Critical Review of a paper by Lindsay G and Muijs D (2006) Challenging Lab Report

Critical Review of a paper by Lindsay G and Muijs D (2006) Challenging Underachievement in boys - Lab Report Example In this study, schools influenced ethos by educating teachers perceptions of underachieving groups and educating pupils views of school and learning. In other words, they looked at the leadership of the school and worked downward to the pupils to learn the culture of the school. To be effective, this involved an emphasis on the school connecting to the community and making a high level of expectations known. The school also needs to take on the culture values of the community. The school must be re-socialized to reflect community values. Parental involvement and community outreach have been found to be important to establish a pride in the school system. Part of ethos is the philosophy of the teachers toward addressing learning concerns which involves changing the curriculum and teaching techniques for different pupil groups. It also involves whether or not a vocational or basic skills orientation is chooses for pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds. It appears that the approach used in the schools in the studies leaned toward the vocational orientation. There were two general approaches used in the schools studied. The effective school mode is where the focus is optimizing achievement for all students so it is ethnicity free and gender free. Specific groups are not targeted but rather they are integrated completely within the greater student body. There is some evidence that Caribbean, Indian and Pakistani students attain more in this type of school if intermixed with mainly a white student population. The second approach does target specific sub-groups. The important issue seems to be why this targeting is used and how the target groups are chosen. It is best to use a general profile of the student rather than ethnicity as the grouping criteria, according to this study.This study provides evidence that schools can find success in underachievement in specific groups of boys. This is democratic action research and to incorporated both quantitative methods using multi-level modeling to identify schools and qualitative methods to collect opinions of those involved in the educational process. Study Methods It is important to look at how this study was done. It is democratic action research. This is a form of research that uses non researchers to conduct the study. This form of research has been criticized because these individuals do not know how to do research. This particular study used researchers to supervise the work as well as consult on the design, to maintain its integrity.The first staged of the study searched for the schools to be used in the study. They were looking for schools that showed that they were having some success in improving the achievement of the target groups of boys, black Caribbean, African and UK-born boys. Standardized test uses by the British school system were used as a measure to determine which schools showed success. The second stage was to interview head teachers and a sample of other teachers and a sample of students. The interviews were semi-structured, recorded and written up immediately following the interview. A thematic analysis was then done to identify key themes and sub-themes.Multi-level modeling

Identifying a discourse's significance and problem Essay

Identifying a discourse's significance and problem - Essay Example onveyed in a powerful way by linking it with the story of the protagonist lion cub that grows into a lion and realizes what happens when the hyenas take over and kill all the animals. In the film, â€Å"Lion King† King Mustafa refers to the valley as the â€Å"Circle of Life† which is significant for the cause of preservation of animal life. The incidents that occur later in the story when Scar lets the hyenas loose on pride land demonstrates the disastrous results when animals are used for selfish purposes and when their lives are not preserved. This is an important message that only serves to emphasize how important it is that animals should be made to suffer, neither should they be used indiscriminately for man’s benefit, as in the entertainment industry and in scientific experiments – where they are put through pain and suffering. Killing animals is also likely to disturb the Circle of life and the delicate ecological balance that exists. This is the real problem the film addresses with its underlying message - the cruel and indiscriminate killing of animals. The film applies subtle persuasion as far as the viewer is concerned, highlighting the importance of preservation of the life of animals in order to ensure that the various species of the earth are protected. The text of the film supports the message against indiscriminate killing of animals, mostly through the stark desolation it portrays of the land when most of the animals in it have been destroyed. This is an important message in the modern day context, when man is indiscriminately destroying animals and subjecting them to cruel and inhuman treatment. As the film portrays, there is a delicate balance in nature, where different species co-exist harmoniously together. Pride Land as it existed was a place where there was a productive earth and happy animals because none was subjected to cruel degrading treatment. The film also provides a resolution for the problem. After highlighting the devastation

Sarfaesi act Essay Example for Free

Sarfaesi act Essay The Securitization Reconstruction of Financial Assets Enforcement of Security Interest Act,2002 (SARFAESI) empowers banks [financial institutions to recover their non-performing assets without intervention of court. The Act provides 3 alternate methods for recovering of NPA namely- Securitization Asset Reconstruction Enforcement of security without intervention of court Provisions of this Act are applicable only for NPA loans with outstanding balance bove 1 lakh rupees. NPA loan accounts where the amount is less than 20% of the principal and Interest are not eligible to be dealt with under this Act. NPAs should be backed by securities charged to the bank by way of hypothecation or mortgage or assignment-security Interest by way of purchase and lease not liable for attachment under Sec 60 of CPC ,are not covered under this Act. Strengths of the Act- The Act empowers the Bank: 1 . To Issue demand notices to the defaulting borrower and guarantor,calllng upon hem to discharge their dues in full within 60 days from the date of notice.

Memory and Language Acquisition

Memory and Language Acquisition Memory and language acquisition Abstract The study of second language acquisition through the analysis of the language learners mental process and strategies seeing how researchers investigate on language learning and processing;how they collect the data;which factors,mechanisms and processes they examine for constracting and testing theories.The exploration of human mind following the cognitive psychology theories applying to the Multi-store memory model (Atkinsons and Shiffrin) and the Working memory model (Baddeley) in connection with the relationship between memory and language,trying to understand also the implication in quotidian actions of words temporary memory.A look on the links between memory and attention demonstrated by the Cowans Embedded-processes model of working memory,showing how memory and attention are involved in language acquisition.The attempt is the comprehension of the way in which learners acquire a second language ,how they develop their linguistic and communicative competences and in which proces ses are involved in. Introduction It is not possible to do a direct inspection on the learners mental knowledge.This can only be inferred by examining samples of the learners performance.Second language researchers have used different kinds of performance to try to investigate competence.Very different results can be obtained depending on the kind of performance data the researcher studies.Researchers disagree about what kind of performance they think provides the best evidence of acquisition.It is impostant to examine carefully the nature of the data used and the way in which acquisition has been measured,in reading reports of actual studies.The goal of second language researchers   is the description and the explanation of the learnerslinguistic and communicative competence.The study of how learners learn a second language does not have a very old story (the surge of empirical work that inform current thinking did not begin until the late 1960s).The study of learners-external factors and learner-internal mechanis ms constitutes an attempt to how second language acquisition takes place (learner-internal mechanisms concern on how learners use their resources in communication and on how they acquire the language,these mechanisms are mental and largely hidden from view althuoght not necessarly completely unconscious).Then there is the question of individual learners differences and what causes them.Learners set about the task of acquiring a second language in different ways.They differ with regard to such general factors as motivation and aptitude,and also in the use of various strategies for obtaining   input and for learning from it.he study of these general factors and on the learning strategies helps to explain why some learners more and more rapidly than others and why they reach higher level of proficiency.Learners language study is the starting point of   the exploration of second language acquisition because it provides the data for constructing and testing theories of second languag e acquisition (analysis of errors,acquisition orders and developmental sequences,variability,pragmatics aspects,study of input and interaction,analysis of discourse). 1-Theories and memory models Since the early 20th century various schools of psychology attempted to develop learning theories.Every school developed different theories working on distinct perspectives of human mind.The first was the behaviourist psychology school.For the behaviourism movement the human mind was totally unknowable.This school maintains that only the behaviour can be observed and analysed scientifically.Even the language learnig process is seen as a behaviour (verbal behaviour).The behaviourist theory affirms that language is a product of habit and it can be acquired by conditioning through a stimulus-response mechanism (external stimuli activate responses to the exactly for the animals).The empirical work so is concentrated only on the observable phenomens and processes (external factors).In 1960s Cognitivism replaced behaviours becoming the dominant paradigm.The cognitive psychologists look at the learners as information processors (like a computer).Focusing   on the inner mental activities t o understand how people learn,mental processes as thinking,memorising,knowing and problem-solving have to be explored.For cognitivists human mind can be seen as a computer where information comes in,it is being processed and leads to certain outcomes.The cognitive approach on the information processing has provided psycholinguistics with the means for anlysing how the learners process the language,cognitive theories have given a revolutionary contribution to linguistics.The assumptions are that for processing information there are two separated channels,associated with the different senses,auditory and visual (with two dinstinct sensory stores the echoic memory and the iconic memory);each channel has a limitated capacity,learning is an active process where information   is being filtrate,selected,organized and integrated on the basis of prior knowledge.In 1968 Atkinsons and Shiffrin proposed a model of human memory which explains the human information processing system.They despri bed a three-store model indicating three different memory systems:sensory memory,short-term memory (STM) and long-term memory (LTM).Human mind has a limited capacity for the amount and the nature of information it can process.An invironmental stimulus activates our senses (information can be just processed in a channel at a time).Incoming information enters the information processing system,the trace of this information is held briefly in the sensory memory,that is a temporary buffer memory (language learning trace can be visual in reading or auditory listening).From here certain pieces of information are passed to short-term memory,which is another temporary memory but at this level we are conscious of information and we can work with it.STM has a low capacity of storage (about 7 plus minus 2 chunks of information;Miller 1956) it decays as soon as it not longer attended to.To be holden information has to be encoded through active strategies as rehearse or visualisation,but then the re is the transfert to the long-term memory.This is a permanent ,memory stoe with an extremely large capacity that could be unlimited,here stored information is recorded and can always be retrieved,it is organized according to meaning and is linked by associations.There is no limit the capacity of storing new information and this can be kept up to a life time.Only with the deterioration of brain system the storage retrieval capability can be lost.Permanent losses of information occurs just as a   result of brain damages,failures of retrieval often are caused by temporary blockage.Just some of what we experience is attended for more the a few brief moments.Hence the storage process is not even activated.Using the metaphor of the human mind as a computer,cognitivists gave to short-term memory the title of Working memory.In 1974 Baddeley and Hitch proposed the Multi-component model of working memory.This model is composed of three main component:the central executive,the phonological loop and the visual-spatial sketch-pad.The central executive acts as supervisory system in controlling cognitive processes.It is responsible for the slave systems coordination.The slave systems are short-term storage systems which concern two separate perceptual domains,Phonogical loop and visual-spatial sketch-pad are respectively the verbal and the visual-spatial slave systems.Phonological loop has two sub-systems called phonological store and articulatory process and it deals with phonological information. Therefore language learning and processing working memory is involved at this level.The phonological store sub-system is assumed to be specialized to maintain verbal information that enters here automatically,because spoken language seems to have a direct access to the phonological store.This has a limited capacity of storage,it can hold acoustically coded items just for s brief period, in fact the trace decays in 1 or 2 seconds.For holding information we need to use strategie s that can help us to encode it and to retain it.In words memorisation tasks for example the rehearsal mechanism allows us to transform spoken words into a phonological code,preventing them from decay.Rehearsal consists in sub-vocal repetition of the material,some kind of inner voice in our head.This mechanism in fact is used to convert written words into a phonological code,so that these can be insert into the phonological store.Written words are processed on a phonological basis in memorisation,being included in the same store of spoken words instead of a separate visual store as we could imagine.The visual-spatial sketch-pad endeed is implicated in visual and spatial tasks like location or movement of object in space or remembering visible features as shape and colour.It works like a sort of inner eye specialized on spatial and visual coding. 2-Memory and attention A great deal of everyday activities require the use of temporary memory.Encoding store and retrieval are the process on which we rely on for acting on day-to-day life.Making decisions,solving problems,social interactioning,language production are based on the ability of memorising.Performing a task from repeating foreign words to counting ,to remember   where we parked our car demand the involvement of attention.Cowans embedded-process model of working memory illustrates the links between memory and attention.Our capacity of attention is limited,internal and external factors of distraction and individual faculties and abilities affect our attentional degree.The number of things we can focus at the same time is indefinite but information is activated only for a very brief period after which it decays.Information can be activated automatically,it is not always the focus of conscious necessary awareness.This can explain how it is possible to perform actions without the need of control ling their process.Voluntary processes and involuntary processes control both the focus of attention . This can explain how it is possible to perform actions without the need of controlling   them process.The demand of conscious attention more depends on the familiarity degree with the process,as we become familiar with the process they are automatised step by step.More they become automatised less is the demand of attention.It is important to understand how memory and attention are involved in language learning. 3-Language learning researches Short-term memory is an on-line capacity for processing and elaborating new information,this is why it is responsible in language learning and development.For this reason second language acquisition researches are focused on short-term memory.Also for analysing the individual   differences in language learning researches and to examine short-term capacity.Verbal short-term memory abilities,words memorisation,words repetition and vocabulary learning are related in some way.The tests and the experiments created for testing language learners are mostly based on immediate serial recall of lists ,non-word repetition or recognition and word learning working on spoken and written words.This kind of analysis provide empirical data to researches for comparing the results between various kinds of learners at different proficiency levels and in different situations. Conclusion Second language acquisition is not s simple issue for researchers because mental processes and knowledge cant be directly observed.Different kinds of studies conducted in different ways provide a great deal of data and results.To interpret them is important to understand first how the acquisition occurs,which processes are involved in,which factors (internals or externals) can influence it and the mechanism and the strategies used by the learners (consciously or uncounsciously).The analysis has to be focused on learners language perfomances.Cognitive psychology is based on the information processing paradigm The human mind is seen like a computer by cognitivists and following this idea were proposed models of human memory that,in connection with language learning,explain the memory structure,its capacities,the processes responsible for encoding,recording and storing information.Analysing the working memory capacity it is possible to study the learners language acquisition.Researches on memory have helped us to understand how works the acquisition of a second language in bilingual learners,how they use the language and the individuals differences at different levels.It has been discovered that second language development proceed in an orderly fashion,the learning processes between bilingual learners are similar because they follow a developmental sequence in different stages. Experiments within working memory capacity is tested,for example backward digit span test,can show how learners achieving different proficiency levels use distinct strategies and mechanisms in a regular way concording to the level.So memory is the center of language acquisition,this can be explained through the analysis of the memory processes,whereas the processes of memory can be explored through the language learning and processing.It means that there is an absolute relation and an unavoidable interrelationship between them. References: Learning Strategies in Second Language Acquisition ; J.Michael OMalley,Anna Uhl Chamot; Cambridge Univesity Press The study of Second Language Acquisition; Rod Ellis ;Oxford University Press Working Memory and Language ; Baddeley and Gathercole Psycholinguistics:The Key Concepts ; John Field ;Routledge Working Memory and Language:an overview Alan Baddeley ;Department of Experimental Psychology ,University of Bristol ,Uk (Journal of Communication desorders 2003)

The Power On Self Test :: essays research papers

The Power On Self Test When the system is powered on, the BIOS will perform diagnostics and initialize system components, including the video system. (This is self-evident when the screen first flicks before the Video Card header is displayed). This is commonly referred as POST (Power-On Self Test). Afterwards, the computer will proceed its final boot-up stage by calling the operating system. Just before that, the user may interrupt to have access to SETUP. To allow the user to alter the CMOS settings, the BIOS provides a little program, SETUP. Usually, setup can be entered by pressing a special key combination (DEL, ESC, CTRL-ESC, or CRTL-ALT-ESC) at boot time (Some BIOSes allow you to enter setup at any time by pressing CTRL-ALT-ESC). The AMI BIOS is mostly entered by pressing the DEL key after resetting (CTRL-ALT-DEL) or powering up the computer. You can bypass the extended CMOS settings by holding the key down during boot-up. This is really helpful, especially if you bend the CMOS settings right out of shape and the computer won't boot properly anymore. This is also a handy tip for people who play with the older AMI BIOSes with the XCMOS setup. It allows changes directly to the chip registers with very little technical explanation. A Typical BIOS POST Sequence Most BIOS POST sequences occur along four stages: 1.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Display some basic information about the video card like its brand, video BIOS version and video memory available. 2.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Display the BIOS version and copyright notice in upper middle screen. You will see a large sequence of numbers at the bottom of the screen. This sequence is the . 3.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Display memory count. You will also hear tick sounds if you have enabled it (see Memory Test Tick Sound section). 4.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Once the POST have succeeded and the BIOS is ready to call the operating system (DOS, OS/2, NT, WIN95, etc.) you will see a basic table of the system's configurations:  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Main Processor: The type of CPU identified by the BIOS. Usually Cx386DX, Cx486DX, etc..  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Numeric Processor: Present if you have a FPU or None on the contrary. If you have a FPU and the BIOS does not recognize it, see section Numeric Processor Test in Advanced CMOS Setup.  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Floppy Drive A: The drive A type. See section Floppy drive A in Standard CMOS Setup to alter this setting.  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Floppy Drive B: Idem.  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Display Type: See section Primary display in Standard CMOS Setup.  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  AMI or Award BIOS Date: The revision date of your BIOS. Useful to mention when you have compatibility problems with adaptor cards (notably fancy ones).  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Base Memory Size: The number of KB of base memory. Usually 640.  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ext. Memory Size: The number of KB of extended memory.

Machiavelli :: essays research papers

A great leader is someone who appears to be priceless. Great leader is the main example of his people; he should have the characteristics of higher standards therefore developing his followers into something better. Extraordinary leaders need to have communication skills to understand what the followers expect from him. "You serve as an influential role model for your players and everything you do will be watched. Vince Lombardi says, "Leaders are made, they are not born; and they are made just like anything else has every been made in this country - by hard work."" (Sugarman). Great leader must be seen as being great not actually being one. Machiavelli suggests this idea in D1. To seem to have the qualities is necessary as opposed to having the qualities without the people knowing about them. This is true for all leaders not just political. D1 suggests flexibility is needed, "†¦ but you must have the mind so disposed that when it is needful to be otherwise you may be able to change to the opposite qualities." Flexibility is important; the leader all in all has to give the people what they want satisfying the majority. D1 says that great leaders are sometimes obligated to do evil if constrained without deviating from what is good (if possible), "†¦ being often obligated, in order to maintain the state, to act against faith, against charity†¦" Communication and timing are important. Great leaders are great when they get something across to the followers that the followers want to hear, there is a clear understanding from both sides. "The great leader is a master in the art of communication. He or she is aware of the strong need for actions to match words. Leaders need to possess a willingness to listen to input with an open mind." (Sugarman), "Leadership is about building connections. Effective leaders make people feel they have a stake in common problems." (Goodwin). Great leaders are good with timing; "Timing is (almost) everything. Knowing when to introduce an initiative, when to go before one's constituents -- and when to hold off -- is a crucial skill." (Goodwin). Leaders must care about their people (and of course show them that they care): "A leader who does not hesitate before he sends his nation into battle is not fit to be a leader" (a quote of Golda Meir) (Spanoudis). This sets an example for the followers to care about their leader too.

A Woman’s Place Is In The House Essay

A woman’s place is in the house The place of woman was considered to be in the house almost since the beginning of time. Back then, women used to be the only ones responsible for the household and for the bringing up of their children. They lacked of sufficient education, as most of them never finished school and only a minority went to the university. And even if they did acquire a higher education, they scarcely had the same opportunities as men because they were considered inferior. Therefore, they were usually forced to bow their heads and accept the situation the way it was because they didn’t know how to defend themselves and clarify the truth. All this took place up to 1880,when women started to rebel and to demand the equality of rights between men and women. They began fighting for their right to vote, to have the same educational opportunities as men and to be judged by their knowledge and their education and not by their sex. It took them years to accomplish their goals but they finally made it. The emancipation of woman was and still is a fact. However, there still exists a considerable amount of people that believes that a woman’s place is exclusively in the house. This, assuming that the woman is a mother and therefore responsible before the members of her family. But are all women going to marry or be relegated to a life of inaction during their youth or while they remain single? Certainly not. Moreover, a schooled and scientific woman can understand her duties a lot better and is capable of completing them. A mother should know science in order to inspire her children in great deeds and noble sentiments, making them feel superior to the other objects in the universe, teaching them from the cradle to become familiar with the great scenes of nature. And nothing more ideal and sublime than the scientific mother, who goes to spend an evening at the astronomical observatory with her children by the hand to show them Jupiter, Venus, preparing in that way their tender hearts for the most legitimate aspirations that could occupy men’s minds. In addition, a working woman provides financial aid and consequently a larger amount of money can be spent in order to satisfy less essential needs, which will please the members of her family. But there are times when scientific women become indifferent and are not capable of giving tenderness because they are too preoccupied with themselves and become demanding, despotic and vain and do not know how to make a happy home. For them, there are no responsibilities to carry out, only whims to satisfy. Thus, women should find the golden section between the responsibilities before their family and their job in order to be happy and please their family at the same time. Besides, there’s enough time and competence for cooking and mending and a great soul such as that of women, equal to their mates, born to embrace all the beauty that exists in creation of divine origin and end, should not be wasted all on seeing if the plates are clean and the rocking cradle.