My Hobby Essay Example for Free

My Hobby Essay Vegetable gardening as my favorite hobby Deepa George WGU February 20, 2013 Vegetable gardening as my favorite hobby Hobby is an entertaining activity which provides pleasure and recreation. It is a way of escaping from the stress and the monotony of one’s daily round of duties. Therefore, hobby is essential for the proper enjoyment of life. My favorite hobby is vegetable gardening because it provides me sense of pride, peace, and relaxation, promote healthy life style and save money on groceries. You should start gardening as your hobby because it provides you relaxation, keeps you physically healthy, and save money on grocery bills. First of all, a vegetable garden is an easy and effective way to provide a sense of pride and relaxation. I am fortunate to have a spacious backyard for the gardening. I have vegetables and crops such as peas, lettuce, greens, cabbages, root crops, squash, beans, corn, melons, cucumber, eggplant, pepper, and herbs in my garden in different seasons. Research shows that gardening promotes mental health by relieving stress and promoting a sense of accomplishment. Spending some time in the garden ease stress, keep you limber and improve your mood. Vegetable gardening is a wonderful pastime the whole family can enjoy. Allowing children to be involved in the gardening help them to develop an understanding of nature, sense of responsibility, and pride. Kids are more likely to taste vegetables they grow themselves. My five year old son is proud about our vegetable garden. He helps us with watering the plants, caring for the crop and harvesting the produce. He was extremely reluctant to eat fruits and vegetables buying from the market, but now he does not want to miss anything coming from our garden. When your daughter Sara was in my house, she enjoyed peeking under leaves in search of ripe fruits and vegetables. Hence, I am sure that she will be so happy to have her own garden. Growing your own food, build a sense of pride and satisfaction. Watching a seed sprout in front of your eyes to become food on your plate is gratifying. The commitment for garden rewards you with a feeling that you have brought something to life. It is truly exciting to go to your backyard and get a juicy, ripened tomato for a salad. Now the weather is turning warm and favorable for planting. You should make a vegetable garden with your favorite vegetables like tomatoes, cucumbers and jalapeno peppers. The stores like Lowes, Home depot, and local seed stores have varieties of seeds with planting instructions. I will help you with picking out plants, preparing raised beds and containers, and fertilization of plants. I would like you to enjoy the sense of pride, accomplishment and relaxation by gardening which brings you close to nature. Secondly, planting vegetable gardening keeps you and your family healthy. It provides fresh fruits and vegetables right at your fingertips. Everybody is seriously concerned about the safety of the food available in the market. When you grow your own food carefully and organically, you do not have to worry about the contamination of the vegetables. When they grow in your backyard, you are not able to resist them, and their vitamin content will be at the highest level as you eat them straight from the garden. Thus, gardening is a simple and an easy way to promote good eating habits. Furthermore, gardening is a good outdoor exercise. Planting, weeding, watering, and harvesting require a lot of physical activity. Tending vegetable garden burns calories and uses muscles. Studies have shown that one can burn 200 to 500 calories per hour by working in the vegetable garden. The activities in the garden will give you sufficient physical exercise to keep you physically healthy and mentally alert. Finally, you will save money on groceries when you begin to stock your kitchen with fresh produce from backyard. It will help you to save money on gas you use to get to the store. To save money, you should plant smart and grow the food you like to eat. Make sure you grow a lot of vegetables that you use regularly. Since you like the salad, you should plant plenty of salad greens to save money. You can preserve the produce and enjoy the goodness of fruits and vegetables long after the harvest is over. There are four common ways to preserve foods: canning, freezing, drying, and pickling. Last year, I preserved beans, tomatoes, cucumbers, carrot and sweet corn and used for the rest of the year. You can share the extra vegetables with your friends, or sell in the fresh vegetable market. Every year I donate extra vegetables to a food pantry, and it helped me to take the tax deduction for non-cash distributions. You can save the seeds from the best produces, and use for next year. Gardening is an investment that offers a good return. For example, I have spent two dollar for one packet of green bean seeds. Once I cover the cost of soil, fertilizers, and water, I got a return of around seventy five dollars. I suggest you to start gardening as your hobby that produces positive economic return. Conclusively, vegetable gardening provides relaxation by getting a person outside and exposing to natural air. Planning a garden and caring for the garden help the person to stay healthy and save money. For all these reasons, I encourage you to choose vegetable gardening as your hobby.

History of Catherine II of Russia

History of Catherine II of Russia Catherine II of Russia Catherine II of Russia who is commonly referred as Catherine the Great was the Russian Empress from 1762 until her death in 1796. Catherine’s real names were â€Å"Yekaterina II Velikaya†. She was in the category of the â€Å"Enlightened despots† who were rulers influenced by the enlightened principles that embraced religious tolerance, freedom of speech, press and property. Catherine was born as Sophie Augusta Fredirica to her father Christian August., the Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst and her mother Johanna Elisabeth of Holstein Gottorp. She thus was from a noble family. She received her education from a French governess and included other tutors. Catherine’s parents were devout Lutherans. In 1745 she was to married to Tsar Peter of Holstein Gottorp becoming the Princess. Because of her ambition to get married and become a princess, she abandoned her father’s religion and instead converted to Orthodox Church. The eminent marriage also forced her to learn French, which she did with so much effort to an extent that she got a severe pneumonia attack, because of walking barefoot in her bedroom repeating the Russian lessons. Her and her husband Peter settled in the Palace of Oranienbaum. Unfortunately her husband was immature and impotent and became unfaithful to her. This eventually led to the breakup of their marriage. Catherine read widely on and befriended many powerful political groups that opposed her husband. Empress Elizabeth died on 1762 and Peter succeeded her to become Peter III of Russia. This made them move to the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg. Automatically Catherine became the Empress. By then they had a son named Paul who was the heir-apparent in case of the father’s death. In July of that year, there was a bloodless coup where Peter was dethroned by the Leib Guard who were the military personal guards of the Emperor of Russia. The throne was bequeathed to Catherine; she reigned till she died in 1796. After six months as a Prince and three days after disposition, Peter III died at Ropsha. Catherine the great was very intelligent, hardworking and had a very strong will. Her ambition to become the Empress of Russia saw her strike sharply at those who seemed to try and replace her with the rightful heir of the throne, Paul her eldest son. In her reign Catherine broadened Russian Empires’ boarders both to the south and the north absorbing new Russia, Crimea, Ukraine, Lithuania, Belarus and Courland. Catherine was eventually able to expand the Russian territory to 518,000 kilometer squared. This was not an easy task bearing in mind that the expansion was at the expense of the Ottoman Empire and the Polish Lithuanian Commonwealth. She was able to achieve all this through a very shrewd statesman named Nikita Panin. In her initial years of her reign, Catherine directed most of her efforts towards making her position in the throne more stable. This was to enable her have an extended period of peace in order for her to be effective in other domestic affairs and foreign affairs. She understood the essence of a cautious foreign policy, which Panin did on her behalf. Panin fell out with her after his plans to counter the power of the Bourbon and Habsburg who had formed a league failed. It was not until 1764 that she felt secure and stable enough to start working on reformation towards improving social conditions in Russia. For such expansive reformation Catherine utilized the ideas of the enlightenment. It was through such ideas that she undertook to change Russia’s old legal system that was inefficient because it was based on the code of laws that dated from 1649. Towards this end she came up with a proposal she called â€Å"The instructions† which was circulated through out Europe and turned out to be a sensation. This is because it provided for a very advanced level of legal system. The legal system was to be enshrined on the principles of equal protection and prevention of criminal acts. This was as opposed to the previous method of meting out harsh punishment. In 1767 Catherine formed a legislative commission to revise the old laws using â€Å"The instruction† as the basis. The commission failed the set purpose leading to the suspension of the review. After Panin fell out with Catherine in 1781, she replaced him with Alexander Bezborodko who was a Ukrainian born councilor. Because of her ideas from the Enlightment, Catherine commissioned the Court betskoy whose sole purpose was to draw up plans to ensure the provision of education for all boys and girls through out Russia. The type of education she advocated for was the European style. As a result of her efforts schools and universities were established throughout Russia. This led to the foundation, for the first time of special girls’ schools in Russia. This also led to the establishment of a medical college whose sole purpose was to provide adequate health care for all the citizens. One good example is the Smolny Institute for girls, which was founded in St. Petersburg. Catherine rarely used violence to consolidate power and strengthen her grip on Russia. However, she resorted to other methods that usually proved very effective. For example during her time the church had become quite powerful, to weaken it she seized the church’s wealth and then employed the clergy as state employees. Foreign affairs demanded much of her attention between 1768 and1774. Catherine made Russia as the most powerful empire during this time. This came about after the first Russo-Turkish war against the Ottoman Empire. This war included the Battle of Chesma (1770) and the battle of Kagul (1770). This war began after Catherine sent Russian troops to support her former lover Stanislaw Poniatowski, who she wanted to suppress a revolt that had come about because of Russia’s influence in Poland. The revolution got support from Turkey and Austria. However, after two years lengthy negotiations with Turkey led to ceasefire. Catherine was very persuasive which came in handy at this time. This enabled Russia gain a foothold on the Black Sea. Acquisition of the right to the Black Sea was an important milestone. This was because Russian merchant ships acquired the right of sea whereby they could sail and passing through the Dardanelles which was an important European waterway. Also from the negotiations the vast steppes of modern South Ukraine were incorporated in the Russia Empire. In 1783 Catherine, in her quest for expansion annexed the Crimea, this led to the second Russo- Turkish war (1787-1792) where the Ottoman Empire sort to regain the lands it had lost to Russia during the first Russo Turkish war (1768-1774). The Ottoman troops lost miserably which led to the signing of the Treaty of Jassy. The treaty led to the end of the Second war and led to the confirmation of Russia’s dominance in the Black Sea. This was because from this treaty Russia’s claim to the Crimea was legitimatized. In 1773 in the Volga River Basin a peasant revolt led by Cossack started but was crushed by the Imperial forces when Cossack was captured in 1774, this was the only time that peace was realized for some time which enabled Catherine concentrate on domestic affairs, especially affairs that concerned the functioning of the government. It was during this time that the education standards were raised. Catherine played a very important role in shaping the role of Russia in the field of diplomacy. In the European foreign issues, Russia under Catherine played a very instrumental role in mediating on disputes that sometimes led to war. She mediated in the War of the Bavarian succession (1778-1779), between Prussia and Austria. It was through Catherine also that Russia witnessed the partitioning of Poland, where all the commonwealth territory with Prussia and Austria were divided. After all these expansion Russia turned into a vast empire that was in position to compete with other European neighbors. On the art and sciences scene, Catherine played a critical role. She viewed art and science as a means through which Russia could be recognized as a civilization centre. St Petersburg was turned into a great and dazzling capital. Through her patronage, theatre, music, painting and other form of art improved tremendously. She developed a manual for the education of children which she borrowed from the ideas of John Locke a famous English Philosopher. She established the famous Smolny Institute. It was established for the purpose of educating ladies from noble families and rich merchants. This institute became one of the best institutes not only in Russia, but the whole of Europe as well. Catherine was a prolific writer and exchanged ideas and correspondence leading philosophers and writers like Voltaire and Diderot. She wrote plays, fables Satires and memoirs. The Russian age of ‘age of Imitation’ happened during her reign where the Russians imported and studied the classical works from Europe. She spent millions of Rubles to build the Hermitage art collection. Today, Hermitage Museums that occupies the whole of the Winter Palace is one of the largest Museums in the world with one of the largest art collections totaling to over three million. Despite her great support of art, during her reign there was censorship of the press and publications and sometimes writers were exiled. For example Radishcev after publishing The Journey from St. Petersburg to Moscow which addressed the poor leaving standards of the peasant serfs, he was exiled to Siberia. After converting from Lutheran to Orthodoxy, Catherine became indifferent to religion. Thus she never hesitated to suppress any religious dissent and never allowed dissenters to build chapels. However she exploited the Christian faith by promoting the protection of Christians under the Turkish rule. This was to ensure the weakening of the Ottoman Empire. After the partitioning of Poland she sort to control the Roman Catholics. On the other hand, Russia became a safe haven for The Society of Jesus whose members were running away from the persecution of Jesuits across Europe. Catherine the Great personal life was characterized by multiple lovers. She had a total of around 13 lovers in her reign that included Alexander Potemkin. Potemkin was a former lover who she had fallen off with but he continued to select future lovers for her. Catherine was kind to her lovers even after breaking up with them. She had a reputation of rewarding them handsomely. Works Cited Alexander, John.T â€Å"Catherine II, Bubonic Plague, and the Problem of Industry in Moscow† The American Historical Review, Vol. 79, No.3. (Jun, 1974), pp.637-671. Cruse, Mark. The memoirs of Catherine the Great. New York: Modern Library, 2005. Dukes, Paul. Catherine the Great and the Russian Nobility: A Study Based of the Legislative Commission of 1767.Cambridge at the University Press, 1967 Haslip, Joan. Catherine the Great: A Biography .New York: G.P Putnam’s, 1977 Rasmussen, Karen â€Å"Catherine II and the Image of Peter I† Slavic Review, Vol. 37, No. 1. (Mar., 1978), pp.51-69. Thomas, Gladys Scott. Catherine the Great and the Expansion of Russia. London: The English Universities Press, 1947 Waters, Brenda Meehan-â€Å"Catherine the Great and the Problem of Female Rule† Russian Review, Vol. 34, No. 3. (Jul., 1975), pp.293-307.

A Study On Barbie Global Market Marketing Essay

A Study On Barbie Global Market Marketing Essay International marketing is the performance of a companys product and services to consumers in more than one nation to produce profit. It is one of the most vital elements of marketing functions to trade their companys products or services internationally rather than locally. This brings more advantages and benefits the organization itself as well as the country. However, trying to trade internationally influences by many factors and cause difficulties. And it is the task of these companies to study these factors prior in order to initiate business or trade with other countries effectively. These factors include the culture, economic and political factors. This essays discussion base on the case study, Barbie: The American Girl Goes Global. Barbie is worldwide brand name invented by Ruth Handler defining as a small scale anatomically improbable modelled plastic figure of a human being especially a childs plaything and collectable dolls. It is the brand name for Mattel Inc., the organization for producing these toys and dolls. Barbie effectively starts its operation and selling out of its products at the American Toy Fair in New York City in 1959. Since then, Barbie become popular and operate effectively due to its increasing sales and revenues thus earning high profit compare to other American toy markets. Therefore, Mattel Inc expands its marketing situation and trade internationally where Barbie is currently selling out in more than 150 countries. These include European countries, Middle East, India and Japan. Therefore, this writing will discuss how Mattel Inc. deals with different culture issues, economic environment and political factors in these different countries in trying to market its products, the American Barbie doll. Throughout the given case study, it was basically talk about how different culture affects Mattel in trying to sell Barbie in the above mentioned countries. Culture is the acquired knowledge that people use to interpret experience and generate social behaviour (Keegan Green 2003). Each country has its own culture values and different from one another. And because Barbie trade worldwide, Mattel tend to carefully study the culture environment in those countries and analyze culture issues arise. The cultural issues of these countries affected the selling of Barbie can be reflected from different things. These include the language use, the religion involves, the social behaviour and the traditional dress code of each country. However, some economic issues and political factors appear to influence its international trading. Barbie is a worldwide brand and they first entered the US market for selling their products because it was the place of founder. Since then, Ruth Handler realizes the importance of children then decides to produce Barbie to motivate her daughters dream of her future. These products were three dimensional adult female dolls using by children to play with and it was popular in America because they initiate with high amount of sales of total 351,000 dolls at $3 each for the first year on the market. This occurs because Mattel identify its target market such as the group of children up of 1 to 11 years old and they fully satisfy their needs for toys made of plastic and long lasting rather than the first available dolls were made of paper and cardboard. However, moving to other countries cause Mattel to create changes on Barbie according to culture issues of each county to make effective. For instance, Mattel was successfully launched in India at 1995 because they make changes of Barbie appearance according to local taste of painted with a head spot and dressed in a sari but still the universally recognize Barbie. When moving to Middle East, culture factors in these countries are very strict and Barbie face difficulties in trying to sell their products in these countries because they face opposition on religious and social grounds. Women in these countries including Iran and Egypt have very strict dress code. They are not allowed to expose any part of their hair and due to Islamic law they have to completely cover their body and only their eyes are shown. But the appearance of these female dolls highly affected their culture values because Barbie female doll illustrate the opposite side of their dress code. This causes parents and religious leaders to more strange reactions with the culture values represent by Barbie and Ken and they believe Barbie is seen in the Middle East where modesty matters as something of a tramp. Therefore, Egypt government exist with setting up government agencies for producing local dolls aimed to provide Islamic alternative to Barbie and trying to eliminate the image of Barbie in their nations. These dolls called Laila were making in accordance to the local taste of Egypt people and their culture because local toy producer believe Barbie is more dangerous than an American missile. Laila also produced according to recommendation from the Arab league department for children suggested that there is cultural gap when an Arab girl plays with a doll like Barbie because the average Arab girls reality is different from Barbie. Thus Mattel face more challenges and more competitive market place due to Laila because they appeared in local taste using Arab costumes for decorating and designing their quite and serious looking doll. Meantime, Iran has its own local doll producer, Sara and Dara still to compete against Barbie. These dolls apply the same situation as Egypt in producing with the local culture taste by featuring traditional clothing, headscarves and are available with family members thus reinforcing the importance of family for Iranian children. Meantime Sara and Dara are to provide an Islamic alternative to Barbie. However, Mattel did not attempt to stop there though they are forbidden but continue fight against Sara and Dara. And thus still able to operate successfully by gaining high revenues with high profit due to higher price with approximately 7 times the average monthly salary. Though that Mattel faced tough position in Egypt and Iran but still continue to struggle against local competitors. Facing the challenges of competition, Barbie has been losing market share to Susi the Brazilian local dolls made by local company, Estrela. This company has licensed to distribute Barbie throughout Brazil. Brazil is the best chance of successful marketing for Mattel because they account 37 percent of the countrys annual sales earn from toys market. Additionally, Brazil is one of the largest countries in South America in according to its rich economy, population and geographic territory. Unfortunately, the selling of the Susi dolls increase more than the Barbie sales in terms of cultural values. The Susi dolls were designed as an image of the Brazilian girls and reflect values as a true Brazilian girl and every Brazilian is proud of it rather than showing what they want to be. So instead of helping distributing the Barbie doll all over Brazil, the Barbie face a strong competition cause losing of their market share to Estrela the company that produce the Susi doll. Distributing Barbie throughout the Asian countries, Mattel faces great difficulties overcome the worlds second largest toy market, Japan. In terms of economic environment, Japan has high, favourable and competitive economic situation. Japan is a high income country, the second largest economy in the world and has large industrial capacity. And thus, Japan and the United States face strong and big challenges to compete each other because they have similar economic situation. Therefore, during its first 20 years of operated in Japan, Mattel realised that it is the most difficult situation a company faced because of their complex distribution system. Additionally, Mattel attempt to face strong competition from local brand and local competitor. For example, Mattel enters into marketing without studying the Japanese requirements for foreign investor to sell out their products. And thus, selling out Barbie in Japan has only a limit success because Japanese girl didnt know what the product is and it didnt work, commented by the Chief Executive Officer of mid 1990s, Josh Amerman. With that issue, a problem of low sales rise then Mattel joins with Takara, a Japanese toy specialist in order to make a difference for the Japanese to understand their product. They then join forces with Bandai, the largest toy company in Japan to sell their products legally after terminating relationship with Takara due to license disagreement. Moreover, a cultural fact appears that the Japanese has valued their dolls seriously because of their strong cultural tradition with a heritage of over 800 years and ceremonial importance. Consequently, Mattel started to cope with the Japanese culture in a view of the fact stated but they then discovered that the Japanese girls has preferred the local American Barbie is the best and the most well known. Mattel then dropped forces with Bandai and operates its own marketing office then introduced the American Barbie to Japan and they experienced a success with Long Hair Star Barbie as one of the top-selling dolls in Japan. These cultural factors helps increase the amount of Mattel global marketing. Fortunately, Mattel rejoined with Bandai once again and forming marketing, sales and product development to overcome the complex Japanese distribution system thus reducing operating expenses. Efficiently, a rise of 10 percent in the international revenue indicates from the 31 percent of Mattels total revenue as according to the good performance of Mattel marketing and their share to the international revenues. This effect of International Marketing helps Mattel improves the increasing of revenues and their shares. In conclusion, Barbie is fun and huge success story. I suggested that every company attempt to trade internationally and marketing their products worldwide must consider the culture issues, the economic situation and political factors of that foreign country in related to chosen products to trade. This led them to make their decisions and reflect the required changes to make on their products in relation with foreign country interest. As we can reflect from the above discussion, Egypt and Iran have very strict culture at how women dress up which not allowing them to expose any part of their body. But Barbie exists with the opposite site of their belief causing high risk in trying to sell out their dolls. Unfortunately, some situation may not affected by the culture issues. As in Europe, Barbie generate success because there was an average of 5 Barbie dolls at the childrens toy collections because Mattel adopted pan European approach to the Western European market. And thus, acting C hief Executive Officer Ronald Leob recommended that Barbie believes that the company will proactively adapt its products to local tastes, economic conditions and pricing rather than viewing the rest of the world. REFERENCES Textbooks: Keegan, W.J., Green, M.C (2005).Global Marketing (4th ed.).Upper Saddler River, N.J.:Prentice Hall Kotab, M., Helen, K. (2008). Global Marketing Management (4th ed.). Hoboken, N.J.: Wiley Websites: Barbie Doll History Invention of the Barbie Doll, Retrieved on 14 September 2009 http://www.ideafinder.com/history/inventions/barbiedoll.htm Culture of Iran, Retrieved on 14 September 2009 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran#Culture Culture of Iran, Retrieve on 14 September 2009 http://www.cultureofiran.com/ Doing business in Brazil, Retrieve 09 September 2009 http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/country/brazil/doing-business-brazil.html Doing business in India, retrieve 09 September 2009 http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/etiquette/doing-business-india.html Japan Economy, Retrieve 14 September 2009 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan#Economy Japan Government and politics, Retrieve 14 September 2009 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan#Government_and_politics

African American gay rights Essay -- essays research papers fc

I cannot begin to argue about African American/Hispanic LGBT, living in New York City and their civil rights without remembering the public outcry against black civil rights. Although the focus of this paper is on African American/Hispanic LGBT living in New York City and Their Rights to Marriage I have decided to start my paper of by discussing the civil rights movement of the 1960’s. The civil rights movement of the 1960's and the continuing struggle against race-based discrimination were rooted in the struggle against slavery. As early as the eighteen hundreds the United States legislative had laws known as segregation laws that limited certain freedom to them. They had to live in separate neighborhood, attend separate schools, drive in the back of public buses verses in the front where Whites were; African American would not dare go against these laws back then because if and when they did, they were unjustly imprisoned, beaten lynched and more for just trying to exercise human rights.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the 1960s African Americans led a fight to remove the legally codified vestiges of slavery from our constitution and from state and local laws. Most repulsive among these, were Jim Crow laws that required racial segregation; African Americans had to endure all these things until The Civil Rights Movement. The modern concept of civil rights was pioneered by African Americans in their long struggle to become full citizens of the United States. From the Civil...

Fire as technology and influence on society :: essays research papers fc

Fire and Me: A Growing Experience Throughout human history, people have made discoveries and innovations which made their lives easier and more efficient. Many of these creations have advanced our culture, while others have paved the way for future advancements and inspired new ways of thought. One example of this is the discovery of fire, which revolutionized the way humans act and think. Fire has a unique connection to humans, evolving alongside humanity, each growing in ways that wouldn't have been possible without the other. We can only speculate as to how humans began to control fire, yet it can safely be assumed that humans are not the only species able to work with fire. Chimpanzees have been taught to light cigarettes, and orangutans have been observed maneuvering sticks, which they caught on fire, for a short time before the fire burned out (Goudsblom 25). The interesting thing; however, is that fire is universally used by humans (Goudsblom 20). Human cultures which have never had interactions with other human societies have developed control over fire. By control of fire, it is meant that a culture is able to consistently manipulate fire, keeping a fire burning for extended periods of time. This shows humans who have been isolated from all other cultures have learned to control fire themselves, rather than this control of fire being taught to them from an outside source, such as a separate culture which has already harnessed fire. This would imply a natural connection between humans and fire as all humans can control fire, and no other species other than humans have been successful in consistently using fire. Why did primitive man harness fire? At first glance, fire appears to have few natural advantages, and yet has many potentially harmful effects. Fire is destructive, devastating anything which comes across its path. This devastation is irreversible as once something is burned it cannot be returned to its unburned state (Goudsblom Intro). These characteristics are far from attractive, and yet humans, rather than fearing fire, came to adopt it. The adoption of fire could be attributed to several factors which occur during a natural fire. First, game can easily be seen fleeing a fire since the underbrush has been burned away, and some animals can be found killed and cooked by the fire. After a fire has died, warmth can still be found in the embers of the blaze (Goudsblom 14).

Virtual Learning Environment In Higher Education Education Essay

The usage of Blackboard platform has been adopted by many higher acquisition establishments. But a few surveies have been carried out on its impact on pupils, talks and administrations. This thesis is about the impact of practical acquisition environment package such as Blackboard in higher acquisition establishments ; a instance survey has antecedently shown that the Blackboard package is being used chiefly for administrative maps and non to its maximal capacity. Recognition Though merely my name appears on the screen of this thesis, a great many people have contributed to its production. I owe my gratitude to all those people who have made this thesis possible and because of whom my experience has been one that I will care for everlastingly. My deepest gratitude is to my adviser, Dr.William Micheal Gasser. I have been surprisingly fortunate to hold an adviser who gave me the freedom to research on my ain, and at the same clip the counsel to retrieve when my stairss faltered. I am besides grateful to him for promoting the usage of right grammar and consistent notation in my Hagiographas and for carefully reading and noticing on infinite alterations of this manuscript. Many friends have helped me remain sane through these hard times. Their support and attention helped me get the better of reverses and remain focused on my survey. I greatly value their friendly relationship and I deeply appreciate their belief in me. I am besides thankful those who helped me in my research by supplying feedback through the on-line questionnaires. Most significantly, none of this would hold been possible without the love and forbearance of my household. My immediate household has been a changeless beginning of love, concern, support and strength for me. I would wish to show my heart-felt gratitude to my household. My extended household has aided and encouraged me throughout this enterprise. Contentss 1 Introduction 5 2 Introduction to VLE 6 1.1. Problem Statement 10 1.2. Target 10 1.3. Result and Actors 11 1.4. Scope and Scale 11 1.5. Ethical issues 11 1.6. Purposes and Objectives 12 1.7. Thesis Outline 13 2 Research Methodology 13 2.1 Library Search 14 2.2 Online Journal Articles Search 14 2.3 Open Access Online Journal Articles Search 14 2.4 Web Search 15 2.5 Extra Literature 16 3 Impact of Using Blackboard Software on Students and Lectors 16 3.1 Students 16 3.1.1 Students ‘ perceptual experience 17 3.1.2 Students Evaluation of VLE Components 18 3.1.3 Blackboard versus Face to Face Teaching 19 3.1.4 Impact on Learning 20 3.1.5 Impact on Learning Outcomes 21 3.1.6 Impact on Society 22 3.2 Lectors 22 3.2.1 Lectures ‘ perceptual experience 23 3.3 Impact on IS Strategy 25 3.4 Students perspectives 28 3.5 Lecturers positions 30 4 Decisions 33 5 Bibliography 34IntroductionIn recent old ages, the demand for instruction has changed because of an increased demand for a extremely educated work force that will be expected to larn continuously ( Alavi & A ; Leidner, 2001 ) . Education has become an un stoping procedure in one ‘s life-time due to which the agency of instruction are besides being transformed in order to run into the outlooks and to maintain the continuity of instruction traveling. The acquisition which was ab initio done in a face to confront environment, is going into an environment mediated by computing machines and digital engineerings. In 1886, the first president of the University of Chicago, William Rainer Harper wrote: â€Å" the pupil who has prepared a certain figure of lessons in the correspondence school knows more of the topic treated in those lessons, and knows it better than the pupil who has covered the same land in the schoolroom † ( Harper, 1971, p. 12 ) . Since the 1970s, the Open University of UK, has pioneered the construct of modern distance acquisition by supplying blended learning environments of face-to-face tutoring and class bundles including audio- and video-based class stuff. Since the reaching of the Internet, educational net-based engineering is germinating quickly at universities worldwide ( Mason, 2003 ) . However, the demand of practical acquisition has of all time so increased today, that we barely find a student/tutor who does n't utilize or cognize how to utilize the practical acquisition packages available. Some research has been done on acquisition by Virtual acquisition environments, and they show a variable perceptual experience of VLEs for both pupils and academic staff. In an rating of on-line distance instruction, Westerberg and Marald ( 2004 ) found that university directors and instructors perceived this sort of instruction as a agency of making out to a higher figure of pupils. Students, on the other manus, appreciated the chance to analyze in a mode more independent of limitations of clip and infinite, than traditional instruction on campus. Teachers experienced a heavy work load and high outlooks to be accessible to pupils, while pupils perceived the pedagogical quality of online classs being lower, compared to classs on campus ( Westerberg & A ; Marald, 2004 ) . The fi ndings of high outlooks of being available to pupils are confirmed by Zhang and Nunamaker ( 2003 ) , who found that scholars perceive more chances for communicating with teachers in a practical acquisition environment than in a traditional schoolroom. With these differing sentiments in head, it could be sensible to inquire if learning by agencies of practical acquisition environments is a phenomenon truly accepted by instructors and pupils. This thesis is being carried out to happen out the factors act uponing the impact of practical acquisition environment for both the pupils and the teachers/turtors.Introduction to VLEAA practical acquisition environment ( VLE ) A is aA softwareA system developed to back up acquisition and instruction in an educational environment. A VLE can work within an administration via Local Area Network ( LAN ) , over the Internet as Wide Area Network ( WAN ) and supply a aggregation of educational tools in order to ease assignments, communicating, contents direction and attendings. VLEs can be used for distance acquisition or supplement traditional face to confront schoolroom activities. A web page is a front terminal interface that is browsed by pupils and academic staff, the back terminal can represent databases, web waiter and other relevant hardware and package tools. Blackboard ( c.f. , Figure 1 ) is VLE package that supports and facilitates on-line acquisition and teaching.A A It enables, Course content stuffs, such as talk notes and talk slides to be uploaded on the Blackboard site for easy entree and downloads by pupils Online communicating between lecturers/tutors and pupils by the usage of forums and treatment boards Online capable presentation and tutorials in a practical schoolroom Groups direction in order to ease treatment and exchange of educational stuffs Uploading and taking on-line assignments that involve automatic marker and feedback strategies Posting proclamations on a site and e-mailing pupils enrolled on a peculiar class Scheduling class and assignment deadlines Tracking pupils activities on a site and Course work entry and its automatic recognition. Blackboard package is used by over 3700 instruction establishments in more than 60 states Smith ( 2009 ) . Figure 1: Blackboard screenshot Many researches have shown that pupils ‘ activities under Virtual Learning Environment are largely based on administrative maps such as subjecting assignments and reading messages in forums or newssheets. It has been found that pupils are merely active and engage themselves in collaborative and synergistic activities in ain environment such as in societal networking ( e.g. , Facebook and Myspace ) . A survey in Smith ( 2009 ) showed that although pupils value resources placed on VLEs such as Blackboard, they value more face to confront contact with their lectors or coachs. Lectors play a really critical function in how pupils engage themselves with VLEs. Research in Smith ( 2009 ) has shown that bulk of lectors are replacing the bing methods alternatively of introducing new methods that will promote pupils to bask collaborative and synergistic acquisition methods. Another research has shown that some lectors ‘ usage of Blackboard has enhanced their appraisal of pupils work capablenesss in the face to confront schoolroom scenes ( Woods et al. ( 2004 ) . In most of least developed states, VLEs are regarded as inferior to face to confront schoolroom scenes. If engineering is suitably used so it normally has important benefits to our day-to-day life. The same chief applies to the usage of Blackboard. Appropriate usage of Blackboard has shown to hold important benefits to both pupils and their lectors. Some of these are outline below. Traditional methods ( face to confront learning ) were compared with the usage of Blackboard package for sociology pupils. It was revealed that pupils ‘ rating compared favorably in the group that was utilizing Blackboard with important addition in perceptual experiences of lector relationship and rating Koeber ( 2005 ) The research in Campbell et Al. ( 2008 ) found that participants on on-line treatment attained higher Markss in their tests than those with face to confront method. This showed that VLE was linked with greater accomplishments. It was shown in Hepworth et Al ( 2000 ) that VLEs promote significantly greater critical thought among pupils than traditional method of face to face schoolrooms. It was revealed by APLU ( 2009 ) that larning results via Blackboard were better than face to face instructions. It was found that 56 % of talks ( with and without on-line experience ) recommended on-line plans to at least one pupil. It was shown that over 80 % of lectured with on-line talking experience recommended on-line plans. Farquarson ( 2007 ) found that there was an impact on pupils ‘ societal experiences at universities by take parting in on-line activities. It was suggested that this could be used as keeping scheme since supportive equal groups are an facet of pupils ‘ battle. There is clear indicant of the effectivity offered to pupils and their lectors through the usage of VLEs such as Blackboard. This is much derived from the facets such as administrative acquisition and instruction undertakings, for case, managing and accessing content stuffs, communications or proclamations such as forums or intelligence, scaling, attendings, assignments and feedbacks. With VLEs there are benefits of flexibleness and convenience of entree at anytime and from anyplace, there is flexibleness of communicating and coaction environment, this means that there is a big degree of control passed to the pupil.Problem StatementHow does Virtual Learning Environment impact pupils and academic staff in Higher Learning Education? Virtual environment for acquisition can be considered as an sweetening of our traditional face to confront schoolroom environment, nevertheless the impact of both is wholly different from one another and this thesis is being carried out to foreground the positive and negative facets every bit good as the impacts on pupils, teachers/tutors and over all higher larning instruction system.TargetGiven the job statement in this survey, the mark audience is academic staff, pupils, VLE package proprietors and any research workers interested in VLEs and their impacts in HLE. The end is to hold a list of factors that VLE impacts pupils and academic staff in HLE establishments. The list will so be good for future support and sweetening of VLE package such as Blackboard.Outcome and ActorsThe chief result of this survey will be the list of impacts of VLE on HLE institutes that can be used to advance and heighten VLE in larning establishments. The histrions in this survey are Blackboard package us ers i.e. , pupils and academic staff.Scope and ScaleThe range of this survey will be limited to UK pupils and academic staff with experience of utilizing Blackboard package. About 150- 200 participants will be consulted online in order to carry on questionnaire exercising.Ethical issuesEthical issues were taken into consideration in this survey. There was no hazard of exposing topics to any hazard as the lone topics were Blackboard users who were merely asked inquiries about their experiences utilizing Blackboard and those who took portion in the study were good informed and were good cognizant of the intent of the study. No private or confidential informations was required from clients during interviews or when their feedbacks were obtained from on-line signifiers. Still whatever informations collected during this thesis was kept confidential and used strictly for study and extraction of impacts of the use of VLEs.Purposes and AimsThe purpose of this undertaking is to look into the impact of a Virtual Learning Environment ( VLE ) in Higher Learning Education ( HLE ) . The involvement is in the ways by which the VLE provides pupils ‘ and lectors ‘ demands and agencies of back uping communicating and the sharing of resources in HLE. The undertaking aims will be supported by the undermentioned aims: – To reexamine the province of the art of VLE package and applications and its related engineerings. To reexamine the execution of VLEs and associated experiences of the stakeholders in the context of policies, schemes and precedences. To analyze the impact of VLEs solutions execution from the position of the pupils, research workers and lectors. To analyze the current arguments and future waies of VLE such as societal media and the impact of Web 2.0 Show the findings of this undertaking as an MSC thesis to the University of GloucestershireThesis OutlineThe balance of this thesis is organised as follows. Chapter 2 out lines the research methodological analysis used in this survey. The impact of Blackboard package on pupils and lectors is described in Chapter 3. Chapter 4 nowadayss instance survey and decisions are given in Chapter 5.Research MethodologyThe purpose of this undertaking is to look into the impact of a Virtual Learning Environment in Higher Learning Education. The involvement is in the ways by which the VLE provides pupils ‘ and lectors ‘ demands and agencies of back uping communicating and the sharing of resources. Primary informations spotlight aggregation activity has been through questionnaires and through research by utilizing resources such as the Internet, diaries, and library. The questionnaires were conducted to pupils and talks on their usage of VLE package such as Blackboard. The questionnaires were merely through on-line via a web site. Below are the sorts of initial article searched and conducted in the class of this survey: –Library SearchA library hunt was conducted utilizing an advanced hunt in the ICT, societal scientific disciplines and instruction subdivisions. The keywords entered for the hunt are:BlackboardWebCTVLEThe hunt consequences were read and relevant 1s were selected for farther rating.Online Journal Articles SearchA methodical hunt was conducted, shoping equal reviewed articles published in the undermentioned on-line diaries but non limited to: Computers and Education British Journal of Educational TechnologyOpen Access Online Journal Articles SearchA methodical hunt was conducted by shoping unfastened entree online diaries, related to VLE utilizing keywords such as: – Virtual acquisition environments ( VLE ) Course Management Systems ( CMS ) Learning Management Systems ( LMS ) Blackboard/WebCT Blended acquisition The undermentioned diaries were accessed: – The Electronic Journal of e-Learning ( United Kingdom ) The European Journal of Open, Distance and E-Learning ( EURODL ) ( Europe ) The Journal of Distance Education ( Canada ) Australian Journal of Educational Technology Australian The International Journal of Emerging Technologies and SocietyWeb SearchThe undermentioned keywords were entered into a web hunt engine ( google.com ) Distance acquisition Blackboard/WebCT VLE E-learning Mobile larning Web 2.0 Social media Social package Personal web Personal acquisition environment Open educational resources Open beginningExtra LiteratureIn add-on, articles recommended by friends and supervisor were studied and relevant stuffs were extracted and used. Statistical package such as Microsoft Excel was used to analyze informations obtained from questionnaires.Impact of Using Blackboard Software on Students and LectorsStudentsA two twelvemonth study in Midwestern University in USA by Lonn and Teasley ( 2009 ) found that 95 % of pupils at the campus were utilizing Blackboard and 95 % of their activities in the Blackboard were based on communicating and document direction. Merely 5 % were on synergistic activities such as Wikis, chat and treatment boards. In New Zealand, it was found by Santhiveeran ( 2006 ) that the Blackboard was accessed 23 hours a twenty-four hours. The most popular environment was paperss country where pupils could download talk notes, slide and assignments. A research conducted by JISC in UK revealed that pupils are merely interested with Blackboard features that run into their demands and sometimes merely when they suit them ( JISC ( 2007 ) ) .Students ‘ perceptual experienceMany pupils in HLE institutes were either born or have grown up during the digital age. This coevals of pupils are excited by engineering and perceive that VLE engineering such as Blackboard package will ever assist in the instruction enterprise. These pupils do non believe that Blackboard will of all time perplex their acquisition curve MORI ( 2008 ) . There are few surveies that have researched on pupils ‘ perceptual experience looking at personal features and how these affect pupils ‘ easiness of utilizing VLEs such as Blackboard. Sun et Al. ( 2008 ) found that larning anxiousness on computing machines have negative influence on VLEs satisfaction. Lecturers ‘ attitudes on VLEs will hold positive influence on pupils ‘ VLEs satisfaction. Research conducted by Liaw ( 2008 ) found that sensed usefulness and satisfaction were the major factors that contribute to pupils ‘ behavioral purpose to utilize VLEs such as Blackboard package. It was concluded that effectivity of VLEs can be influenced by a figure of factors such as multimedia bringing, quality and synergistic activities of VLEs. These findings besides suggested that pupils ‘ perceptual experiences was that inappropriate usage of VLEs package such as Blackboard is worse than non utilizing the engineering at all to back up VLEs.Students Evaluation of VLE ComponentsSharpe et Al. ( 2006 ) learned the usage of VLE package such as Blackboard was positively overpowering with regard to accessing class stuffs and as a addendum to traditional face to confront schoolroom apparatus. The survey by Mori ( 2008 ) showed that two tierce of pupils accessed class stuffs via the VLE and were really satisfied. Students besides valued the usage of treatment board found in the Blackboard and were satisfied by lectors who played important axial rotation in modulating them. At that clip it was found that pupils were non much exposed to Wikis and were less comfy with societal networking site such as Facebook with their lectors or coachs in them. My research conducted in UK with 50 pupils informally interviewed, all of the 50 pupils acknowledge the usage of Wikis and hence it was concluded that, now pupils are familiar with wikis but still non comfy with talks in the societal networking sites. The survey my Morgan et Al ( 2006 ) established that the usage of confab and bulletin board in Blackboard was effectual in exciting brooding acquisition in nursing pupils. Students said that they developed more brooding accomplishments by the usage of Blackboard than a face to face schoolroom. Bridge and Appleyard ( 2008 ) found that assignment entry via Blackboard and feedback was positively received with 88 % of pupils interviewed pinpointed that subjecting class work via the VLE was clip and fiscal economy and 93 % preferable feedback via the Blackboard package.Blackboard versus Face to Face TeachingThe survey conducted by Oladiran and Uziak ( 2009 ) in Botswana found that the usage of Blackboard was non preferred as entirely usage of learning method. Students preferable Blackboard as a compliment to face to confront learning in a schoolroom. The recognised the power of IT in the acquisition, they accepted that the usage of Blackboard farther enhanced their IT skills and made them more independent in their thought. In general it was found that the usage of Blackboard improved the quality of their surveies, this was perceived by 75 % of the pupils interviewed. Two decisions were derived by the survey of Benoit et Al ( 2006 ) : – VLE is non by and large superior to traditional face to confront schoolroom apparatus, based on the sum of acquisition, and Students are systematically more satisfied the traditional schoolroom apparatus than with VLE. This is besides supported by the research conducted by MORI ( 2008 ) who revealed that pupils still value face to VLEs schoolroom apparatus. But pupils are motivated to utilize VLE because it us flexible, can be accessed at anytime from anyplace and saves clip. The survey conducted by McGill & A ; Hobbs ( 2008 ) proved that the VLE usage is suited in HLE institutes but non needfully better than traditional face to confront schoolroom apparatus.Impact on LearningThe research by Benoit EL Al. ( 2006 ) found that utilizing VLEs were systematically non really effectual compared to traditional face to confront direction in footings of larning publicity and pupils preferred face-to-face instruction. The survey conducted by Arbaugh ( 2004 ) on an MBA programme showed that while there was minor alteration in pupils ‘ perceptual experience of larning between their first on-line class on VLE and attendant classs on VLE, there were major positive alterations in their learning satisfaction with the VLE as a bringing medium, their perceptual experiences of pupils interaction, and the convenience and easiness of usage of the Blackboard. These findings imply that as pupils obtain movable accomplishments and cognition in VLE, their perceptual experiences of the VLE as a positive acquisition medium better. Most of the major alterations in these perceptual experiences happened between the first and 2nd period that the pupils attended in the VLE classs, which implies that pupils need to analyze at least two classs via VLE before reasoning sing classs bringing medium. Therefore, academic staff should pay particular attending to first clip pupils choosing for a class via VLE in order to promote their engagement in following classs via VLE. The survey by Lonn & A ; Teasley ( 2009 ) , Attwell ( 2009 ) and Bricheno, Higginson & A ; Weedon ( 2004 ) showed that in footings of impact on acquisition, VLEs showed some accomplishment in footings of heightening communicating, the countries of larning where VLEs had small impact were collaborative and synergistic acquisition. In a research conducted in 20 educational establishments, Bricheno ( 2004 ) found that collaborative and synergistic acquisition did non look to hold major alterations in several establishments. †Impact on Learning OutcomesThe correlativity between the usage of VLEs and pupil classs has been researched really widely. Percival and Muirhead ( 2009 ) studied two groups of concern and IT pupils at the University of Ontario in the Institute of Technology. One group was trained by traditional face to confront method and the other one by VLE. Both groups were evaluated by the usage questionnaires and there were approximately 40 % of respondents to the questio nnaires by both groups. The purpose of the rating was to determine participants ‘ usage of VLE package such as Blackboard and measure the impact of VLE on overall classs. Just a little figure of participants in both groups listened to the on-line pre-recorded talk. Participants who listened to pre-recorded talk obtained much better classs than those who did n't. VLE learning pupils made more usage of electronic books and talk notes, podcasts and treatment boards. Percival and Muirhead ( 2009 ) concluded that although today ‘s pupils are familiar with cyberspace engineerings, it can non be taken for granted that these pupils will automatically go accustomed to utilizing these new engineerings for larning. Students are required to familiarise themselves with the benefits of engineering to their acquisition in order to do smooth passage from traditional schoolroom to online acquisition.Impact on SocietyFarquharson ( 2007 ) conducted an probe on the impact of different manne rs of tutorial treatment on making societal relationships among pupils. Three manners of treatment were selected for comparings: Blackboard online treatment package, Blackboard electronic mail package and traditional face to face tutorials. The group with Blackboard treatments and electronic mail were more expected to increase friendly relationship webs amongst their equals. In add-on, older pupils reported a larger figure of friendly relationships. The findings suggested that, on-line engagement in Blackboard activities might hold an impact on pupils ‘ societal experience in HLE ( Farquarson, 2007 ) . This could perchance be used as a strategic attack to better keeping rates, since supportive equal webs are an of import facet of pupil battle.LectorsThe Association of Public and Land Grant Universities in the USA published a papers on the usage of VLE such as Blackboard by module members ( APLU 2009 ) . In their survey of module members at US universities, about a one-fourth o f all modules who responded were talking at least one on-line class via VLE at the clip of the study. Over a 3rd of module members indicated that they have lectured online. Furthermore, the most experient module members, those with more than 15 old ages of talking experience, are giving talks online at a rate equivalent to faculty members with less lecturing experience. About a ten percent of all module members reported that they were in the procedure working on developing on-line talks. The per centum of module members who have developed on-line talks is about the same as the per centum of module members who have lectured on-line classs. Forests et Al ( 2004 ) showed that module members chiefly use the Blackboard package as a class direction or disposal tool to do class material readily available to pupils and manage class classs and attendings.Lectures ‘ perceptual experienceForests et Al ( 2004 ) established that module members ‘ attitudes were really positive when it came to the schoolroom administrative maps of the Blackboard package but their ideas were impersonal in footings of its instructional and psychosocial benefits. It was found that females had more positive attitudes than males in footings of the Blackboard package ‘s capableness to better schoolroom disposal and advance a positive relational environment. Across all module members, 34 % used Blackboard package to beg a greater diverseness of pupil sentiments than is otherwise possible in the face-to-face environment and 60 % agreed that certain characteristics in the Blackboard system enhanced or elevated their appraisal of pupil work and instructional capablenesss in the face-to-face schoolroom scene. It was besides revealed that a sum of 80 % agreed that the Blackboard package helped them to clearly and expeditiously pass on information about talk demands, and 60 % agreed that the Blackboard package helps them better to run into the acquisition demands of pupils. It was besides revealed that 62 % agreed that the Blackboard package helped them to break their clip direction in disposal affairs and 64 % agreed that Blackboard package improved their pupils ‘ ability to derive cognition of class stuffs. It was found by Lonn and Teasley ( 2009 ) that both male and female lectors believed that the VLE engineering improved instruction and acquisition but were more positive on the consequence of it on their instruction than on pupils. Lectors perceived that the finest advantage of the Blackboard package was how it enhanced and better their communicating with their pupils. Very few female and male lectors chose learning or larning betterments as the most of import advantage from utilizing Blackboard package. A survey conducted by Mitchell and Geva-May ( 2009 ) explored attitudes towards, and attitudes impacting, VLE execution. In recent old ages at that place has been greater credence of VLE by institutional determination shapers, as evidenced by high degrees of larning establishment engagement, but greater module members ‘ credence still lags behind. This spread affects the permeant acceptance of VLE. Mitchell and Geva-May ( 2009 ) proposed that module members credence of VLE is influenced by attitudes related to four factors: – Intellectual reluctance, such as the concerns that pupils ‘ perceptual experiences that VLE is inferior to traditional schoolroom apparatus. Support, such as preparation, clip and aid. Change, in peculiar with respect to doubts the construction and operation of the educational establishments will alter and hence threatens their stations. Economy, where the greatest uncertainty was with the perceptual experience that more support would be needed to back up VLE.Impact on IS StrategyInternet entree connectivity has revolutionized the instruction sector peculiarly on VLE. This is really of import as the connexion should be good plenty to be able to make a practical environment such that information can be accessed and shared without any hold or job and firmly.EffectssLikelihoodLow Medium High Negative Avoid Favorable Beneficial Table 1 Internet Access Since VLE such as Blackboard package depends much on internet entree, any dislocation will hold all activities that involve the information flow between talks, pupils and institutional direction. The likeliness of this to go on is medium but the effects are really negative and therefore any learning establishment should avoid this to do negative effects by holding a backup communicating scheme, this can be done by holding more than one cyberspace entree suppliers and an automatic switch over one time one entree is lost.EffectssLikelihoodLow Medium High Negative Avoid Favorable Beneficial Table 2 Security Modern communicating like high velocity cyberspace connexion comes with drawbacks. Security is the major drawback, privateness, confidentiality and unity of private informations fluxing over the cyberspace between lectors, pupils and instruction staff offices poses security breach. With wireless internet entree in about every place in developed states, the security issue becomes more important. The likeliness of this to go on is high, its consequence is really negative and therefore any larning institute with VLE as the manner of acquisition and learning bringing should guarantee strong encoding tools and sensings are in topographic point at all sides of communicating.EffectssProbabilityLow Medium High Negative Favorable Beneficial Encourage Table 3 Software Collaborative VLE package plays a major function on the efficiency in instruction sector for maintaining pupils and lectors together. With these package, about everything is automated, scheduling, presentment and even instant messaging. The traditional message flows in an office is expeditiously organised. These package bundles are going really sophisticated as new engineerings in processing and storage capacities of personal computing machines are improved. The likeliness of these bundles to better is medium and hence increased productiveness in instruction sector, but its consequence is really good, therefore any establishment with VLE deployment should promote any kind of design or development of the collaborative educational package.Case surveyStudents positionsThe intent of this chapter is to supply an in depth position of of import findings that have already been reported in recent old ages. Students ‘ position for VLE was studied by Stephen Lonn and Stephanie Teasley in 2009. This survey does non concentrate entirely on pupil perceptual experiences but besides cover academic staff perceptual experiences. It makes peculiarly exciting reading as the survey is focused on an organizational execution of an unfastened beginning VLE, and so it is interesting to see whether the perceptual experiences of pupils and academicians are traveling to be different than those found in the usage of commercial VLEs. The survey makes a point that VLEs are used chiefly for the distribution and storage of class stuffs though they can be used for heightening coaction and interaction via tools such as treatment boards, confab suites, wikis and web logs. It farther points out that these tools permit VLEs to back up constructive methods for acquisition and instruction. A cardinal issue nevertheless is achieving pupils and academician ‘s acknowledgment of the chances provided by the tools. It reports that at the University of Wisconsin ( Morgan, 2003 ) academicians reported that one time they have had used the VLE they did commence to reconstitute their classs and eventually their pedagogic attack. It besides disputes that there are a figure of other related surveies but there has been a short of longitudinal surveies which might descry how pupils and academicians change their beliefs and methods to the effectual utilizations of VLE in acquisition and instruction. The survey is conducted at the University of Michigan where they found that academicians ‘ development on VLE is voluntary and the usage of the VLE is non obligatory over most of the establishments. They addressed a figure of cardinal inquiries: Does IT better instruction and acquisition? No major difference between pupils and academicians in footings of IT expertness. Major difference with respect the usage of IT. Students reported preferring a high degree of IT usage than academicians. Which of the following net incomes from utilizing information engineering in your faculties was most valuable to you: Contented sharing, Assignments ; confabs, proclamations ; agenda, treatment, wiki, course of study? There was a major difference between academicians and pupils. The most popular reply from academicians was that it enhanced their communicating with pupils, and for pupils the most popular reply was that it saved them clip i.e. , it was more efficient. The top four maps selected by pupils and academicians as ‘very valuable ‘ were the same, if in a slightly different order, covering content sharing, proclamations, course of study and agenda. When analyzing system event log files this seems to fit the questionnaire statistics with 95 % of activities being correlated to content, assignments, proclamations, agenda and course of study. Merely 5 % of events were associated with synergistic and collaborative tools, treatment board and wiki. For efficient communicating, instruction and acquisition activities. Students and lectors were asked to rate specific activities categorised as either ‘efficient communicating ‘ or ‘supporting acquisition and learning ‘ . Lectors tended to rate ‘efficient communicating activities ‘ as ‘very valuable, ‘ more than pupils. Teaching and larning activities tended to be rated as ‘valuable ‘ instead than ‘very valuable ‘ by both pupils and talks. In general, the survey noted that both lectors and pupils agree that IT heighten instruction and acquisition. However lectors agree more strongly than pupils that IT can better instruction and acquisition. The survey suggests that pupil responses are perchance based on how the VLE tools have really been used. The perceptual experiences raised in this survey of a non-commercial VLE such as MOODLE by pupils and lectors are no different to the types of perceptual experiences raised sing the usage commercial VLEs such as Blackboard.Lectors positionsThe article of Woods et Al. ( 2004 ) explored how far the Blackboard package aids and supports a blended acquisition method by analyzing its usage and impact on three countries of instruction and acquisition: The Blackboard package as a class direction platform, used as an country to supply talk notes, assignment, slides and other helpful larning stuffs as reading lists, course of study, auxiliary readings and external links. Besides the usage of the class system, the trial director and the appraisal tools belong partially excessively this country. The Blackboard package as an assignment tool. How far does the Blackboard package encourage diverseness, and animate critical thought and advance different larning manners before or after a face to confront schoolroom session? Specific features in this country are the treatment boards and trial directors. The Blackboard package as a tool for schoolroom society. How far does the Blackboard package encourage set uping relationships and interaction between class pupils and lectors? In order to react to these inquiries a study was carried out and sent to 50 colleges and universities in 2003 in a Midwest province of the USA ( all acquisition establishments addressed were utilizing Blackboard ) . The study was done by 862 module members from 38 establishments ; 59 % of the respondents were male, and the bulk of all respondents considered themselves as really computing machine literate. Almost half had taught with VLE such as Blackboard package and a important bulk ( 83 % ) had received preparation or assist on how to utilize the Blackboard package. The chief grounds specified for utilizing the Blackboard package were: Professional involvements ( 65 % ) Encouraged by co-workers ( 27 % ) Encouragement of pupils ( 11 % ) The survey indicates that the dominant usage of the Blackboard package is in the country of class administrative affairs. For case: 75 % on a regular basis published their course of study 81 % sent legion or sporadic electronic mails to the whole category 59 % used the class systems Less common usage was made of the assignments tool ( 28 % ) . However 41 % of respondents had conducted a quiz and 45 % had used a treatment board to promote argument and coaction. The Blackboard package was used less normally as a pedagogic application. For case, participants pointed out occasional usage of the treatment board to go on in category treatment or to back up treatment prior to a face to confront schoolroom session. 22 % used the group tools to partition pupils into treatment groups and about 6 % used the unrecorded confab or practical schoolroom characteristics to discourse class content online. The bulk of the letter writers are to some extent impersonal towards the outlook that the Blackboard package can promote a schoolroom society. About 11 % indicated that the Blackboard system was used to develop a stronger sense of schoolroom society and the bulk ( 60 % ) pointed out they ne'er used the Blackboard package for this intent. In decision, the Blackboard package seems chiefly to be used as an disposal and direction tool as portion of a blended acquisition method. The large figure of the participants ne'er used Blackboard package for more synergistic class functionalities such as formative appraisal and for practical office hours. The survey suggests that the Blackboard package seemed to be used to supplement traditional face to confront schoolroom apparatus.DecisionsThis thesis has presented the impact of VLEs on pupils and lectors in larning establishment. The instance survey presented has shown that the Blackboard package seems chiefly to be used as an disposal and direction tool as portion of a blended acquisition method. The bulk of the participants ne'er used Blackboard package for more synergistic class functionalities such as formative appraisal and for practical office hours. The survey suggests that the Blackboard package seemed to be used to supplement traditional face to confront schoolroom appa ratus. The survey besides concludes that both lectors and pupils agree that IT heighten instruction and acquisition. However lectors agree more strongly than pupils that IT can better instruction and acquisition. The survey suggests that pupil responses are perchance based on how the VLE tools have really been used. The perceptual experiences raised in this survey of a non-commercial VLE such as MOODLE by pupils and lectors are no different to the types of perceptual experiences raised sing the usage commercial VLEs such as Blackboard.

Notions of class, status and caste and significant throughout Asia

Asia is synonymous to one word: exotic. With its temperate climate, architectural wonders, tropical greenery, thriving urban communities, rich history, and a melting pot of ethnic groups, it truly is a gem. There is also one thing that makes Asia stand out- its culture and tradition. The Far East, as Asia is sometimes called, had been colonized by Western powers, such as Americans, Portuguese, British, Spanish, Dutch, and French.   This gave rise to a diverse array of cultures, with influences brought by the outsiders interspersing with those of its local inhabitants. One interesting aspect of Asian culture is the caste system/society or social stratification. Caste is a social classification system bestowed hereditarily (Bogard, et al, 1997). The word traces its roots from the Portuguese word casta, a feminine form of casto, derived from the Latin castus, which means pure (The American Heritage, 2000). India, for instance, is known for its caste society (McNeill, 1990). Dowling (2005) noted that the Aryans, warriors from Central Asia, were responsible for bringing caste system into India. After defeating the Dravidians of Central India in 15000 BC, the Aryans created some from of social structure (2005). However, McNeill (1990) argued that caste system started â€Å"long ago† (p.126). He stated, â€Å"About 300 BC, a Greek ambassador to the court of Magadha, named Megasthenes, wrote a book about India in which he described seven hereditary classes into which, he said, Indian society was divided† (p. 126).   The caste system, he remarked, was probably created for members of any group to do things without any hindrance coming from other groups. Caste system allowed group members to â€Å"keep most off their own ways and inner values, and preserve private family customs, while still spending their lives in close daily contact with all sorts of people† (1990). Aryans divided the caste system into four- Brahmin, composed of priests, teachers and judges, Kshatriya or the warriors, Vaisya, consisted of merchants and farmers, and Sudras, or laborers (Dowling, 2005).   Below the Sudras were the untouchables or outcastes (2005).The untouchables had the lowest position in the caste system. They were not allowed to enter temples and schools. They were even not allowed to get water from wells were higher castes obtained theirs (2005).   Some untouchables converted to other religious denomination such as Islam and Christianity to avoid the plague of being outcastes (2005). The foundation of the caste system was based on two things- samsara or reincarnation and karma or quality of action (Bogard, et al., 1997). The Brahmins believed that an infant inhabits the soul of another human being or an animal (McNeill, 1990). He explained: Souls that in former lives had gathered a heavy load of karma, then were born into babies of the lowest castes. Those who in former lives had accumulated only a little karma earned the right to be born as Brahmans; and those in between caste status. Persons who lived well in whatever caste they had been born to could hope for rebirth higher on the scale. ( p.126) Compliance with the rules may result to reincarnation into higher caste (Bogard, et al., 1997). Women, however, may â€Å"have the privilege of coming back as an animal if they are good enough† (1997). Other details on the creation of the Indian caste system, however, were not clear. McNeill (1990) noted that the Indian caste system was not just made up of four classes. The Brahmanas did not provide details of establishment of the caste system. As McNeill noticed, â€Å"In other words, we have here a theory rather than a description of what really existed† (p. 126). However the case may be, India’s caste system has been deemed â€Å"illegal† (Dowling, 2005, para.5). It was officially abolished in 1947 (McNeill, 1990). But it is integral to Indian society and has molded India into what it is now (1990). McNeill added that the caste system â€Å"allowed very primitive ideas and magical practices to survive indefinitely† (p.128). But even with its abolition, caste system still exists in some Indian communities, especially in rural ones (1990). Several measures have been taken up to reduce its effect on people and communities. The Indian government has introduced government privileges to the untouchables, now known as Harijan (2005). However, the Harijan still receive less opportunities, educational and employment-wise. Another Asian country that has stratified society is Indonesia, specifically the Balinese (Frederick and Worden, 1993). The Balinese reside in the islands of Bali and Lombok and some parts of Sumbawa (1993). The caste system dates back to the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, the time when Javanese princes flew to Bali to avoid the â€Å"advances of Islam† (1993).   The Balinese has had, since then, mingled with the locals and asserted an anti-Islamic political perspective (1993). The Balinese caste system was based on the Indian caste system (â€Å"Social System,†1998). The three classes were the Brahman, Ksatriya, and Wesya. The three made up the Triwangsa, which means â€Å"three peoples† (1998, para.9). The Triwangsa was the â€Å"highest three societal stratification† (1998, para.9). The classes comprised 10 % of the populace and lived in puri (1998, para.9) According to a Hindu myth (â€Å"Social System,† 1998), Brahman or god, was separated. His mouth developed into the Brahman, his arms became the Ksatriya, his thighs were the Wesya class, and out of his feet borne the Sudra class. The classes are akin to the human being, different parts have different purposes but all need to work together to survive. Brahman comprised priests, scholars and teachers (â€Å"Social System,†1998). They also had special privileges in burial rights and were entitled to a â€Å"high level of ritual communication† (1998, para.12). The Ksatriya was represented by warriors, rajas or princes whereas merchants fell into the Wesya caste (1998). The majority of Balinese, however, belonged to the Shudra class (Frederick and Worden, 1993). The Shudra or Sudra class consisted of the commoners (â€Å"Social System,†1998). Unlike their Indian counterpart, the Sudra caste was not considered untouchables (1998). The Sudra served as laborers for the three classes (1998).   Since they did not know how to read or write, they depended on the upper classes to â€Å"interpret religious texts and prayers† (1998, para.16). Caste was based on birth (â€Å"Social System,† 1998). Each caste followed certain rules. Caste rules were strictly observed. One rule involved addressing Triwangsa caste properly (1998). Another one was the responsibility of each caste member to offer assistance to other castes when needed (1998).Compared to the Indian caste system, the Balinese caste was not that rigid. Frederick and Worden (1993) pointed out that the Balinese caste system â€Å"involves no occupational specializations or ideas about ritual contaminations between ranks† (1993). Marriage between ranks was not forbidden. Today, the Balinese are caught between adhering to tradition and adapting to change (Frederick and Worden, 1993).They are starting to question the traditions and are caught in the middle of obeying years-old rules or completely junking them in favor of modernization. If the Balinese are torn between tradition and urbanization, the Philippines have managed to phase out its own version of caste system. The Spaniards’ colonization of the Philippines gave birth to the concept of barangay (Cunanan, 1986).   The barangay was considered the â€Å"basic political unit† (1986). It consisted of thirty to fifty families. A chief datu, who came from the aristocrat clan called maharlika, led a barangay (1986). The maharlika had servants called â€Å"aliping namamahay or aliping sagigilid† (1986). The aliping namamahay were responsible for building houses, tending the farms of the datus, among other things. On the other hand, the aliping sagigilid were house-bound (1986).   They were either taken into forced custody or served as payments for debts (1986). The barangays were soon integrated into a bigger unit called encomiendas (Cunanan, 1986). An encomienda was â€Å"awarded to the conguistadores and religious orders for their meritorious services in the conquest of the native people† (1986). By 17th century, the encomiendas were completely wiped out in favor of creating provinces (1986). At present, the Philippines have a modern version of the caste system: the superior-servant or household help type. In Western countries, it is interesting to note that only the rich and privileged have acquired household help. In the Philippines, household help is common, especially in urban communities. These people are employed in houses to fend for the inhabitants’ need such as cooking their meals, doing laundry and cleaning the house. Household help are usually those that did not finish school or came from poor families. Majority of them live with the families they tend to, with some slowly being recognized as family members. For a country known for its homogeneity, Japan, surprisingly, had a caste system (Reischauer, 1988). The outcast group was called burakumin or hamlet people (1988). The burakumin roots backs to the feudal era. They were known by different names but were popularly known as burakumin, an abbreviation from a form which means â€Å"people of special hamlets† (1988). They were no different from other Japanese but what set them apart was their occupation. Reischauer (1988) described them: This group, which accounts for less than 2 percent of the population, probably originated from various sources, such as the vanquished in wars or those whose work was considered particularly demeaning. Clearly they included people engaged in leather work or butchery, since the Buddhist prejudice against the taking of all animal life made others look down of such persons, thought, it should be noted, not on the butchers of human life in the feudal society dominated by a military elite. (p. 35). Since 1871, the burakumin received legal equality but prejudice is still felt. Some Japanese are said to be â€Å"reluctant to have contact with them and are careful to check family records to ensure that they avoid intermarriage† (p. 35).   Nowadays, the burakumin are becoming â€Å"less recognizable† (p. 35.) Asia is truly a mix of both worlds. The importance given to class, status or society stratification is a direct reflection of its history and people. While some may say that social classes cause inequality in society, it has defined rules on how a society or system would work. Bringing discipline and order into a society was important in a caste system. It has also fostered unity among class members. Positive and negative effects are embedded into any social stratification system. But the very same diverse ideas and counterculture are the ones that helped shape Asia into what it is now- a wonderful hodgepodge that is deeply textured. References Bogard, M., Gilbert, L., Jones, M., Nida, B., Swanson, A., & Young, S. (1997). History of the caste system. Cunanan, J.P. (1986). Evolution of labour legislation in Asia. Hong Kong: DAGA CCA-URM. Dowling, M (2005). The caste system of ancient India at mrdowling.com. Retrieved 30 April 2007 from http://www.mrdowling.com/612-caste.html Frederick, W.H. & Worden, R.L. (Eds.). (1993). Indonesia: a country study. Washington: GPO for the Library of Congress. McNeill, W.H. (1990). A history of the human community (3rd ed.). New Jersey: Prentice Hall. Reischauer, E.O. (1988). The Japanese today. Massachusetts: Belnap Press of Harvard University Press. Social System. (1998). Retrieved 30 April 2007 from http://www.balivision.com/Article_Resources/SocialSystem.asp The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (4th ed.) (2000). USA: Houghton Mifflin Company.