Behavioral Curriculum Model Essay Example

Behavioral Curriculum Model Essay Behavioral Curriculum Model Susan McIntosh CE420: Curriculum Development Professor Katherine Berry October 20, 2012 Give me a dozen healthy infants, well-formed, and my own specified world to bring them up in and Ill guarantee to take any one at random and train him to become any type of specialist I might select doctor, lawyer, artist, merchant-chief and, yes, even beggar-man and thief, regardless of his talents, penchants, tendencies, abilities, vocations, and race of his ancestors. John Watson, Behaviorism, 1930 Behaviorism is a theory of learning based upon the idea that all behavior is acquired through conditioning (Behaviorism, 2012). I will address how behavioral perspective connects to early childhood theory. I will also discuss if the behavioral model is supported by current breakthroughs in brain research, relevant current trends and best practices used in private and community schools. I will then explain how the behavioral model support best practices like DAP and maximizes student development in the Cognitive, Language, Affective, Aesthetic, Physical, and Social domains. Finally, I will conclude by either defending the curriculum model or questioning it based on my examination. We know that human beings are creatures of habit and studying past behavior patterns of humans in a given situation helps to anticipate future behavior in a similar situation (Answers, 2012). Behavior perspective connects to early childhood theory in several different ways. One way is that researchers have shown that deficits in language development, such as specific language impairment are related to deficits in various psychosocial outcomes. We will write a custom essay sample on Behavioral Curriculum Model specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Behavioral Curriculum Model specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Behavioral Curriculum Model specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer B. F. Skinner studied operant conditioning by conducting experiments using animals. Skinner identified three types of responses or operant that can be used to follow behavior. The first response is the neutral operant which is the responses from the environment the neither increases or decreases the probability of a behavior being repeated. The second response is the reinforcers which are the responses from the environment that increases the probability of a behavior being repeated. Reinforcers can either be negative or positive. The third response is the punisher which is the response from the environment that decreases the likelihood of a behavior being repeated. Punishment weakens behavior. Skinner showed how positive reinforcement strengthens a behavior. Skinner also showed how negative reinforcement worked and could also strengthen behavior when an unpleasant reinforce was removed (McLeod, 2007). John B. Watson coined the term â€Å"Behaviorism† in 1913. Behaviorism assumes that behavior is observable and can be correlated with other observable events. There are events that precede and follow behavior. The goal of behaviorism is to explain relationships between antecedent conditions (stimuli), behavior (responses), and consequences (reward, punishment, or neutral effect). Watson stated in his autobiographical sketch I never wanted to use human subjects. I hated to serve as a subject. I didnt like the stuffy, artificial instructions given to subjects. I always was uncomfortable and acted unnaturally. With animals I was at home. If felt that, in studying them, I was keeping close to biology with my feet on the ground. More and more the thought presented itself; can’t I find out by watching their behavior everything that the other students are finding out by using [human subjects]? †(Watson, 1913). There are seven different areas that brain research will shift the current behavioral orientation of teaching and learning. The first area is brain imaging which is a relatively recent development of neuro-imaging technologies escalated the scientific study of our brain and cognition. The second area is the mirroring system which is parental genetic information combines to provide a developing embryo with the necessary bodybuilding directions. The third area is called the plastic brain which changes occur in the organization of our brain at the cellular and network levels whenever we learn, remember and forget. The forth area is called arousing phenomena which is where emotion and attention are our brain’s activation system, in that are brain will only respond to emotionally arousing phenomena. The fifth area is called hemispheric specialization which is where the cerebrum at the top of our brain processes conscious thought and behavior. The sixth area is called the arts and humanities which effectively incorporate the urricular mix in that they combine the best representations of our cultural history and the creative explorations of new cultural challenges. The seven and final area is called conscious learning which provides us with a unified sense of self, a subjective awareness of our existence and of the environment we inhabit (Sylwester, 2012). Trend is a pattern of gradual change in a condition, output, or pro cess, or an average or general tendency of a series of data points to move in a certain direction over time, represented by a line or curve on a graph (Dictionary, 2012). There are several different current trends that are related to behavior models. The first current trend would have to be the use of the internet or social media as a teaching tool. This is great way for students to find information that they are looking for to help them to excess in school. Another current trend is for the teacher to pay close attention to each student’s needs. Educators are looking at their class as a collection; they seem them as individuals who have different needs. Another current trend in students teaching teachers which is that students perform better when they have the opportunity to tell the teacher what things in the classroom needs improvement. Finally, how the condition of education facilities affect performance which means the better the building’s condition, the better the students and the teachers perform (Teachnology, 2012). There are several best practices that are used in private and community schools that regard behavior. The first one is that students are acknowledged for demonstrating expected behavior. Another is that consistent consequences are applied for inappropriate behavior across staff and settings. Another is that data on student behavior are collected and used to inform and improve the behavioral system. Another is that all staff understands and implements the school-wide discipline system with fidelity. Finally schools receive support at district level in implementing positive school-wide discipline system (NYSED, 2012). Cognitive is pertaining to the mental processes of perception, memory, judgment, and reasoning, as contrasted with emotional and volitional processes (Dictionary, 2012). Social cognitive theory refers to a psychological model of behavior that emerged from the work of Albert Bandura. It was initially with an emphasis on social behavior, SCT continue to emphasize that learning occurs in a social context and that much of what was learned was gained through observation. SCT rests on several basic assumptions about learning and behavior. One assumption concerns the view that personal, behavioral, and environmental factors influence one another. Another assumption is that people have the ability to influence their own behavior and the environment in a purposeful way. The final assumption is that learning can occur without an immediate change in behavior (Denler, Wolton, amp; Benzon, 2012). Language is a body of words and the systems for their use common to a people who are of the same community or nation, the same geographical area, or the same cultural tradition (Dictionary, 2012). Some behaviors that a common with children beginning to acquire another language that may be misinterpreted as challenging behavior would be no talking, difficulty following directions, difficulty expressing ideas and feelings, and difficulty responding to questions consistently. Social interaction can affect language by the way that they learn to communicate with others. Affective describes something that evokes feelings. It also describes emotional actions or actions driven by feelings (YourDictionary, 2012). There are several different things that affect behavior. The first way is that negative or positive emotions can affect behavior. Another way is how our attitude can affect our behavior can affect our goals, aspirations, and our expected responses to things. Finally, how one person’s behavior can affect another person’s behavior in either a negative or positive way. Aesthetic domain is the branch of philosophy that deals with the nature and expression of beauty, as in the fine arts (FreeDictionary, 2012). Thomas Malthus had an enormous influence on the developmental of environmental ethnic through his theory about population growth There are several different ways of how aesthetic can affect behavior. The first way was that Malthus believed that if the natural forces of war, famine, and disease did not reduce the rate of growth of the human population, it would increase to the point where it could not be sustained by natural resources. Theodore Roosevelt was at the forefront of the conservation movement that developed in America. Another way was when the country’s natural resources where threatened, like the diminishing stocks of forests, rangeland water, and mineral resources (Environmental Ethnic, 2012). Physical domain always refers to the physiological changes that happen in the body. These changes include both your manipulative (small) and gross (large motor skills. Which are both apart of sensory motor development. It also includes include how we see, taste, and hear which happen to be part of the nervous system development. Physical development can definitely affect behavior we need to use positive behavior supports like treating each other with compassion and respect. We need to help each other during difficult times. We need to not use negative behavior supports like using physical contact in a way that could cause damage to someone else. We need to also remember to use the old adages â€Å"Treat others the way you want to be treated. † Social domain is the pattern or process of change exhibited by individuals resulting from their interaction with other individuals, social institutions, social customs, etc (Social Development, 2012). Social development can support behavior in both a positive and negative way. One of the positive ways that social development can support behavior is on how we treat each other. If we treat each other with respect, than we need to be treated with the same respect. We need to treat each other with the same love that we get from God. God knows what we are going to do before we actually do it and he still loves us no matter what. One of the negative ways to be disrespectful to others and to want to do things that can be harmful. God does not want us to hurt each other because he considers all of us as his sons and daughters and he does not like it when one of his children is being hurt. I would definitely defend the behavioral model because I feel that everything you do in this world depends on our behavior. I have learned that all of the different models depend on each other to make the reading process be so successful. The saying that I heard from my grandparents, parents, teachers and the same saying that I even use on my children, grandchildren, and students would be â€Å"Do unto others as you would have others do unto you†. This saying is from the bible Matthew 7:12. I have always understood this to mean that if you want to be treated with kindness and respect than you need to treat others in the same manner. I have addressed how the behavioral model connects to early childhood theory. I also discussed how the behavioral model was supported by current breakthroughs in brain research, relevant current trends and best practices used in private and community schools. I have also explained how the behavioral model supported best practices like in the Cognitive, Language, Affective, Aesthetic, Physical, and Social domains. Finally, I addressed why I defended the behavioral model. Plato said â€Å"Human behavior flows from three main sources: desire, motion, and knowledge†. References Aesthetics definition of aesthetics. (2012). Retrieved from http://www. yourdictionary. com Affective/Easy to Understand Definition of Affective. (2012). Retrieved from http://www. yourdictionary. com Aro, T. , Eklund, K. , Nurmi, J. , amp; Poikkeus, A. (2012). Early Language and Behavioral Regulation Skills as Predictors of Social Outcomes. Journal of Speech, Language amp; Hearing Research, 55(2), 395-408. doi:10. 044/1092-4388(2011/10-0245) BEHAVIOR SUPPORT GUIDELINES: For Support Workers Paid With Developmental Services Funds. (2004). Retrieved from http://www. ddas. vermont. gov Current Trends in Education. (2012). Retrieved from www. teach-nology. com Define Cognitive. (2012). Retrieved from www. dictionary. com Define Language. (2012). Retrieved from www. dictionary. com Denler, H. , Wolton, C. , amp; Benzon, M. (2012). Social Cognitive Theory. Retrieved from www. education. com Environmental Ethics Key Issues, Environmental Attitudes. (2012). Retrieved from http://science. rank. org Jarosik, J. J. , Legutko, B. B. , Werner, S. S. , Unsicker, K. K. , amp; von Bohlen und Halbach, O. O. (2011). Roles of exogenous and endogenous FGF-2 in animal models of depression. Restorative Neurology amp; Neuroscience, 29(3), 153-165 McLeod, S. (2007). Skinner- Operant Conditioning. Retrieved from www. simplepsychology. org Quality Indicator Review and Resource Guides for Behavioral Supports and Interventions – Positive Behavioral Systems. (2012). Retrieved from http://www. p12. nysed. gov Physical Medical Definition and More from Merriam-Webster/ (2012). Retrieved from http://www. merriam-webster. com Social Development | Definition. (2012). Retrieved from http://www. education. com Sylwester, R. (2012). Cognitive Neuroscience Discoveries and Educational Practices. Retrieved from https://www. aasa. org Watson, J. (1913). John Watson and Behaviorism. Retrieved from www. psych. utah. edu What is Behaviorism? (2012). Retrieved from www. psychology. about. com What is the Importance of Human Behavior? (2012). Retrieved from www. answers. com What is a trend? (2012). Retrieved from http://www. businessdictionary. com

Evolution of Eye Color in Humans

Evolution of Eye Color in Humans The earliest human ancestors are believed to have come from the continent of Africa. As primates adapted and then branched off into many different species on the tree of life, the lineage that eventually became our modern day human beings appeared. Since the equator cuts directly through the continent of Africa, the countries there receive almost direct sunlight all year long. This direct sunlight, with ultraviolet rays, and the warm temperatures it brings pressure for the natural selection of dark skin color. Pigments, like melanin in the skin, protect against these harmful rays of the sun. This kept individuals with darker skin alive longer and they would reproduce and pass down the dark-skinned genes to their offspring. Genetic Basis of Eye Color The main gene that controls eye color is relatively closely linked to the genes that cause skin color. It is believed that the ancient human ancestors all had dark brown or nearly black colored eyes and very dark hair (which is also controlled by linked genes to eye color and skin color). Even though brown eyes are still considered mostly dominant overall eye colors, there are several different eye colors readily seen now in the global population of human beings. So where did all of these eye colors come from? While evidence is still being collected, most scientists agree that the natural selection for the lighter eye colors is linked to the relaxation of selection for the darker skin tones. As human ancestors began to migrate to various places around the world, the pressure for selection of dark skin color was not as intense. Particularly unnecessary to human ancestors that settled in what are now the Western European nations, selection for dark skin and dark eyes was no longer necessary for survival. These much higher latitudes afforded different seasons and no direct sunlight like near the equator on the continent of Africa. Since the selection pressure was no longer as intense, genes were more likely to mutate. Eye color is a bit complex when talking about genetics. The color of human eyes is not dictated by a single gene like many of the other traits. It is instead considered a polygenic trait, meaning there are several different genes on various chromosomes that carry information about what eye color an individual should possess. These genes, when expressed, then blend together to make various shades of different colors. Relaxed selection for dark eye color also allowed more mutations to take hold. This created even more alleles available to combine together in the gene pool to create different eye colors. Individuals who can trace their ancestors to Western European countries generally have a lighter skin color and lighter eye color than those from other parts of the world. Some of these individuals also have shown parts of their DNA that were very similar to those of the long-extinct Neanderthal lineage. Neanderthals were thought to have lighter hair and eye colors than their Homo sapien cousins. The Continuing of Evolution New eye colors could possibly continue to evolve as mutations build up over time. Also, as individuals of various shades of eye colors breed with one another, the blending of those polygenic traits may also result in the emergence of new shades of eye color. Sexual selection may also explain some of the different eye colors that have popped up over time. Mating, in humans, tends to be non-random and as a species, we are able to choose our mates based on desirable characteristics. Some individuals may find one eye color much more appealing over another and choose a mate with that color of eyes. Then, those genes are passed down to their offspring and continue to be available in the gene pool.

A Haunted House by Virginia Woolf Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

A Haunted House by Virginia Woolf - Essay Example Therefore, I became suspicious. Were their characters in the story, I could have understood from the beginning the characters, I had to figure out them myself. However, I had to read further into the story. I faced difficulties trying to connect the story’s stages with the object searched. The suspense increased when the narrator talked about trees swaying and darkening (A Haunted House Summary .com. np). Although I could figure out ghostly feelings, I wondered what could shake and searched. My thoughts lingered from human being to ghosts, but I could not conclude. On the either hand, with characterization, I could have easily understood the message of the story. I had to re-read it to bring out a slight meaning from the used pronouns. In fact, I kept on wondering how the ghost could search something I do not know in a house with occupants without harming them. The narrator says that she and her husband were asleep during that search. From downstairs to upstairs to the bedroom, they searched for ‘’it’’. In the last paragraph, the narrator speaks of a ‘’he’’ finding a treasured ‘’she’’ and saying the treasure to be safe. In surmise throughout the story, it was difficult to figure out the subject matter, the object and the possessions used (Woolf

Human resource development-A practitioners perspective Essay

Human resource development-A practitioners perspective - Essay Example The HR practitioner has to perceive a multi-dimensional view of organizational aims to correlate with the employees' goals. A human resource professional has to concentrate on three main functions performance, feedback and counseling. These three are important functions of an HR team. The entire organizational objectives circumvent in-between these three functions. The present paper analyses the interrelation among these three functions and highlights their significance in enhancing organization performance. The figure depicts the three import operational features which has much significance in development of an individual profitable to an organization.. Ignorance of one function will effect on the overall performance of an organization as it is similar to farming. Planting the seeds and leaving its fate doesn't yield the required crop. Similarly setting performance targets and initiating them doesn't guaranty good results. Employees should be made accountable and responsible to the work they are carrying out at the work station. To monitor the performance, performance appraisals are put in place. The underperformers and the star performers can be identified by these appraisals. The star performers are rewarded and encouraged. The underperformer is counseled to c apture his mindset and the HR team tries to tune with the party. The functions are interrelated to each other as performance management initiates the process of working; it educates the employees on the steps to execute and at regular intervals appraisals keeps monitoring the standards to keep them aloft. Whenever there is a requirement the individuals are counseled to elevate their thought, values and goals towards the organizational goals Performance Appraisal Performance Management Career counseling Performance management -Performance appraisals-Career counseling Performance is an important operational toll of the HR department. Performance management sets the direction for inducting the future aspirations and objectives of an organization. An organization has to set the level of standard they were aspiring to reach their objectives. The employees' abilities are to fine tuned towards the fulfillment of this objective. Performance has to identify the section and field and level of operations that require attention and approach that aspect. The HR Performance Management Model has to focus on decision-making and accountability at the level where the work is done, development of a service culture that rewards team performance, and integration of operations. The success of the HR departments depends on the adoption of a customer service orientation, a flexible attitude to mould according to current requirements, and streamlined business processes supported by networked administrative systems. For an effective organizational performance first we ne ed to frame performance management plan leads to performance development process comprising performance appraisal and career counseling. The performance management has to look into the aspects like previous achievements, the previous setbacks new challenges. The current employees' standards, the current skill levels of the

Study skills Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words - 1

Study skills - Essay Example In the backdrop of this, we shall take an in-depth view of some the policies that Mayor Johnson has proposed for the City of London, in particular those that address environmental concerns. Additionally, we shall review the powers and responsibilities of the Greater London Authority and the Mayor of London so that we may understand their scope in administrative matters. A thorough scrutiny of some of polices stipulated by the mayor shall also be reviewed in this essay. One of the main responsibilities of Mayor Johnson is to promote economic development and creation of wealth. Being the executive of the strategic authority of London, the mayor is mandated to ensure that there are avenues for job creation and a good atmosphere for doing business. Availability of jobs and the abundance of business opportunities open up room for economic development in the city. The mayor is also mandated to create policies and strategic plans to address transportation, development and planning, environmental issues, health, economic development, culture and housing issues. With the aid of bodies mandated to carry out specific functions, such as Transport for London, the mayor is able to implement these policies. Appointment of board members of the different functional bodies such as London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority is often done by the mayor. These bodies have specific roles that address different development issues, such as crime and transportation. In addition to this, he can appoint a chair to these boards or chair the boards himself, like he has done with the Metropolitan Police Authority and the Transport of London (Beatley, 2012). As the executive, the mayor sets out annual budgets for funding services in London. This is often done by funding bodies that provide such services. These include; Transport for London, Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA), London Development Agency (LDA),

Advantages of Time Management

Advantages of Time Management What you accomplish during a 24-hour period depends on your own motivation, your energy, your skills and abilities, and other resources. Since there are always demands on your time, it may be helpful to think about what you will do with your time and to consider some strategies for more effective time management. Time management is not a way to make you work harder and longer, but a means to help you work smarter to accomplish your work more easily and rapidly. Benefits of time management: If you can manage your time more effectively, you will be rewarded in a variety of ways: Efficient: You will be more efficient in serving your district and will be able to support your clubs better. Successful: You will achieve greater success in your very important, and highly visible, role as a Lions Leader. Healthy: On a personal level, you will certainly feel healthier, more energetic, and in a generally better mood. -Obstacles to effective time management: There are a lot of things that make it difficult for us to manage our time effectively. Lets consider some of the most common ones, and see if they apply to us: Unclear objectives: Its hard to hit a target with your eyes closed, and its just as hard to accomplish something when you arent exactly clear about what you want to achieve. Disorganization: Its easy to see when your desk is too messy, but sometimes you have to step back and ask yourself if you are taking an organized approach in completing all of your tasks. Inability to say no: We all want to be as helpful as we can when others need us, but this can mean taking time away from other priorities to do something we may not have planned. Interruptions: Many times we are in the middle of accomplishing something really important and the telephone rings. These calls can not only take you away from your task, but sometimes they interrupt your train of thought and you cant return to where you were without retracing your steps. More interruptions: We all like to visit with others, but conversations at inappropriate times can cost us time when we have to stop what we are doing and redirect ourselves from our plans. Periods of inactivity: As much as we think we are busy, there are times in our day when we are not really doing anything. Recognizing and making use of these times can have a positive effect on our efforts. Too many things at once: Many of our tasks are not routines. They require concentration to detail. When we are attempting to do too many different things at one time, each individual task suffers as a result. Stress and fatigue: Everyone experiences stress from time to time, and sometimes we actually operate a little better when there is some level of stress. Too much stress, on the other hand, causes our work to suffer and wears us down physically and mentally. Dealing with stress is an important part of time management. All work and no play: Most successful people know how to balance work and play. When work takes over your life, you not only give your body little time to re-energize, but you may end up sacrificing the really important things in life like family and friends. What can we do? The obstacles that we face are not insurmountable. Sometimes, the hardest thing to do is to identify that these obstacles exist and are affecting your ability to manage your time. When you have identified your obstacles you can begin to overcome them. Strategies you can use to overcome the obstacles we just examined: Set goals The first, and most important strategy you can employ to manage your time is to set clear goals for yourself. As a Lions leader, you will want to accomplish many things in your time of office. The best favor you can do for yourself is to determine what those goals are and make sure your efforts are always directed toward their achievement. Effective goals share a number of characteristics in common. Effective goals are: Specific: When a goal is too vague, you may never know how to reach it or even when you have reached it. Make sure that you know exactly what you hope to achieve Measurable: When you have a goal that is measurable, you will know how far you have to go to reach the goal, and when you get there Achievable: It is commendable to set your sights high, but sometimes we try to accomplish more than we can actually do. Training and certifying ten Certified Guiding Lions in your district in one year may or may not be achievable at this time for a number of reasons. Your goals should be such that, if you extend yourself you can just reach them. Realistic: Can you establish a program in your district to help everyone with vision problems? It is certainly a worthwhile goal, but it may not be realistic at this time. It might be better to work on setting up a program with schools to provide vision testing and eyeglasses for disadvantaged children. Time-based: Most of the goals that you establish in your position as a Lions leader will not be long-term. It is important to set time guidelines for your goals, so that you can keep track of your progress as you are going along and can be alert to when you are falling behind schedule. Prioritize As a leader in your club or district, you will be faced with many tasks. It is safe to say that you will not be able to do everything, so it is wise to periodically make a list of the tasks that confront you and prioritize them. The following technique may be helpful in prioritizing: Do: Determine from the list the things you think are most important to accomplish, and are things you should do yourself. Delegate: Remember that there many Lions within your district with skills, experience, and motivation to carry out a wide variety of tasks. A truly effective district governor understands that real leaders do not try to accomplish everything themselves and recognizes that some things are better handled by others. Delegating not only frees up your time for other things, it ensures that resources are used wisely and that Lions who want to help are motivated and involved. Delay until another time: Some things can wait. The danger is delaying too many things until deadlines are near. The best policy here is to consider when things are due, how long it will take to accomplish them, and what your current workload will allow. For instance, registrations and request forms that are not yet due could be sent to LCI earlier if you have time. It makes sense to delay things that are not due when you are overburdened and to accomplish them ahead of time when you can. Delete: If you have set goals using the guidelines we mentioned earlier, you may recognize that some of them are not achievable or realistic, or that they are just not important. A good leader knows when to concentrate on the important and eliminate the rest. It is important when you have prioritized your tasks that you: Address the urgent: Take care of things with short-term consequences as soon as possible. Accomplish what you can early: Reports, registrations, requests that can be handled early should come next. Dont put off until tomorrow what you can do today. Attach deadlines to things you delay: When you have determined that something can definitely wait, dont just toss it aside until later. Establish a deadline for the task in your schedule, and make a note to remind you to begin working on it. Organize As you prioritize tasks and set deadlines, you will want to organize your plans and actions. Some of you may be more comfortable using paper and pencil, so I urge you to make use of a planner with a calendar and plenty of space to make notes. Many planners contain not only calendar space, but also room for daily activities, contact information, and to do lists. Find a planner that fits your needs and use it. You will find this to be an indispensable tool for managing your time. Maybe you use, or would consider using, a computer to help in organizing your time. Todays computers often come equipped with software programs that include calendars, task lists, reminders, and contact information. If your computer does not have such a function, software is readily available that you can install. Learn when to say NO The strategies we have mentioned so far have all concerned common business practices. Now I would like to address some more personal strategies that you can apply to your life. These also have a great impact on how effectively you manage your time. The first of these strategies is being able to say NO when it is appropriate. Your life in Lions has always been about giving all that you can to serve your community. That doesnt change, but as your duties expand as a Lions leader you will find you are called on to do much more than you have ever been asked to do before. When you learn to say NO you are not closing the door on your responsibilities, but rather you are making sure that you can meet your commitments and accomplish the maximum possible in the time available to you. To be able to say NO you will have to accept these three principles: * I realize that I cant do everything * I wont agree to undertake a task or project that I know I will not be able to complete in the timeframe required * I will not make commitments that are not consistent with the goals and objectives I have set for myself -Use your waiting time Another personal time management skill is to make good use of your waiting time. Have you ever thought about how much time you spend doing nothing during an average day? Usually this is not a situation where you planned to do nothingà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦it just happened. Think about all of the things you could accomplish if you could make use of this time. For instance: Time you spend commuting on a train or bus Time you wait at the doctor or dentist office for your appointment Time you spend on a plane, waiting for your plane, or the time you spend waiting for your baggage Time you spend on hold on the telephone Time you spend when you arrive at work or at a meeting earlier than you had anticipated There are two ways to look at these periods of time. You can either consider them as wastes of time or as gifts of time. If you choose to think of them as gifts of time, you can use them as opportunities to accomplish routine tasks that are necessary, but dont require large periods of time. Most successful people have already found that there are a number of things that they can accomplish while they wait. The trick to making use of your waiting time is to always make sure you have something with you that you can accomplish in the event that you are kept waiting. For instance: Reading correspondence: Take your mail with you and read it while you are waiting or traveling. Some PDAs have e-mail capability, so you can read your e-mail on a train or plane or at the doctors office. Writing letters or memos: While you wait, you can take out a notepad or use a PDA to write letters or memos. This could also be a good time to update your planner. Reading or listening to tapes: Carry a book or magazine or a tape with you. You can also download books and articles to your PDA. There is often no time in your schedule to keep current on books or articles related to your business or to self-improvement. Instead of being impatient when you are delayed, this could be a perfect time to advance your own knowledge and skills. Concentrate on the task at hand You will be juggling many tasks while you serve as a Lions leader. There is no way around this fact. But one important strategy to keep in mind is to concentrate completely on the current task. Concentration can be difficult when you have a lot on your mind. Your time will be better spent if you are able to: Focus on your goal: You may have many commitments and many concerns, but you will accomplish more when you keep focused on the one task you are performing at the moment Tune out interruptions: You will find your concentration is at its highest level when you can set aside times during the day when you will not answer the phone or schedule visitors. You cant isolate yourself all of the time, but by avoiding interruptions for specific periods of time, you may find you can accomplish tasks successfully in far less time than you anticipated. When you must respond to phone calls, be assertive in minimizing interruptions by asking if you can call back at another time or meet another day. Consider your personal prime time Are you one of those people who gets up before the sun rises and starts working? Is the early evening, after the evening meal, your time to work? Or are you someone who prefers to wait until the quiet of the late night hours to do the really hard tasks? Everyone is different. Most research shows that tasks that take the most mental concentration are most effectively accomplished early in the day, but even these studies acknowledge that this is not always true, and that everyone has a personal prime time. When you plan your tasks, think about your own prime time. If you do your best work early, plan to do the routine tasks later in the day and concentrate on the more challenging tasks when you are at your best. If you dont really get going until later, handle the routines in the morning and save the more difficult tasks for later. Celebrate your success Celebrate the achievement of your goals to maintain a healthy balance in life between work and play. Reward yourself when you complete a task or finish a project. If you worked in a team setting, or delegated some tasks to others, reward the efforts of all involved. Celebration is a vital part of all project management. No matter how tight your schedule looks, this is TIME WELL SPENT! Conclusion Finally, as time management skills develop, your stress and anxiety levels will go down and productivity will go up Time management tools which include day planners, to-do lists, weekly and long-term calendars will increase organization and help eliminate procrastination.

The Controversy Over the Electoral College System Essay -- Politics Po

The Controversy Over the Electoral College System A number of Americans fail to realize that when they vote they are not voting for the president and vice-president directly, but for electors who then cast their ballots in the Electoral College. Until the recent battle between Gov. George W. Bush and Vice-president Al Gore for the presidency, this new generation of American voters has never witnessed a controversial election. Historically, there have been problematic elections allowing voters to question this system. The Electoral College is now a process open to criticism and debate, specifically because many do not understand its origin or purpose today. On November 7, 2000, Election Day, I was excited to become an official voter. Considering myself mature, responsible, and finally of age to vote, I had mailed my registration, received my voter’s card, ready to become a participant in one of the most crucial events of the year. I was a faithful supporter of my candidate, crossing my fingers in hopes of victory. That night I watched CNN, eating my dinner and sipping a Diet Coke when the station announced Al Gore had won Florida, which held twenty-five electoral votes. Two hundred and seventy are needed to win, and presidential candidates Bush and Gore had switched leads all night. Each state held a close percentage ranging from an average 2-6 percent difference in votes between candidates. Florida had been anticipated as a Republican victory, which led to disappointment among Republican voters when its electoral votes were awarded to Al Gore. I continued to watch as each state was announced and electoral votes were awarded to either candidate. About an hour later, Florida became â€Å"too close to call† and CNN among other st... ... situation may cause discouragement in some voters, but in others motivation to become a participant in voting for entrusted electors to select our next president. Between the presidential candidates, whomever wins among this controversy should be respected and relied upon to reunite a divided country. Americans must have faith in a system that despite its flaws works and has set us apart from other nations in our freedoms and rights. Works Cited Best, Judith A. The Choice of the People? Debating the Electoral College. England: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc., 1996, pgs. 43-44. Glennon, Michael J. When No Majority Rules: The Electoral College and Presidential Succession. Washington D.C.: Congressional Quarterly Press, 1993, p.20. Schmidt, Shelley, and Bardes. American Politics and Government Today. Wadsworth Publishing Company, 1999, pgs. 325-327.