Premature Specialization in Medicine Free Essays

A medical doctor in today†s world is educated and trained in a traditional manner that seeks to insure the well being of his or her patients. Practicing medicine requires a strong science background and rigorous training; it is in the interest of clients and medical boards across the world to assure this. Thus, education in the science field is extremely important, even at the undergraduate level. We will write a custom essay sample on Premature Specialization in Medicine or any similar topic only for you Order Now Being a doctor is not just a job, nor is it solely a career. The medical profession is saturated with risk, for both the patient as well as the doctor. Doctors need early specialization in their education in order to acquire the skills necessary to handle delicate situations that occur on a daily basis. Malpractice must come to an end. The education that a doctor receives is a tool that he or she will use his or her whole life, (unlike a person who majored in something contrary to what their field of work is). A doctor†s experience is a vital instrument. Medical skill is a demand for certain practicing procedures and should be taken seriously. Knowing the legal system requires a doctor to have a good amount of experience can ease the concerns of family and loved ones, and also gives confidence to a doctor that he or she can do his or her work correctly. In order for doctors to get the best experience and education needed, training must take place early on in education. An abundance of science courses in college is a good start to prepare for medical school. Even though medical schools might cover the material that is offered in undergraduate biology and chemistry courses, repeat exposure to the material can only be beneficial to the student. The more experience that a student has in science and related subjects ultimately helps the future doctor in the long run. To ensure the level of maturity of a doctor, it is necessary to educate them on a broad level. According to Thomas, English, History, the literature of at least two foreign languages, and philosophy should come near the top of the list, just below Classics, as basic requirements, and applicants for medical school should be told that their grades in these courses will more than anything. (Thomas 115) Educating premed students in these courses is important, but science is the most significant part in an undergraduate program. It requires thought and practice as well as research, which are all fundamental keys to being a doctor. If a MD were certified with the least amount of experience allowed in the science field as possible, malpractice could be expected. On the other hand knowing two foreign languages is not vital to ones life. In fact, if a patient speaks another language translators can be brought in to fit certain needs. Doctors that focus on science and health are achieving what the profession requires. Understanding science to its full capacity ought to be the goal for premeds and medical students. To ensure the well fare of a patient, over achievement of science courses is necessary. Looking at the medical educational setup that is present in today†s Universities, premed students work hard at science and put forth the effort to make these classes their number one priority. According to Thomas, † If there are any courses in the humanities that can be taken without risk to class standing they will line up for these, but they will not get in to anything tough except for science.† (Thomas 114) Comprehending science can be hard and exhilarating, students should space out these courses while maintaining a level of understanding of other fields, but it is serious to make focus on science. Any student in the undergraduate level maintaining a good grade point average while taking 300, and 400 level science classes is bound for success. The risk factor for a doctor practicing medicine that has thoroughly been educated and has completed all necessary science classes, whether it be premature specialization or courses in medical school, will ultimately be a safe doctor and will create a more secure atmosphere in the field. How to cite Premature Specialization in Medicine, Papers

Casino Plan Essay Sample free essay sample

1. Business Owner ( s ) A ; Product/Service i. Joker Africa operates and owns great figure of casinos through the Dar Es Salaam. at the minute operates 16 casinos around all countries of the Dar Es Salaam. In countries such as: Africa Sana. Buguruni. Mbagala. Banana. Madukani. Kumikucha. Magomeni. Manzese. Tip Top. Ilala. Namanga. Mnananyamala. Tandale. Kariakoo. Tameke. Kinondoni. In Joker Africa company today operates about 170 employees and about 40 to the full qualified and trained employees pending until gap of large casinos. 2. Mission Statement †¢ Chain of the Joker Africa casinos within 6 month of the operation already proved to our customers’ exceeding service and high quality Slot Machines. Our mission to place clients need and wants this is precisely what will assist our company to turn and widen. but non merely in Dar Es Salaam. besides in Mwanza and Arusha. †¢ Our mission to open in Dar Es Salaam 1 casinos and 8 gambling halls. in Mwanza 1 casinos and 2 gambling halls and in Arusha 1 casinos and 1 bet oning hall. 3. Company Structure †¢ Joker Africa will be operated by â€Å"Lotus Valley Tanzania† This company has already been incorporated by our attorney Melchisedeck S. Lutema. Pull offing Partner. Asyla Attorneys †¢ Chain of the Joker Africa casinos in Dar Es Salaam. Arusha. Mwanza will be supervised and controlled by executive direction squad with experience non less than 10 old ages in bet oning industry. 4. Current Opportunity I. Earlier this twelvemonth some of Joker Africa executive direction squad visited Mwanza and Arusha. After elaborate research our direction have identified high degree of net income can be gained from those metropoliss: Those metropoliss were chosen for several grounds: I. Cardinal location of our casinos II. Large population with high income ( possible clients ) III. Low degree of offense ( people feel safe on streets even at dark clip ) IV. A batch of excavation companies V. Great strength of tourers VI. Location of our casinos surrounded by hotels. nines and eating houses VII. Merely 1 casino in each City ( low degree of rivals ) 5. Target Markets †¢ Chain of Joker Africa casinos a portion from pulling some regular casino visitants from other casinos will chiefly be interested in developing new clients with alone selling and promotional attack. †¢ Joker Africa will be looking to pull all visitors’ tour tourers and business communities ( local and international ) with their casino and amusement bundle. 6. Financial Summary †¢ Total sum of estimation start up costs for Mwanza. . †¢ Total sum of estimation start up costs for Arusha. . †¢ Total sum of estimation uninterrupted growing in Dar Es Salaam. . †¢ Total sum of projected mean monthly disbursals †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ . . †¢ Total sum of projected mean monthly Gross †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ . . II. Market Analysis 1. Present Operators: At this minute there are 6 casino location in the capital metropolis of Dar es salaam and the last to get was over six old ages ago. Four of the casinos are operated by one group and the other two are independent. 2. Future Undertaking Chain Joker Africa being the latest to get on the market and ready to offer our clients – new and improved client service. and besides new coevals of the Slot Machines and electronic Roulettes. Location ( possible topographic points for casino ) †¢ Joker Africa Mwanza: Capri point. Nyakato Stand Buzuruga. Stand Nyegezi. Kirumba †¢ Joker Africa Arusha: NSSF Building. MT Meru Hotel. Naura Spring Hotel. Olduvia Inn Hotel. Shoprite Mall or TFA †¢ Joker Africa Dar Es Salaam: Kariakoo. Oyster bay. Kinondoni. Posta. Mbagala. Banana. Tegeta. Msasani. Tandika 3. Competition: †¢ The bing casinos are good established with their ain faithful clients and have non had the demand to do alterations to their operations. The present operations are really professional operations but Joker Africa can offer a competition that can merely profit the client and the concern. Rivals ; †¢ Safari Casino ( Arusha ) †¢ Kings Casino ( Mwanza ) †¢ Le Grand Casino ( Dar Es Salaam ) †¢ New Africa Casino ( Dar Es Salaam ) †¢ Kempinski Casino ( Dar Es Salaam ) †¢ Las Vegas Casino ( Dar Es Salaam ) †¢ Palm Beach Casino ( Dar Es Salaam ) †¢ Sea Cliff Casino ( Dar Es Salaam ) 4. Target Profile. The princess casino Tanzania will be looking to pull the client who fits the following profile. I. Male and Female two. 25 old ages old and above three. Middle category and above four. Tourist v. Business work forces III. Marketing Strategy and advertizement To reinsure good name and success of our concern in Mwanza. Dar Es Salaam and Arusha it is of import to announce/advertise it strategically in all locations of the metropolis. by utilizing beginnings such as: †¢ Street promotion †¢ News documents †¢ Tourist and concern magazines †¢ Hotel Circulars †¢ Radio †¢ Television †¢ Car advertizement III. Operationss Plan 1. Location Location for Joker Africa casinos was chosen strategically around the metropolis. In most crowded topographic point particularly at dark clip: Night Clubs. Pubs. Restaurants. Offices. Shoping promenades. Markets. Bus Stationss. 2. Operation I. Location ( possible topographic points for casino ) Joker Africa Mwanza: Capri point. Nyakato Stand Buzuruga. Stand Nyegezi. Kirumba. Joker Africa Arusha: NSSF Building. MT Meru Hotel. Naura Spring Hotel. Olduvia Inn Hotel. Shoprite Mall or TFA. Joker Africa Dar Es Salaam: Kariakoo. Oyster bay. Kinondoni. Posta. Mbagala. Banana. Tegeta. Msasani. and Tandika. The operational hours of the casino will be 24 hours. 7 yearss a hebdomad including Public Holidays and any possible non-hotel premises. 3. Organization Structure i. Joker Africa Casino Will be operated by Lotus Tanzania Limited 4. Employees The casino will hold about 250 employees which will include 10 exiles at direction degree to implement the Joker Africa processs. Chain of the casinos in Dar Es Salaam will hold about 250 employees 6 decision makers and 2 experient Operational Managers to take the squad. Operation in Mwanza will be supervised by 1 Operational Manager. 1 decision maker and 20 employees. Operation in Arusha will be supervised by 1 Operational Manager. 1 decision maker and 16 employees I. The direction construction will be: †¢ General Manager †¢ Assistant Manager †¢ Shift Manager †¢ Finance Manager †¢ Slot Manager †¢ Surveillance Manager †¢ F A ; B Manager †¢ Joker Africa will enroll locally to make full other employment places but will develop themselves the bulk of the dealers’ machine attenders. tellers and waitresses. cleaners. security guards. waitresses. bartenders will be recruited and trained locally by our experient direction squad. 5. Casino Area Location for Joker Africa casinos was chosen strategically around the metropolis. In most crowded topographic point particularly at dark clip: Night Clubs. Pubs. Restaurants. Offices. Shoping promenades. Markets. Bus Stationss. 6. Bet oning offered: I. Our company chiefly operates with electronic gambling: Slot Machines and Electronic Roulettes: †¢ Igrosoft †¢ Master game †¢ IGT †¢ EGT †¢ Novomatic 7. Cashless system At the minute Joker Africa casinos utilizing electronic key system. but to better casinos operation and to go more efficient – card system needs to be implemented. Cashless system tracks all employee activities. Each employee is required to hold a username and watchword to run the station. and all minutess performed by the employee are documented through studies. You retain entire hard currency control and have the ability to entree real-time history history 24/7 and full coverage capablenesss. 8. Financial and Legal Service For the company to run lawfully – bet oning licences must be obtained. cost of the licences depends on size of the casino. †¢ Twenty Machine License ( Dar Es Salaam/Mwanza/Arusha ) Cost of the application fees: $ 32 Cost of the Licenses per casino: $ 313 Cost for Tax per Slot: $ 27 †¢ Forty Machine License or Mini casino ( Dar Es Salaam/Mwanza/Arusha ) Cost of the application fees: $ 63 Cost of the Licenses per casino: $ 626 Cost for Tax: 15 % of income generated in the concern per month †¢ Big Casino ( Dar Es Salaam ) Cost of the application fees: $ 625 Cost of the Licenses per casino: $ 40 000 Cost for Tax: 15 % of income generated in the concern per month †¢ Big Casino ( Mwanza/Arusha ) Cost of the application fees: $ 316 Cost of the Licenses per casino: $ 15 000 Cost for Tax: 15 % of income generated in the concern per month 9. Casino Management System Casino Management System provides solutions equip our operation for casino accounting. fiscal audits. recognition lines/markers. rapprochement. regulative coverage. and conformity ; direction of participant evaluations for slots. tabular arraies and other games ; marketing functionality including frequenter trueness plans. multi-property support. individual participant cards. participant infusions. direct mail. group and publicity trailing. and concern betterment.

Going Green in the GCC

What Is Communication and How to Use It Effectively

What Is Communication and How to Use It Effectively Communication is the process of sending and receiving messages through verbal or nonverbal means, including speech, or oral communication; writing  and graphical representations (such as infographics, maps, and charts); and  signs,  signals, and behavior. More simply, communication is said to be the creation and exchange of meaning.   Media critic and theorist James Carey  defined communication as a symbolic process whereby reality is produced, maintained, repaired and transformed in his 1992 book Communication as Culture, positing that we define our reality via sharing our experience with others. All creatures on earth have developed means in which to convey their emotions and thoughts to one another. However, its the ability of humans to use words and language to transfer specific  meanings that sets them apart from the animal kingdom. Components of Communication To break it down, in any communication there is a sender and a receiver, a message, and interpretations of meaning on both ends. The receiver gives feedback to the sender of the message, both during the messages conveyance and afterward. Feedback signals can be verbal or nonverbal, such as nodding in agreement or looking away and sighing or other myriad gestures. Theres also the context of the message, the environment its given in, and potential for interference during its sending or receipt.   If the receiver can see the sender, he or she can obtain not only the messages contents but also nonverbal communication that the sender is giving off, from confidence to nervousness, professionalism to flippancy. If the receiver can hear the sender, he or she can also pick up cues from the senders tone of voice, such as emphasis and emotion.   Rhetorical Communication- The Written Form Another thing that sets humans apart from their animal cohabiters is our use of writing as a means of communication, which has been a part of the human experience for more than  5,000 years. In fact, the first essay - coincidentally about speaking effectively - is estimated to be from around the year 3,000 B.C., originating in Egypt, though it wasnt until much later that the general population was considered literate. Still, James C. McCroskey notes in An Introduction to Rhetorical Communication that texts like these are significant because they establish the historical fact that interest in rhetorical communication is nearly 5,000 years old. In fact, McCroskey posits that most ancient texts were written as instructions for communicating effectively, further emphasizing early civilizations value of furthering the practice. Through time this reliance has only grown, especially in the Internet age. Now, written or rhetorical communication is one of the favored and primary means of talking to one another - be it an instant message or a text, a Facebook post or a tweet. As Daniel Boorstin observed in Democracy and Its Discontents, the most important single change in human consciousness in the last century, and especially in the American consciousness, has been the multiplying of the means and forms of what we call communication. This is especially true in modern times with the advent of texting, e-mail, and social media as forms of communicating with others around the world. With more means of communication,  there are also  now even more ways to be misunderstood than ever. If a message contains just the written word (such as a text or email), the sender needs to be confident in its clarity, that it cannot be misinterpreted. Emails can often come off cold or clipped without that being the intention of the sender, for example, yet its not considered professional to have emoticons in formal communication to help convey  the proper meaning and context.  Ã‚   Before You Open Your Mouth or Hit Send Before preparing your message, whether its going to be in person one-on-one, in front of an audience, over the phone, or done in writing, consider the audience wholl be receiving your information, the context, and your means to convey it. What way will be the most effective? What will you have to do to ensure its conveyed properly? What do you want to make sure that you dont convey? If its important and going to be relayed in a professional context, maybe youll practice beforehand, prepare slides and graphics, and pick out professional attire so that your appearance or mannerisms dont distract from your  message. If its a written message youre preparing, youll likely want to proofread, make sure the recipients name is spelled correctly and read it aloud to find dropped words or clunky phrasing before sending it.

A critique of tourism policy and planning in France Essay

A critique of tourism policy and planning in France - Essay Example Tourism, however, might be an activity that benefits only a selected few. The political class enjoy the full extent of the tourism sector. This is a disadvantage many citizens in these regions face, but cannot do much to help their situation. This paper will examine the tourism policy and planning in France, and how this might affect individuals in that region. The introduction of international relations promotes tourism in many parts of the world. Globalization enables culturally, socially, and politically diverse individuals to interact daily. It is through this interaction that folks are able to comprehend the diverse nature of the places they visit. While doing so, they are trading some of their foreign currency with that of the country they are visiting. This often enables the country to earn some foreign currency. Tourism policies and planning in France enables everyone to enjoy the culture and traditions of the country without restrictions (Gunn & Var 2002). There have been complaints about the coming of diverse cultures into France through tourism, but they only fall on deaf ears. Tourism policy is a vital factor in trying to comprehend the nature of a country. If the economic and environmental effects of tourism were only felt in some countries, then tourism policy would not be as crucial as it is in modern day (Lickorish & Jenkins 2012). The involvement of government in the running of the tourism sector is an indicator that there is a lot gained from tourism. It is through government that many of these policies are arrived at, to ensure that the region benefits entirely. The actions of a government, whether direct or indirect, can influence tourism in a region. It is, therefore, common to see governments making tourism a priority because of the economic stability it brings. Tourism policy involves making decisions that affect the tourism sector in a region. Some of

Reflection paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 17

Reflection paper - Essay Example Different people may have different approaches to certain subjects because they The study on the methamphetamine and its effect on memory were explored in a way that linked it to the various aspects mental challenges (The Nervous System 2). In essence, the chapter was important in the manner in which it explored the variations in patterns of thought in different people and the capacity to comprehend situations or respond to certain stimuli from the environment. It might be necessary to consider the fact that some of the challenges that affect the efficacy of thinking processes have to be aligned with the differences in the brain capacities of individuals. Furthermore, the chapter opened my understanding of the enormous potential of the human brain and its capacity to coordinate activities within the understanding of human behavior. The brain as a biological organ is subject to a range of processes that determine human behavior. The communication between neurons is explored in a way that sheds light on the complexity and speed through which biological processes operate and communicate. On this matter, it becomes important to consider the fact the speed of communication is a key factor to communication. The challenge that arises within the element of communication should be considered as a product of the different levels of potentials between individuals with regard to the unique characteristics of the brain and variations in environmental factors. One of the important lessons obtained from the chapter revolves around the effect of substances on the functioning of the brain. Substances have the capacity to alter or ruin the processes of the brain in ways that may not be easy to comprehend in a normal way. In this regard, it becomes necessary to consider the fact that most of the issues that afflict matters of judgment are related to the capacity of the brain to process information with the right kind of

Basic Lan Network Design Using Cisco Packet Tracer

Basic Lan Network Design Using Cisco Packet Tracer Learning Outcomes are formal statements that articulate what students or learners are able to achieve after following set of instructions, and why they need to do it. It is a process that weighs the objective of doing something and the outcomes of doing that thing. To measure if the LOs have been met, students need to be assessed. Assessment gives the assessor the opportunity to understand how well students have learnt, and also to use the evidence for constant improvements (Baume 2009). LOs, enables the selection of contents that are important for learners, develop instructional strategies to deliver these contents, design, develop and chose what instructional materials to use, build tests materials for assessing and evaluating learners and improve the teacher ability to deliver contents. Using actionable phrases (verbs) to know the why can lead to great learning outcomes formulation. For example, in order to locate background information and statistics of a phenomenon, a learner starts by identifying, consulting and evaluating reference books or journal articles related to the topic. To formulate the LOs in this case, the teacher starts with what students need to know? And why they need to know it (Pek 2002). This introductory section of LOs, form the preamble for what LOs should be and how they should be formulate for quality teaching. LO1 Using effective teaching methods and support of learning With my experience of delivering lectures at the university, colleges in London, being an IT trainer, I have used a wide range of teaching methods over the years. Depending on the environment and the LOs, in this section I intend to elaborate on some of the methods that I have used in the past, advantages and disadvantages of the different teaching methods used. The process of determining LOs starts with the selection of a teaching method (TM), lecturing, small group and class discussions, videotapes, webcast and one-to-one discussion are common examples of TM. In my experience, there is no cut and dry method, in most cases a combination of strategies works well. In line with Gibbs (Gibbs Habeshaw 1993) due consideration should be given to the following when selecting a TM: The subject matter, i.e. what is it about? How knowledgeable the learners are to the subject What need to be achieved (learning objectives) What is the available time frame to meet the learning objectives How many learners are involved or the size of the group Are the participants the right people for the subject? Learning styles of participants Available equipment The room layout The cost Different students learn better in different ways, for example, international students in my class in London prefer visual information while home students prefer verbal inputs. My class is not unique, Glauco reported the same phenomenon in his work on learning style in the multicultural classroom (Vita 2001). This phenomenon can be attributed to cultural differences which play an important role in individual learning style. Additionally, different subjects and topics are easier to understand when taught in different ways. I deploy an interactive strategy with adult students undertaking Cisco Networks training program, this permit discussions, interactions, participation and exchange of viewpoints because of the subjective type and the learning environment which require interactivity between students, the trainer and hardware equipment (experiential learning). Contrasting this with a lecture hall at the university with over 80 students, I deploy a power point presentation with explana tions, pauses, questions and answers because of the class size, the time frame (1 hour) and the subject type which has a no student-hardware interactions(cognitive and constructive learning). In light of selecting teaching method, I have always select suitable methods for the stated learning objectives and LOs. The following sections highlight some of the methods I have used in the past and reasons behind their selection. Lecture Lecture is widely accepted as the best teaching method for larger classes (Carpenter 2006), in computer science (e.g. computer networks), lectures are often followed by lab sessions where students individually work on materials through guided lab sheets. In most cases, the lectures are used to illustrate processes rather than analysis of contents. As a lecturer of computer network (CNET) modules at the university we follow this approach. Students attend an hour lecture which is then followed by a two hours lab session where they implement different network designs and architecture discussed in during lectures. By using both cognitive and constructive learning theories(Swan 2005), the learning objective of the module can be achieved. Though a very useful method, based on my experience and research in this area (Griffiths Oates 2003), lecturing strategy has the following advantages and disadvantages as summarise in the table 1. Table : Advantages and disadvantages of lecture method Advantages Disadvantages Lecture can be used in any classroom size. In a larger classroom, lecture is the only option. It is teacher centred and do not take account of different students learning styles In a conducive and well-presented lecture, students can be motivated to investigate more about a topic. Reduces student participation as they become passive and less active with topics of less interest. The teacher being at the centre of the lecture has total control over everything that happen in the class creating a one-to-many based communication which might be ideal for a large class size learning environment. It is one way communication, students ability to learn depends on notes taking and attentiveness. The teacher can only know if learning is taking place through questions and answers. Discussion This learning method enables students to be actively involved in what they are supposed to be learning. In the computer science discipline (e.g. computer network) which I am involved, students are divided into groups of 3 each. The first 10 minutes of the lab session used to read and brainstorming possible implementation solutions by reflecting on the in-class lectures. This is important because students are given the chance to openly express their opinion about the lab, and what is deemed as possible implementation solution is agreed by the group with the guidance of the teaching. Using discussion method and social learning theory (Bandura 1969), I am able to pull knowledge and ideas from different students. This is useful because in most cases students will have background information about the lab from lectures and should be able to evaluate and analyse different opinions. Students learn by being able to implement their own solutions to a lab scenario. Though a useful method in the lab environment, from my teaching experience and research in discussion teaching methods (Welty 1989), table 2 summarize the advantages and disadvantages of using discussion method as a teaching method. Table : Advantages and disadvantages of Discussion method Advantages Disadvantages Students have the leverage to actively process information and ideas. It is time consuming and unfocused if no clear direction is given to the students. It is unique opportunity for students to share experiences and get involved in making decision on what best practices should be used to achieve the objective of the lab. Students could be protective of their ideas and makes it difficult for the instructor to get others involved. Being interactive, it open communication channels between teachers and students to feedback each other. The size of the class must be restricted Demonstration This laboratory work approach of learning enable students to role play (i.e. experiential learning theory) concepts introduce in lectures (Fry et al. 2009) and (Kolb Boyatzis 1999) Introduction to new concepts, procedures and techniques, can be a bit daunting to students; I have used demonstration to complement in-class lectures at the university and in other colleges that I lecture. Demonstration sessions generally begin with an overview lab session, and the list of points the students need to focus on. Using this approach gives them an idea of what the objectives and the LOs are. This is followed by the session proper, where students are given the chance to perform the procedures just explained in the introduction session. To ensure students are in line with the objectives, I spend the rest of the time observing what they are doing, offering suggestions and feedbacks. Using demonstration as preliminary approach for students to practice some of the concepts learnt in lectures has proven to be a good method of teaching. In light with Brophy (Brophy 2000) and my experience in using demonstration teaching method, table 3 show some of the advantages and disadvantages of using demonstration as a learning method. Table : Advantages and disadvantages of demonstration method Advantages disadvantages Active participation is critical to learning new skills, demonstration enable students to participate in learning. This method does not work well in large class environment, in most cases, videotapes are shown in monitor, which takes away that interactiveness with students Students interest peak up, as they can experience some of the concepts first hand by getting involved It is time consuming to set demonstration sessions In computer networks, demonstration is the only method of conveying complex theories. Demonstration might not always go as planned, as things break down, takes a long time to set them up. Conclusion Teaching methods form the bases on how teaching has to be delivered, different environments, subject, topics and students may require different teaching methods. A combination of two or more teaching methods can be used in effective teaching. However, due consideration should be given to what learning theory can be used and the pros and the cons of individual teaching methods. LO4: Designing, selecting, and using learning resources and ICT to develop an effective learning environment and learner support system. An effective lesson depends on the materials used to deliver or teach it, for students to learn to their maximum potentials, teachers need to identify and create effective teaching materials. A teaching material could be any tool used to deliver or convey information and test students understanding of a subject. Teaching materials includes videos, audio cassette, worksheets, websites and simulators. Designing and selecting teaching materials takes into account the educational goals of the students (Allwright 1981) and how the teacher want the students to absorb, process and retain information during learning (learning theories). With experience of designing and selecting learning materials (e.g. simulators, websites, presentation slides, websites, hardware and software) for students undertaking courses in academic and professional environment, many factors including those in the literature(Commonwealth of Learning 2005) have influence my design and selection of different teaching materials (Cisco packet tracer, MS PowerPoint and Word) among which includes; The objective: the design and selection of learning resources start by identifying what I want the students to know at the end of each lesson, this is known as the cognitive objective (Krathwohl 2002). For example, during the design and selection of learning resources (e.g. Cisco packet tracer, words documents and www.pritmas.com) for Cisco network first year students, the introductory materials are always in form of hand-out and references to useful internet websites. These materials set their expectations from day one and give students an overview the course. Additionally, the design and selection of learning resources also take into account what I want students to be able to do at the end of each lesson, also known as behavioural objectives (Kizlik 2002). Resources vary with learning objectives. For example, computer science students undertaking networking modules have different learning objectives from Cisco students undertaking Cisco Certification courses. However, achieving the objectives of the lesson is deeply incorporated into the design and selection of learning materials. By using tailored learning resources, my students have constantly show high level of interest in the subject. Audience analysis: who are the learners, this comes into play when designing and selecting learning resources. Their race and ages are some key attributes that has to be taken into consideration. This attributes enable tailored delivery of learning objectives. In a multicultural or single culture classroom where students may or may not have different experiences, considering their background knowledge before making references to objects or places they are more familiar with can increase students understanding of a lessons. For instance, HND students undertaking computer hardware module in Cameroon and have never been to the UK have a quite a different type of environment compare to students in the UK taking the same module. With this disparity, the design and selection of materials for the two audiences is different. With experience of delivering the same module in both countries, examples or references used to relate learning objective is different. Different students have different learning style and will learn more effectively when their learning style is used to convey information. As shown in (Vita 2001) foreign students turn to prefer visual learning while home students prefer auditory learning style, having an inventory of what learning style students prefer is important in learning material (e.g. head on projectors and audio clips) design and selection. In a multicultural classroom, it could be daunting to design or select learning materials that will appeal to all the students. To overcome this, I have constantly deployed audio and visual learning materials interchangeably during lectures and practical lessons to ensure no particular group is at the disadvantage. Designing and selecting materials is one thing, how they will be delivered to students is something different. Methods of delivering learning resources include image projection using LCD projector, hand-out copies, website based delivering methods. My methods of contents delivering are largely influenced by students learning style which could be a function of culture as mentioned above. Instructional technology has been at the forefront of my learning material design and selection, technology ease the process of creating and dissemination learning resources to students. However, technology could hinder students who are not familiar with the technology being used in learning (Lea et al. 2001). As an IT teacher, technology has enhanced my ability to engage students and enact different learning theories. For example, I have used personal website(Pritmas.com 2013) to distribute learning resources and support students queries. Conclusion Advances in instructional technologies inherently have a great impact on how lesson resources are design, selected and distributed. For effective design and selection of these resources, key factors such as learning objective, knowing who the students are, learning style, how these materials will be delivered and seeking to integrate technologies into the design and delivering of learning resources is important. However, technologies might be a disadvantaged for students who are not familiar with the technology in used. So teachers should work to overcome this hindrance by selecting appropriate learning theories i.e. how they want students to absorb, process and retain information during learning. Response to reviewers and feedbacks In what ways did the review help? What new ideas do you plan to investigate? Part 3, is your opportunity to respond to the reviewers feedback. In the light of the feedback and discussion with your reviewer, which of your session intended learning outcomes listed in part 1 of the form do you feel were achieved by your learners? How do you know this? Were any met less well and why do you feel this was the case? The following LOs were achieved: Understand DNS concept Explain the composition of an IP address and Domain name Install configure a DNS server and client Through quick assessment (in class question and answer, and the ability for students to implement the lab scenarios) and feedbacks from students, they now feel comfortable to implement and explain theories behind DNS and can now define an IP address and its function in communication On reflection, based on the comments and feedback, explain how you plan to adopt or follow up on new ideas. In your second and third reviews please identify any commonalities between the feedbacks from the different observers. Which aspects will you investigate or find out more about? What will you do and why? This process has been learning exercise, on reflection; I intend to adopt and use the objectives and LOs to structure my teaching, starting from session planning to delivering and assessment. By using SMART objectives and identifying learners needs, it is important to follow a pedagogic structure to ensure LOs are met. I now look forward to work on some of the issues raised during the teaching session. For example, my body language, encouraging students to take down notes and making sure students are actively participating in class or lab sessions. Feedback on the review process How useful has it been? Could the process be improved? It has been an eye opener to get someone to review my teaching, and being able to review someone elses teaching. I will suggest, more time be allocated to the exercise, two or more reviewers per session for cross referencing. Reflections on the PREP Process To be completed by the reviewer and sent to the their PGCAP600 tutor this completes this part of the process. Part 4, is the reviewers opportunity to reflect on the process of reviewing somebody elses teaching. What did you learn from conducting a teaching review? Did the process cause you to think about your own teaching differently? Have you developed any new ideas that you plan to investigate? Has the process of review helped you understand your own teaching strengths and preferences? Has it caused you to think differently about your own methods, design, values etc? Has this helped to confirm or challenge any assumptions about what constitutes effective teaching? Did you gain a different perspective on teaching from a student perspective? Yes, I found it really interesting to observe someone from another discipline teaching, for sure, the review process has reshaped my understanding of teaching and the structural approach that need to be followed to meet the learning outcomes. The process has also renewed my confident in teaching and my ability to impact other peoples future. Taking up the challenge to review a colleague from another discipline was nerve racking in the first place. Lornas engagement with students, her ability to easily connect with them and deal with a difficult situation (fire alarm) just added to some of the things that I have learned from the process. Have you generated any ideas about how you might like to develop your teaching? Yes, as mentioned above, being able to watch someone deliver practical lessons and give feedbacks on how well she has done has been very helpful. I come out of this process with the following new ideas, which I think will enhance my teaching: Seek to understand individual students background Be more open and accommodative Being more knowledgeable in my subject area. Making sure a lesson plans is in place in all Lessons. Build a feedbacks process to improve and to know if learning is taking place Application of different learning theories (per needs) Feedback on the review process How useful has it been? Could the process be improved? I think it is definitely useful to observe others teaching, however my role as a lecturer and demonstrator allows me to design, select and deliver learning materials while also observing other academic members of staff teaching on a regular basis, the PREP exercise was not different. However, observing someone from another discipline demonstrate was unique and reminded me that teaching is about following pedagogic processes and I really value the opportunity to discuss the experience afterwards (i.e. as a reviewer and reviewee). I will suggest, more time be allocated to this exercise (PREP), two or more reviewers per session for cross referencing CONCLUSIONS Teaching is a process of inducing learning to other people, how this process is accomplished and how it impacts both learner and the teaching defines effective teaching. By setting appropriate learning outcomes, defining the best methods to deliver and designing and selecting materials to achieve this outcomes can lead to effective teaching in higher education. APPENDIX University of Plymouth CNET226 Basic LAN network design using Cisco Packet Tracer The objective of todays lab is to design and describe a functional network using Cisco packet tracer simulator. Background You are a network engineer. You were given a job by a company who is one of your most valued customers. You have to design a functional LAN for them that contains 2 groups of 5 pcs each connecting to 2 separate switches. Then the switches are connected to a router (R1) and R1 is connected to the ISP router (R2). So basically you have 2 rooms with 5 pc each and both of these rooms have a switch and they are connected to R1. There is a third room and in this one there is a web server running Server 2008 OS. Connect that one with a separate switch and then to the R1. Tasks Using Cisco Packet Tracer (open cisco packet tracer by clicking start Æ’Â   All programsÆ’Â  packet tracer on your PC). Design a functional network you will use to accomplish the customers business needs. Save it (to save: on packet tracer, use file Æ’Â   save as Æ’Â   .pktÆ’Â  location) we will need this later. An example with pc and servers can be found in the diagram below. C:UsersLouis AnegekuhDesktoplab_3.jpg Figure : Sample Network Design Report: Individually write a report of NOT less than 400 words to explain your network diagram using the following guide. Write a list of the devices and cabling you have used in the design. Write a step by step report on what cables you have usd to connect all your devices and the reason(s) behind the selection. Explain the reason (s) behind the devices you have chosen in your design. What ports (interfaces) are you using to connect the devices in your network? Please save your report for a brief discussion on it next week. NOTE: It is important you all attend next week lab, which will be on IPv4 subnetting.