Wednesday, August 26, 2020

Globalization Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 12

Globalization - Essay Example Talking about main impetuses of globalization, it is basic to make reference to that, above all else, the globalization is brought about by the target components of the worldwide turn of events, by the escalation of the universal division of work, logical and innovative advancement in the territory of transport and correspondence that lessens the supposed financial separation between nations. Permitting to get the important data from wherever on the Earth continuously, present day correspondence frameworks encourage the association of global capital speculation, creation and showcasing collaboration. In the states of the enlightening coordination of the world the exchange of innovations and selection of outside experience is incredibly quickened. The preconditions for the globalization of the procedures, which are nearby naturally, for instance, getting advanced education indirectly, are being shaped. The subsequent fundamental wellspring of globalization is the progression of exchange and different types of financial advancement, which caused the confinement of protectionism legislative issues and made the worldwide exchange increasingly free. Subsequently the taxes were brought down, numerous different obstructions set for products and administration exchange are evacuated. Different estimates prompted the heightening of the development of capital and different components of creation. The consequences of the procedure of globalization can be found in the way that the boundaries for financial, social and even political movement become progressively straightforward. Web, understudy trade, the insurance of human rights add to the making of extremely worldwide society, which comprises of systems. The globalization is communicated by the quick development of relocation and capital, unification of laws, division of work, the normalization of innovation and the association of the way of life in the worldwide scale. It is conceivable to express that it gives the boost to the development of new universal

Saturday, August 22, 2020

The Debate between the Principal-Agent Model and Organisational Essay

The Debate between the Principal-Agent Model and Organizational Culture Theory - Essay Example As the paper outlinesâ the head operator (PA) hypothesis depicts linkages dug in complex assignment chains that impact the limit of the global association pioneer to endeavor toward their own objectives. Scholars for the most part see the part states as the ‘principals’ and the universal association as the ‘agent’. The PA hypothesis can likewise go further the designation chain to take a gander at the head specialist ties inside worldwide associations that are explicitly useful as far as recognizing how much IO pioneers may comprehend their tendencies.This examination features thatâ organisational culture scholars have powerfully shown that IOs are entertainers, with capacity to grow and carry on in accordance with independent objectives and rules that can't be decreased to the objectives and standards of their part states. As expressed by this model, the ability of IOs towards autonomous conduct starts from their pro, good, appointed, lawful, and sound fo rce, which gives them ability to use power. Regular contentions of the authoritative culture hypothesis perceive as far as possible implemented by states. By the by, in practically the entirety of the experimental examinations the conceivable clash between the independent goals of the IOs and outside weights is dodged by choosing contextual investigations wherein IOs carry on self-rulingly however in understanding to the premiums of the states, or contextual investigations wherein IOs act where states are unsympathetic.

Thursday, August 20, 2020

Im embarrassed to be writing this entry.

I’m embarrassed to be writing this entry. Yesterday evening at MIT had a fairly random pair of events: First, pro wrestling announcer Jim J.R. Ross spoke at a colloquium hosted by the Comparative Media Studies (CMS) department. Later, there was a free advance screening of Blades of Glory by the Lecture Series Committee (LSC). I hope you dont think less of me for going to a talk about professional wrestling followed by a sophomoric comedy with lots of crotch jokes. Jim Ross lecture I admit it; growing up, my brother and I watched pro wrestling. Later, we both did varsity wrestling in high school, which is a real sport and does not involve costumes or beating people with steel chairs. Regardless, when I heard that J.R. was speaking, I was quite intrigued. When I came to MIT, I knew there would be lots of famous scientists and engineers who would give guest lectures. Over my years here, there have been lots of astronauts (including Buzz Aldrin), mathematicians (like Benoit Mandelbrot), CEOs (Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, Jack Welch), technologists (Steve Wozniak, Jimmy Wales) the kinds of cool people youd expect to hear talk at MIT. But there have been lots of speakers here on other topics, too. Ive seen Mira Nair, the MIT Blackjack Team, Al Gore, Ralph Nader, Thomas Friedman, Orson Scott Card, and more. Ive also missed talks by Kofi Annan, Zhu Rongji, Frank Gehry, and the Dalai Lama, among others. The talk by Jim Ross fits into the category of speakers I never thought Id see, and certainly not at MIT. Actually, there is an entire class in the CMS department this term devoted to pro wrestling: CMS.602 Topics in Comparative Media Studies. The class is taught by Sam Ford, who is also a licensed professional wrestling manager and performs for Universal Championship Wrestling in Kentucky. Courses in CMS frequently take an academic look at topics in popular culture. For example, this term the course CMS.922 Media Industries Systems, looks at video games. It is taught by Chris Weaver, the founder of Bethesda Softworks the company that invented the original John Madden Football and created the hit RPG The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion. As for Jim Ross talk itself, I came away thinking about the concept of storytelling. What does it mean to tell a story well? What makes a good story? How do you create a story that a broad audience can relate to? There was also an interesting thread of discussion about the role of gender roles and sexuality in pro wrestling, and how characters, both male and female, are developed. Of course, we also talked about the legitimacy of pro wrestling: is it fake, performance art, sport, spectacle? (This discussion being done with everyone having an appropriate understanding of how pro wrestling actually works) Blades of Glory sneak preview After the Colloquium, I ran over to Annas Taqueria with my friends Dan Jeff for a quick burrito dinner, then we headed over to room 26-100 to get in line for a sneak preview of the new Will Ferrell movie, Blades of Glory. Blades of Glory isnt due out in theaters until March 30. Sneaks are a fairly regular event for LSC. A few of the sneaks from recent years include 8 Mile, Corpse Bride, I (Heart) Huckabees, School of Rock, and Harold Kumar Go To White Castle. There will be another free sneak preview in a couple weeks (just before CPW): Disturbia, which appears to be a bad remake of Rear Window. One of the best things about watching a sneak at LSC is the crowd. The night starts with trailers for upcoming LSC movies. Before each trailer, there is an LSC slide informing the crowd when the movie will show, for example, Next Friday and Sunday. The entire crowd, in unison, then responds, Next Friday and Sunday IN STEREO! Its pretty cool to see the whole crowd shout it at the screen. The related LSC tradition is that if the movie audio or visual should fail during the film, one audience members shouts LSC! and the rest of the crowd replies Sucks! You can try this at any movie theater near a large concentration of MIT alums (Boston, Silicon Valley, Manhattan, etc.) at a movie that might draw a large MIT crowd. At a screening of Star Wars Episode 1 in Los Angeles on opening night, at the appropriate moment I yelled LSC! and got a reply from somewhere in the large crowd; it was pretty cool. The crowd at the Blades sneak was particularly vocal. There was no LSC sucks! moment, but the crowd laughed quite heavily at just about every laugh line. Maybe its because Spring Break is almost here. As for the movie itself, it was funny, probably worth paying to see in a movie theater, if you like this sort of movie. It wasnt as good as, say, Anchorman or Old School, but still pretty good. Ice skating fans with a sense of humor will particularly enjoy it (lots of cameos; the one from Sasha Cohen is the best). Anyway, that was my Thursday evening.

Sunday, May 24, 2020

Physical And Emotional Benefits Of Physical Activity

Despite the physical and emotional benefits of moderate physical activity, most Americans are not getting enough exercise to sustain healthy behavior and reduce their risks of illness. A lack of physical activity has been shown to be a risk factor for several conditions. Less active people tend to have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, as well as feelings of anxiety and depression (Johns Hopkins Medicine, 2015). Studies have shown the physically inactive people have an increased risk of colon and breast cancer. One study showed a 40% decrease in cancer mortality in people who were physically active. Physical activity also prevents insulin resistance which is the underlying cause of type 2 diabetes. A lack of physical activity increases the loss of lean muscle tissue which in turn makes activities of dialing living such as dressing and bathing or even grocery shopping, much more difficult to perform. As we age out bones lose some strength and like mu scles, require exercise to maintain their mineral content and strength. Being physically active also helps keep one’s immune system which helps ward off various illnesses and diseases (Rimmer, 2015). Effects of Fitness on Cardiovascular Health Other Metabolic Diseases Physical inactivity is a major risk factor for the development of obesity and other cardiovascular (CV) disease (CVD). Vascular endothelial dysfunction is a key event in the development of CVD and is associated with aShow MoreRelatedThe Social-Emotional, Cognitive and Physical Benefits of Physical Activity1153 Words   |  5 PagesThe social-emotional, cognitive and physical benefits of physical activity During childhood our body and mind changes very fast. I believe that nowadays parents focus more on the brain developement of their children than their physical activity. When I was a little girl - over 20 years ago - we spent most of our time outside playing, running and enjoying fresh air and being in movement. Physical activity of children can secure them health and well being in their adulthood as well as teachRead MoreIdentifying And Understanding The Factors That Shape Health1636 Words   |  7 Pageslife expectancy. Ideally, the element of social support has been thought to offer a potential pathway for the promotion of health among the aged adults. Fundamentally, social support is one of the most essential factors in predicting the emotional wellbeing and physical health of everyone. Too often, the presence of social support shows some advantages among the impacted individuals, especially among the aged adults (Landau Litwin, 2001). Knowing that there are family members, re latives, and friendsRead MorePeople in Rural Areas Experience Better Health Than Those in Urban Areas770 Words   |  4 PagesPeople in rural areas experience better health than those in urban areas. Compare and contrast the social constructs of these populations. The people living in urban and rural areas have varying social constructs for health and physical activity. This is due to the different social circumstances of the community and the location of which they live in. People living in rural areas- living in a characteristic of farming or country life, in comparison to urban dwellers- Of or belonging to a cityRead MoreEssay on Healthy Living591 Words   |  3 Pages Health is described as physical and mental well-being and freedom from disease, pain or defect. However, such descriptions only superficially define the actual meaning of health. There may be many occasions when individuals are not necessarily ill or in pain but may be overweight, stressed or emotionally unstable. Health is a quality of life involving dynamic interaction and interdependence among the individual’s physical state, their mental and emotional reactions, and the social context in whichRead MoreThe Positive Effects of Having Sport Activities for Prisoners1 706 Words   |  7 PagesThe Positive Effects of Having Sport Activities Offered For Prisoners Introduction: With many correctional facilities in the United States providing some recreational and sport activates, many have thought that it will become a growing trend. However, the continuous budget cuts that have been made are limiting their activities and programs. The benefits of sport activities can reduce the tension and stress while promoting healthy choices to the prisoners. Also Prisoners develop pride in winningRead MoreChildren and Sports Essay1053 Words   |  5 Pagesnature’s process. Children develop emotional and social benefits from participating in sports. Children experience character and leadership development through peer relations leading to an increase in self-esteem and a decrease in anxiety levels. Children will get opportunities to experience positive and negative emotions throughout their practice and games trials. It is important for the coach to understand the â€Å"psychology of youth sports and physical activity participation† (Weinberg Gould, 201 1Read MoreImproving Sports At School Time1566 Words   |  7 Pagesfor their children than paying attention to the importance of physical education. Even public schools do not allocate enough time for kids to practice sports as much as they do for class-based education. In fact, physical activity for children is not only about pleasure time. Rather, it helps grown-up children to extend their capacity to grasp concepts explained in their classes. Children who are active while doing physical activity are expected to be active at class time. Thus, encouraging sportsRead MoreExercise for Optimal Emotional Health651 Words   |  3 Pagesfor Optimal Emotional Health People who are emotionally healthy are more efficient in controlling their behavior and emotions. This makes it easier for them to take on life’s daily challenges with strength and resilience, without experiencing depression and emotional breakdown. Lifestyle changes are essential in keeping the balance in our emotional health and it includes healthy eating, exercise and focusing on positive mindset. Regular exercise is not only essential for physical health, it canRead MoreThe Positive Benefits Of Human Animal Bond1278 Words   |  6 PagesIn writing my final reflection assignment, I chose to conduct my research on the many positive benefits that a human-animal relationship has on a person’s emotional, physiological and even physical wellness across the lifespan, in this paper I will discuss a review of the literature regarding my chosen topic and how this information will impact my life. I chose to conduct further research on the importance of the human-animal relati onship, because according to our class readings, interactions withRead MoreThe Importance of Physical Activity Essay1545 Words   |  7 PagesThe teaching profession plays a fundamental role in educating children. Some of which include physical activity Teachers engage in many roles in student’s learning, some of which are more challenging and important than others and all which contribute to a child’s development. The process of childhood development is dynamic, recognised by various fields including the influential society, inherited characteristics through genetics, and the psychological behaviour of the child. These fields all play

Wednesday, May 13, 2020

The Wild West Rides Into The Sunset Essay - 1389 Words

Connor Lucas ENG 3080J Hollis February 20, 2014 The Wild West Rides Into The Sunset Have you ever read a text that included items such as a bold cowboy, trusty horse, beautiful female, or a dark villain in a dry, isolated, and undeveloped setting? If so, it’s a great possibility that you were reading a classic Western. Many readers of this genre would describe its stereotypes as what I listed above. You can almost always find that protagonist cowboy hero, who tends to be a good-looking and sharp character that fights the dirty, rugged, evil villain in an epic climax while trying to save his gorgeous and innocent lady. The setting is often a flat, unpopulated, and undeveloped town, surrounded by mountains. The Western genre played a†¦show more content†¦However, Kolb describes Marshal Jack Potter as â€Å"a nervous unarmed honeymooner, who rides a train instead of a horse† (98). In the story, Potter is described as wearing a new black suit that most likely was purchased in San Antonio (23). This gives the reader the idea that the East influence d the West a great deal, considering a hard-nosed, sharp-shooting town hero most likely should not be wearing a new suit that was made in the East. The stereotypical western criminal is mean, dirty, selfish, and constantly stirring up trouble. In â€Å"The Bride,† your criminal is Scratchy Wilson. However, as Kolb describes, the difference between Scratchy and most other Western villains is that Scratchy’s â€Å"main crime seems to be that he cant hold his liquor† (98). The eastern culture is brought up again in the story through Scratchy’s clothes. You’d expect to visualize a rough and dirty character whose soul is as dark as his clothes. With Scratchy, you get a criminal wearing a â€Å"maroon-colored flannel shirt† that was made in New York (24). Crane uses these characters to portray an idea to his reader’s that the influence the East has on the West is far greater than the average person would expect. Expectations for a women in a Western story are generally perceived to be a beautiful, innocent,Show MoreRelatedAnalysis Of The Book The Wild West : The Mythical Cowboy And Social Theory ``1707 Words   |  7 Pagesbe supported with information from Slotkin’s book â€Å"Gunfighter Nation†, Will Wright’s book â€Å"The Wild West: The Mythical Cowboy and Social Theory†, John White’s book â€Å"Westerns†, and Jane Tompkin’s book â€Å"West of Everything, The Inner life of Westerns† and various films which consist of William A. Wellman â€Å"The Ox-Bow Incident†, Fred Zinnemann â€Å"High Noon†, John Ford â€Å"The Searchers†, Sam Peckinpah â€Å"The Wild Bunch†, and Robert Altman â€Å"McCabe Mrs.Miller†. Old western movies are one of the most classicRead MoreAmerican Idols of the Old West: Cowboys1271 Words   |  5 Pages Cowboys are the American idol of the â€Å"Old West† pictured as silhouette riding out over the prairie on their horse with the sunset ahead of them. They are what shaped the entire cattle raising industry in America. A study of the cowboy way of life helps us to discover the hardships they faced and the experiences that every cowboy has witnessed. The cowboy is usually pictured as a full grown man working hard in a pasture or in a set of pins but in reality, cowboys started off at ages as early as 7Read MoreThe Holy Fool Archetype1667 Words   |  7 PagesPhiladelphia to San Francisco, he continually finds himself in trouble with thieves, the law, and Native Americans, yet escapes each trial with unwavering persistence and a steady religious devotion. Set in the mid 1800’s, at the height of the American â€Å"Wild West† era, the film serves as a parody of the traditional Western hero, substituting an inexperienced, yet cagey Jewish Rabbi for the usual hardened, gun-slinging cowboy. As detailed by Matthew Turner in his â€Å"Black Sheriffs and Villains in White Hats:Read MoreNo Country For Old Men1745 Words   |  7 Pagesbut in Chigurh’s mind, everything happens for a reason. No Traditional Justice No Country for Old Men goes against the archetype of the classical American Western; the law abiding, just protagonist defeats his evildoing opponent, and rides off into the sunset. However, NCFOM presents none of this. You see the protagonist, a morally grey laborer, gunned down, and not even by the main antagonist. The protagonist’s wife, an innocent woman completely removed from nearly all events of the narrativeRead MoreThe Truth about Cowboy Types1782 Words   |  7 Pagesa wide-brimmed hat, a belt of bullets, and a flannel shirt; he might be guiding his herd lazily along grassy plains, singing folk songs around a campfire with his companions under a starry sky, riding off with a beautiful ranch girl into an iconic sunset backdrop, or even wearing a mask and enforcing vigilante justice in a small town terrorized by hardened western thugs or hostile Native Americans. These clichà ©s are drawn mostly from the hundreds of movies and television productions that claim theRe ad MoreThe Egyptian Culture Of Egypt1316 Words   |  6 Pagesinscriptions the glyphs are very detailed an in full color. When the Egyptians began to write, they wrote from the beginning in ink, on papyrus. Papyrus is a plant that grows wild all over the Nile River valley, which is to say it is very common in Egypt. At first papyrus was only used in Egypt, but by about 100 BC people all over West Asia began buying papyrus from Egypt and using it, since it was much more convenient. The modern Egyptian communication has changed a lot from the ancient one. EgyptiansRead MoreMy Day On A Summer Day2150 Words   |  9 Pagessomewhere extravagent. In my mind pictures of crystal clear waters and sugar white sand filled my imagination. The Carribean? Dominican Republic? France? Anywhere outside of the country would be absolutley breath taking... well anywhere outside of the mid-west atleast. Snapping out of my day dream Chayce, my youngest brother at the time asked me to put his shoes on. I hated putting on his shoes it was like cutting a tree with scissors. â€Å"Push Chayce!† i yelled â€Å"I am! You’re hurting me! he replied.† AfterRead MoreClassical Hollywood1981 Words   |  8 Pagesopposite between the East of America and the West. Cities already established In the East are presented to us as feminine and cultured places, contrasting with the ‘wild west’ . In director John Fords The searchers(Ford,1956,US) we see the iconic John Wayne star in a celebration of the spirt that vanished with the taming of the American wilderness. This is an indication of the system of the East taking hold and our heros evidently have no more sunset to ride off into. Read MoreAnalysis Of The Movie The Grand Parade 1764 Words   |  8 Pagescompetition participants dressed in fishnet tights and Old West bustle skirts. The competition winner, known as the â€Å"Oil Queen,† sat smiling in a white wicker throne before a glittery cutout of a derrick gushing a rooster-tail of crude. Most associate the Central Valley with agriculture. But here in the dry southwestern corner of the vast basin, oil is the undisputed king. The â€Å"giant† oil fields that envelop the town of 9,000 – the Midway-Sunset, Cymric and Belridge – are among the largest in the countryRead More Australian Camels Essay3530 Words   |  15 Pagescamels. They are the Bactrian, or two-humped camel (C. bactrianus), and the Dromedary (Arabian), or one-humped camel (C. dromedarius). The Bactrian camel is native to Chinese Turkestan and Mongolia, and probably lived as far west as Iran and eastern Russia.[2] There are few wild herds of Bactrians remaining in the world today. Those that are left can be found roaming the Gobi Desert and in the mountains of China and Mongolia. Domesticated versions of the camels are readily found throughout central

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Discuss the economic, political and social impacts of international trade in the 21st century Free Essays

Globalisation has emerged over the past 30 years bringing new dimensions to the traditional economic thinking around international trade. Discuss the economic, political and social impacts of international trade in the 21st century. Globalisation is the trend towards markets crossing international and regional borders, lessening the differences in customers’ wants1. We will write a custom essay sample on Discuss the economic, political and social impacts of international trade in the 21st century or any similar topic only for you Order Now The process of globalisation, assisted by the technological revolution in communications and computers, is radically altering the shape of world markets, as well as the nature of business and everyday life. The economic, political, and social significance of international trade has been essential for the growth of globalisation. The restrictions to international trade would limit the nations to the services and goods produced within its territories, and they would lose out on the valuable revenue from the global trade. Globalisation has not only changed the way we live it has improved efficiency in flow trade and finance, modernised technology for consumers and increased wealth. International trade is the exchange of goods and services between countries. This type of trade gives rise to a world economy, in which prices, or supply and demand, affect and are affected by global events. Economically it can be extremely complicated especially the fact that all countries whether they like it or not, are related to each other in one way or another. For example, an increase in the price of one commodity such as oil creates a long and complex chain of events which makes analysis of all the causal relationships virtually impossible. The risk of the exchange rates can also be a impact between countries due to the different currencies around the world. During recession, countries suffer local pressure to change laws governing International trade to protect the local industries. The most painful and memorable of such incident is the Great Depression. However, nations with strong international trade have had the power to control the world economy and this has allowed them to reduce poverty. Trade has also allowed countries to increase in profits and sales which have allowed businesses to expand internationally. Political impacts of international trade are not taken lightly as there may be many impacts which may affect the trade of goods and services between the countries. The risk of non- renewal of import and exports licenses can affect the consumer and supplier, this is because if a license is not renewed jobs will be lost and consumers will be dissapointed as their good or service is no longer being offered to them. The risk of war is also dangerous as it can leave the country in harm and have a huge impact as businesses will no longer want to provide their goods and services to the country at war. If war is declared between to countries this impacts the economy greatly. Through diversifying cultrally and socially a nation becomes more open and desirable to tourists. It allows for major growth and change as well as initiating connection with other countries. Therefore, if more tourists are willing to come to a country it further increases economic growth. International trade may also impact the way individuals behave towards each other, as new customs from overseas are learned and adapted. According to the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the growth in exporting and companies becoming global has created over 250,000 new jobs. Conclusively, international trade in goods, services and finance has been increasing at an exponential rate which is giving consumers a wider choice of products and services to choose from. Globalisation has not only changed the way we live it has improved efficiency in flow trade and finance, modernised technology for consumers and increased wealth. The process of globalisation, assisted by the technological revolution in communications and computers, is radically altering the shape of world markets, as well as the nature of business and everyday life. How to cite Discuss the economic, political and social impacts of international trade in the 21st century, Papers

Tuesday, May 5, 2020

Explain Different Methods of Assessing free essay sample

Twice a year the pastoral carers are required to transfer this knowledge from note-taking, observations, record books, assessments of the children they care for, onto ‘progress reports’ for the parents to receive. â€Å"Sound reflection on the observations we make not only enhances professional practise, but also aids our understanding of children. † (Advanced Early Years 2nd Ed: I Macleod-Brudenell amp; J Kay:Pg328:2008) We sit together and discuss each child and ensure we have accurate and up-to-date details to add onto the progress report. Any concerns are dealt with on a daily basis and are not collected to discuss just twice a year. A primary purpose of observation is to record in order to inform our response to the needs of children. † (Advanced Early Years 2nd Ed: I Macleod-Brudenell amp; J Kay:Pg328:2008) The pastoral carers are then able to take time to sit and write a short report for the child, of which a copy is given to the parents and a copy is stored within the child’s file at playgroup. We will write a custom essay sample on Explain Different Methods of Assessing or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The parents are also invited to come along and meet with their child’s pastoral carer before the report is sent home. Observations and assessments of the children within our care may be required for the following reasons: Concerns about a child’s behaviour and/or development * Routine assessments (starting at playgroup, leaving playgroup) * Structured assessments in cases of special needs * Assessments for purposes of a case conference or court * Students for learning purposes * Assist with planning our curriculum * To assist with planning IPP’s (Individual Play Plans) â€Å"Observation is a diagnostic tool, confirming capability or progress at a point in time. It is a means of unobtrusively collecting potentially rich information about children’s development. † (Advanced Early Years 2nd Ed: I Macleod-Brudenell amp; J Kay:Pg329:2008) At playgroup we are aware of the following, but may only use a few within our setting: Observation: Observations can be taken inside or outside and at different times of the day and within different areas of the setting. They record what the child is doing in a subjective way, enabling you to support childrens development / be aware of their current stage of development? Its most appropriate to use this method when a childs development is causing concern. â€Å"Observations should be as objective, valid and reliable as possible; and conclusions should not be drawn from one observation only. (Special Issues in Childcare:M O’Hagan amp; M Smith:Pg37:1995) Information from colleagues and carers: Parents/carers who know the child and colleagues expertise are invaluable, especially when planning for social and academic success for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities. If we are concerned about childs development its good to ask/share information. We also share information such as a parent pops in to explain theyre concerned their child might be feeling a little poorly one morning, a colleague lets you know how they saw a child achieve a milestone in their development. Your data should be discussed with appropriate persons and parents, compared, cross-checked and further assessments done where necessary. † (Special Issues in Childcare:M O’Hagan amp; M Smith:Pg39:1995) Assessment framework: It is the way in which a child is assessed to decide whether they have any particular needs and what these needs may be. It is useful in deciding whether the child is reaching expected milestones of development in different areas. Assessment frameworks involve methods from the Welsh ‘Foundation Phase’ and ‘Birth to Three Matters’. Assessments should not be judgemental and negative but should accurately reflect your findings, based on observational and other sources of information where relevant. † (Special Iss ues in Childcare:M O’Hagan amp; M Smith:Pg39:1995) Standard measurements: Tests/cognitive aptitude tests that demonstrate a snapshot of childrens academic ability or skill at retaining taught information and that might then be used to compare outcomes between a larger population of same-age children. Health programmes that might measure head circumference, weight, height, visual and auditory functioning. Educational psychologists may use reasoning tests to assess an intellectual age in contrast to a chronological age. Types of observation we use within playgroup are: Naturalistic – where we observe the children during the general playgroup routine and in their natural surroundings. No attempt is made to structure the situation. This is used for general information such as how well an activity has been received or how well a child completes an activity – especially useful with our new style planning as we can gauge whether children are enjoying the topic and getting the most from it. Structured – a situation is organised prior to the observation with a view to gaining specific information e. g. building blocks on the table, can the child build a tower of four blocks? This is used more for the child’s development book; we can record any progress or areas of concern. Snapshot – notes are made which capture what the child is doing at a particular point in time. This is useful to see what the most popular activities are and what children enjoy doing. Longitudinal – several observations over a period of time. We use these types of observation if there appears to be a concern over behaviour or development. Table of different techniques that we use at playgroup: Method of assessment, recording, monitoring children| How this is used| Why this may be used| Time Sampling| Regular intervals over a set period of time e. g. every half an hour during the session| can be used to observe a childs behaviour to identify possible concerns. E. g. a shy child who does not relate to other children| Event Sampling| Observing/recording specific events such as temper tantrums| helps to clarify what really happens during a tantrum. For example is the child provoked, does the event happen at certain times of day, how long does the tantrum last? | Checklist of development| Record of child’s abilities within a development book| Good way of seeing where the child is with their development – do they need encouragement in a certain area? | Structured records| Usually given by Flying Start/1st Opportunity to update their records| Records that are passed to us by a third party regarding what the child is able/not able to do prior to starting with us. Sociograms| Recording how children relate to each other in a group| Good exercise to see who plays with whom. In older children you can observe whether they are starting to form more settled friendships. | Anecdotal, diaries and log books| Specific events recorded over time and recording situations as they happen, of what the child does and says, and more importantly how the child does and says things| Spontaneous observations can show surprising things about a childs development that might otherwise never be seen. Target child| More specialised form of observation which focuses on one child within a group or situation| show a childs unique all round development at a particular age and stage| Video recording / photographs| To document a child’s progress and enjoyment of activities whilst at the setting| Very useful to show parents what their child is able to achieve at playgroup and great for non-verbal children to be observed without missing anything. |