Sociocultural theory in collaborative learning Essay

Sociocultural theory in collaborative learning - Essay Example Sociocultural theory in collaborative learning It is a pedagogy that has at its centre the assumption that people make meaning together and that the process enriches and enlarges them†. The debate about the definition of term ‘collaborative’ as well as ongoing attempts to identify relevant criteria to determine whether learning is collaborative or not does not seem to have any major implications for the basics of collaborative learning. Almost every research study exploring collaborative learning environment comes to positive conclusions. Natasi and Clements (1991) summarize these conclusions in the following way: â€Å"Cognitive-academic and social-emotional benefits have been reported for students from early elementary through college level, from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds, and having a wide range of ability levels†¦ Furthermore, cooperative learning has been used effectively across a wide range of content areas, including mathematics, reading, language arts, social studies and science†. Initially, research in the realm of collaborative learning focused on functioning of an individual learner in a group: the theories which dominated cognitive psychology over the 1970s tended to emphasise the role of individual information processors in the process of cognition. The social context of this process was viewed as secondary to individual activity. The last decades of the 20th century were marked by increased attention to the social context, and, consequently, improved understanding of the process of cognition.

Developed Countries ( listening and reading, with vocabulary ) Assignment

Developed Countries ( listening and reading, with vocabulary ) - Assignment Example What is more surprising is the fact that the economy of the world is controlled by the developed countries since they have the power over global financial institutions such as the World Bank and the international Monitory Fund (IMF). Less developed countries are not given the same opportunity to make decisions that can shape the global economy. I therefore, chose this topic to gain a clear understanding of the major roles played by the developed countries in running the world economy and the role played by the other less developed countries. 2 What was it about? The video is about the outlook for US economic growth which is a developed country and its economy is used as a yardstick to measure the performance of the economy of the world at large. On the other hand, the story seeks to highlight how the developed countries such as USA and other European countries have been monopolising the global financial institutions such as World Bank and the IMF for their own benefit with regards to economic development. The story is clearer about how the developed countries are abusing their power to control the world economy while there are other countries with strong economies like China but have little influence over the decisions made by the developed countries at the World’s biggest financial institutions. 3 Did you read or listen first? Why? Do you think the order you chose helped you or not? How many times did you need to read & listen before you felt confident about understanding the topic and vocabulary? How do you feel about this topic, e.g. positive or negative feelings? Do you agree/disagree with the ideas?† I watched and listened to the video at least two times to gain a clear understanding of why the developed countries such as USA have more power to determine the state of the economy in the world. I think this helped me since the video explained more about the IMF’s predictions of the US economy which is a developed country. After reading th e story, I came to grasp the meaning of some economic terms that have been used and I gained confidence about their meaning after reading and listening to the story and video for at least two times. I feel positive about this topic because the developed countries are mainly concerned with economic activities that will benefit themselves at the expense of developing countries which are given less power to influence the decisions made by institutions such as World Bank and IMF. 4 Did you learn anything new from this reading & listening? What? I learnt a lot of things from listening to the video. I leant that the price of oil is the major determinant of the economic status of developed countries like USA and the world at large. If oil prices increase, there is likely to be a general increase in the prices of many commodities and job losses can be witnessed. In the story, I also leant that if developed countries continue to control the IMF and World Bank, they will suppress other develo ping countries given that the economies of emerging economies like India and China are developing more that America at the moment by they have no controlling stake in these institutions. 5 Was this topic connected in any way to your future studies and if so, how do

Amazon Company Background Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Amazon Company Background - Research Paper Example For effective management f its network relations, the company has, in addition to its Seattle headquarters, an additional office at Coffeyville, state of Kansas. Additionally, Amazon.com has global websites in the US, UK, France, Germany, Canada and Japan with a view of serving the domestic consumers of its products and service. With more than eight thousand full time employees, the company is able to have effective communication with its customers within the online or network relationships. In this regard, the placing of orders, acquisition of relevant information, following the progress of the order and online sale of products and services are transactions which are effected during the network relationships. The company values its employees as the most important resource in effective management of network relationships between the company and its employees. The management of network relationships includes effective and efficient communication between the Amazon sellers and the customers. Customers are provided with an interface of creating user accounts through which their communication with the sellers will be facilitated. Through these accounts, the users are able to view the company’s variety of products and make necessary inquiries. This is then followed by making or orders by the customers. The orders are consequently processed by the company’s employees within the various subsidiaries and retail shops. The company’s policy provides for professionalism and effectiveness in communication. which includes giving the customers appropriate feedback on the progress of the orders. Additionally, the procedure of communication within the company is in support of enhanced relationship between the sellers and the customers. This is aimed at ensuring effectiveness and quality in the provision of services and products to th e company’s market. Call Centers for Facilitating Relationships The company has call centers Kennewick, Grand Forks and Huntington within the US. Additionally, Amazon.com Inc. has call centers in Cape Town, South Africa and Hyderabad, India. These call centers play the most significant role of enhancing network communications between the customers and the sellers of the company’s products (Ratnasingham 1). The activities in the call centers employ information and communication technology in addition to the utilization of telecommunication networks in order to efficiently meet the needs of consumers for information. More importantly, the consumers are enabled to inquire about the various details on the company’s products and thus achieve an enhanced shopping experience. In addition to the communication with the customers, the data centers play a role of coordinating the activities of the various

Population Growth Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Population Growth - Case Study Example It is also important in that it helps determine the dependency ratio. High population growth rate is usually a problem especially with limited resources in a society whereas low population growth rate is a problem in the society given that the society may face workforce shortages in the future. The paper discusses the population size of all US citizens as depicted by data from 1900 to 2000 census. Data used in this paper was retrieved from the US census database. The reason for selecting this data was because of availability of data online, the convenience of the data source and to show how a developed country manages its population size through its policies and also to determine the expected population size in the next census. US Census data was retrieved for the year 1900 to 2000 from the US census website. The following is an analysis of the data. From the year 1900 to 2000 the population increased by 205,628 thousand, the mean increase in population is for the ten year period from 1900 to 2000 is 20,563 thousand, the standard deviation of this increase in population 7064.3. We, therefore, expect that the population size will increase by 20563 thousand in 2010. The composition of the population is an important measure in a society given that it helps determine the dependency ratio. The following chart shows the composition of the population as at the 1990 census From the above chart, it is evident that the majority of individuals during the 1990 census were aged 15 to 34 years while only 21.06% were aged 55 years and above. Total workforce, therefore, was 57.4% and this means that approximately 42.6% of the population was dependent on the workforce. From the above chart, it is evident that the majority of the individuals in this year were aged between 35 and 54 years and only 21.06% were aged above 55 years.

Managerial Decision making essay 6 Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Managerial Decision making 6 - Essay Example Despite the enormous pressures through sanctions and other measures by the US and its allies, Iran has held ground that it will not stop its nuclear programs. After many rounds of negotiations, it is clear that the US cannot achieve its goal of convincing Iran to stop its nuclear programs and hence this stalemate will have to be addressed by approaching the negotiation table using other approaches. In a stalemate negotiation, the issues of concern must shift from hard-line positions to new ones, which will ensure that the fears of each group are met and addressed. In this case, the solution shifts from a competitive approach where each group wants to win, to a new approach where each group wins, that is, a win-win solution (Bazerman & Moore, 2009). In these negotiations, the issues always boil down to US wanting to reduce Iran’s nuclear infrastructure and Iran seeking to maintain them, which leads to a stalemate at the end. In such a negotiation, it is important to identify th e issues of agreement between the two parties, then the issues of contention and hence decide where to compromise and also where necessary come up with new solutions discussed together on the table. Further the two groups must now frame the agendas of the negotiations in a more promising way. Like in any negotiation, cognitive mistakes can happen in such a negotiation. Such mistakes include irrational escalation of commitment, self –serving biases, negotiator overconfidence and issues and problem framing. To avoid irrational escalation of commitment, it is important to have an external advisor, who warns the group when they start acting irrationally when in the heat of the negotiations. In addition, to self-serving biases, it is important for negotiators to listen to others and consider their motivations for their positions in the process (Foreman & Selly, 2001). Negotiator overconfidence may lead negotiators to believe that their

Unemployment Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Unemployment - Research Paper Example Extensive research over multiple aspects of unemployment has revealed that the past unemployment results in change of preferences such as prices and constraints, affecting the levels of future unemployment as well. Individuals differ in certain unmeasured variables that, if not properly controlled, have influential impact on levels of unemployment. There exists, however, no universally acceptable definition of unemployment so far because both employed and unemployed people worldwide are measured quite differently.Over the last few decades, the progressive world economies have, though slowly, recognized the complexity and seriousness of growing unemployment issues at last. However, various scholars and economic organizations have provided with more generalized definitions of unemployment. The most widely referred definition from the International Labor Organization states that unemployment â€Å"occurs when people are without jobs and they have actively looked for work within the pas t four weeks. The unemployment rate is a measure of the prevalence of unemployment and it is calculated as a percentage by dividing the number of unemployed individuals by all individuals currently in the labor force.† According to the Census Bureau, â€Å"unemployed persons include those who did not work at all during the survey week, and who were looking for work. Also included are persons who would have been looking for work except that (a) they were temporary ill, (b) they expected to return to a job from which they had been laid off for an indefinite period, or (c) they believed no work was available in their line of work or in the community.† Unemployment can also be defined as, â€Å"An economic condition marked by the fact that individuals actively seeking jobs remain un-hired. Unemployment is expressed as a percentage of the total available work force. The level of unemployment varies with economic conditions and other circumstances.† (Investor words, 20 09). Students, children, retired personnel or people not interested in a paid job are not inclusive, however. Categorized on basis of causes and consequences, there are four major types of unemployment in macroeconomics. Frictional unemployment - People who are re-entering (are between jobs) or entering for the first time or after absence from work usually experience short-term unemployment called frictional unemployment. This kind of unemployment is sometimes considered beneficial as it provides time to individuals, organizations and societies to find better jobs build suitable workforce and improve services respectively. Structural unemployment – Unemployment also occurs if there are both jobs and workers available but the skills required for a job are not matching workers’ experience. This situation often results due to changes in structural economies and lasts for several years (long-term). For example, jobs are available in oil and gas industry and workers have sk ills with textile industry, there is a mismatch of skills leading to Structural unemployment. Seasonal unemployment – Sometimes, changes in weather, tourist activities or other seasonal factors results in short-term unemployment of related people called Seasonal unemployment. For example, some people experience joblessness as the construction activity slows down during extreme winters. Cyclic unemployment – Due to prolonged periods of recession, production outputs are reduced causing joblessness. Previous employees lose jobs and entrants have fewer openings to search. As business cycle is actively involved, this type of unemployment is called Cyclic unemployment. This is long-term and considered as the most severe kind of unemployment. When joblessness due business cycle is minimized to zero, economists say that we have reached full employment. Rise in level of unemployment is considered among the most worrisome economic problems. Due to gradual adjustments according t o the market equilibrium price and quantity over time, there exists no

Philosophy and the law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Philosophy and the law - Essay Example Various schools of thoughts have been suggested to dissect and explain the phenomenon of crime and the effect of punishment on the criminal mind. What leads a person to commit a crime, and even reoffend, despite the specter of punishment hanging over his head like the sword of Damocles? In the hypothetical case of Mickey McHeinous, the question of whether a criminal who has committed the most heinous of crimes and as a consequence suffered unbearable guilt as a consequence of his acts should be punished is being presented for consideration. There is no question that Mickey McHeinous should still be punished for his crimes not only to set a cut-and-dried example to others that crime always begets punishment but primarily because society must be protected from the harm that he might still commit. Guilt, and its physical and physiological consequences, is not enough justification to spare him from punishment because it does not ensure that he will not repeat the commission of the same c rime. The oldest and enduring concept of crime is that it is largely retributive. A criminal is sentenced to punishment that corresponds to the weight of his crime. This is to impress upon the criminal that crime does not pay and his evil deeds against any member of society will not go unpunished. Mickey McHeinous might be physically and psychologically suffering from his crimes but this does not justify sparing him from society’s punishment. Punishment as a retribution is not only a reassertion of the biblical concept of â€Å"an eye for an eye; a tooth for a tooth† but it is also a representation of justice. It is not only Mickey McHeinous that suffers from his crimes, but society as well – more so, in fact because they are the victims. Why should the law favor him by sparing him from punishment and turn a deaf ear on the rest lived by the rules and did no harm