Article Review on Role of Play in Early Childhood

Jill Englebright, an assistant professor of early childhood education at Virginia Commonwealth University, has devoted her article to one of the timeliest issues in the contemporary system of education. It has been said a lot that Play has already forced out old academic system of education, proving that actually Play is much more effective in both learning and developing skills and knowledge. To prove this point Jill has meticulously investigated Play as an integral part of education. T first Jill is stating several descriptions and explanations of Play, given by many scholars. Generally, Play can be identified as a type of activity, where children participate with enthusiasm alone or with other children. Undoubtedly, play is first and foremost important to develop such skills as creativity and social competence; it enhances language and thinking skills and at the same time develops wider imagination. Through Play a child comes to understand both physical and social worlds, at the same time using non-verbal communication as another type of contact with other children. Generally, through Play children manage to adapt, understand and communicate to each other. With regard to Play as a type of cognitive development, Jill is expressing two points of view. Piaget claims that Play is a means of entertaining children, as it only allows children to practice skills they have already learnt. At the same time, according to the theory of Vygotsky, Play does enhance cognitive development. Irrespective of the actual role of Play, it is obvious that is playing an important role in the early childhood classroom. Play can be both indoor and outdoor, and, according to Jill, it is essential to use both of them. At the same time, it is important to underline that outdoor classes should not replace the indoor ones, on the contrary, they should be an extension of the indoor classroom, and should develop both motor and social skills. It has been proved that outdoor environment helps to enhance all the areas of development: problem-solving, creative thinking, social competence, language use, etc. In her article Jill Englebright also pays attention to five types of Play by Parten. According to Parten, children may get involved into various types of Play, depending on circumstances. These types are: onlooker behavior, when a child is watching the Play; solitary independent, when a child is playing by himself; parallel, playing in the middle of the group, at the same time being occupied with his own activity; associative, when children communicate with each other, but at the same time do not play the same not being involved in the same Play; and the last one is cooperative, when children are involved in the same Play. Actually, much time should be devoted to Play, as short plays make children abandon when they have only started to get involved. As a result, a child may lose interest and it may develop some negative attitude to Play in general. It is important to underline the role of a teacher during Play: a teacher provides indoor and outdoor play environments, maintains safety, develops rules, selects appropriate materials, and other aspects. Moreover, it is important for teacher to observe children playing to facilitate appropriate social interactions and motor behaviors. It is important to let children decide on what they want to play and let them choose their roles within the Play. Social play permits children to include other in their play; it is teaching children to interact with each other. Cognitive play involves thinking and reasoning process; during this play a child is using logic, information, he is finding solutions to some problems, and at the same time learns new information. Actually, through both types of play a child is learning new, however the main difference is the means of learning – either by himself (through cognitive development) or by means of interaction with others (social development). The article itself is very important and sheds light on an essential means of activity in the classroom – Play. Not only does Jill give a general overview of what Play is, but she is actually giving very bright and vivid examples as well, so that the reader comes to understand and analyze the role of Play himself. As for me, the article is very useful especially for young specialists, who do not have some experience in this very field. I like Jill paying considerable attention to outdoor classes, as I am convinced that it is important to develop child’s motor skills as well. Generally, the article is very informative, and its examples make it easier to analyze. References Englebright, Jill Fox. â€Å"Back-to-Basics: Play in Early Childhood.† Early Childhood News. 22 Nov. 2010. http://www.earlychildhoodnews.com/earlychildhood/article_view.aspx?ArticleID=240

Fashion Vs Fashion Essay - 1827 Words

Chapter 1 - 2013 Hundreds of people walk past me every day. No, in fact thousands and thousands of them walk past me every day. Well, I say walk but what I really mean is that some of them run, some of them hobble and some of them stomp but most, yes most, people skank past me in a kind of weird tribal fashion. They may think their God’s gift but in reality they’re just sacrificing their personality to fit in with what’s currently deemed to be stylish. Unfortunately for them, fashion is highly disputed in this modern false economy because it s so subjective and it rapidly evolves; this creates tension and provides difficultly for my equal fellows, when they try to imitate the queens of the catwalk. Personally, I only think trends exist,†¦show more content†¦One day I can be as high as a kite and then it comes crashing down. Everything’s always changing, although recently it’s usually for the worst. I don t know why that is but I think luck significantly, pl ays its part. Throughout this current life, I ve been called every name under the sun. Initially, I wasn’t aware that such words and phrases even existed but now I’m just used to it. Nothing shocks me anymore! There was a time when swearing was only used to express anger and frustration, when someone was at the lowest of their low. Now it’s common place. Maybe people are now more impatient and are constantly looking for something new to gripe and moan about. Nowadays, when I see people go to purchase their weekly Indian takeaway, they almost shout the place down, when they realise the price of a poppadom has increased by only five pence and these certainly aren’t isolated incidents. They happen every second of every minute of every hour of every day. Wherever I go and whatever I do, it’s almost impossible to avoid this unnecessary onslaught of insults and prejudice. If I read any article in the tabloids, if I listen to anyone’s conversation in the streets, if I see someone’s video blog on the internet, chances are that I ll come across some absolutely vile language for no meaningful reason. There’s really no getting away. Nowadays, even some of the most sophisticated of society swear to sound casual. If they actually listened to themselves ratherShow MoreRelatedFashion Stylists vs. Fashion Designers Essay591 Words   |  3 PagesFashion Stylists vs. Fashion Designers Fashion stylists and fashion designers have some similarities, but the differences are very evident. Fashion stylists hold the job title of someone who selects the clothing for published editorial features, print or television advertising campaigns, music videos, concert performances, and any public appearances made by celebrities, models or other public figures. Fashion designers simply create garments to be worn and purchased by the general public. 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Poetic Terminology Free Essays

1. Alliteration- repetition of a particular sound or syllable two or more times in a group [EX: Elderly elephants egress elegantly] 2. Allusion- casual reference or implication of something [EX: Titles of books often allude to what the contents will hold, subtly or not. We will write a custom essay sample on Poetic Terminology or any similar topic only for you Order Now A book titled Little House on the Prairie implies that there will be a small house on a plain of grass. ] 3. Analogy-two things that have something in common making them comparable [EX: ‘His resolve was that of a rock. Meaning his determination was hard, in similarity to the hardness of a rock. ] 4. Anapest- two short syllables, or two unstressed syllables followed by one long, or stressed syllable [EX: A classic example is from the poem A Visit from Saint Nicholas â€Å"Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house (short syllables bold, long syllables underlined)] 5. Assonance-repetition of vowel sounds to create a rhythm in a line (sentence or phrase) using consonance and alliteration [EX: ‘Try to light the fire’ is a good example] 6. Ballad-a song of sorts with two or more stanzas, sung to a melody, generally of romantic character [EX: There are a number of examples ranging from rock ballads like Wanted Dead or Alive by Bon-Jovi or November Rain b y Guns N’ Roses to classics like Angel of Music from Phantom of the Opera or the mournful ballad I Dreamed a Dream from Les Miserables] 7. Blank verse- unrhyming verse, generally put in iambic pentameter [EX: The Ball Poem By John Berryman â€Å"What is the boy now, who has lost his ball/What, what is he to do? I saw it go/Merrily bouncing, down the street, and then/Merrily over-there it is in the water! ] 8. Concrete poetry- the typographical arrangement of the poem is as important as the content of the poem itself [EX: The author Ellen Hopkins writes concrete poetry in all 6 of her books—Crank, Burned, Impulse, Glass, Identical, and Tricks. ] 9. Connotation- implied meaning associated with certain words [EX: Cheap has a negative connotation, implying that someone is too tight with money. Economical has a positive connotation, implying that someone spends their money wisely. ] 10. Denotation- literal definition of words [EX: Cheap and economical are both defined as spending little money] 11. Dactyl- In essence, the opposite of anapest. One long or stressed syllable, followed by two short or unstressed syllables. [EX: Basketball is an example of a dactyl. Ba-sket-ball (short syllables bold, long syllables underlined)] 12. Diction-a way of speaking, where the specific choice of words makes one sound better, more intelligent. [EX: A speaker may sound more distinguished, and his audience may admire his diction more, by certain choice of words. Using a word like â€Å"morose† instead of simply â€Å"sad†, or â€Å"elated† instead of merely â€Å"happy†. ] 13. Dramatic monologue- One person performs a speech that defines a certain theatrical moment. [EX: Monologues are common place in plays, musicals, movies TV shows, the whole theatric industry. It is how certain moments are defined. Some very famous monologues, that many have been m odeled after is in Shakespeare’s Othello when the character Iago frequently talks to seemingly to himself, so as to let the audience in on his sinister plots. ] 14. English sonnet (Shakespearean sonnet) (what is rhyme scheme and how are the 14 lines split)- An English sonnet is a song following strict guidelines: rhyme scheme and only 14 lines. Every line is in iambic pentameter. Shakespeare’s sonnets generally have a rhyming scheme of a-b-a-b, c-d-c-d, e-f-e-f, g-g. The last two lines are a couplet. [EX: Shakespeare’s Sonnet Number 18 â€Å"Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?†¦ and this gives life to thee. †] 15. Italian sonnet- (Petrarchan sonnet) (what is rhyme scheme and how are the 14 lines split)- The structure is based in parts of an argument: proposition describing the problem then proposes the solution. The ninth line is generally known for being the turn from problem to resolution. It is also traditionally in iambic pentameter as well as English sonnets. The pattern in Italian sonnets starts with a-b-b-a, a-b-b-a, has two options for the middle: c-d-e-c-d-e or c-d-c-c-d-c. [EX: Francesco Petrarch’s Visions is an example of an Italian sonnet â€Å"Being one day at my window all alone†¦oft makes me wayle so hard a desire†] 16. Elegy-a melancholy, or plaintive poem generally mourning someone who is dead. [EX: Walt Whitman’s O Captain! My Captain! â€Å"Here Captain! Dear father! /This arm is beneath your head;/It is some dream that on deck,/You’ve fallen cold and dead†] 17. Metaphor- figure of speech that describes something through comparison to something entirely unrelated otherwise. [EX: â€Å"feeling blue†, â€Å"broken heart† or â€Å"early bird† are all metaphors. You can’t feel a color, it just refers to a feeling of sadness. â€Å"Broken heart† doesn’t mean that a heart is physically broken, it just refers to a feeling of hurt feelings. â€Å"Early bird† doesn’t mean that someone is actually a bird, it just means they are an early riser. ] 18. Epic- Traditionally long, it narrates the adventures or lives of heroes fighting their adversaries. EX: The Illiad and the Odyssey by Homer are both examples of epics. ] 19. Epigram- Satirical and memorable statement, that is brief and interesting. [EX: Oscar Wilde once said â€Å"I can resist everything but temptation. † This is an example of an epigram not found in poetry. Shakespeare wrote â€Å"So all my best is dressing old words new,/Spe nding again what is already spent;/For as the sun is daily new and old,/So is my love still telling what is told. † 20. Free verse- poem without rhyme or regular meter. EX: â€Å"After the Sea-Ship—after the whistling winds;/After the white-gray sails, taut to their spars and ropes,/Below, a myriad, myriad waves, hastening, lifting up their necks,/Tending in ceaseless flow toward the track of the ship. † After the Sea-Ship By Walt Whitman] 21. Imagery- descriptive language, written to â€Å"paint† a picture. [EX: Imagery and metaphors are very similar, i. e. â€Å"Her eyes twinkled like starlight† is a metaphor and creates imagery at the same time. ] 22. Iamb-metrical foot in poetry. [EX: Some words that are an iamb would be: behold, amuse, depict, destroy, or insist. The title Of Mice and Men uses iamb. Iambic pentameter is a common form of metrical line using iamb. â€Å"But, soft! What light through yonder window breaks? / It is the east and Juliet is the sun† from Romeo and Juliet by Shakespeare is an example of the use of iambic pentameter. ] 23. Lyric poem-Traditionally has rhyming schemes, expressing emotions. [EX: The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe is a lyrical poem. â€Å"Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary†¦Shall be lifted—nevermore! †] 24. Limerick-Humorous verse with a rhyming scheme of a-a-b-b-a, three long lines then two short lines. EX: Hickory Dickory Dock is a famous example of a limerick. â€Å"Hickory, dickory, dock,/The mouse ran up the clock,/The clock struck one,/And down he run,/Hickory, dickory, dock. †] 25. Meter-basic rhythmic structure of a verse. 26. Myth-story from history, generally explaining some natural phenomenon. [In Greek Mythology, Zeus is the explanation for lightning, he throws it from the heavens when he is angry. ] 27. Personification-adding a human trait or characteristic to something nonhuman or inanimate, generally in abstract form. [EX: The Cat and the Fiddle is a classic example of personification. The line â€Å"the little dog laughed,† adds a human quality to a dog. ] 28. Occasional poem- specific poems composed for an occasion. [EX: A Visit From St. Nicholas is an example of occasional poetry. It the night before Christmas, and was written specifically for Christmas. ] 29. Onomatopoeia-a sound made into a word. [EX: Comics are known for onomatopoeias. â€Å"Bam†, â€Å"pow†, or â€Å"boom† are all onomatopoeias and are used commonly to describe the sounds of a fight or explosion. ] 30. Protest poem-designed to challenge or undermine common ideals (or uncommon, doesn’t matter really), often directed to authority figures or establishments. Frequently, a taboo subject is used to create this challenge, using vulgar language, and demeaning popular beliefs. [EX: Ding Dong! The Witch is Dead from the timeless The Wizard of Oz is a clear example of protest poetry, as it makes fun of an authority figure post-mortem. ] 31. Symbolic poem- extended metaphor, essentially. [EX: The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost is an example of symbolic poetry. He talks about two roads and which he should take: the well traveled, or the one no one else has taken. The roads symbolize two major life choices, and what the reasons are for taking either one. 32. Syllabic verse- poems that have a constrained number of syllables per line. If anything like anapest or dactyl is included, it is secondary to the syllabic pattern. [EX: Haikus are an example of syllabic poetry, always in the order of five, seven, five by line. Basho Matsuo wrote: â€Å"An old silent pond†¦/A frog jumps into the pond,/splash! Silence again† which follows the patter n of the haiku. ] 33. Tone- attitude or style created by the poem. [EX: The tone in To Kill a Mockingbird is a coming of age. How to cite Poetic Terminology, Papers

A Critique Of Philosophical Approaches To Criminal Justice Reform Essay Example For Students

A Critique Of Philosophical Approaches To Criminal Justice Reform Essay People are arrested every day in the United States. They are put on probation or sent to jail, and sometimes they are let out on parole; there are millions of people affected. In 1995 alone there were over five million people under some form of correctional supervision, and the number is steadily increasing. The incarceration rate is skyrocketing: the number of prison inmates per 100,000 people has risen from 139 in 1980 to 411 in 1995. This is an immense financial burden on the country. Federal expenditure for correctional institutions alone increased 248% from 1982 to 1992. Obviously something has to be changed in the justice system. If the crime rate is rising this much, the correctional justice system isnt functioning properly, and needs to be reformed. Many people have offered theories as to what should be done with the prison system, the extremes being retributivism and the therapeutic model, but what they all seem to have overlooked is that there is no single system that works for everyone. Blanket generalizations as to the nature of the criminal mind cannot be made. Every criminal is different, with different motivations and different psychological characteristics so that different things are required to make them repent or deter them from further criminal activity, and I believe that the solutions offered are not enough to lower the crime rate and prison population. Something needs to be done on a more fundamental level so that fewer people turn to crime in the first place, thereby providing the prison system with the freedom to improve the attention it gives to the people that do become criminals; my solution is a combination of economic reform and educational opportunity that would give people less reason to commit crimes. The extreme right reform proposition, retributivism, is flawed mainly because it seems to assume that showing people that what theyve done is wrong will always accomplish something, and that every prisoner can be shown that his crime was a moral wrong. This is not the case for many prisoners. There are people who steal and sell drugs simply because they have no other means of survival. There are people whose lives in the outside world are so terribly difficult that for them, prison life is a cushier existence than their ordinary day-to-day existence, and many of these people intentionally commit crimes so they will be arrested and thrown in jail, simply so that they can get a decent meal and a bed. For these people, even if they feel that their criminal existence is indeed a moral wrong, prison does nothing to make them repent or change their way of life. They have no choice but to steal or to sell drugs, because they have to make a living somehow, and if this is the only way they ca n do it then prison time will not change the way they see things. Also, there are criminals who either do not see or do not believe that what they are doing is a moral wrong, and no amount of punishment can convince them that they shouldnt have done what they did. If they reject the categorical imperative, no punishment can change their minds; prison time is then a waste for them as well. They committed their crimes without fear of punishment, and they will continue to commit crimes after they are released, and they dont feel any remorse. What then is the point in putting these people in jail? They are simply taking up space. Something else must be done to keep these types of people from committing criminal acts. The extreme left proposition, or therapeutic model, is also flawed. Believing that criminal behavior is a psychological disorder that can be treated through therapy may be true in some cases, but certainly it cannot be proven to hold true for all. The same group of people I mentioned before is an exception to the therapeutic rule: people whose lives depend on drug sales and theft will not be changed by psychological treatment. They simply do what they have to do, and after they are released from therapy, they will go back to stealing, because they have no other way to earn a living. Then there are people who cannot be cured by any amount of psychological therapy. They will sit through the counseling sessions, perhaps play along with the therapists games, but once released, they will r?sum? their criminal habits. And even among those who can be positively affected by psychological treatments, there are so many different psychological disorders and personal idiosyncrasies that no singl e treatment plan can cure all of them. Another argument against the therapeutic model of criminal justice is this: people pay thousands of dollars a year to see psychiatrists, completely of their own accord. If people are willing to pay for this, why should they avoid committing a crime, if the only punishment they are likely to receive is psychological treatment? The therapeutic model is not only a poor deterrent, it has the potential to increase the crime rate. Psychiatric treatment is expensive. If one could obtain counseling for free simply by getting oneself thrown in jail, I think that many people would do so without hesitation. People who would otherwise commit no crimes could very well choose to do something they wouldnt otherwise think of. Obviously the therapeutic model is no solution. Other people propose a solution combining the retributive and therapeutic models of justice, which is more of a utilitarian view. They would have criminals sent to jail for their crimes, and given psychological counseling while incarcerated. This is a nice idea in theory, and the most reasonable proposition in my opinion, but the simple fact is that prisons are too overcrowded to give each prisoner the treatment he deserves. There are too many prisoners and not enough money. As a blanket solution to the problem of criminal justice reform, I agree that the utilitarian view of prisons is the most desirable policy, and that our justice system as it is now leaves a lot to be desired, but I believe that the greatest concern is not how to change criminals once theyve already been arrested, but how to prevent them from becoming criminals in the first place. My proposition is for society, as well as the government, to turn its attention away from prison reform and focus instead on the issues that lead people to adopt a criminal lifestyle. There are distinct environmental factors that are correlated with criminal behavior. In 1991 a third of all inmates in state prisons had bee n unemployed prior to their arrest, and of those who had held jobs, one fourth had only part-time jobs. In local jails 36% had been unemployed, 20% looking unsuccessfully for a job and 16% not even trying. Many of these inmates are uneducated as well: only 59% of state prison inmates had a high school diploma or its equivalent, and in local jails, this percentage dropped to a mere 54% of inmates. Two thirds of prisoners rank in the bottom two of five levels used to score the National Adult Literacy Test, compared to less than half of non-incarcerated adults; inmates are, more often than average non-incarcerated adults, less educated than their parents, and the parents of inmates are generally less educated than the parents of non-incarcerated adults in the same age range. These statistics cannot be chalked up to coincidence alone. Obviously theres a connection between education and employment opportunities and criminality. Uneducated people, and those who cannot find a job for whate ver reason, seem to be far more likely to turn to a criminal lifestyle than those with an education and a job. What I think is then the solution to the problem of skyrocketing crime rates and prison populations is increased attention to education and economic equality. Investment in Russia EssayPhilosophy

The US Presidential Debate

Adventureland Movie Review

Adventureland Movie Review Free Online Research Papers Being a young adult is one of the most exciting times in a person’s life, whether you’re in a good situation, or a bad one, it seems that this is a time for most to celebrate and be carefree with whatever they have. Greg Mottola’s Adventureland perfectly portrays this lifestyle in a young James Brennam, a recent college graduate trying to raise money one lackluster summer in his hometown amusement park. For what seems like James’ worst summer yet, turns into an exploration of new people, new places and most importantly new emotions and barrier breakers. This movie presents a great blend of romance and comedy, and a flawless look into life in the eighties. Produced by William Horberg, Adventureland is a delight for all young adults wondering what life was like before their time. James is told by his parents that his father was recently laid off, (news that young Americans seem to be getting more accustomed to in the recent months), and that he would not be able to cover the expenses of James’ graduation present, a planned trip to Europe. To cover what his parents had lacked, he took a summer job at the run-down, amusement park in his hometown in Pittsburg. The setting of the film portrays a mood that is hard to find in others. Bright lights from the carnival engulf every scene, giving a mood of corny, but admirable humor. There is a scene near the end of the film when James and two of his new-found friends were setting off bottle rockets on the side of an endless grassy hill that gave you such a peaceful feeling, simply because of the place they were sitting. Humor is one of the main reasons this movie is so excellent. If you’re the type of person who enjoys sitting for two hours to laugh rather than mope, than Adventureland is an excellent choice for you. Situations are portrayed in this film that most adults have experienced at one point in their lives, making Adventureland brilliantly relatable. The chemistry exuded from the characters makes a perfect brew of comedy-filled situations and scenarios. Also, the movie has a more serious tone to it when the underlying relationships of some of the employees at Adventureland reveal themselves. Kristin Stewart or â€Å"Em† is involved with the park bad-boy Ryan Reynolds, â€Å"Connell†, who is married at the same time. While all of this drama is going on, James steps into the scene to eventually fall in love with Em for his first time ever. Em and James’ relationship is so enjoyable to watch, as we have all had our awkward moments with people we like. These two have an indefinable chemistry, even though they’re both scared to admit it. As their relationship grows, they share pleasurable times laughing, making mix-tapes for each other, working at the hackneyed games of Adventureland, making â€Å"special brownies†, and eventually falling head over heels in love with each other. James soon finds himself in deep betrayal, watching Em walk out of Connell’s house in astonishment. A feeling that most have felt at one moment in their lives. After he breaks up with her, everything just seems to go terribly down hill. The word gets out to the park crew that Em had been having an affair with Connell, and because of sheer embarrassment Em decides to quit and return to New York. Leaving James without a clue of where she went. A song from James’ mix tape for Em; â€Å"Pale Blue Eyes† plays when James is sitting at a bar regretting what he had done. In the song the first lyrics are â€Å"Sometimes I feel so happy, sometimes I feel so sad, sometimes I feel so happy, but mostly you just make me mad, baby you just make me mad.† Which gives a realistic look into what being in love for the first time is all about, and the many new emotions and feelings that come along. The end of this film is one that will stay with the viewer for much longer than the hours and minutes counting on the DVD screen. Hopeless romantics will be more than pleased with virgin James Brennam, as he had come so far in such a short summer. Most of us can relate to all the characters in this film. Through all the drama they all stayed close friends and stuck together through the ruthless summer. Quoted by one of James’ closest friends as â€Å"the work of pathetic, lazy, morons†, this job proved itself to be more than a bummer responsibility but a place where young adults from all walks of life can come together in a workplace, bond, hang-out and drink together. As the drinking age differs from what it is now, the characters all hang out in shabby bars getting to know each other. They all know that they are stuck there, at least for this summer, and they’ve all decided to make the absolute best of it. Doing the same thing everyday can get boring at times, but this cast proves that when you have a good mix of personalities, any situation can be transformed into a great time. Adventureland is a movie the viewer will never forget. The film exceeds expectations of a comedic romance. The setting was a perfect place for an unplanned relationship to unfold. â€Å"Yet, under Mottolas even hand, Adventureland is no mere freak show or mindless carnival house. Boosted by its romps and romances, its based on the sincere dreams and frustrations of its teenage characters. It embraces their anxieties, dreams and youthful valor† (Byrge 1). The characters were idealistically sought out to have that embarrassed charm about them which young adults have grown to love. Greg Mottola uses Jesse Eisenberg’s bashfulness, amid Kristen Stewart’s earnestness to produce an adorable romance that all could adore. Though action movie junkies may call the movie a bit boring and timid, movie goers whom are interested in romance and friendship stories will genuinely enjoy Adventureland. Adventureland is a special movie because of the music that was played in certain situations. It was all music from leading artist in the eighties, music that’s rare to hear anymore in present day. Hearing this again adds blissful content and played as a perfect soundtrack to what was going on with the characters. On the fourth of July in the Adventureland park when the fireworks start shooting into the sky â€Å"Don’t Dream it’s Over† by Crowded House, plays in the back ground quietly while Em and James stare into each other’s eyes vulnerably. Because this was near the beginning of their relationship things were still awkward and sketchy, but their smiles can’t help but make their way onto viewer’s faces. This is a movie in which this happens a lot, because the characters are so vividly believable, and the setting is so unconsciously romantic. An acquired personality is necessary to completely indulge in Adventureland. Someone who does not believe in drinking before the age of twenty-one would most certainly not enjoy the story. Anyone with a keen since of humor would find this movie funny, but adults that grew up in the eighties and young adolescents reaching the brink of adulthood would most certainly enjoy the film the most. The humor is a different type than stand-up comedy and movies that are strictly out to make you laugh. If you enjoyed â€Å"Superbad†, Mottola’s first hit movie’s humor, than you would most defiantly enjoy Adventureland. As the humor can be directly related to the same of the young adult characters in â€Å"Superbad†. Charity states that Adventureland is â€Å"One from the heart, a clear-sighted love letter to Greg’s own teenage tribulations. Starting out in high spirits then skewing more serious, it’s a funny poignant, bittersweet treat.† This film is one that molds around a first love, and all the craziness of that era in life. Adventureland also reminds viewers that anything is possible, and even when everything seems horrible, it could turn out to be one of the best times of life. The cast, music and story line offer a great deal of hilarious scenes and scenarios for viewers of all ages. Adventureland is something that all our hometowns have, and watching humorous relationships unfold here is nothing short of utter amusement. : Byrge, Duane. â€Å"Film Review: Adventureland.† Greg Mottola. TheReviews. 4 Nov. 2009 Charity, Tom. â€Å"Life is a Rollercoaster.† Rev. of Adventureland, by Greg Mottola. Total Film 4 Nov. 2009 Adventureland. Greg Mottola. James Brennan, Kristin Stewart, Ryan Reynolds. Miramax, 2009. Film Research Papers on Adventureland Movie ReviewWhere Wild and West MeetThe Spring and AutumnHonest Iagos Truth through DeceptionLifes What IfsHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows EssayThe Relationship Between Delinquency and Drug UseComparison: Letter from Birmingham and CritoHip-Hop is ArtPersonal Experience with Teen PregnancyQuebec and Canada

Littleton Manufacturing Case Study group paper Term

Littleton Manufacturing Case Study group - Term Paper Example These transformations alongside growing rivalry in the market had crucial impact on Littleton manufacturing via Brooks industries declining financial performance. In order to articulate the issue, the management of Littleton manufacturing was worried with articulating the underlying challenges that affected the corporation. The corporation after a series of boardroom talks reached a decision that was aimed at computing a human resources process improvement team-PIT, to underline the issues and second a curative course of action (Whiteside, 1994). Problems identified and their symptoms Grievances at distinct levels of the corporations firm surfaced over the concern of bad institutional communication at the company. With this as a manifestation of the institutional bottlenecks at the corporation, the management of the company sought help from students at an adjacent institution to examine the institutional communication at Littleton. The PIT panel gathered the outcome from the students and carried out an in-house scrutiny that established six essential problem areas that the corporation was to deal with. The first problem established was the deficiency of institutional concord at Littleton. The evident deficiency of institutional concord was perceived through the anxiety displayed by the employee who held to the fact that the production side got ignored over the newer ingredients side. The components side had newer technology and machines whilst the production side had obsolete and redundant machines that needed regular servicing even they never got replaced. The employees also cited the strict working environment in the production side of the firm in contrast to the ingredients side. The employees perceived the management of the components side as overly strict where that of the components side seems elastic and at ease. The employees cited the fact that the two sides of the firm seemed to have distinct management techniques (Whiteside, 1994). The second problem was pitiable view of the monitor’s duty. All levels of the plant got worried about the duty of the supervisors. The directors felt tangential, underappreciated and overworked. The directors had an incredible amount of paperwork, and this restricted the amount of time they had to cover up their levels. This, they supposed, amounted to laxity amid various employees who understood when the directors would come to the level to monitor them. The directors felt nonessential when it came to decision making. They supposed they just got from their seniors when it came to the process of decision making and got criticized when such decisions failed to deliver their expectations. The controllers were as well on morale because of the little support and resources they received from the senior managers. They supposed the senior directors never would support then if they embarked on their own decisions (Whiteside, 1994). The deficiency of uniformity in the enforcement of policies and measur es inside the distinct sides of the plant also got mentioned as a problem at Littleton. Grievances came up from the employees about the disparities inside the department and sides at the firm when imposing policies and measures. Proof of this occurred when the employees protested that various managers in the components side offered longer breaks in contrast to other managers in other departments. In the

Evaluation Argument Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Evaluation Argument - Essay Example Regulations that would control production of materials in media that do not meet ethical requirements have not been made. Where these regulations exist, very few people have confidence in them. The major cause of worry is the fact that these media products are accessed by small children who are easy to influence. With education and training, children access these social media services. Media sites are made available to these children because they come in a wide variety. Many organizations and groups have risen in opposition to media sites that advance immoral behaviors, but still a lot is left to be done. Organizations that are opposed to these media sites raise the question of who allows these unethical materials and the motives of producers. In the current world, technological advancement has saturated the world reaching to young children. Children are allowed to watch games that emphasize on winning and losing. Although these values are good to adults, it takes away the values of loyalty for seniors from the value system of children. On the other hand, time on social media has taken the time for family discussion. Dinner conversations have been overtaken by facebook, twitter, emails, and websites. Watching movies and TV shows have taken the place of counseling for children by parents. This has resulted in children who have no value for ethics (Carter 29). The technological advancement has made media devices too available for young children. This way, young children are able to operate computers and access sites that are not showing ethical materials. Sites that show naked people are popular among children as a result of peer influence. These have resulted in decay of morals of these young children. Use of media has not been subjected to social ethic scrutiny. This has resulted in production of materials that are against widely accepted morals within a society. Regardless of this, there are no functionally reliable laws to regulate materials that are posted i n social media. In America, TV industry was allowed to employ free rating in production of their programs. This allowed them to regulate what they produce regardless of who they reach. In return, the TV industry has resulted in production of programs that are indecent morals. Many of American citizens believe that this law will help reduce the rates of indecency acts in media (PR Newswire par 3). Awareness of existence of these media sites that show immoral materials are known by all people including policy makers yet little has been done about them. Religious organizations raise alarm but little response is realized. On the other hand, individuals who have been found guilty of publicizing immoral materials have not been convicted because are there are no laws that regulate materials to be published. There are few states that have regulations laws that bind violators of moral values. According to PR Newswire (par 5), TV industries accept payment for morally indecent materials that m ay promote moral decay of the people who consume them. Federal Communications Commission allowed these productions to go on air arguing that these programs should be run at a time that is later than midnight. On other cases, internet service providers receive money from producers of immoral programs and blogs and websites. This has deteriorated the case of immorality levels in the world (PR Newswire par 5-7). The behavior of children and adults who consume these materials continue

CAD summary Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

CAD summary - Essay Example When a person indulges more in physical activities, there is a recorded reduction in the danger of suffering from the coronary heart disease. Lack of exercise is currently considered to be the leading risk factor for the development of coronary artery disease (WebMD, 2014). It is a powerful risk factor as compared to the other risk factors of this disease for example high blood pressure and smoking. Taking part in regular physical activities ensures that the arteries are frequently kept flexible (Krucik, 2012). This will be reflected in a normal blood pressure and a good flow of the blood to the heart. This therefore means that high blood pressure, which is one of the risk factors of the disease, is kept at bay and the development of the disease becomes difficult. At Lankenau Heart Institute, they carry out Angioscreen. Angioscreen is a heart and stroke screening program. Under this program a patient receives personal evaluation of their vascular and circulation health. In addition, the patients receive immediate and clear outcomes of Carotid Artery Ultrasound, Ankle Brachial Index, Blood Pressure, Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm, Peak Systolic Velocity, Body Mass Index, and also Heart Rhythm Electrocardiogram. From the above test results, the local screening program that is entirely tied to the heart and stroke disease is Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm screening. The program tests for the expansion of abdominal aorta. The abdominal aorta is a blood vessel that transports blood to the entire body. When the aneurysm widens and expands, it can easily burst and result to stroke or heart failure. On advance stages it can lead to death. The limitation of such illnesses is that they do not have symptoms, therefore, screening is very important. Research shows that an increase in the physical inactivity is closely connected to coronary artery disease as well as resulting death (Stahle & Cider, 2011).

Malnutrition in Older Hospitalised Patients

Malnutrition in Older Hospitalised Patients Malnutrition has significantly increased in the ageing population resulting in a major health problem in the United Kingdom and is a cause and consequence of ill health. This essay will seek to critique three research papers based on Malnutrition in older hospitalised patient. It will include evaluation of strengths, limitations of the research and a reflection on how the researched was undertaken. Evidence has shown that malnutrition cost the National Health Service around thirteen billons a year resulting in one of the highest spend in health care (British Association for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition, 2009).Dunne (2009) also states that one in five people ranging from 65 and over will be affected by malnutrition by the year 2020. Malnutrition is therefore â€Å"a state in which a deficiency of nutrients such as energy, protein, vitamins, and mineral causes measurable adverse effects on body composition function or clinical outcome† (National Institute for health and Clinical Excellence, 2006). In light of the information above, this had stimulated an interest to conduct a research to analyse what is being done and what can be done to reduce the prevalence of malnutrition in older patient. Whilst out in placement, I witness nutrition fell low on the list of nursing priorities of care, not by choice but nurses have so many tasks to complete in a given day. I observe both nurses and health care assistant struggled to cope during meal times and expressed their frustration on the subject on few occasion. Also looking at it from a professional stand point, malnutrition can affect every system in the body leading patients to become vulnerable to illness. This can lead to complication and in the worst case death, it also increases patient’s length of stay in hospital and readmission of patients to hospital. It is vital that information that is used to address malnutrition is extracted from evidence based sources as this aims to provide care in a suitable and efficient way to patient (Craig Smyth, 2007). I used critical appraisal skills programme to analyse my research paper as this model helped me to ascertain the relevance and importance a particular research topic relates to practice as well as conduct a systematic review of the article .It assess whether the three research paper was worth reading and helped me to make sense of the qualitative information (Cutcliffe Ward, 2007). I obtained my three research paper by using search engine such as CINAHL, INTERNURSE and PUBMED. I searched CINAHL (2007 to 2013), INTERNURSE (2005 to 2013) and PUBMED (2007 to 2013) for articles published in English. The search strategy will be explained in details in the reflection section part of the essay and will be demonstrated in Table 1 and Table 2. Table three comprises of the three research which can be found in the appendix. Reflection is seen as an important aspect of nursing, as it improves the quality of care we give to patient as well as it can enhance practice and greater competence. Ghaye, Gillespie and Lillyman (2000) point out that, reflection is a central part of experiential learning and the improvement of practical knowledge. I have chosen to use Rolfe et al model over John’s model because it gave me a better understanding in comparison with John model. It consists of three simple questions which are what, so what and now what. This helped me to organise my thought process. In the next sections of the essay two tables will be shown to depict my search strategy along with the critical appraisal of the three research paper. SEARCH STRATEGY Table 1. Inclusion and exclusion criteria Table 2. Identifying and selecting relevant articles The first research paper was written by Angela Dickinson, Carol Welch, Laurie Ager, entitled No longer hungry in hospital: Improving the hospital mealtime experience for older people through action research, published in the year 2007. The title reflected the content of the research and was clear, specific and concise. It seeks to draw the reader attention to the exact area of study conducted. Marshall (2005) states that a research article should accurately and succinctly reflect the content of the work allowing the reader to be stimulated by the content. This is important as a title that is long and ambiguous can lead to misunderstanding and somewhat misleading. The abstract was excellent, in that it was succinct, containing no jargon and clearly written in a coherent manner that gave a satisfactory overview of the study. It was able to stand on its own as it includes brief summary of the Aims and objectives of the research, the background surrounding the study, the methods used, results collated, the conclusion and the relevance to clinical practice. Paratoo, (2006) points out that the information provided in an abstracts should aids readers to decide whether to obtain the entire article or not. Although evidence shown that ethical approval was granted, no mention of consent of the subjects taken part in the research as in accordance with the Nursing and midwifery council code of professional conduct (2008) which states that consent should be obtained before undertaking any task. Also the authors stipulated that they were unaware of other studies available that addresses meal time care in the way they have carried out the research. A more thorough search could have been conducted to rule out this assumption as this research paper might just be adding to knowledge and understanding already available or it could have been compared and contrasted to better understand the issue or to establish new truths The second research paper was written by Heaven, B, Bamford, C, May, C and Moynihan P entitled Food work and feeding assistance on hospital ward and published in the year 2012. The Authors gave a timely overview into the prevalence of malnutrition in the introduction extracted from reputable sources and demonstrate a good critiquing ability by identifying a gap in a previous related study of which they concluded that little is recounted on the practicalities of the provision of food in hospital and how feeding assistance is seen alongside other nursing priorities which lead them to justified their rationale for undertaking the research. Wigen (2003) states that an introduction should illuminate the rational for the research and highlight any previous research that was conducted on the similar topic. The Authors used a qualitative paradigm research that made it straight forward to follow and was applicable for the intended research. Methods such as interview and focus group was utilised to investigate malnutrition in older hospitalised patient. They provide evidences illustrating that interviews, allowed them to get close to their subject to glean information and to clarify questions that were not fully understand. The focus group they find helped them create an atmosphere where discussion and brain storming can occur to establish the problems surrounding malnutrition in older hospitalised patient and finding measures that can help to resolve the problem. Ellis (2010) suggests that the relationship between the researcher and the researched is part of the research process and is essential to gain the insider perspective that qualitative research seeks to pursue. In addition qualitative research is more suited for nursing as it can focus more on the care a patient receive as well a s their experiences (Jolley , 2010). The author took ethical issues into consideration as appropriate measures were put in place to obtain consent and prevent physical harm, hunger, discomfort or psychological suffering by not carrying out observation on feeding assistance. Ellis, 2010 highlights that ethics should saturate all that nurses do in the delivery of health and social care. However the implication of using method such as interviews can sometimes be hard to replicate as people tend to give their views, attitude, ideals ,pre-existing ideas and their beliefs which does not necessary explains the point to why malnutrition does occur (Ellis, 2010). In addition, they can be take up vast amount of time and can be expensive (Jolley, 2010). The third research paper was written by Vanderwee, K, Clays, E, Bocquaert, I, Verhaeghe, S, Lardennois, M, Gobert, M and Defloor, T, entitled Malnutrition and Nutrition care practices in hospital wards for older people, published in the year 2010. This research was conducted in a hospital ward for older people in Belgium. Although the research was not conducted in the UK, this paper gave insights that suggest that malnutrition in older hospitalised patient is not only a reoccurring problem in the UK but a wide spread problem. The sample selection process was adequately described, stating the intended process of the research by using precision in information provided such as, the time period the research was carried out, the age restriction of patient involved in the research process. Consent was also obtained and adhered as specified by the Department of health (2009) which states that consent must be given unless stated or proven otherwise that they do not have the mental capacity to do so. The authors did an exceptional job in the discussion by highlighting information that was already known about the topic extracted from a wide range of credible evidence based sources that support the importance of nutrition. It contains the findings of the research which identify a balance argument into the meaning of the result and provide recommendation that was developed from the finding. Lastly, it highlights some thought-provoking lines of enquiry for future studies to be undertaken to tackle the problem and to extend knowledge of malnutrition in older hospitalised patient. . The limitation of this study indicates that the authors use a cross sectional study where all information of nutrition status and nutritional care practices of the ward was collated at the same time. Hence, no casual connection could be identified and patients and health care professionals could not express their views on malnutrition, leading to results that could not be quantified. (ref give reason as to why quantitative study)The author or researcher could have carried out a longitudinal study to research and analyse the impact that malnutrition has on older hospitalised patient .Ref (back up the benefits of longitudinal study) . Collectively, these three research paper provide concrete evidence on the prevalence of Malnutrition and the dire consequent it has on the aging population and Health Service. They mention the benefits that can be derived from the prevention of malnutrition and practical steps that need to put in place to help tack malnutrition extracted from NICE guidelines (2006). A general consensus among the authors of the respective paper that for true progress to be achieve in preventing malnutrition all health professional needs to understands the pervasiveness of malnutrition in hospital and the effect patient nutrition care may have on whole clinical outcome. Lastly they conclude that nutrition intervention greatly improved clinical outcome and reduce cost of care, predominantly in patient 65 years of age and above and challenge health care professional to address the barriers and change the paradigm of nutrition care. However, authors from one of the research paper went as far as to say that health professional have often failed to prioritise understanding the enormity of malnutrition in their respective hospital and the impact on cost and quality of care and was backed up by the Bapen ,2009 ) that states that nurses are at time removes from the task of assisting patient at meal time and has been delegated to less qualified staff which further strengthen the notion that mealtime care is unskilled and not important. My first challenge in conducting a research was to identify a topic or area of interest. This was obtained by looking at websites such as Royal College of Nursing, talking with my lecturers, students and staffs on placement as well as reflecting on issues that I was personally interested in. After Collating all the information, I sift through interests, experiences and ideas that had been discussed eventually leading me to conduct a research on Malnutrition and consolidated by the use of the Rolfe et al reflective model. I undertake my research by using a selection of different sources such as Cinahl, internurse, PubMed, Cochrane library but instantaneously found out using these data base on their own can produce a wide variety of information. The search strategies was very instrumental as it helped me to effectively narrow my search down to a manageable number and furthermore it was less time consuming .The search strategy includes Boolean operator, key words that encapsulate malnutrition , peer reviewed and limiters of inclusion and exclusion outline in table 1 and table 2 . For example, when I type malnutrition into Cinahl without using the search strategy I obtained an exhaustive result of 6461. I did another search this time with a more specific aim and objective of a topic and the usage of the different search strategy which includes peer reviewed article , date restrictions (2007- 2013) which eliminate old article , key words (malnutrition and nutrition, hospital and older people) this refined my search down to 11 papers. My aim is to obtained three paper for my research ,so I read through the abstract eliminating paper that had no relevance to my chosen topic . I also found that the Abstract was a good indicator to identify relevant keywords to help with my search. I was now short of one paper so I check the Cochrane library which did not produce any relevant article followed by PubMed which produced 112389 at first. I included my search strategy using key words such as malnutrition, older people, hospital, feeding and a time period of 5 years, this further reduced my number down to 10 hits .I also examine the abstract with a critical eye and scan through literature to find the appropriate research articles. Although I did not use wild card and truncation I know the importance of their uses and I am quite positive they will come in handy in the future. Part of the aim of this assignment was to gain information and understanding of malnutrition in older hospitalised patient by examining the evidence that is already available and seek to find new knowledge on what can be done to reduce malnutrition among the target group. This has put me in good stead as I have gain tremendous amount of insight into the evidence I found from the three research article as well information glean from books and journals that can be applied into practice. For example It was interesting to read nutrition now 2007, who took on a proactive approach in dealing with malnutrition by educating all members of the multidisplinary team to better understand the primacy of good nutritional care and the pivotal role they play in providing it and also implementing ways to work effectively as a team to eliminate the problem of malnutrition. Age concern (2006) also implemented seven steps to end the scandal of malnutrition in hospital, evidence was also shown how variou s hospital took on the initiative, saw a significant improvement in their quest to reduce malnutrition in their hospitals. The ultimate key is to systematically recognise patients who are malnourished or at risk and quickly intervene (Dunne, 2009) The implication of the research papers showed that although research had been carried out and the accessibility of validated screening tools malnutrition still continues to go unnoticed and untreated in many older hospitalised patients (Bapen, 2009). As a student nurse it is important that refection is part of my daily routine as this can enhance my effectiveness as an individual that enhances the quality of care I give to patient. I identify that malnutrition is every one responsibility and requires the collaboration of a multidisplinary team to leverage success in tackling malnutrition and that preventing malnutrition is a pivotal role in my nursing practice Undertaking this assignment I was able to identify my shortfall and limitation and has taught me effectively ways to conduct a search and access academically evidence based resources. This illustrated to me the importance of not taking information at face value but adhering to the correct procedure to obtain articles and examining articles with a critical and analytical mind to decide the credibility of the article. As the profession Nursing, cannot agree to any research at face value and need to be able to ascertain strengths and limitations of the research when evaluating the information available on the research topic (Ryan et al 2007). Conclusion To above information has demonstrated APPENDIX Table 3 Research studies critically appraised REFERENCES

Stoics :: essays research papers

Stoicism was a group of philosophers in the First Century who made laws that they thought should be followed by the citizens of Rome. Two of these laws were the concepts of rationality and nature. Marcus Aurelius was the Emperor of Rome at the time and he also the most known Stoic. His concepts were vital to the survival of the Stoics.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The concept of rationality is what tells a human being what’s right and wrong and what should be done and what is good for the human and the state by thinking. â€Å"the reason also, in respect which we are rational beings, is common: if this is so, common also is the reason which commands us what to do, and what not to do; if this is so, there is a common law also; if this is so, we are fellow citizens; if this is so, we are members of some political community; if this is so, the world is in manner of a state.†(1) Marcus Aurelius says here that the citizens who are ration beings as a part of the whole political spectrum, should combine to make he world one state. He wants the world to join as one state and governed by one, the people are all part of the same political system, so they should join together.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In his Meditations Aurelius talks about every action having a purpose. â€Å"Let no act be done without a purpose, nor otherwise than according to the perfect principles of art.†(2) He says here that the reason we have is because everything we do has a purpose. The purposes are there because they are the unwritten rules of art. These rules are abided because they just happen. The art sets its own rules through the purposes of the acts that are done. No act should be done if it does not follow the rules of art. Yet, the rules of are made by the act’s purposes. This meaning everything has a reason why it is done and the purposes are legitimate.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A man’s life does not become worse unless he makes it worse. â€Å"That which does not make his life worse, nor does it harm him either from without or with in.†(3) In this quote, Aurileus tells the Stoics that the things that don’t harm him won’t make his life worse inside or outside including the soul. This meaning that a person should do what they feel is right, because it will not hurt them physically or mentally.

The Life and History of Craig Kielburger

Craig Kielburger is best known for being a famous Canadian activist for the rights of children. Kielburger is the founder of â€Å"Free the Children† and co-founder of â€Å"Me to We†. In 1995, Kielburger was twelve years old at the time when he saw a headline in the Toronto Star that read â€Å"Battled Child Labour, Boy, 12, Murdered. † The story was about a young Pakistani boy who was forced into bonded labour in a carpet factory at the age of four, and became an international figurehead for the fight against child labour by the age of twelve, but was brutally murdered in 1995.After Craig read this article, he began to research child labour, showed this particular article to his classmates and formed a group called â€Å"Twelve-Twelve-Year-Olds† which formed to â€Å"Free the Children†. This organization become international with 45 participating countries to help the world become a better place. In today's society, Craig's point of view can be im plemented by following in his footsteps to help and try making the world a better place and continuing to support his success with the organization he created, and realizing that you can make a difference if you believe in the fight that you want to stand up for.Craig Kielburger would be considered a pro-natalist point of view because in order to make a difference in the world, you need a lot of help to make the change and it starts by going small and growing big like Kielburger did with Free the Children. The more people that are involved, the greater the chances will be to make the change in society.Personally, I think that Kielburger’s idea with free the children can help solve the problem with this issue of child labour because he is trying to send the message out that child labour is wrong and no child show be forced to work and that children should be allowed to be children by playing, learning, and having fun. By Craig Kielburger and everyone that is in the organizatio n are making a difference in society for the children and hopefully murdering of children decreases as well as decreasing child labour in the whole world overall.

Guilt and Innocence in The Last Night of the World

Guilt and Innocence in 'The Last Night of the World' In Ray Bradburys The Last Night of the World, a husband and wife realize that they and all the adults they know have been having identical dreams: that tonight will be the last night of the world. They find themselves surprisingly calm as they discuss why the world is ending, how they feel about it, and what they should do with their remaining time. The story was originally published in Esquire magazine in 1951 and is available for free on Esquires website. Acceptance The story takes place in the early years of the Cold War and in the first months of the Korean War, in a climate of fear over ominous new threats like the hydrogen or atom bomb and germ warfare. So our characters are surprised to find that their end wont be as dramatic or violent as they have always expected. Rather, it will be more like the closing of a book, and things [will] stop here on Earth. Once the characters stop thinking about how the Earth will end, a sense of calm acceptance overtakes them. Though the husband concedes that the end sometimes frightens him, he also notes that sometimes he is more peaceful than frightened. His wife, too, notes that [y]ou dont get too excited when things are logical. Other people seem to be reacting the same way. For instance, the husband reports that when he informed his co-worker, Stan, that they had had the same dream, Stan didnt seem surprised. He relaxed, in fact. The calmness seems to come, in part, from a conviction that the outcome is inevitable. There is no use struggling against something that cant be changed. But it also comes from an awareness that no one will be exempted. Theyve all had the dream, they all know its true, and theyre all in this together. Like Always The story touches briefly on some of humanitys bellicose propensities, like the bombs and germ warfare mentioned above and the bombers on their course both ways across the ocean tonight thatll never see land again. The characters consider these weapons in an effort to answer the question, Do we deserve this? The husband reasons, We havent been too bad, have we? But the wife responds: No, nor enormously good. I suppose thats the trouble. We havent been very much of anything except us, while a big part of the world was busy being lots of quite awful things. Her comments seem particularly trenchant given that the story was written less than six years after the end of World War II. At a time when people were still reeling from the war and wondering if there was more they could have done, her words could be construed, in part, as a comment on concentration camps and other atrocities of the war. But the story makes clear that the end of the world isnt about guilt or innocence, deserving or not deserving. As the husband explains, things just didnt work out. Even when the wife says, Nothing else but this could have happened from the way weve lived, theres no feeling of regret or guilt. Theres no sense that people could have behaved any way other than the way they have. And in fact, the wifes turning off the faucet at the end of the story shows exactly how hard it is to change behavior. If youre someone looking for absolution which it seems reasonable to imagine our characters are the idea that things just didnt work out might be comforting. But if youre someone who believes in free will and personal responsibility, you might be troubled by the message here. The husband and wife take comfort in the fact that they and everyone else will spend their last evening more or less like any other evening. In other words, like always. The wife even says thats something to be proud of, and the husband concludes that behaving like always shows [w]ere not all bad. The things the husband will miss are his family and everyday pleasures like a glass of cool water. That is, his immediate world is whats important to him, and in his immediate world, he hasnt been too bad. To behave like always is to continue to take pleasure in that immediate world, and like everyone else, thats how they choose to spend their final night. There is some beauty in that, but ironically, behaving like always is also exactly what has kept humanity from being enormously good.

HMS Nelson in World War II

HMS Nelson in World War II HMS Nelson (pennant number 28) was a Nelson-class battleship that entered service with the Royal Navy in 1927. One of two ships of its class, Nelsons design was a result of the limitations imposed by the Washington Naval Treaty. This resulted in the entirety of its main armament of 16-inch guns mounted forward of the battleships superstructure. During World War II, Nelson saw extensive service in the Atlantic and Mediterranean as well as aided in supporting troops ashore after D-Day. The battleships final wartime service occurred in the Indian Ocean where it aided the Allied advance across Southeast Asia. Origins HMS Nelson  can trace its origins to the days after World War I. Following the conflict  the Royal Navy began designing its future classes of warships with the lessons learned during the war in mind. Having taken losses among its battlecruiser forces at  Jutland, efforts were made to emphasize firepower and improved armor over speed. Pushing forward, planners created the new G3 battlecruiser design which would mount 16 guns and have top speed of 32 knots. These would be joined by the N3 battleships carrying 18 guns and capable of 23 knots. Both designs were intended to compete with warships being planned by the United States and Japan. With the specter of a new naval arms race looming, leaders gathered in late 1921 and produced the  Washington Naval Treaty. The worlds first modern disarmament agreement, the treaty limited fleet size by establishing a tonnage ratio between Great Britain, the United States, Japan, France, and Italy. Additionally, it restricted future battleships to 35,000 tons and 16 guns. Given the need to defend a far flung empire, the Royal Navy successfully negotiated the tonnage limit to exclude weight from fuel and boiler feed water. Despite this, the four planned G3 battlecruisers and four N3 battleships still exceeded the treaty limitations and the the designs were cancelled. A similar fate befell the U.S. Navys  Lexington-class battlecruisers and  South Dakota-class battleships. Design In an effort to create a new battleship that met the required criteria, British planners settled on a radical design which placed all of the ships main guns forward of the superstructure. Mounting three triple turrets, the new design saw A and X turrets mounted on the main deck, while B turret was in a raised (superfiring) position between them. This approach aided in reducing displacement as it limited the area of the ship requiring heavy armor. While a novel approach, A and B turrets often caused damage to equipment on the weather deck when firing forward and X turret routinely shattered the windows on the bridge when firing too far abaft. HMS Nelson in the years before World War II. Public Domain Drawing from the G3 design, the new types secondary guns were clustered aft. Unlike every British battleship since HMS Dreadnought (1906), the new class did not possess four propellers and instead employed only two. These were powered by eight Yarrow boilers generating around 45,000 shaft horsepower. The use of two propellers and a smaller power plant was done in an effort to save weight. As a result, there were worries that the new class would sacrifice speed. To compensate, the Admiralty utilized an extremely hydrodynamically efficient hull form to maximize the vessels speed.  In a further attempt to reduce displacement, an all or nothing approach to armor was used with areas either being heavily protected or not protected at all.  This method had been utilized earlier on the five classes that comprised the US Navys Standard-type battleships (Nevada-,  Pennsylvania-,  New Mexico-,  Tennessee-, and Colorado-classes). Those protected sections of the ship utilized an internal, inclined armor belt to increase the relative width of the belt to a striking projectile. Mounted aft, the ships tall superstructure was triangular in plan and largely built of lightweight materials. Construction and Early Career The lead ship of this new class, HMS Nelson, was laid down at Armstrong-Whitworth in Newcastle on December 28, 1922. Named for the hero of Trafalgar, Vice Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson, the ship was launched September 3, 1925. The ship was completed over the next two years and joined the fleet on August 15, 1927. It was joined by its sister ship, HMS Rodney in November. Made flagship of the Home Fleet, Nelson largely served in British waters. In 1931, the ships crew took part in the Invergordon Mutiny. The following year saw Nelsons anti-aircraft armament upgraded. In January 1934, the ship struck Hamiltons Reef, outside Portsmouth while en route to maneuvers in the West Indies. As the 1930s passed, Nelson was further modified as its fire control systems were improved, additional armor installed, and more anti-aircraft guns mounted aboard. HMS Nelson (28) Overview:Nation: Great BritainType: BattleshipShipyard: Armstrong-Whitworth, NewcastleLaid Down: December 28, 1922Launched: September 3, 1925Commissioned: August 15, 1927Fate: Scrapped, March 1949Specifications:Displacement: 34,490 tonsLength: 710 ft.Beam: 106 ft.Draft: 33 ft.Speed: 23.5 knotsComplement: 1,361 menArmament:Guns (1945)9 Ãâ€" BL 16-in. Mk I guns (3 Ãâ€" 3)12 Ãâ€" BL 6 in. Mk XXII guns (6 Ãâ€" 2)6 Ãâ€" QF 4.7 in. anti-aircraft guns (6 Ãâ€" 1)48 Ãâ€" QF 2-pdr AA (6 octuple mounts)16 Ãâ€" 40 mm anti-aircraft guns (4 Ãâ€" 4)61 Ãâ€" 20 mm anti-aircraft guns World War II Arrives When World War II began in September 1939, Nelson was at Scapa Flow with the Home Fleet. Later that month, Nelson was attacked by German bombers while escorting the damaged submarine HMS Spearfish back to port. The following month, Nelson and Rodney put to sea to intercept the German battlecruiser Gneisenau but were unsuccessful. Following the loss of HMS Royal Oak to a German U-boat at Scapa Flow, both Nelson-class battleships were re-based to Loch Ewe in Scotland. On December 4, while entering Loch Ewe, Nelson struck a magnetic mine that had been laid by U-31. Causing extensive damage and flooding, the explosion forced the ship to be taken to the yard for repairs. Nelson was not available for service until August 1940. While in the yard, Nelson received several upgrades including the addition of a Type 284 radar. After supporting Operation Claymore in Norway on March 2, 1941, the ship began protecting convoys during the Battle of the Atlantic. In June, Nelson was assigned to Force H and began operating from Gibraltar. Serving in the Mediterranean, it aided in protecting Allied convoys. On September 27, 1941, Nelson was hit by an Italian torpedo during an air attack forcing it to return to Britain for repairs. Completed in May 1942, it rejoined Force H as flagship three months later. In this role it supported efforts to resupply Malta. Amphibious Support As American forces began to gather in the region, Nelson provided support for the Operation Torch landings in November 1942. Remaining in the Mediterranean as part of Force H, it aided in blocking supplies from reaching Axis troops in North Africa. With the successful conclusion of fighting in Tunisia, Nelson joined other Allied naval vessels in aiding the invasion of Sicily in July 1943. This was followed by providing naval gunfire support for the Allied landings at Salerno, Italy in early September. HMS Nelson at Mers-el-Kebir during Operation Torch, 1942. Public Domain On September 28, General Dwight D. Eisenhower met with Italian Field Marshal Pietro Badoglio aboard Nelson while the ship was anchored at Malta. During this time, the leaders signed a detailed version of Italys armistice with the Allies. With the end of major naval operations in the Mediterranean, Nelson received orders to return home for an overhaul. This saw a further enhancement of its anti-aircraft defenses. Rejoining the fleet, Nelson was initially held in reserve during the D-Day landings. Ordered forward, it arrived off Gold Beach on June 11, 1944, and began providing naval gunfire support to British troops ashore. Remaining on station for a week, Nelson fired around 1,000 16 shells at German targets. Departing for Portsmouth on June 18, the battleship detonated two mines while en route. While one exploded approximately fifty yards to starboard, the other detonated beneath the forward hull causing considerable damage. Though the forward part of the ship experienced flooding, Nelson was able to limp into port. Final Service After assessing the damage, the Royal Navy elected to send Nelson to the Philadelphia Naval Yard for repairs. Joining westbound convoy UC 27 on June 23, it arrived in the Delaware Bay on July 4. Entering dry dock, work began to repair the damage caused by the mines. While there, the Royal Navy determined that Nelsons next assignment would be to the Indian Ocean. As a result, an extensive refit was conducted which saw the ventilation system improved, new radar systems installed, and additional anti-aircraft guns mounted. Leaving Philadelphia in January 1945, Nelson returned to Britain in preparation for deployment to the Far East. HMS Nelson (left) with HMS Rodney, undated. Public Domain Joining the British Eastern Fleet at Trincomalee, Ceylon, Nelson became the flagship of Vice Admiral W.T.C. Walkers Force 63. Over the next three months, the battleship operated off the Malayan Peninsula. During this time, Force 63 conducted air attacks and shore bombardments against Japanese positions in the region. With the Japanese surrender, Nelson sailed for George Town, Penang (Malaysia). Arriving, Rear Admiral Uozomi came aboard to surrender his forces. Moving south, Nelson entered Singapore Harbor on September 10 becoming the first British battleship to arrive there since the islands fall in 1942. Returning to Britain in November, Nelson served as flagship of the Home Fleet until being moved into a training role the following July. Placed in reserve status in September 1947, the battleship later served as a bombing target in the Firth of Forth. In March 1948, Nelson was sold for scrapping. Arriving at Inverkeithing the following year, the scrapping process began

Electronic Medical Record Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Electronic Medical Record - Article Example (Himmelstein, Wright, & Woolhandler, 2009; Hoffman, 2009) Without proper standardized treatment of the electronic material, particularly print outs, which are produced by the EMR software systems such as NextGen, implementation of this technology appears to be highly complex and even unrealistic to some extent. Certain experts and clinicians have identified some key challenges with EMR. Many clinicians criticize that EMR set the limits of the scope of interaction/dialog between doctor and patient. The system of inducting readymade templates and hectic custom template making processes time and again prove to be insufficient for recording the different types of patients’ complaints. Moreover, if there are no standard set rules for at least the basic construct of an EMR system, state-wise adaptability within the American federal system will be hampered since programmers will not be able to decide which templates and feedback mechanisms must be changed from one state to another (Greenhalgh et al, 2009). Hence, the international bodies s uch as EU are trying to implement standards to the EMR systems so that the hard copies of patient records can be used for legal and insurance purposes as well. Without preset and uniform standards, goals such as establishing national level networks of healthcare services and systems cannot be achieved (Hoffman, 2009). â€Å"In a move to streamline medical records, Medicare officials have detailed plans to standardize medical files so they can be stored and delivered in comprehensive electronic files. Announced by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the proposed standards are aimed at helping release $19 billion in federal stimulus funds. The standards are expected to be developed over a period of several months.† Hence, the delay and difference of opinions regarding EMR implementation cannot be solved without uniformity of at least the presentation tools related to an EMR software program. Next, if

Importance of an entrepreneurial leader Assignment

Importance of an entrepreneurial leader - Assignment Example Entrepreneurial leaders have the drive to be successful and their flexibility leads to adaptability. Entrepreneurial leaders are result-oriented and have high levels of enthusiasm that ensures full commitment to the goals and objectives of the organization. The role of an entrepreneurial leader is different from other leader roles since they are take personal responsibility of the growth of the organization. Their roles are different from other leader roles since they continuously search for new opportunities that will lead to innovative products and ideas rather than ensuring the success of the already established products and ideas. The entrepreneurial leader will assemble and coordinate resources towards attainment of organizational goals and will take personal responsibility for the failures of the team and utilize such challenges in ensuring the organization attains its objective. Unlike other leader roles, an entrepreneurial leader plays the role of a risk-taker through investi ng in new and innovative ideas that will enhance the growth potential of the organization. An entrepreneurial leader role is different from other leaders since an entrepreneur is a change catalyst and champions creative. An entrepreneurial leader is important in an organization since he continuously searches for new opportunities and ensures creativity that ultimately leads to new and innovative products and ideas. The entrepreneurial leader roles are different from other leader roles since he or she is a risk-taker and acts as a change champion.

Communication and Conflict Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Communication and Conflict - Essay Example It is evidently clear from the discussion that one is a good negotiator if he is able to use a set of supposedly sure-fire tactics that enable him to â€Å"get the upper hand† anytime. In this case, negotiation is seen more as a skill which allows one to manipulate the other to concede to his terms (the â€Å"lose† situation). Other contemporary views are that negotiation is settled by a â€Å"series of compromises†, or a debate rather than a conflict management tool; or, that it is â€Å"a game for managing impressions and manipulating information†¦ a struggle for advantage† that would translate to the â€Å"win† situation. One instance when I was on the losing side of a situation was when I was young and needed to ask my parents’ permission to stay overnight at a friend’s house. My father disallowed me, but I made such a big deal of being the only one in the group who wasn’t going. To appease me and end my tantrums, my da d said I could go provided I committed to doing a household chore for two weeks, like washing the dishes. I agreed, and at the time I thought I got a pretty good deal, until afterward when I came home. I found that in exchange for a single night of fun, I had to do fourteen days of dishes. I felt that I was had, that I should have bid it down to just a week. I was too eager to get my parents to permit me to go so that I did not think twice when the condition was given.

Increase in energy Essay Example for Free

Increase in energy Essay Introduction Resistance is the opposition a component has on the flow of current and it is measured in Ohms. Resistance occurs as the electrons move along the wire they collide with the metal atoms. These collisions make the atoms vibrate more, which make the metal hotter, they also slow down the flow of electrons causing resistance. Resistance is a measure of how hard it is for the electrons to move through the wire. There are four factors that affect resistance in a wire. They are: 1. Temperature: If the wire is heated up the atoms in the wire will start to vibrate because of their increase in energy. This causes more collisions between the electrons and the atoms as, the atoms are moving into the way of the electrons. This increase in collisions means that the resistance of the wire will also increase. 2. Material: The type of material will affect the amount of free electrons which are able to flow through the wire, if the material has very few atoms then there will be high number of electrons causing a lower resistance because the electrons would have less collisions making it easier for the current to flow. But if there were few free electrons there would be more atoms packed closely together making it more difficult for the electrons to pass. 3. Wire length: If the wire is longer, then the resistance will be higher because the electrons will have a longer distance to travel and so more collisions will occur. Because of this the length increase should be proportional to the resistance increase. 4. Cross-Sectional Area of the Wire: If the wires width is increased the resistance will decrease. This is because of the increase in the space for the electrons to travel through. Because this increased space between the atoms there should be fewer collisions, and more current will flow. Resistance can be calculated using this formula R = V/I. Resistance can be useful in filament lamps and toasters, because if there was no resistance then the wire would not get hot and there would be no light and no toast. But on the other hand in very big power lines you do not want to waste any electricity in heating up the power lines. That is why in the National Grid they use very wide wires so that there are fewer collisions between the electrons and the metal atoms, thats why the electricity is transmitted at high voltage and low current. This causes less resistance and less power is lost. Aim In this experiment I am going to be investigating what effect changing the cross-sectional area has on the resistance of a wire. Input variables are the things which can be changed in an experiment. In My experiment the input variables are going to be the cross-sectional area of the wire this will be varied from thicker to thinner. Output variables are things which are predetermined the input variables. In my experiment the output variables are amperes and volts, and these measurements will be used to calculate resistance. My circuit will include a power supply, wires, an ammeter, a voltmeter, and the subject wire. To make this experiment a fair test I am going to keep the voltage to 3 volts, and keep the length of wire to 20 cm. I am not going to change the wires, ammeters and voltmeter. And I am also not going to change any of the other factors only the cross-sectional area of the subject wire. Prediction. I predict that if the cross-sectional area of the wire decreases then the resistance will increase in proportion to the cross-sectional area. I think this because of my prior scientific knowledge which shows that the wider the wire the more electrons that will be able to flow through them and the less collisions. But in a thinner wire there is less space for the electrons to move therefore more collisions. My tables and graphs should support my prediction. Apparatus list:   Power Supply used to supply an electrical current and voltage   An Ammeter- used to measure current in amps, connected in series. A Voltmeter- used to measure voltage. Connected in parallel.   Two different thicknesses of Nichrome wire- used to experiment on.   Two different thicknesses of Constantan wire- used to experiment on Meter ruler- used to keep the wire to 20 cm long.   2 crocodile clips- used to connect the subject wire to the circuit.   Connecting wires- to connect all the components. Safety I have decided to take some safety precautions by Keeping the voltage at 3 volts because 4 is dangerous, being careful when connecting the wires and while handling the live subject wire. I also wore goggles and used heat proof mats to prevent the live wire from burning the table. Method 1. Firstly I am going to connect the voltmeter to the Power supply. 2. Connect up all the wires. 3. Connect the ammeter. 4. Use crocodile clips to connect the subject wire. 5. Turn the power supply on to 3 volts. 6. The circuit should look like my diagram in the aim. 7. Write down the readings on the ammeter and voltmeter. 8. Repeat for all the thicknesses of wire. 9. After all the wires have been done create a table and calculate the resistance of each wire. 10. Lastly repeat all steps 2 times for reliable results. 11. And find the averages for the results you have collected. Preliminary Work I have decided to use 20 cm of wire as it seemed a sensible length. I also determined to use 3 volts, because 4 volts melted the wire, and 3 seemed a reasonable, safer alternative. I experimented on which of the two materials to use. (Nichrome or Constantan). I compared results on two different thickness SWG 32 and SWG 26 and recorded this information in three tables and three graphs.

Learning Through Games

Learning Through Games Learning through Games Every parent and teacher out there can attest to the fact that no matter how smart a child is getting them to study is quite a difficult task, simply because of all the distractions out there. So why not take one major distraction – video games and put it to good use? There are so many good educational tools available many of them cleverly disguised as games. The kids and some adults too will get captivated by the storyline and learn tons along the way. Here are a few of the best ones covering topics like Physics, Engineering, Art and English. Ogre Academy Math Ogre Academy Math is an educational game created to enhance the basic math skills in children. This game caters to a slightly younger audience of ages 5-6 years by default, but can be customized to appeal to those at a higher grade level as well. The game takes place in an ogre filled classroom part of a player avatar’s dream. The player is given a series of questions in the form of math problems that he must solve. Most of these problems are simplistic but the difficulty increases as you go on. They can be addition, subtraction or counting problems. With each correct answer you get a candy bar which is used to feed the ogres. While some students may object to having to give away the candy, it is used to keep the ogres at bay so it must be done. After ten or more wrong answers the candy deprived ogres come and carry the avatar away from their bedroom. Ogre Academy Math promotes quick thinking and the flexibility to switch between different types for questions. Players have to think strategically and learn when and how to use shortcuts like rounding off since they do not have pen and paper at hand and have to rely on quick thinking. Ogre Academy Math will have special appeal to teachers as they can use it to create unique lesson plans. They can customize the problems for any grade level. The kids will enjoy doing something different and will learn tons in the process. As an added bonus the teachers receive detailed reports on the children’s progress as they go along. Platform: iOS Keep the ogres at bay by feeding them treats Kerbal Space Program The Kerbal Space Program is a PC based game that emulates a space flight simulator. Basically you can build virtual rocket ships and blast them off the planet. Gameplay takes place on a planet called Kerbin, home to little green humanoids called Kerbals. These comical little characters build very good spacecraft parts. It is up to the player to construct and assemble the components into rockets or spacecrafts in the most efficient way possible. There is a lot of physics involved in building the rocket ship. If not constructed properly it could fall off the launch pad while taking off or explode mid flight. After building a good spacecraft you have to learn to achieve orbit and then finally land your spacecraft on other planets. There are three game modes – Sandbox Mode, Science Mode and Career mode. As you can imagine the difficulty increases with each of them. In the Sandbox Mode players learn the basics. Players can pick any of inventory and building mistakes are forgiven. In the science mode part picking is restricted. You have to complete scientific experiments on Kerbin and other parts of the solar system before you can unlock them. Career mode adds funds reputation and contracts. Players have to complete contracts so that they can earn money to pay for the parts. Contracts can include tasks like testing rocket parts under certain conditions or exploring places and reporting back. Historical spacecrafts like the Apollo Program or the Mars Rover can be recreated. Children with an aptitude for physics and an interest in aerospace will find this a very enriching learning experience. Platform: PC Build and launch rockets using the kerbal space program Amazing Alex Amazing Alex was created by the developers of angry birds Rovio Entertainment, and is a physics-based puzzle game. Alex is a curious boy who likes to build things with household objects. Players are given goals to complete and supplies they can use to achieve these goals. Players have to create chain reactions which are simply sequences of events that achieve the goals. For example you can set off a line of dominoes which will push a ball off a ledge into a basket below. Stars are scattered all over the place and your event sequence should try and pass through them for a higher score. The nice thing about the game is that it uses household and play objects that children are already familiar with. These objects react realistically with one another. Kids learn short term planning by adjusting to changing conditions and requirements. It puts their planning, flexibility and focus skills to work. They can even create and share their own puzzles for others to solve. There are over a hundred levels spread across four locations. You start off in ‘The Classroom’, and then move onto ‘The Backyard’, ‘Alex’s Bedroom’ and finally ‘The Tree House’ depending on the stars collected in the previous levels. The graphics are high quality, fun and engaging. Kids can try recreating the challenges in the real world using Legos and building kits. They can then compare how actual physics works as compared to the gameplay and what additional factors contribute to making things tick. Amazing Alex is often used to help children with ADHD gain focus. Following directions and planning ahead are tasks that these kids have difficulty with. Amazing Alex helps them focus and plan strategies in a fun way which they respond to much better than regular classroom activities. They get a hands-on introduction into physics concepts like inertia, gravity and friction. Platform: Android,iOS Help Alex create chain reactions with these objects QuizUp QuizUp is for the slightly older kids. It is a fun filled trivia game based on the popular board game Trivial Pursuit. It has over 250 categories and is highly competitive. Players are matched with other players from across the world. Each quiz is exactly 7 questions long, each lasting 10 seconds. This is long enough and short enough so that no one gets bored, and those with sketchy internet connections don’t have to forfeit midway. You can play as many categories as you like and the more you play the higher your skill level in that category goes. QuizUp is fantastic for learning time management and general knowledge. Sometimes questions repeat which helps you commit them to memory. Children can opt for challenging categories such as Math and English and then take a break and do a fun quiz like a Harry Potter themed one. It is also very exciting because you are playing with real people rather than just a computer interface. Quiz up is not only informative but also highly addictive. Kids can spend hours playing and come away with lots of new trivia facts learned and math skills mastered. Platform: Android, iOS Spoilt for choice with Quiz Up Google Art Project The Google Art Project is a collection of over 30000 works of art from collections all over the world. From Impressionist Artworks at the Art Institute of Chicago to modern artwork from the Tate at London, the Google Art Project amasses all periods of art. The high resolution images allow kids to get closer to the images and examine every detail. Each museum has nominated one piece as a ‘Gigapixel Artwork’ which means that Google has captured it using gigapixel photo capturing technology. It produces an image containing 7 billion pixels, so viewers can view the piece in microscopic detail. Be advised, kids could see violence or nudity in these pictures so it is necessary for guidance of some sort while perusing. Browsing the artwork can be done either on the webpage or by browsing through the museum in the form of a map. Some international museums that are included in the project are The National Gallery in London, The Met in New York, the Uffizi in Florence and The Hermitage in St Petersburg. Such a vast collection might be daunting at first but kids will soon enjoy exploring the museums from all over the world. It forms a kind of virtual meta-museum with many thoughtfully designed features by Google as always. The FAQ section has a video Visitor’s Guide for first time users and the site can be translated in to as many as 19 languages. There are lessons, quizzes and project ideas. Users can create their own collections and share them with friends. The Google Art Project allows children interested in art to take their first steps in art appreciation and history. They can explore museums at their own pace, stop and ask questions, compare works from museums across the world and develop their creative abilities. Platform: PC Google Art Project World of Goo World of Goo is a game kids will take an instant interest in simply because of the name. The game revolves around building large structures using balls of goo. The game is divided into multiple chapters each containing several levels. Levels come with their individual music and graphic theme keeping things interesting. To play the game the little balls of goo provided to you have to be stretched out into structures forming ladders, bridges or buildings toward strategically positioned pipes. These pipes then suck the goo and take it to the World of Goo Corporation where it is made into various products. These structures have to be built well enough to overcome gravity and some physical terrain difficulties like hills, cliffs, spikes and windmills. Different goo balls have different properties that make them unique. There is also a bonus meta-game called the ‘World of Goo Corporation’ where the challenge is to build the highest Goo Tower. The game subtly draws parallels between the World of Goo Corporation and real world companies that make similar products in an attempt to get kids thinking on modern world consumerism. Teachers can use World of Goo as a fun way of explaining geometry. There is an open sandbox mode in which teachers can set challenges and competitions. Platforms: PC, iOS, Android, WiiWare, BlackBerry, OnLive Get creative at the World of Goo SpaceChem SpaceChem is a puzzle game based on the principles of chemistry and chemical bonding. In the game you play the role of a Reactor Engineer working for a company called SpaceChem. As a Reactor Engineer you have to create circuits through which atoms and molecules flow. You do this with the help of waldos which are remote manipulators. While you don’t have to have any prior chemistry knowledge to play the game, all the reactions and chemical constructions are based on real chemical and atomic science so you will definitely learn something each time you play. Each level provides you with elements that need to be assembled and disassembled to create new chemical molecules. There are pairs of circuits along which your elements need to travel to the target output areas. Unnecessary collision of the waldos must be prevented. Initially the puzzle consists of only a single reactor but in larger puzzles the player can guide the chemicals through multiple reactors to get the final product. SpaceChem is a mental workout and an excellent puzzle game. It forces you to look at the bigger picture and get multiple tasks working at once. Platforms: PC, Android, iOS Create new elements with Space Chem Fantastic Contraption Fantastic Contraption is a Flash based game played in a web browser. The object of each level is to move the red objects into a rectangular shaped goal area. You are given different materials and a blue ‘building area’ to help you build your ‘fantastic’ contraption. You must be able to move the red objects past certain obstacles into the goal area. It takes a while to get used to the game but there is a very helpful tutorial at the beginning that smoothens out the process. There is no one correct solution. Each player can come up with his or her unique solution to the level. By creating an account the developers allow you to design your own levels or share your solutions with others. There are over 40 different built in puzzles and 16000 downloadable ones. You can play for free on the Fantastic Contraptions website or download the app for $1.99. All you need is an active imagination and some basic problem solving skills. There was a Fantastic Contraptions 2 released in 2010. Platforms: PC, iOS Build fun things with Fantastic Contraption Minecraft Minecraft is a computer, tablet and Xbox video game that has been around for ages and is still very popular by both educators and hard core gamers. It allows you to build your own world from scratch. Gameplay is mostly building and destroying structures using blocks – 3D cubes. There are different kinds of materials to be put to use like various ores, stone, dirt, water, tree trunks. Some of these materials have to be mined others are freely available. The game has three modes – survival, educational and adventure. You can play at different difficulty modes with or without the hostile creatures that threaten your creations. Minecraft has numerous educational benefits. It teaches about various subjects with or without parent/teacher involvement. While playing Minecraft players have to figure out how to best use their resources. For example for paper you require 3 units of sugarcane. This way the game also improves basic math and manipulation skills. Minecraft only uses cubes to build structures. But these structures take on different geometrical shapes like cuboids, tesseracts, square based pyramids. In this way kids get a quick lesson in 3D geometry. Setting up circuits teaches kids the basics of logic circuits. Feed back is immediate and safe. You can build switches without electrocuting yourself. You can even construct weapons to guard against attacks. By contributing to the Minecraft wiki children can learn how to write informative articles for multimedia. Most of all Minecraft promotes out of the box thinking and will give children the freedom to express themselves creatively. Setting up a server allows parents to give their children a safe environment to develop social skills and teamwork. Platforms: PC, iOS, Android, Xbox, Playstation Build 3D cities with Minecraft NASA’s Space Place NASA’s Space Place is a website developed by NASA in 1998 and is complete with interactive games, projects and facts about Earth and Space. The collection of games offered is complex and interesting each teaching you something new. The games each offer a new topic to be learnt like for example how a black hole works. The activities have detailed information on the solar system and other science topics. Kids can freely ask questions and get audio responses in return. There are instructions for at-home experiments. Space Place Prime is a spin off from NASA’s Space Place. This contains most of the educational content like articles and imagery as well as educational movies. The Space Place program has also released several mobile games mostly for iOS. These include Comet Quest and Satellite Insight. Comet Quest is a game about the Rosetta Mission. You are given a spacecraft and learn how scientists use Rosetta to explore comets. Satellite Insight has a more complex background story. You have to save the GOES-R satellite from losing any of the data it is collecting by safe guarding the data grid. Platorm: PC (web) Apps available on Android and iOS The Specatular Space Place by NASA Scribblenauts Scribblenauts is an action and puzzle video game. The objective of the game is to help the game’s hero, Maxwell collect little yellow stars called ‘Starites’. The player can summon anything just by writing its name on the screen. Scribble nauts is an example of ‘Emergent Gameplay’ which means that the difficulty changes according to the choices you make in the game. You can have infinite gaming experiences with this dynamic methodology. Kids are at their creative best using logic, language and problem solving. The tasks can be as simply as collecting a Starite from a tree or difficult like rescuing it from a bunch of bears in the forest. All you have to do is write out the tools you need. For example to get the ‘Starite’ out of the tree, write the word rope and a rope will appear. You can write the craziest things you can think of. If you think a dinosaur is going to help you write dinosaur and the game will present you with one. It’s almost like magic. Summoned objects can be weapons, animals, forces of nature or even famous people.This is because the Scribblenauts Dictionary contains over 22,000 words. As you play more your imagination grows and the solutions get more and more inventive. There are 220 levels over 10 areas each of a different theme. Scribblenauts has won two Parent’s Choice Awards and is suitable for children ages 8 and above. Scibblenauts Remix is available for iOS. Platforms: Nintendo DS Scribblenauts- Let your imagination go wild The Professor Layton Series The Professor Layton Series consists of 6 puzzle games plus a film. It is built around the adventures of two characters Professor Layton and Luke Trinton and is based in contemporary London. Each game is a series of puzzles and mysteries in towns Professor Layton and Luke visit. As part of the game you go along with them on their eventful journeys and help them solve mysteries. The puzzle solving teaches math, logic, spatial orientation and math. The storyline keeps kids thoroughly entertained and engrossed. It is aimed at kids eleven years and above. The games are divided into two trilogies. One set tells you of the Professor and Trinton’s many adventures together. The other is more about how they met and began their journey. The third part of the series, Professor Layton and the Unwound Future won a Parent’s Choice Silver Honors Award from the Parents Choice Foundation. Join Prof. Layton and Trinton on their captivating adventures