Online Learning Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Online Learning - Essay Example It is therefore, the responsibility of the instructors to ensure that classroom learning is as exciting and resourceful as the online learning. Various features, which result in successful classroom learning can be applied to online learning for effective educational outcomes. It is possible for online and classroom learning to result in positive educational outcomes, despite their different modes of presentation, only if instructors in both learning modes identify the learning needs of the students, and address them, while creating the best learning environment for students. According to Hirschy and Wilson (2002), online learning is not a new phenomenon today. However, this is infiltrating the educational system at a higher rate today compared to the past. Many policy makers in the education sector support online learning for a number of reasons. Most importantly, this mode of learning is quite cheap, compared to classroom learning. Since most learning institutions operate on strict budgets and look for ways of minimizing their expenditure, online learning would be more appropriate for them. Additionally, this is convenient for students, as they can learn from different regions without having to attend a class physically. Online learning started in the early 20th Century. Since then, this has been advancing slowly taking root in society (Moore, Dickson-Deane, & Galyen, 2011). Today, approximately 1.5 million schools in the US have adopted online learning. Online learning utilizes the internet, instead of a physical environment, and this can be adopted partially or wholly (Bakia, et al 2012). Instructor presence and interaction is paramount in classroom learning. If the instructor is present but does not interact with learners, it is impossible for learning to be successful (Mandernach, Gonzales & Garrett, 2006). Therefore, instructor interaction is a prerequisite for successful classroom learning. This also translates to the online learning, where both the pre sence of the instructor and instructor interaction need to be felt by the online learners for successful learning. These determine the nature of classroom setting in both online and classroom learning. The type of classroom setting is an important determinant of successful learning. In the online class however, it is more challenging to set a classroom environment (Mandernach, Gonzales & Garrett, 2006). This is because of the delivery mode involved, as it is based on technology, and not personal dynamics. Therefore, online instructors have the responsibility of ensuring that they meet this challenge, and develop a classroom setting in their online delivery. Instructors in online learning achieve this through engaging with the students more, either through online dialogs, discussions, and consultations. This inspires and motivates learners to work harder. Instructor presence and interaction has made online learning to be more successful in the recent past, compared to classroom learn ing. The US Department of Education acknowledges this in New York iSchool, where the approach has worked effectively (Bakia, et al 2012). Instructors in both online and classroom learning should engage their students in active learning. This guarantees them successful educational outcomes. In the classroom, an instructor should spare considerable time for the students to engage in discussions, group work, and various assessments. This allows for deeper learning for the

How dependent are Americans on foreign oil Essay Example for Free

How dependent are Americans on foreign oil Essay 1.0 Introduction â€Å"We have a serious problem. America is addicted to oil.† George Bush made this assertion in his 2006 State of the Union address. By 2025 the United States will increase its daily consumption of oil to 28.3 million barrels per day. These estimates by the Energy Information Administration (EIA) show that by then, the US will depend on foreign countries for 70% of its oil needs. The United States of America (USA) depends on foreign nations for 66% of the oil it consumes. According to the EIA, currently the US consumes almost 21 million barrels of oil a day. Unfortunately, this amount of oil is not produced locally so the US has to depend on foreign nations for its consumption of oil. The dependence on oil by the US has a number of effects which include: impact on the nation’s economy; determines US foreign policy; shapes national security; and influences the relationship between the US and other nations (Ebe 2). The aforementioned effect which dependence on foreign oil has caused creates problems for the US. One of the major problems is the fact that the US is dependent on other nations for its energy supplies. Since the US is dependent on these nations for oil, the events in these oil producing nations determine to a large extent, what happens in the US. There is need for the US to resolve this energy situation, because dependence on other nations for oil rids the US of its sovereignty as an independent nation. 1.1 Statement of problem Oil is a very useful resource as it used by many industries. Many industrialized nations of the world, like the US, need large amounts of oil to keep their economies going. Over time, the US has become dependent on foreign nations for its oil needs- while local oil production has plummeted, demand is on the rise. Since the US is so dependent on foreign oil, what are the implications of this dependence? 1.2 Dependence on foreign oil: an effects analysis The dependence on foreign oil by the US has a lot of implications. The effect of this situation makes an impact on the economy, foreign policy, national security and international relations. These four perspectives are explored in further detail below. Effects on the US economy. Dependence on foreign oil supplies has had a profound effect on the US economy. One major evidence of this fact is the constant fluctuation of prices of gas due to changes in prices of oil. In other words, once the price of oil changes, then the price of gas in the US shifts accordingly. This has a profound effect on companies and other businesses that use gas. In the past year, oil prices have soared due to a number of factors in the world. Once these prices climb, it means that the consumer in the US has to pay more for goods and services that are related in one way or other to oil. Changes in the prices of oil in the world create shocks which are felt when prices of goods and services increase. However, the US economy would not have had to deal with these shocks if there wasn’t a high dependence on foreign oil. Furthermore, the constant increase in the price of crude oil in global markets leads to the transfer of huge amounts of money to other cou ntries in foreign trade. US foreign policy. Concerns about US dependence on oil have had an influence on its foreign policy. Various governments are aware of US dependence on foreign oil and have taken moves to protect the integrity of the US. Most people around the world believe that the US meddles in the affairs of other countries especially those in the Middle East because of the oil reserves in these places. If there is instability in the Middle East, it will drastically affect the supply of oil to the US. Thus, in order to protect it’s and ensure the constant flow of foreign oil (upon which the US is dependent), the US government takes measures to ensure peace and rule of law in these places. Haley (9-10) echoes the voice of critics who contend that the U is keen on maintaining stability in the Middle East because of the implication which crisis will cause the US since it relies so heavily on foreign oil. This is evident in the Gulf war and the recent invasion of Iraq. These actions by the US hav e created hatred in the hearts of people in the Middle East towards the US. Impact on national security. The dependence on foreign oil by the US has an impact on its national security as well. It can be argued that the dependence on foreign oil by the US has led it get involved in the affairs of other nations of the world. For example, the Middle East is a region which the US does not ignore and it is in this region that the largest reserves of crude oil abound. The US cannot afford to ignore this region because it needs the oil that is produced from these areas. Sadly, many of these countries are places where there is a lot of unrest and oppressive governments and the US gets a share of violent attacks because it relates with these nations. This situation has brewed hatred in the hearts of many and motivated attacks against the US both home and abroad. With the terror attacks on September 11 2001, the US is aware of the threat to national security and the lives of its citizens at home and abroad. Terrorist groups are aware that oil is the centre of the US e conomy and when they target this sector, they will inadvertently cripple the US economy and bring it to her knees. Relations with other nations. The relationship between the US and other nations is also affected to some extent by the dependence on foreign oil by the US. Apart from the US, other countries in the world have vested interests in oil because they too depend to a large extent on oil. With the collapse of the Soviet Union and other â€Å"iron curtain† countries, China has risen as an industrial giant. These industries are largely fuelled by oil and in order to achieve its aim and remain in the lead, China has improved relations with many oil producing countries and opposes restrictions imposed on these places by the US at the United Nations general assembly. These relationships between the US and other nations are founded upon dependence on oil. The dependence on foreign oil by the US has led to complex relationships between the US and other nations. At close observation, the root cause of these relationships is often not noticeable, but exploring deeper brings out the dependence on oil by the US. On the other hand it is important to look at this issue in another perspective. Most of the countries which produce oil are undemocratic. Infact, some of them have oppressive rulers and since the US depends on foreign oil, these governments become prominent. The fact that they are producers of oil propels them to lime light because the US needs this foreign oil so badly. 1.3 Relevant statistics Certain statistics are important in order to understand the dependence on foreign oil by the US. There was a time in the past when the US was the world’s largest producer of crude oil. But all that has changed now. According to the EIA, Saudi Arabia is the world’s largest exporter of crude oil and will remain so for a while because it holds 24% of the worlds oil reserves. Conversely, the Middle East holds 66% of the world’s oil reserve and supplies 30% of oil in the world. The dependence on foreign oil by the US has been worrisome to past administrations. According to Randall, President Richard Nixon established â€Å"Project Independence† to stop America’s dependence on foreign nations for oil. Furthermore, President Gerald Ford approved the regulation of petroleum prices, established the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and signed the Energy Policy and Conservation Act. On his part, President Jimmy Carter signed the national Energy Act to encourage the development of local sources of energy. 1.4 Probable solutions There is growing need to decrease America’s dependence on foreign oil due to the many problems which the phenomenon poses. It is imperative to develop alternate sources of energy in the US so that dependence on oil can gradually be lifted. Dependence on foreign oil may not be lifted totally but a gradual lifting of this dependence is important. Apart from oil, there are alternate sources of energy which should be explored in the US with the backing of the government and private sector so that these initiatives can be widely adopted. In the first place transportation is a major consumer of gasoline, so cars should be made to run on other sources of power such as electricity which is cleaner and will lower carbon emissions in to the atmosphere. Apart from electricity, wind energy too can be harnessed to power industries. Furthermore, dams built on rivers can generate vast amounts of electricity. Biological fuels too are important and these too need to be developed and used to lessen America’s dependence on oil. The current economic crisis in the world is an indicator to many people to cut costs. However, with the rising cost of crude oil, cost cutting will mean learning to do without crude oil and using other alternate sources of energy. Most of the alternate source of energy mentioned here are not harmful to the environment and the other benefit about them is that they are renewable as well. It does not matter how vast a country’s oil reserves are. There will come a time when these reserves will deplete. If the US continues to depend on foreign oil, what will be done when these countries no longer have oil to sell? The situation is best imagined. 1.5 Conclusion Obviously, the US needs to look else where to satisfy her energy needs. The switch from oil to alternative sources of energy may take a while but the journey of a thousand miles begins with a step. This switch has become all the more important considering the amount of hatred which is shown to everything American, especially by terrorists from the Middle East. Much of the world knows that the US economy is affected by oil supplies- cripple this and you bring the world greatest nation to its knees.

Computer Usage in Schools Essay -- Technology Education Learning Essay

Computer Usage in Schools A computer is, â€Å"a programmable electronic device that can store, retrieve and process data† (Merriam-Webster). This tool once predominately used in homes and offices is making its way into our educational system. Technology is a growing part of our society today. We are beginning to see the use of computers in classrooms more and more. The increase of computer usage in schools, primarily elementary, has enhanced student learning. The study I looked at recognized the importance of technology in education, but then examined teachers’ educational background and knowledge of technology and its effect on their integration of computers and computer software into classroom curriculum. It also researched the impact and effectiveness of such technologies on student learning. Both Alex Pan and Stuart Carroll, the authors of the study, are professors of elementary and early childhood education at the College of New Jersey in Ewing. Alex’s specialty is in the area of the effectiveness of the use of educational technology. So this study was right up their alley. They decided to use a combination of surveys and observation to gather their data. They did a study they call The Magic School Bus Project, in which they selected 45 first- to fifth-grade students from an elementary school in an urban district. All had some experience with computers, but none were familiar with the Magic School Bus Software. 22 college sophomores who were enrolled in the Analysis of Teaching class were also chosen. First, the college students examined and evaluated the Magic School Bus CD-ROMs. They used an evaluation form to rate them based on their own observations and perceptions. Some of thes... ...ne Dictionary. Merriam-Webster, Incorporated. 2003. http://www.m-w.com. Pan, Alex C.; Carroll, Stuart Z. â€Å"Preservice Teachers Explore Instructional Software with Children.† The Educational Forum v. 66 no4 (Summer 2002): 371-9. Sava, Samuel G. â€Å"Electronic Genie: Will Computers Serve Schools, or Run Them?† Vital Speeches of the Day v. 6 no2 (Nov. 1997): 55-57. Sefton-Green, Julian. â€Å"Computers, Creativity, and the Curriculum: the Challenge for Schools, Literacy, and Learning.† Journal of Adolescents and Adult Literacy v. 44 no8 (May 2001): 726-8. Solomon, Gwen. â€Å"Digital Equality: It’s not just about access anymore.† Technology and Learning v. 22 no9 (Apr. 2002): 18-26. Vann, Allan S. â€Å"Debunking Five Myths about Computers in Schools.† Principal (Reston, Va.) v.77 (Jan. 1998): 53. Winans, Dave. â€Å"Techno Hype-or Help?† NEA Today v.15 no4 (Nov. 1996): 4-5.

Flautists Battle To Help Tiny Silent Losses

Have you ever lost someone close to you? You probably remember their laughs, and all the memories you had with them, but what if you had never shared these moments? What if they had slipped away before you even had a chance? Flautists used their talents at London's Royal Albert Hall yesterday to raise money to help raise miscarriage awareness. Twenty eight year old Tiana Webb from Croydon decided to set up the concert after suffering her fourth miscarriage in two years, she expressed her feelings â€Å"I felt so alone, and wondered why this kept happening to me, I realised I had to help do something so other women would not have to feel so alone whilst going through such a tough situation. Music helped me through the tough times, and as a flautist myself, I thought I could use my talents to help†. Leaflets were sent out asking all flautists to unite from all over the county, no matter what their ability or style in music. Over a hundred and fifty musicians came forward ranging from beginners to professionals, young to old. Tiana said she was surprised at the amount of support that had been gained, as she was not sure if she would be successful. The Miscarriage Association is a charity set up to help raise miscarriage awareness. The charity supports grieving woman, be it soon after their miscarriage or a while after by providing information, support groups and helplines. It also offers a service in which mothers can be put in touch with other women who have experienced a loss. Miscarriage facts are quite unknown, more than one in five pregnancies end in miscarriage, a shocking quarter of a million each year in the UK. Recent research amongst a sample of over three hundred women who had experienced loss in pregnancy showed that 45% of women did not feel well informed about what was happening to them. Only 29% of them felt well cared for emotionally and nearly four out of five received no aftercare. Claire Walker, a spokesperson from TMA said â€Å"we are so thankful to Tiana and everyone who took part in the concert. Miscarriage affects so many women in society and feel it goes un-noticed, but this event shows that there is hope for them†. Tickets sold out within a week of going on sale, filling the magnificent hall. Tiana held an auction of old music, CDs, flutes and other musical equipment, all donated by the musicians themselves, of local organisations. One of the flautists, Fourteen year old Levi King from East London said † I'm proud to be part of something which is for a good cause, the response is incredible†. The concert was set off with all 158 flautists playing Karen Taylor-Good's song, ‘Precious Child' together, which was written especially. Karen herself sang the feeling filled words, â€Å"There wasn't a dry eye in the building† she explained, â€Å"everyone was obviously very touched†. Rachel Kindler The sound rang, creating a close atmosphere inside. Many members of the audience described it as a heart-warming experience to be amongst others with the same feelings, as many of them had suffered a miscarriage either themselves or in their families. This was followed by each of the flautists playing solos, duets or trios in a variety of music styles. There were reports that many of them felt privileged to be able to perform in the Royal Albert Hall as it was a ‘once in a lifetime experience'. Tiana played 4 individual solo's, including two that she had written herself. Amongst the musical pieces, poems were read many people spoke of their experiences, 23 year old Sara West told us of her story † I was 20 when I fell pregnant, it was a mixture of excitement and worry as I was young but I knew I wanted to keep my baby, I had a supportive partner and finished my degree at university. When I miscarried at 10 weeks, I was heartbroken. Words cannot describe how hard it is to lose something so precious. Many people do not understand it and are insensitive towards the subject, but coming here tonight made me realise I am not the only one that felt this way, and there is support out there for me. I am pleased to have helped The Miscarriage Association, and thankful to Tiana for putting so much work into this event.† The audience was surprised by the appearance of James Gallway, a famous flautist. He played several pieces, including some with the youngsters which many felt was touching. James said that he would not have missed the concert for the world, as it was not on an opportunity to share his talents and skills with others, but also to help make money for a very good cause. The evening was ended with an outstanding firework display, and people releasing balloons with messages for their losses within. It was spectacular to see so many people come together to remember silent losses that most people will not know of. The occasion was clearly very successful, it raised an amazing à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½10,000 for The Miscarriage Association. Tiana added, † I am overwhelmed at the amount of support for the charity and the event. It is comforting to know that I have helped other grieving mothers, I hope to organise something similar in the near future. I would like to thank all the flautists for participating and everyone who donated money to the charity†.

Different Types of Groups

The concept of the social group is people coming together and having a sense of identity because of a common space, action, or any other things that can bind together people. There is several identified social groups: primary groups, secondary groups, collective groups, in-groups, and out-groups. The primary group is one that shares close and lifelong personal relationships, wherein each member shares personal space and lives and has close relations and interactions.Family and close friends are examples of primary groups, as their members are binded by strong personal ties. A sports group or an academic group that is strongly linked emotionally and physically can also be considered as a primary group. The primary groups shapes and influences a person’s identity. The secondary group relationship is characterized by being formal and temporary, instead of being closely personal and lifelong. Performance of functions is what links together people in the secondary group, and the re lationship is more fleeting and less personal.An example would be a temporary co-worker in the office, who one is constantly in contact with, but has no strong personal ties. A collective group on the other hand is one that is bonded together by a common goal or an interest that links its members. The collective group does similar things and its members have similar interests. For instance, a church group or an environmental group is an example of a collective group. The in-group is the group where the individual feels that he/she belongs in; it is where one has loyalty to or respect to.Members of the in-group shares a similar identity, like families or people of a certain ethnicity or race. Conversely, the out-group is the social group that a person is not inclined to relate, even disdains or is opposed to such group. For instance, a conservative man despising people from other races – the out-group. The different types of groups refer to the personal circles that an individ ual belongs to. These are product of his/her social environment and socialization, which then directs and determines membership to a certain group.