Leading and managing change Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Leading and managing change - Essay Example here for which trade-offs are necessary they are inconsistencies in reputation or image, different configurations are essential for different positions, etc. A strategy which is framed by an organization enables a firm to achieve the best fit amongst all its activities. In this study a critical analysis will be performed on different theories which describe the major aspects of strategic planning. The entire study would even highlight the difference between operational effectiveness and strategic planning. On the other hand the study would even outline the importance of leadership to manage such strategic planning. These strategy formulations often lead to widespread changes throughout the system. In context of change management it is essential that appropriate leadership approach is adopted so that change can be communicated effectively throughout an organization. It is even important that there is a common goal set for the change so that all team members can efficiently accomplish the set goals or objectives. The company to be focused on is Toyota Motor Corporation. Over the years this multinational corporation has been able to set high quality standards and believes in constantly upgrading its business operations so that best service and products can be delivered to the customers. In this particular study strategic planning objectives and change management initiatives associated with Toyota Company would be thoroughly analyzed and will be related to theoretical frameworks. Strategy is a mechanism which brings forth stability in an organization and there are various factors which actually defines well the concept of strategy. A strategy which is adopted by an organization sets forth a new direction for the organization; it defines an organization, focuses on overall effort of an organization and even provides required consistency so that an organization can achieve its desired goals and objectives (Whittington, 2001). In the present scenario there is an

Science Fiction Can Be an Influence to the Evolution of Technology Essay Example for Free

Science Fiction Can Be an Influence to the Evolution of Technology Essay Introduction Science fiction and technology have been working hand-in-hand for years. Authors like Gene Rodenberry have influenced many inventors to create technological devices such as touch screen computers, iPads and tablets. Even Star Trek’s transporter technology and transparent aluminum are becoming a reality. Scientists, physicists, and engineers are using science fiction to gain insight to new ideas. The science fiction entertainment genre has often influenced technological development through literature, radio, television, and film. Do Inventors create their products under the Influence of science fiction? Many people see technology pop into reality from the mind of the writers of science fiction, as did inventor Martin Cooper who created the mobile phone and gave credit to where he got his idea. People credit Gene Rodenberry for tablets and Transporter Technology, as well as transparent aluminum, and Apple QuickTime, while others have shown that learning computers came from the idea of Cylons from Battlestar Galactica and Terminator, even the world of Tron. Arthur C. Clarke’s science fiction foresaw the use of Geostationary Satellite (GPS), as well as the Internet, which the world uses today. Jules Verne’s science fiction stories brought people submarines and helicopters. H.G. Wells, who people call the father of science fiction, brought the world atomic energy and rockets through his stories. George Orwell’s book 1984, written in 1948, described a monitoring device, the government spying on the people, and coined the term â€Å"Big Brother.† The government is watching you. A former astronaut, Christopher J. Ferguson, gave credit to science fiction writers for the influence of the creation of the space station. According to How Does Science Fiction Influence Scientific Research? (2011), I look at the space station and vehicles docking in space. Who would have imagined 40 years ago, other than on the pages of Buck Rogers and in the mind of Wernher von Braun, that we would be doing these things? But here we are, doing them on a regular basis. (Christopher J. Ferguson Former United States Astronaut, NASA). These are just a few instances where science fiction technology has influenced the creation of the real thing. There has been a majority of technological advancements by Star Trek, as the tablets, communicators, Bluetooth devices, and even technology in the process of development such as the transporter technology created in the minds of the writers of science fiction. †Fiction† could change an individual’s comprehension with the â€Å"relationships within developments.† (Gordon, 2009). As science fiction authors have envisioned items, some never saw them fulfilled while others have. Strauss (2012), â€Å"Martin Cooper, the director of research and development at Motorola, credited the ‘Star Trek’ communicator as his inspiration for the design of the first mobile phone in the early 1970s.† (Cellphone). Cooper gave Gene Rodenberry the credit for the communicators from the original Star Trek. The writers of science fiction show an influence on people who later develop the work, in light of the fictional idea. Even I-Robot is now in the process of becoming a reality. Creators of the science fiction genre have ideas of what they want to see, although the technology is not available now. Geordi La Forge’s Visor in the Next Generation of Star Trek’s TV show is now becoming a reality. According to GeordiS Visor Becoming A Reality? (2012), Once again, a bit of Star Trek sci-fi is on the verge of becoming reality. This time it’s Geordi La Forge’s VISOR, which enabled the blind character to ‘see’ on Star Trek: The Next Generation, that’s close to becoming a practical device.† (para. 1). The author conceives the creative idea that he or she writes in science fiction genre, which then becomes the basis for scientific realities or possibilities. As the writer’s ideas enter the mind of the inventors, through the invention the ideas become a reality. Many inventors have given credit to Gene Rodenberry for his technological devices in Star Trek. Star Wars is even becoming a reality as well as the other science fiction movies. Many use science fiction genre in the classroom. Science fiction genre came into the classrooms from general science, physics, and even engineering to inspire students. (Segall, 2002) â€Å"Although scie nce fiction has appeared in science and physics education for many years, the genre has not been widely used to augment engineering education. Considering the potential for science fiction to help illustrate many common engineering concepts, while at the same time challenging the students to think about the many possibilities of design and technology, this exclusion represents a loss of a valuable resource.† (p. 419) Albert Segall’s paper showed that science fiction could advance technology and, by not using it, could hinder the inventor. Segall’s point was that science fiction is in the science and physics classroom. It is a needed resource for people in the engineering field. As this shows, science fiction is a big part in creating technology and its devices. A physicist, Dr. Michio Kaku, even gives science fiction credit for the influence of technology. According to Transparent Aluminium Is New State Of Matter' (2009), â€Å"(PhysOrg.com) Oxford scientists have created a transparent form of aluminium by bombarding the metal with the world’s most powerful soft X-ray laser. Transparent aluminium previously only existed in science fiction, featuring in the movie Star Trek IV, but the real material is an exotic new state of matter with implications for planetary science and nuclear fusion.† (para. 1). as well as the Associated Press’s article on the data scientists gave on the transporter technology, OCONNOR (2002), CANBERRA, Australia (AP) Australian scientists said Monday they had successfully teleported a laser beam encoded with data, breaking it up and reconstructing an exact replica a yard away.† (para. 1). As inventors continue to create new inventions, promising scientists, physicists and engineers can se e the importance of the use of science fiction in a classroom. As Segall showed that science fiction could inspire engineers and inventors of the past, he demonstrated how science fiction could be helpful to students in the future. Some devices which science fiction created are still not a reality Many could say that science fiction is fantasy because time travel, shrinking or enlarging devices, and computer digitalization, as from the movie Tron, are yet to appear. Some people do not look at science fiction as a resource because of its negative aspects. H.G. Wells, the author of the book, Time Machine which foreshadowed the movie called Back to the Future, The 50-Foot Woman, and Honey, I shrunk the Kids are but a few science fiction ideas that have not happened as far as we know. There are many examples that people use to say that science fiction does not influence technology, but there is more evidence to support that it does. Although Lightsabers of Star Wars are not in the same style as the movie, they have become reality in a similar prototype. What are the positive and negative sides of science fiction becoming a reality? As science fiction becomes reality, its use can be positive or negative: but does it help or hurt humankind? Many technological devices developed from science fiction were taken from the private sector, utilized by the Military, and were altered to be used in another manner than previously intended. For instance, George Orwell’s book, called 1984, was banned by many school administrators from being read in schools because of its political outlook of surveillance devices. Conclusion Through literature, radio, television, and film, the entertainment of science fiction has influenced technology and its devices. Arthur C. Clarke has seen the things he has written about come true. Science Fiction writers like Gene Rodenberry, H.G. Wells, Jules Verne, George Lucas, and other writers have given physicists, scientists, and engineers ideas of inspiration to create technological devices. Noticeably a few areas of science fiction have not become a reality yet, such as a human being digitized into an electronic form; a human being shrunk or enlarged in size; and time travel. Yet, many things in science fiction have come to reality: for example, mobile phones, tablets, and touch screen computers. Even the term â€Å"Big Brother is watching you,† given through the thoughts of George Orwell from his book 1984, written in 1948, has seen a counterpart in modern surveillance equipment. The relationship of science fiction and technology has been working hand-in-hand for generations. Reference Segall, A. E. (2002, October). Science fiction in the engineering classroom to help teach basic concepts and promote the profession. Journal of Engineering Education, 91(4), 419-423. How does science fiction influence scientific research?. (2011). Retrieved from http://curiosity.discovery.com/question/science-fiction-influence-scientific-research Gordon, R. (2009, December). Learning From Fiction: Applications in Emerging Technologies. Bulletin of Science, Technology Society, 29(6), 470 475. Retrieved from http://bst.sagepub.com.ezproxy.apollolibrary.com/content/29/6/470 Strauss, M. (2012). Ten Inventions Inspired by Science Fiction. Retrieved from http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/Ten-Inventions-Inspired-by-ScienceFiction.html?c=ypage=7navigation=next#IMAGES Putt, S. (2011). Using science fiction to teach science facts. Minnesota State University, Mankato). ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, , 41. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/894263497?accountid=358 12. (894263497). Transparent aluminum is new state of matter. (2009). Retrieved from http://phys.org/news167925273.html OCONNOR, P. (2002). Scientists Report Teleported Data. Retrieved from http://www.timeenoughforlove.org/saved/YahooNewsScientistsReportTeleportedDat a.htm Geordis VISOR Becoming A Reality?. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.startrek.com/article/geordis-visor-becoming-a-reality

International Relations Major In Diplomacy Politics Essay

International Relations Major In Diplomacy Politics Essay The Ph.D. in International Relations allows students to specialize in a specific domain of knowledge while gaining the recognition that is instrumental to pursue advanced careers in academics, think tanks, international organizations, or government research. A unique aspect of the Ph.D. program  is the very close guidance provided to students  throughout the dissertation process. The program takes full advantage of its location  and it offers access to countless libraries, archives and special collections, and provides an excellent venue for  conducting  interviews with diplomats and members of  government institutions,  inter-governmental organizations and NGOs. Curriculum International Relations Ph.D. candidates must successfully complete: Seven required courses Three  elective courses, including one area courses The international relations curriculum has a multi-disciplinary scope. Required courses cover the disciplines of international relations, political science, economics, international law, international organizations and diplomacy. The choice of electives is made in accordance with the domain in which the candidate wishes to pursue his or her research. Ph.D. candidates may take internships as part of their curriculum in order to develop a network of useful contacts and in order to combine hands-on experience with the scholarly work involved in the Ph.D. program. PhD International Relations Major in Diplomacy Required Courses Core Units Factors and Theories of Analysis in International Relations and Diplomacy Research Methodology and Design Foreign Policy Formulation and Diplomacy International Public Law Current Economic Problems and Policies International Organizations Current Issues in International Relations Elective Courses of Diplomacy Beginnings of the Contemporary Political Order Comparative Politics Anthropology and Politics Post-Modernity and International Relations and Diplomacy Issues in U.S. Foreign Policy COURSE DESCRIPTION CORE UNITS Factors and Theories of Analysis in International Relations and Diplomacy In an international political environment that is swarming with a plethora of events that we read in the day to day news, how can we make sense of it all in a systematic and informed manner, in a way that is theoretical, practical and in a manner that goes beyond the political talk? How can we find trends, patterns and generalizations for events occurring today, with those that occurred in the past and those that we are likely to see in the future? This course emphasizes the role of theory in the study of issues of international relations. Exploring a range of theoretical underpinnings to deepen our understanding of international relations, this course in theories and factors of IR and diplomacy helps us to achieve a greater understanding of the world and the diversity of its cultures with the use of theory. Knowledge of theories of international politics prepares students for understanding the world in a systematic manner, a world made smaller by the steady increase of international contact in society, politics, and business and allows students to acquire knowledge and tools that enable them to analyze and understand the complex world in which we live. Research Methodology and Design This is an introductory course in research methods and design for students of political science, international relations. Students do not need any previous knowledge of social science methodology, but they should already have some substantive political knowledge, and an interest in conducting original research. The aim of this course is to teach students how to gather quantitative and qualitative evidence through the use of established social science research methods and how to analyze that data logically. Starting with a brief introduction to the elementary principles of the scientific method, you will learn how to generate original quantitative data through doing an actual scientific public opinion poll with a probabilistic simple random sample. Then you will be trained in some widely used qualitative data-gathering techniques, including research using published and archival documentation, as well as field research techniques of observation and interview. This phase will include a mandatory field trip to the national library. Once the data-gathering phase is complete, you will learn the basic tools of data analysis: i.e. establishing relationships, testing hypotheses, and developing valid theoretical explanations. Foreign Policy Formulation and Diplomacy To understand Foreign Policy Formulation this Practitioners seminar takes you inside the black box of statecraft in order to study the goals, beliefs, and perceptions of decision-makers. Contemporary diplomacy as a norm-based activity and mindset provides an array of tools for preventive, persuasive and coercive crisis management for enduring stability and globalized security. These operational procedures of thinking and acting diplomatically including pre-crisis diplomatic communication enable us to deal with global and regional disruptive shock events. In the practice of International Relations there is interdependency between diplomacy as the procedural tool-box for the application and execution of policy decisions and International Law as the behavioral guidelines for international policy-making. International Law serves as the language for diplomacy to justify policy decisions. Course objectives: To develop an understanding of the techniques and tactics of diplomacy and international law To become familiar with the role of foreign ministries and embassies To identify the present trends of modern diplomacy, with emphasis on the role of the United Nations To equip students for careers in international affairs International Public Law The knowledge of basic legal concepts is essential for anyone working in or studying the field of international relations and diplomacy. The student will learn about the creation of International Public Law through treaties, customs and general principles. Particular importance will be given to the formation of these sources, showing how treaties are negotiated and illustrating some of the problems that written agreements can present, as well as the questions of equity and the impact and significance of unilateral acts on IPL. States will be studied on many levels, including defining the term state, identifying its attributes and determining how its responsibility can be engaged. Other actors such as international organizations will also be considered, and individuals as subjects and not only objects of IPL. Finally, methods of resolving international conflict will be analyzed from simple informal negotiations to the use of the international court system. The possibility, legality an d desirability of non-peaceful methods will also be discussed. Current Economic Problems and Policies The aim of this course is to equip future policy makers with the basic analytical tools of macroeconomics, and prepare them to assess some of the economic issues they will encounter in this area. Hence, building on the knowledge already acquired by the students, this course will focus on open-economy macroeconomics, with special emphasis on the recent business cycle, current global imbalances, and the exchange rate of the dollar. International Organizations International organizations have joined the list of the most important actors in global affairs. The course distinguishes two types of international organizations: intergovernmental organizations (IGOs) and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and seeks to understand their past and present function in contemporary societies and international relations, focusing on IGOs and the UN in particular. The course also seeks to analyze information to examine plausible scenarios of the future role of IGOs and NGOs. Lectures address issues such as: the importance of IGOs and NGOs as actors in international relations; the administrative and financial structures of IGOs and NGOs; their political and social ramifications; their communication strategies and the role of public opinion in their creation, maintenance and growth; whether IGOs such as the League of Nations or the United Nations have been efficient in accomplishing the goals for which they were founded; what can an IGO or an NGO specific ally accomplish in international relations to advance peace, prosperity and to improve the livelihoods of populations; should IGOs and NGOs have so much power and since few of their administrations are elected democratically, is it in the interests of the state and of the public to limit their power. Current Issues in International Relations The purpose of this course is to provide students with an understanding of the diversity of contemporary issues in international relations, with a particular focus on the relationship between regional and global issues. The course will provide an overview of the dynamics of the international system, looking at the major features of the current world order. Underlying processes will be described, with an emphasis on three vital areas: the changing relationship between national governments and their peoples; global capitalism and global markets; and the conduct of global international relationships. The course will also consider a number of contemporary regional case-studies in order to obtain a more precise vision of the political situation of these areas. This will allow students to have a comprehensive overview of the international situation, with a particular focus on the changes which have taken place over the past twenty years. ELECTIVE UNITS FOR MAJOR IN DIPLOMACY Beginnings of the Contemporary Political Order The course is designed to provide necessary understanding of modern political institutions and the ideas that govern them, such as modern conceptions of democracy, human rights, the free market economy, rule of law and universal suffrage. Topical considerations will be explored in light of current events on the international scene. Post-Modernity and International Relations and Diplomacy This seminar is designed to familiarize students with periodization in political history, and particularly with the ideas and concepts related to the notion of post-modernity. The bulk of the seminar is an interdisciplinary exploration of economic, human, cultural and political dimensions of post-modernity. This interdisciplinary approach is necessitated by the simple fact that post-modernity is a multi-faceted phenomenon that defies a neat, clear-cut definition. The seminar will center on various socio-political and economic developments in the world since the fall of communism and the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Particular attention will be paid to the concept of post-modernism developed by authors such as Kojev, Fukuyama, Baudrillard, Lyotard and the theorys relation to knowledge, politics and communication. Issues in U.S. Foreign Policy This course offers the student the opportunity to examine the concepts and theories used by scholars to make sense of past events, interpret and analyse contemporary issues and predict future developments in American foreign policy. The purpose of this course is to provide students with the tools to understand both the how and the why of U.S. foreign policy decision-making. The course covers: the principles and concepts of US foreign policy; sources of American foreign policy; the process, politics and structure of US foreign policy making; past and present foreign policies and possible directions for the future; and competing interpretations of American foreign policy. The making of US foreign policy is a complex process, and the decisions made have tangible and intangible consequences on the lives of Americans and people all over the world. Among other related topics, this course discusses the history, context, politics, structures (Presidency, Congress, Legislative, Executive, Jud iciary, Military, Intelligence, Media, Public Opinion, and Society) and processes that lead to the formulation and implementation of United States foreign policy.

Looking To The Future 1984 :: essays research papers

Looking to the Future 1984 "WAR IS PEACE FFREEDOM IS SLAVERY IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH"(Orwell 3). It is the year 1984 in London, Oceania. Winston Smith is one of many people in Orwell’s prediction of the world in the future but is today’s past. The world appears as a dark and fearful place where the only rhyme or reason is created by Big Brother, ruler of the state and the head member of the Party. All of the above phrases in the slogan show the power which is given to the Party (government). The best description lies in the Newspeak word doublethink. "Doublethink means the power of holding to contradictory beliefs in one’s mind simultaneously, and accepting both of them. The Party intellectual knows in which direction his memories must be altered; he therefore knows that he is playing tricks with reality; but by the exercise of doublethink he also satisfies himself that reality is not violated"(Orwell 190). Many descriptions similar to this are given in the book and help explain the way in which the socialist government of Oceania operates. It explains how a strong ruler can manipulate facts to fit his or her own intentions, which is often what socialist rulers may have done and still may do. Many of the ideas in 1984 were written to show predictions of what the world might be like if people did not question and act on what was happening around them. Orwell wrote 1984 after World War II when socialist governments which had gone wrong, like Russia, were becoming a powerful force in the world. Orwell, having once fought against Communist Russia, saw how much of a dangerous power they could become in the future, and in turn found it necessary to inform readers of what the future could hold. 1984 is his idea of what a country, such as England in this book, would be like if a socialist government came into power. He writes of the control that can be presented by a ruler by fear. A ruler can use fear to suppress a person’s ideas and make him or her believe what a ruler thinks or says. A good example of this is at the end when Winston has been caught and is relearning how to obey and never doubt Big Brother. "TWO AND TWO MAKE FIVE"(Orwell 247). This was used in the context that Winston would believe whatever he was told. Whether it be this mathematical equation or who Oceania was at war with, he would believe it because of the fear of torture.

Southwest Airlines Essay -- essays research papers fc

I.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Current Situation Following the Deregulation in 1978, a competitive price war ensued among the airline industry as a direct result of the new freedom for airlines to set their own fares as well as route entry and exits. This gave rise to the operating structure of the airlines as it exists today, consisting of the point-to-point system and the hub and spoke system. With this came the change of focus for major airlines to non-stop, cross-country routes in densely populated cities, which, in a regulated environment, would be profitable. This resulted in the obvious outcome of increased competition, thus lowering the average industry prices for non-stop cross country routes which were profitable. This caused operating costs to increase, narrowing the profit margins. During the mid 80’s, acquisition led to eight airlines capturing a disproportionate share of domestic traffic. Due to a recession and increasing fuel prices in the 90’s, bankruptcy and collapse were common to many carriers. As a direct result, new airlines were formed, and now position themselves as low fare, no frill airlines. As a culture, American consumers seem to follow one obvious trend; the need and desire for maximum safety. This trend has seen a rapid rise in the wake of 9/11, and seems to show no sign of a decline. This can be further observed in the form of advanced airport/airline security measures and regulations. In accordance with this, Southwest has always prided themselves on being the safest airline in the industry, adapting to the rapidly changing times. This has helped them soar over competition. A.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Industry 1. Industry Defined and Total Volume   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Southwest exists and operates within the air travel industry in the United States; an industry which has traditionally been based on a point-to-point flight system. However, this industry has been redefined, evolving into a hub-and-spoke system which all airlines have adopted; all except Southwest. Hub-and-spoke flights, called feeder flights, are defined by long-haul, layover flights where consumers stop at a central hub city and can then either continue the flight on the same plane, or transfer onto a different plane flown by the same carrier. The point-to-point system, deployed by Southwest, is non-stop flights, called shuttle flights. Th... ...profit while other airlines dive into the red.† www.post-gazette.com/pg/05020/445078.stm. January 2, 2005. mars.acent.wnec.edu/~achelte/Theresa.htm. Maynard, Micheline. â€Å"Southwest Losing Its Immunity to Labor Conflicts of Airlines.† The New York Times. July 4, 2002. (C1). Okada, Bryon. â€Å"Airline: Wright law still wrong on long-haul flights.† Knight Ridder Tribune News. February 18, 2005. (1-3). â€Å"Sail the Ocean Blue with the Airline Cast and Crew; Customers Can Take a Cruise with their Favorite ‘AIRLINE’ Characters.† PRNewswire, February 14, 2005. Serwer, Andy. â€Å"Southwest Airlines: The hottest Hottest Thing in the Sky.† Fortune: February 23, 2004. â€Å"Southwest Airlines Expands Nonstop Flights Between Houston Hobby and Los Angeles International.† CNNMoney, February 3, 2005. Southwest Airlines Co. http://www.southwest.com. 2005. â€Å"Southwest Airlines Sends Hottest Fares Directly to customers’ Computer Desktops† PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX, February 28, 2005. Training & Development. â€Å"Southwest Airlines charts a high-performance flight.† Alexandria: June 1995. Issue 6. (Vol 49-39). Yahoo! Finance. http://finance.yahoo.com/. 2005.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  

The Breakfast Club Essay -- essays research papers

A Misleading Exterior In the film, The Breakfast Club (1985), John Bender, the slovenly rebel at Shermer High School in Chicago, is serving a Saturday detention with four very different students. Right from the beginning, Bender exhibits the qualities of a destructive and thoughtless criminal, i.e., he taunts everyone else in order to hide his personal inadequacies. Whenever Bender is questioned by his peers about a personal issue, or whenever he cannot provide a clear answer to a question, he—albeit defensively— responds in a facetious and irritated manner. Bender demonstrated this when Andrew Clark, the â€Å"sporto†, told him that he did not count, and that â€Å"if [he] disappeared forever it wouldn’t make any difference.† Distraught from Andrew’s blunt comment, Bender sarcastically retorted, â€Å"Well, I’ll just run right out and join the wrestling team...† As time goes on, Bender slowly sheds his rough attitude and starts opening up his true s elf to the other students.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  At first, Bender is a crude ruffian, who no one respects, particularly Mr. Richard Vernon, the disciplinarian at the high school. When all of the students arrive in the library for their detention, Bender—showing no respect for Vernon’s rules—is the first to communicate with the rest of them. Bender continually proposes tempting, yet unlawful things to do. However, the other students, who dislike Bender, refuse to listen. As soon as Mr. Vernon leaves the gives the students an essay...

Classroom Observation Analysis Paper

The observation was in Mrs. Ayo a second grade teacher, in addition to Mr. Wray’s 5th grade classroom. Both classes are giving at Kinser elementary School , Both classroom actually work together in a group Reading Buddies. Which educational theories were employed? The educational theories that were being employed in her classroom are the Social Learning Theory by Bandura and Behaviorism Theory by Watson. Behaviorism is â€Å"the beliefs that behaviors can be measured, trained, and changed (Educational Theories, March 19, 2012).† The Social Learning Theory is â€Å"when an observer’s behavior changes after viewing a behavioral model (Educational Theories, March 19, 2012). † The teacher used Modeling with her Reading Mastery curriculum. The students were required to be paying attention before the lesson started. The teacher cued the students to find the title in the story and read the title together. One student did not read the title correctly, so the teach er said â€Å"my turn† and read the title correctly and then she said â€Å"your turn† and the students read the title again. Throughout the lesson, the teacher would praise students at different times.The assessments for the teacher with the lesson were questions asked to the student in the lesson, also the independent sections on the student worksheets. What educational theories could have been used to better enhance the instruction and learning? An educational theory that could have been used is Constructivism. Constructivism is â€Å"that learning is meaning, it is reflecting on experiences (Educational Theories, March 19, 2012). † Mrs. Mullins could have enhanced lesson to incorporate real life connections to the students to make it meaningful for them. She could have had students predict what was going to happen next in the story.How practical is the application of education theories in the classroom? It is very practical to apply educational theories in t he classroom like Constructivism, Behaviorism, and the Social Learning Theory. A teacher can use a combination of educational theories in a classroom. The teacher can build upon the students’ knowledge and emphasize problem solving and the teacher can also use the Social Learning theory with Modeling. The teacher can model the behavior to the student and use positive and negative reinforcements with Behaviorism. One can also use Gardner’s Multiple Intelligence in the classroom too.Gardner’s theory â€Å"has eight domains of intelligence (Linguistic, Logical, Spatial, Bodily Kinesthetic, Musical, Interpersonal, Intrapersonal, and Naturalistic) according to Bee and Boyd, 2010. The different types of intelligence can be used in daily lessons throughout the day. How does the theory of information processing apply to student learning? Information processing has two areas: innate ability and acquired knowledge (Bee & Boyd, 2010). A lower IQ can compensate for acquire d knowledge. People with higher IQ’s will perform better than a person with a lower IQ.This also applies to student learning. Children with a lower IQ need effective strategies for processing information. These students have to acquire a vast amount of information on any subject before they can perform as well as their peers with higher IQs. How does the classroom environment affect information processing and learning for adolescents? Information processing theory explains that, â€Å"children are born with some basic, inborn cognitive strategies that will change from earlier years of life to more complex ones and the old ones being used with more flexibility (Bee & Boyd, 2010, p. 197).†As the information processing theory is explained in the text as an adolescent plays chess, the better they will become as seeing and remembering the relationships among the pieces on the board. In the classroom, it should foster an environment that allows the development of the complex cognitive strategies. There needs to be repetitive tasks that are geared towards building cognitive strategies, such as sight words. It can be studied by writing it, reading it, putting the word into a sentence, drawing a picture of it, and defining it. The repetitiveness of the activities can develop cognitive development.Compare adolescent student learning in a social environment and an educational environment. Which is more conducive to attention and memory? In a social situation there are usually more than one stimuli competing for the attention of the individual; whereas in a classroom attention is more directed to one stimulus (the teacher). This would seem to dictate that educational environments are more conducive to attention than social situations. Memory refers to the processes that are used to acquire, store, retain, and later retrieve information. The three major processes involved in memory are encoding, storage, and retrieval.This does pertain to adolescent learning, it is important for new information to be connected to existing information. It is noted that rote memorization is not as effective as learning information through sayings or through stories. Learning through sayings and stories involve connecting the new information to existing information. Social situations would seem to have an upper hand, since social environments provides a context for learning that builds upon the pre-existing peer relationships and experiences. Some of these are present in the classroom, with the teacher and student, but it is not as great as the social environment.What teacher behaviors did you observe that facilitated student comprehension and reasoning? An activity that I believe facilitated student reasoning was when Mrs. Mullins would ask the students scripted questions from the curriculum program. This allows the teacher to know if the student understands the material that was just read. Also the student had to answer questions from their textbook and an independent worksheet to reinforce the comprehension. The students were required to answer the questions in complete sentences and circle the correct multiple choice answer.Why did the teacher behaviors positively affect student’s thinking and abilities? Both the activities required the students to think. The students are required to use different strategies to get their answers for the questions. I observed multiple strategies from the students. In this class, students were asked questions and sometimes the teacher would ask another question after the other question. Which teachers’ behaviors impeded student comprehension and reasoning? The teacher also gave a Spelling test at the beginning of the Reading lesson. The test may be the least productive activity of the lesson.The test was based on rote memorization of learning the word. The student was required to hear the word, then in a sentence, and then they were required to write the word on a piece of paper. Some children do not learn this way. Students all learn differently; some learn auditory, other learn visually, and lastly kinetically. There were a few students having difficultly writing down the spelling word because they could not remember the audible letters to match it to the written word. Why did the teachers’ behaviors negatively affect students’ thinking abilities?The students wanted to get a 100% on their spelling test to be able to get a prize out of the prize box. This auditory/visual deficiency also speaks to the inverted-U relationship between stimulation and performance. As stimulation increases (social pressure, teacher pressure, and peer pressure to make a good grade on the test), so performance on the test increases; however, there is a cutoff beyond which simulation begins to effect performance negatively. The students were motivated to get a 100% on their spelling test, because their teacher added increase pressure by adding a reward to the performance on the test.This affected the grades on their spelling test making the students to perform negatively, since the stimulation was too much for these students. How does delayed language development affect teaching? Delayed language development seems to be the result of a defect in the fast mapping processes and poor receptive language (Bee & Boyd, 2010). † Fast mapping refers to â€Å"the ability to categorically link new words to real world references (Bee & Boyd, 2010, p. 209). † In cognitive development, there are biological and environmental factors to language assimilation, acquisition, and recitation.The average vocabulary of a 2 year old is about 600 words, but it can be adequately be determined by the IQ scores of the parents; however, the language acquisition can increase if the child is read to by their parents daily. This means reading will compensate for any biologically or environmentally caused deficits in the language development. These deficits in the lang uage development can be through the use of a phonic approach that will translate to a specific letters into sounds and vice versa. Children who are poor language learners will have a problem with letter-sound recognition and combinations.This approach will overcome the obstacle. Lastly, the reading program is important; it should be flexible and responsive to student’s language needs. If the phonic approach is not working, then a reading comprehension approach should be tried. Being able to learn the words as a part of a sentence approach would be better. How does language development affect learning in children and adolescents? A systematic and explicit phonics approach to a language arts program states that lessons should move from simple words to complex words in an explicit manner that emphasizes the letter sound correspondence (Bee & Boyd, 2010).†The whole language approach seeks to teach language through meaning and context of the word rather than the actual struc ture of the word. This approach doesn’t explicitly teach letter sound correspondence unless the student has question about how the sound of the letter makes. The last approach is a balanced approach that is a systematic and explicit phonic and whole language approach. Language development can have a large impact on reading comprehension. Reading comprehension helps with the writing abilities of the student.