scores in their subjects. The overall intention of this model is to encourage teachers work extra harder by incorporating different teaching strategies to improve achievement of both the students and the school (Nolan & Hoover, 2010). Value added results may also be helpful to teachers in terms of self improvement and setting target (Lissitz, 2005). It has also been argued that results obtained from value- added can be used at school level to improve on different subjects and group of students depending on the level of weakness or strength (Ballou, Sanders & Wright, 2004). With results of value- added from different schools, an evaluation can be done to come up with the best teaching strategy to be adopted in order to streamline all schools performance. It has also been argued that value-added results can help create projections of the level of school performance, which can be used to determine required resources, decision making and planning (Xiaoxia, Darling-Hammond, Hae rtel, & Ewart, 2010). In the context of accountability, value-added model is argued to act as an awakening call for schools in order for them to improve on weak areas to avoid sanctions (Lissitz, 2005). The model also ensures that schools that perform well are rewarded in order to keep the fire burning. The tax money paid to run the school is required to be utilized accordingly. Therefore, schools that incorporate value-added
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)