Evaluating Personal Study Skills Education Essay

Evaluating Personal Study Skills Education Essay For this essay I will be evaluating my own study skills and identifying my strengths and weaknesses using a SWOT analysis technique. Once these issues have been identified any deficiencies will be addressed by way of a diagnostic plan. SWOT stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats and was created by Albert Humphrey at Stanford University in the 1960s. SWOT Analysis is an effective process for interpreting my Strengths and Weaknesses, and for describing the Opportunities available to me and the Threats hindering me. In order to be productive when learning study skills must be acquired. Study skills include such things as time management, note taking in lectures, concentration, memorizing and public speaking skills. In addition to assisting me to highlight the skills I need to improve and develop, completing a SWOT analysis will allow me to centre my attention onto the skills where I am already strong. Study Skills Swot Analysis Strengths Note-taking in lectures Punctuality Classroom discussions Researching Reading IT skills Weaknesses Motivation Making time to study Spelling Time management Procrastination Self discipline Presenting projects concentration Exam preparation Memory Work experience in the construction industry technical knowledge Impatience Opportunities Extra help from tutors Proof reading by graduated colleagues Use of technology such as recording devices during lectures Opportunities for personal development Job shadowing Engage tutors in providing feedback Threats Working late in my part time job can negatively impact on my studies Long commute to college can affect my time management Time pressure Study Skills Study skills provide a significant contribution to academic success and they are decisive tools for learning. As Devine, (1987) stated: Study skills encompass a range of coordinated cognitive skills and processes that enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of students learning According to Hoover and Patton (1995), study skills include the competencies associated with acquiring, recording, organising, synthesising, remembering, and using information. These skills help the student to be successful. Studying is a skill and like all skills it involves training and developing by using particular methods that assist the student learn, organise, remember, and apply information. According to Gersten (1998), a lot of students with studying weaknesses simply do not know the tricks of the trade that are practiced by more successful students when they study. A skilled student will use a type of cognitive learning rather than just learning from observing and repetition. Pressley and Afflerbach (1995) discovered several key cognitive techniques that successful students use in order to interpret and help remember information. Some of these were as follows: Overview before reading Search for important information and pay more attention to it Relating important points Use of prior knowledge Change the approach of learning when struggling to understand The reverse is true when dealing with students of a low academic level as they will frequently exhibit weak study skills. As they incline to adopt a more inactive role in studying and tend to rely on other people for example, teachers or parents. Studying needs both cognitive thinking, as well as self-management skills in order to sustain the students concentration, effort, and time needed. If these self-management skills are not employed it may be due to inadequate motivation. Study skills are needed for students to achieve academic success. Good study skills reduce the chance that the student will fail and enable them to make the best of what they are taught. To be competent, students must have a broad range of study skills that they are capable of using. Issues to be addressed Time management relates to an array of skills applied to manage time in order to achieve particular projects, jobs and goals. To improve my time management skills it is important I set individual tasks or goals and break them down into an action plan. An importance rating will be established for each individual task or goal and a deadline set (e.g. Dissertation to be completed by April 26th). This process will result in an extensive plan with a schedule of activities over a daily period. Many time management computer programmes are now available which I would find easier to manage. Once my goals and tasks have been set and prioritised time management comes down to the efficient scheduling of my time which helps me to keep on track and focused. Scheduling is the procedure of calculating the time available and planning how to use it in order to accomplish the set goals and tasks. With effective scheduling I can make the best use of the time available and gain an understanding of what is achievable in the time allocated. A leading cause of not being able to concentrate is not being interested in the work. If Im reading something I really want to, my attention typically will remain. Yet, when Im learning something that I regard as dull or tedious, I will normally find it hard. At other times my lack of concentration is because Im tired or a fear of failure. In order to improve my concentration I must improve my work environment by making it more comfortable. Distractions must also be shut out as much as possible (e.g. TV, Radio). I must keep a positive mental attitude for the task and remember my purpose for studying and my ultimate goal. Motivation is a complex field and self-motivating can be hard. There are basically two types of motivation, intrinsic (Doing something because you enjoy it) and extrinsic motivation (Doing things because of external factors like money etc). I can improve my self-motivation by changing the way I look at a task, and I can associate finishing it with something thats intrinsically pleasing. I will also supply my own rewards, and alter how I approach unavoidable tasks to provide more extrinsic motivation. When I procrastinate I put off things that I should be focusing on right now, generally in favour of doing something that is more pleasurable. It is normal to procrastinate on occasion. Yet, unreasonable procrastination can lead to feelings of guilt about not completing a task straight away. Additional, extravagant procrastination can lead to inadequate performance if the task is attempted without enough time to do it competently. In order to break this habit I will make up my own rewards for completing work and ask someone to check up on me to make sure I am carrying out the work needed. There are a number of tools used to improve memory, these are called mnemonics. Mnemonics are methods for recalling information that is otherwise quite hard to remember. The thought behind practising mnemonics is to encode hard to recollect information in a way thats a great deal easier to recall. The central idea is that by encrypting information utilising pictorial mental images they are easier to remember when you need them. There are three basic principles implicit in the function of mnemonics; imagination, association and location. When you put these three principles together you are able to produce effective mnemonic systems. To improve my presentation skills I need to address a number of factors. I firstly have to recognise what the audience requires and then I need to develop the content and deliver it in a confident manor to create an overall engaging presentation. Issue Personal Action Plan Time Managment Set individual goals and tasks. Schedule these tasks on a daily basis Motivation Set personal rewards. Positive attitude Late working hours Talk to my manager about changing hours Concentration Remove distractions. Improve study area Lack of work experience Apply for volunteer work or job shadowing Cognitive Learning Become less passive and more engaged in learning Memory Incorporate mnemonics into my exam revision

Reading Towards New Heights :: Education Educating Teaching Essays

Reading Towards New Heights Envision a world wherein many students are lost when a college instructor opens a textbook filled with the works of authors from the ancient world. Does this even happen in colleges and universities? This does happen in classrooms around the world, and I want to be able to impact the future generations that will one-day grace the halls of a college or university. Education impacts an individual’s life every day, and I have always envisioned myself educating students to a greater extent than many students would feel capable of accomplishing. Yet how did a child who once dreamt of being a lawyer ever decide to become a teacher? In middle school, I began to read novels and write short stories. The literacy rate to me seemed to be diminishing. Students no longer found joy in picking up a book and becoming engrossed in a novel. At that point in my life, I wanted to my fellow classmates to find the pleasure in reading and writing that I did, but no one would really listen. As long as I can remember I have desired to make a difference in someone’s life, and the opportunity finally prevailed in high school. I had the opportunity to tutor a young child in reading and when she had finally accomplished the feat of reading, I was overjoyed because she grew to love reading. But when I looked at my classmates, they were all groaning about the selections that our teachers had given us. I suppose that seeing a young child enjoy reading inspired me to want to teach high school literature. I wanted older students to feel the passi on of reading a novel that they actually connected with. I wanted to be the teacher that bridged the gap between reading and teenagers. But how will I engage their minds for the great works of literature that will acquire them reasoning skills? In order to engage my students in the joys of reading, I plan to use a philosophy renowned for its able to focus on ideas, concepts, and books. My love for the great works of literature from the ancient world has allowed me to accept the philosophy of perennialism as my teaching philosophy. The Great Books are a selection of world-renowned books that I want my students to read and thoroughly attain knowledge from. Mortimer Adler once said, "The Great Books of ancient and medieval as well as modern times are a repository of knowledge and wisdom, a tradition of culture which must initiate each generation (356, Teachers, Schools, and Society).

Research Hypothesis Essay

Null Hypothesis: The new developed drug has no considerable difference from the standard multi-drug regimen used by most cancer patients (Â µ1 = Â µ2). Alternative Hypothesis: The new developed drug is considerably better from the standard multi-drug regimen used by most cancer patients (Â µ1 > Â µ2). The dependent variable in the study is the so-called ‘level of efficacy’ (or in simple term, the level of effectiveness of the drug). This independent variable may be measured by: 1) T-cell counts among AIDS patients, 2) improved blood circulation (measured by blood pumped per ounce per second), and 3) rate of antibody formation. For the sake of simplicity, we shall only consider the first measure of ‘efficacy’ (T-cell counts among AIDS patients). The independent variable in the study is the ‘type of drug’ used to treat patients with AIDS. Method For the purpose of theoretical efficiency, we can assume the existence of two groups. Group A is a population sample treated with the ‘new developed drug.’ Group B is a population sample treated with the standard multi-drug regimen. Note that both drugs are assumed to have a general effect on the mitigation of AIDS among patients. A higher population mean (measured by T-cell counts) would indicate a higher ‘level of efficacy.’ Biases Experimenter bias may be exhibited in the study as: 1) error in the specification of experimental maneuver, 2) error in the measurement of outcomes, and 3) faulty interpretation of data. Because of the complexity of the study, it is very likely for the researcher to commit the second error. Selection bias is not present in the study. Ethical Issues There are two pressing ethical issues in the study. First, it is generally unethical to use an untested drug (medical) to a group of AIDS patients (although it may be argued that the drug has been tested many times in the laboratory). Second, it is dangerous to test the efficacy of two sets of drugs to ‘actual’ patients.

Free Essays on Interviewing A Manager

A manager’s job is to perform all functions necessary to come out on top. They must have the skills to perform efficiently. There are many individual skills one must possess but we can break it down into three broader categories: technical skills, interpersonal and communication skills, and conceptual and decision skills. When a manager possesses all of these skills, then the company is successful. A manager must be able to perform a specialized task involving a particular method or process. Whenever something goes wrong in that process, they must be able to identify and resolve problems for the benefit of the organization and its members. Most importantly, managers must have good people skills. They have to lead, motivate, and communicate effectively with others. The purpose of the research is to evaluate a middle-level manager and relate it to the real world applications. On April 8, 2005 I interviewed my manager Kelly at American Eagle Outfitters. She is presently working in a middle level management position and focuses on retail. I started off the interview by asking her questions about effective managing. At the end I asked if she would take the survey and she agreed. The Management Aptitude Questionnaire focused on three distinct skills of management: conceptual skills, human skills and technical skills. A conceptual skill is a skill pertaining to the ability to identify and resolve problems for the benefit of the company and its employees. It requires the manager’s thinking, information processing, and planning abilities. A human skill is a people skill; the ability to lead, motivate, and communicate effectively with others. The manager must be able to work with and through other people. They must be able to work effectively as a group member. A technical skill is the ability to perform a specialized task involving a particular method or process. A manager must be proficient in the performance of specific tasks inc... Free Essays on Interviewing A Manager Free Essays on Interviewing A Manager A manager’s job is to perform all functions necessary to come out on top. They must have the skills to perform efficiently. There are many individual skills one must possess but we can break it down into three broader categories: technical skills, interpersonal and communication skills, and conceptual and decision skills. When a manager possesses all of these skills, then the company is successful. A manager must be able to perform a specialized task involving a particular method or process. Whenever something goes wrong in that process, they must be able to identify and resolve problems for the benefit of the organization and its members. Most importantly, managers must have good people skills. They have to lead, motivate, and communicate effectively with others. The purpose of the research is to evaluate a middle-level manager and relate it to the real world applications. On April 8, 2005 I interviewed my manager Kelly at American Eagle Outfitters. She is presently working in a middle level management position and focuses on retail. I started off the interview by asking her questions about effective managing. At the end I asked if she would take the survey and she agreed. The Management Aptitude Questionnaire focused on three distinct skills of management: conceptual skills, human skills and technical skills. A conceptual skill is a skill pertaining to the ability to identify and resolve problems for the benefit of the company and its employees. It requires the manager’s thinking, information processing, and planning abilities. A human skill is a people skill; the ability to lead, motivate, and communicate effectively with others. The manager must be able to work with and through other people. They must be able to work effectively as a group member. A technical skill is the ability to perform a specialized task involving a particular method or process. A manager must be proficient in the performance of specific tasks inc...

Borons Chemical and Physical Properties

Boron's Chemical and Physical Properties Atomic number: 5Symbol: BAtomic weight: 10.811Electron configuration: [He]2s22p1Word origin: Arabic Buraq; Persian Burah. These are the Arabic and Persian words for borax.Isotopes: Natural boron is 19.78% boron-10 and 80.22% boron-11. B-10 and B-11 are the two stable isotopes of boron. Boron has a total of 11 known isotopes ranging from B-7 to B-17. Properties The melting point of boron is 2079Â °C, its boiling/sublimation point is at 2550Â °C, the specific gravity of crystalline boron is 2.34, the specific gravity of the amorphous form is 2.37, and its valence is 3. Boron has interesting optical properties. The boron mineral ulexite exhibits natural fiberoptic properties. Elemental boron transmits portions of infrared light. At room temperature, it is a poor electrical conductor, but it is a good conductor at high temperatures. Boron is capable of forming stable covalently bonded molecular networks. Boron filaments have high strength, yet are lightweight. The energy band gap of elemental boron is 1.50 to 1.56 eV, which is higher than that of silicon or germanium. Although elemental boron is not considered to be a poison, assimilation of boron compounds has a cumulative toxic effect. Uses Boron compounds are being evaluated for treating arthritis. Boron compounds are used to produce borosilicate glass. Boron nitride is extremely hard, behaves as an electrical insulator, yet conducts heat, and has lubricating properties similar to graphite. Amorphous boron provides a green color in pyrotechnic devices. Boron compounds, such as borax and boric acid, have many uses. Boron-10 is used as a control for nuclear reactors, to detect neutrons, and as a shield for nuclear radiation. Sources Boron is not found free in nature, although boron compounds have been known for thousands of years. Boron occurs as borates in borax and colemanite and as orthoboric acid in certain volcanic spring waters. The primary source of boron is the mineral rasorite, also called kernite, which is found in Californias Mojave Desert. Borax deposits are also found in Turkey. High-purity crystalline boron may be obtained by vapor phase reduction of boron trichloride or boron tribromide with hydrogen on electrically heated filaments. Boron trioxide may be heated with magnesium powder to obtain impure or amorphous boron, which is a brownish-black powder. Boron is available commercially at purities of 99.9999%. Quick Facts Element Classification: SemimetalDiscoverer: Sir H. Davy, J.L. Gay-Lussac, L.J. ThenardDiscovery date: 1808 (England/France)Density (g/cc): 2.34Appearance: Crystalline boron is hard, brittle, lustrous black semimetal. Amorphous boron is a brown powder.Boiling point: 4000 Â °CMelting point: 2075 Â °CAtomic radius (pm): 98Atomic volume (cc/mol): 4.6Covalent radius (pm): 82Ionic radius: 23 (3e)Specific heat (20Â °C J/g mol): 1.025Fusion heat (kJ/mol): 23.60Evaporation heat (kJ/mol): 504.5Debye temperature (K): 1250.00Pauling negativity number: 2.04First ionizing energy (kJ/mol): 800.2Oxidation states: 3Lattice structure: TetragonalLattice constant (Ã…): 8.730Lattice C/A ratio: 0.576CAS number: 7440-42-8 Trivia Boron has the highest boiling point of the semimetalsBoron has the highest melting point of the semimetalsBoron is added to glass to increase its resistance to heat shock. Most chemistry glassware is made from borosilicate glassThe isotope B-10 is a neutron absorber and used in control rods and emergency shutdown systems of nuclear generatorsThe countries Turkey and the United States have the largest reserves of boronBoron is used as a dopant in semiconductor production to make p-type semiconductorsBoron is a component of strong neodymium magnets (Nd2Fe14B magnets)Boron burns bright green in a flame test References Los Alamos National Laboratory (2001)Crescent Chemical Company (2001)Langes Handbook of Chemistry (1952)International Atomic Energy Agency ENSDF database (Oct 2010)

Bridge building Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Bridge building - Essay Example However, some simple bridges are set on the ground without first installation of the supporting systems it is of importance to note that when this is done underground preparation has to be done. Every edge of the bridge is always tested to make sure that there is stability. Shoring and underpinning techniques are important to ensure that we come up with a stable bridge. For more stability, excavation of the soil as well as the backfilling of the soil is important however, it is not necessary. Piers are always laced vertically on the edges of the bridge to make sure that the bridge gets the correct support. To make these piers, we can use a range of materials ranging from masonry, steel, or concrete and to ensure that the base is stable, we have to embed it with concrete. Building the bridge When building a beam bridge, the bridge span is always made at a different place and then transported to the area where the bridge is to be made. The bridge is made by bringing together two concre te or steel girders that get support from some decking materials. To add weight, the bridges are made with grudges, which comprise solid beams and built with trusses that are webbed to provide support. A crane is then used to lift the bridge to the supports then it is welded to ensure that the bridge is firm. ... In a well made beam bridge, the forces do not exist. The main risk that may be found here is the accidental collapse of the bridge in case the bridge is not correctly placed on the supports, this leads to the bridge collapsing on the ground due to lack of support. To prevent this, ground engineers are useful in ensuring that the bridge is correctly placed on the supports. There are a number of considerations that have to be put in place to ensure that the construction is economically feasible as well as being environmentally friendly. First the bridge has to be made of materials that are not soluble in water since some of these bridges are placed above water channels and if the materials are water soluble then it will pollute the water below. We also have to weigh the costs of the materials to ensure that we use the cheapest materials that are available in the market. And all in all the workers have to know the right proportions of the materials that they are using so that there is n o wastage that occurs in the making of the bridges. Bolting The best bolting technique for this particular bridge is the shear connection method. In this type of bolting, a central plate is made to align with the central beam so that a hole is drilled inside it for the bolt to b able to get into it. To attach the shear connection, we use standard bolts shear bolts. Arch bridges Construction Construction of the arch bridge starts with the designing of the bridge. When designing, you have to have the arch and the roadway in the mind. Most of the known arches are found under the road, however it is important to know that some arches exists such that roads pass through them. All these have to be kept in mind during the design method. After the design, we have to prepare and

The education of Sparta---Military life Research Paper

The education of Sparta---Military life - Research Paper Example One of many war experiences was the Dorian invasion which had played a great role in the development of the city state of Sparta. The Spartan political system underwent a lot of sociopolitical and military transformations. Around the 7th century BCE it descended from monarchic system to a basic republic political system. From 1050 BCE to 750 BCE, the political culture of Sparta as well as of other Greek city states can be characterized by a type of monarchy which later transformed into aristocratic oligarchy. The military training of a Spartan would start during his or her childhood. But more interestingly, the selection process of a Spartan soldier used to begin before they were born. In this regard they would take the help of Eugenics. During the 7th century BCE, the Spartan city state faced a sociopolitical unrest which was partly the result of the 7th century Lelantine War, a strife among the Greek city states. During this period, the Spartans turned their attention to build up themselves and to conquer others. The foundation of Sparta was its military. As a military state, Sparta could, to a large extent, maintain peace and harmony among their citizens and enabled the Greek to build an army to mitigate the threats from their neighbors. The first and foremost reason why the Spartans depended on their military power was that they were obsessively war-loving people. They loved war so much, that they turned the country into a military camp. Sparta was a prominent city-state, the one that a dominant military country in ancient Greece. It also was one of the strongest polis among the best of battle. The military in this country covered most of the citizens’ life. The City State of Sparta had the most outstanding military forces in the history of ancient civilization. The Spartan soldiers are popular for their valor, dexterity and fighting skill. The Greek culture was very rich. It was superior to most