Affordances of an Educational Technology Tool (Blogs) Essay

Affordances of an Educational Technology Tool (Blogs) - Essay Example As the paper stresses Bogging as an ICT tool in the math classroom and other academic contexts, for that matter, has benefits as â€Å"a method of public discourse of the information society†.The â€Å"blog† as a tool of information and communication technology exhibits strengths in â€Å"the innovative possibilities for interactive relationships between learner and the ICT system†¦the blog is a method of discourse and discussion which opens up new possibilities for illustrating instructional learning tasks and facilitating the understanding and comprehension of mathematical phenomena† . According to the report findings participating in ‘collaborative construction of knowledge’ is an effective strength of blogging. The instructional method of ‘co-operative learning’ is often effectively demonstrated in the ICT learning environment. Blogging offers the opportunities for dialogue and discussion that are both motivational and social in educational context, including the mathematics classroom. Developmental and cognitive elaborations (from teachers and students) provide the opportunities and affordances of learning resources and support, i.e. The ICT collaborative learning camps. 'Collaborative constructions of knowledge’ are the learning outcomes of deductive/inductive logic, blogging of math theories, blogging on cognitive perspectives. ICT, with use of blogging techniques, â€Å"focuses on collaboration through the computer or computer-supported collaborative learning (CSCL), assisted by different network-based collaborative tools, wi thin the math classrooms†.

Catalysts for American Revolution Essay Example for Free

Catalysts for American Revolution Essay The American Revolution, also known as the Revolutionary War, was a war that had raged on for eight years stemming from major political differences of opinion. Though, the fighting and the discontent between the two opposing forces, Americans and British, had been developing for years before the first shots ever had gone off to start the revolution. The reasoning for the tension between the two is traced back to one of the main catalysts being the Stamp Act that was imposed on New England colonies, then to one of the last being The Boston Tea Party that ended with British war ships being sent to Boston with attempts to keep in under control. In the beginning, New England were colonies of the mother country Great Britain with main purposes for them to serve as vessels to provide for their main location across the Atlantic. In 1756, Great Britain was engaged in the Seven Years War, a world war, but mainly what is focused on for the American Revolution is the French and Indian war, which was fought on mainly American soil and primarily between British American and New French colonies. This specific conquest of the war had continued for nine years, and ended with approximately ten thousand British troops to be kept in American colonies, as well as accumulated as massive debt of seventy-two thousand pounds during the war, plus an added two hundred twenty-five thousand pound debt to house the British troops in American colonies. The prime minister at the time, George Grenville, needed a way to pay off this debt, which ultimately led to the Stamp Act of 1756 being imposed on the American colonies. The Stamp Act was not the first choice, but it was their final choice. The prime minister knew taxing in Britain was out of the question due to protests from the previous Cinder Tax set in place during the Bute ministry. The Grenville ministry had then decided that Parliament would raise the revenue by taxing the American colonies. The first attempt before the Stamp was the The Sugar Act of 1764 in attempts of gain a monopoly on molasses, but that had failed. With parliament knowing the massive success that other Stamp acts, they had decided to impose this on American colonies without their contest or epresentation in parliament. This was an enormous mistake as the Stamp Act had encounter great resistances within the colonies. To the colonialists in American, this act had been passed and put into effect without their contest or representation in parliament. In other words, the colonialists felt that this was a major violation of their rights as Englishmen to be tax without their consent, consent that only colonial legislatures could grant. This was a key fundamental catalyst for the starting of the revolutionary war, ‘Taxation Without Representation’. The viewpoint of the colonialists was actual representation, meaning in order to be taxed by Parliament, Americans rightly should have actually legislators seated and voting in London so they could have influence of taxes raise, levied, and spent. While on the British supported the viewpoint of virtual representation, the belief that a Member of Parliament virtually represented every person in the empire causing no need for a specific representative from Virginia, or Massachusetts, as examples. Due to the massive feedback from the colonialists, as well as British merchants and manufacturers the Act was repealed and replaced by and even more important Declaratory Act. This Act stated that Parliament could take â€Å"whatever action they sought fit for the good of the empire. † This Act and the laws instated in it were so big and important, but had god virtually unnoticed by the colonists because of their over enjoyment at the repeal of the Stamp Act. As a result of this, Parliament began issuing several Acts upon the American Colonies of which they could do next to nothing about due to Britain simply stating it was for the good of the Empire. Acts that they had issues were ones such as the Quartering Act of 1766, which required the colonists to house British soldiers at their own expense. They also put forth the Townshend Acts that would tax all imports into the colonies. After the Stamp Act, and then Declaratory Act, which had been a scary thing to them colonists as it had also been used in Ireland, the colonists started to rebel against the British. They felt that they could be a worthy rival to Great Britain, as Great Britain had been exporting only finished goods while the colonies were exporting the raw materials needed to produce many of these goods. Since a huge majority of the goods were imported from Britain, many felt that they should boycott all of British made items. George Washington agreed on this and stated that he believes and hoped that the boycott will work, but for it to work all of the people in the colonies must mobilize and participate in the boycott. There was also the situation of Thomas Hutchinson, who was for more or less, an English spy, as he resided within the colonies and followed and trusted in English law. He had written several letters that were personal and against the colonists, one of them saying dire actions were needed and troops needed to be send to Boston. Benjamin Franklin, though he did have deep love for his home country of Britain, had taken the letters written by Hutchinson and published them. He was put on court for what he had done, and from the actions taken upon him by the country he loved, turn against them to help fight and bring the French to help in the revolution. More major catalysts had constantly been occurring to lead to the revolution. Another big one was the Boston Massacre, which in the sense was not actually a ‘massacre’. The story goes that in Boston, kids had thrown snowballs at British soldiers, in which they had retaliated and fired back upon the kids, killing five of them. This event was made even more publicized and larger of an ordeal by the cartoon that was made by Paul Revere. The cartoon exaggerated the events that actually occurred and depicted British soldiers firing upon innocent people for no apparent reason. This cartoon and event had caused even more of a stir in the colonies towards the British. One of the main and final catalysts that led to the American Revolution was the Boston Tea Party. Before this specific event occurred, half a million pounds of tax British tea with control from the Easy Indian Trade Company were sent to America. Just about every single port in which the British had landed were protested and sent away with the tea, not allowing them to unload the tax tea. Others were forced out of the ports, but stored in basically warehouses were none were purchased. In Boston, however, there was a giant standoff and protest between the colonists and Thomas Hutchinson. In the night, after British officials refused to return back to Britain with the tea not unloaded, a group of colonists dressed as Mohawk Indian Warriors went onto the ship and dumped 330 chest of tea into the ocean. This, known as the Boston Tea Party, was looked at and realized as an act of great political defiance and the result being the British sending warships to Boston harbors. The fear of Tyranny was upon the Bostonians, and it had now seemed to come true. They warships had arrived and kept Boston on lockdown, ending the self-government in Massachusetts and leading into the Battle of Condord, starting the American Revolution. The causes of the American Revolution were deeply rooted in the colonist’s thoughts and ideals of personal liberty and autonomy. The fundamental thoughts of colonists believing in actual representation, and the British beliefs of virtual representation were a giant catalyst in the events leading up to the start of the war. The colonists sense of individual freedom, along with the English policy of taxation without representation, the eventual restrictions on their liberties from the Declaratory Act, and the events of the Boston Massacre, as well as the Boston Tea Part are all what had led to the inevitable severed ties between the two. Including the very important letters and actions taken by Benjamin Franklin.

Imagery and Symbolism in David Guterson’s The Country Ahead of Us, The Country Behind :: Guterson Country Ahead of Us Country Behind

Imagery and Symbolism in David Guterson’s The Country Ahead of Us, The Country Behind In David Guterson’s anthology, The Country Ahead of Us, The Country Behind, characters are portrayed effectively and succinctly through the imagery of their surroundings. Many of his stories are symbolic in that they reflect relationships and feelings of characters. Guterson’s titles have a more complex and deeper connection to the story than is first apparent. They too are often symbolic of a main character, or of relationships. In "Angels in the Snow," Guterson describes the world as fragile because of the snow that has fallen. This fragility of the world, at that particular time, is representative of the relationship between John and Cora. The next morning the world is described as ‘a fragile, white place’ and this symbolises their relationship which has also become very fragile because of what John has revealed. The whiteness of the snow symbolises innocence and purity, but at this moment, through Cora’s eyes, John has lost the last of his innocence. Guterson also uses the act of making angels in the snow to portray innocence that is rapidly fading. We made angels in the snow, Cora and myself, swept our arms through the powder, left an impression of wings that would melt before the new year. It is as if John already knows what is to come, and is aware of how soon it will be. He is aware that his relationship with Cora has changed. She now has confirmation that John is not as innocent as he might have liked her to think. Through making the angels he is making one last attempt to seem innocent, for this is a very innocent act. John appears to think that if he can some how act innocently, he can convince Cora that he really is so. In "The Flower Garden," Guterson continues his exploration of the fragility of a relationship between a man and a woman and again portrays this by drawing parallels with what is happening in nature. The relationship between Anna and the narrator is a very fragile one like the garden they ‘planted with nursery sets and fragile garden cuttings.’ The relationship and the garden are at the beginning of their being, and both are very fragile. Both have to be thought out, then nurtured carefully. Any mistake or misjudgment can have long and lasting consequences.

Blind people on China Essay

There are 5 million blind people in the whole world. And China is taking the first place of this problem. China accounts about 18% of blind people. Most of them can’t live independent; they all need someone’s help. Also we can know that 90% of blind people are living in modern cities. For example: Beijing (capital), Shanghai and etc. Ð ¢he total number of blind people in China at any given time expressed as a percentage of the total population — is around 0. 4%. According to the facts from internet, the country’s ever-increasing blind population has already exceed the total population in such countries as Denmark, Finland or Norway. In the whole world main problem ob blindness is cataract. Because of only the cataract blindness accounts 2. 5 million people in the world. Each year about 400,000 people become blind in one moment because of it. Cataract predominantly a disease associated with ageing. According to the famous Chinese websites, we can know that the reason of blindness in China not only cataract but also it include cornea diseases, trachoma, glaucoma. I took some interviews from 2 Chinese people. When I talked to my Chinese teacher from high school I was pretty surprised. First she told me about problems of blind people. It started past years ago, when with time there are more and more blind people was with the same objects to government. Chinese population doesn’t respect blind people. They are behaving to them very bad. Population doesn’t see any personality in them. They are acting to blind people like to animals. And every time people’s words were such a: â€Å"Blind people-they are not independent, they can’t help to our country. They can’t do anything. They are not useful for China. † So in my mind first thought was government in China need people only for useful thing? It’s so selfish and not correct. I think everyone will agree with me. Nowadays there’s so many ways to cure blind people. According to the facts from the Internet 80% of blindness possible to cure. It was many accidents when even young people didn’t help to blind old person. And with years there are more and more problems. How my teacher said government first didn’t take it such a big problem, but with time when there are more people with objects and arguments to them, they started to pay more attention to blind people. In 2011 many of them were really angry to the government. Hundred blind people want government to allow them come with dogs to public places. Because how I said before they all need help. They thought if they can’t come with dogs, they couldn’t even come inside of any places. Some of them can’t do it only with walking stick or every time hope to theirs hearing. And till now they are trying to get an access for that. Only part of public places allowed them come with dogs. But they are also good people who are trying to make blind people’s life easier. For example my guardians Chinese friend said that, one Chinese scientist developed a cheap e-notebook for blind people. He told me only that information, without any details, so I searched in Internet more about that e-notebook. The e-notebook, called B-Notes, allows people to take notes or memos using Braille or by recording speech. It is similar in size to a mobile phone. B-Notes makes use of technologies developed by the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Computing Technology (ICT), including translation software. Prototype e-notebooks were trialed on ten blind people last month. Wang Xiangdong, technical leader of the ICT team that developed the device, says that Braille can be conveniently input using a panel on the e-notebook. â€Å"And when [B-Notes is] connected to a computer, the Braille-Chinese translation software can be used to convert Braille into Chinese characters automatically†, he says. Currently, there are almost 39 million blind people in the world, according to the WHO. And according to the China Disabled Persons’ Federation, there are more than 12 million visually disabled people in China. Wang said that the basic technological research for the e-notebooks has been completed and they are expected to be available in China later this year at a cost of 500 to 800 RMB. The e-notebook has three main features. First is the Braille input. The e-notebook’s input panel has an array of mini keys that allows users to type. Second is the intelligent translation system, which is up to 95 per cent accurate. When the e-notebook is connected to a computer, pre-installed software moves all Braille in the device over to the computer and translates it into Chinese characters. Third, the e-notebook has a voice interface. There are voice prompts to guide users through the device’s various operations. Currently, the notebook can only translate Chinese Braille to Chinese characters. But Wang says that if other countries express an interest in the device, it will be possible to produce e-notebooks that translate other versions of Braille into other languages. The blind people who tested the prototype notebooks told developers that they found them portable and easy to use. According to WHO website The goal of the Chinese Ministry of Health over the coming years is to reduce the prevalence of blindness in the country to less than 0. 3%, i. e. almost by half. And it really makes happy that, government paying more attention to blind people nowadays. How I read with every year they are opening more school for blind people. Also it is increasing accounts of hospitals where people can help to this nondependent people and make theirs life easier. They were some accidents when some of them cured of blind. Also I heard that most professional people who are doing massage all are blind. China has some hospitals with this course. Where they are teaching them. In my opinion, they have to pay more attention to blind people. And give them more good conditions. Make rules that everyone should respect each other, especially blind people. Government should ask them what they need, what help they want from government. China should open more clinics and hospitals for poor people. Who can’t pay to theirs treatment. They also need help from others. They should allow to blind people come with dogs in public places. And I can make conclusion from all of it that government should heed to them.

Internet Business and Electronic Commerce Essay

Answer – 1 The two industries chosen for the analysis on the layout, format, and contents of their websites are Online Shopping and Online Marketing Assistance websites. Starting from the first industry – Online Shopping – it includes several organizations that started the business of selling a wide range of products and services ‘online’. The organizations chosen for this paper include LastMinite.com that sells flight tickets,, holiday tickets, hotel booking, car hiring, theatres, restaurants’ and many other stuff online. This organization is usually service-focused than product-focused. Aol Shopping is another organization that sells a wide range of products ranging from apparel, electronics, to industrial products. Yahoo Shopping has almost the same category that sells electronic items, flowers, gifts, jewelry, apparel, etc. And finally, Amazon is another popular website for online shopping where a wide range of products can be purchased instantly. The second industry is related to providing online marketing help in terms of giving trainings, newsletters, reports, and expert advices. Under this industry the following organizations were chosen, Clickz, which provides marketing news, expert advice, training, iReviews, etc. The Register is another organization that provides assistance to its clients by offering them hardware, software, music, networking stuff, reviews, newsletters, and other internet and business related assistance. DaveChaffey is a personal website that provides books, consultancy, training, lectures, and reports related to marketing and e-commerce. And finally, Jakob Nielsen’s site is almost the same as DaveChafeey that offers reports, e-newsletters, films, books, consultancy services, and articles from various news, magazines, and journals sources. Answers – 2 Now let’s analyze the overall layout, design, contents, options, and facilities available in the websites of these organizations. Starting from the online shopping ones, they have a professional and eye-catching outlook where the layout is designed quite properly, providing several categories on one side – either left or top – and also using colors that entice the viewers to explore more. Secondly, the use of pictures or animations is making these websites look more attractive and communicative, since images let people remember the stuff longer. Moreover, there are certain hyperlinks such as, careers, login, about us, contact us, etc. that depicts a better and reliable image over the viewers or customers. Also, convenience is being provided to the customers by giving them an option of search, with which they would find what they want. Whatever product or service is new, popular, or trendy, is shown right on the top middle of the website where first look goes. In short, website layout and management is at its best that gives a professional look and provides ease to the visitors. On the flipside, the online marketing consultancy or assistance websites are not that catchy. Although Clickz and The Register look better and have a professional look since they the categories are clearly defined and placed systemically; nevertheless, the use of colors and pictures is not commendable. Text written is too much that does not motivate the reader to explore more of the website; even worse scene is in DaveChaffey and Useit.com websites where there is not even one picture. Moreover, the colors used are not soothing, layout is cluttered, poor arrangement of options, and text is everywhere that leads a bad impression of the website over visitors who do not feel like exploring more. The use of better colors, category alignment, using pictures, and showing advertisements on right hand columns would add credibility and attractiveness to the websites. Answer – 3 Electronic commerce is basically an output of phenomenon what we call globalization, where the lifestyles, methods of conducting business, and other activities such as, traveling have gone much easier than before. As a result, many entrepreneurs are starting up their businesses online, along with those businesses that are transforming from the traditional business setting to online one. Electronic selling differs a lot from the traditional department store selling due to several reasons. First, electronic selling uses technology where the customers purchase products by just clicking their mouse. There is no physical location in e-selling like in traditional departmental form where customers have to go to buy. E-selling has certain advantages over traditional method of selling such as, cost savings for the business for not having a physical location, setting products there, maintaining them, electricity, and other costs. Customers also benefit from e-selling where they do buy instantl y sitting back at home, without wasting their time and fuel expenses; in short, they are getting convenience at its best. Considering the ambience that is provided by many departmental stores such as, food chains, restaurants, or garments by using effective use of lighting, displays, music, and fragrance, it does create a favorable impact over the customers for the sellers. Another strategy used is of ‘placement’ of products in such a way that encourages impulse buying; whereas, when talking about the presence of these effects in electronic selling, it can be created but not to a greater extent. Sellers can design their websites in such a way that it displays colors associated with the brand, logo of the company, and playing pleasant music in the background. Moreover, placing the pictures and ads of the products in such a way as they were being placed in the department store and tagging enticing deals/offers, encouraging impulse buying. Answer – 4 Businesses these days are selling almost all kind of products and services that come under wide range of categories; some are bought more some are not. Of course there are some reasons behind that since some products or services are more conducive to sell online as compared to other. It has been observed that the services such as, airline tickets, hotel booking, vacation trips and stay, car hiring, spa booking, theatres tickets, and food delivery from restaurants are more conducive to be sold online. It does not mean that the products are not sold quickly; in fact, they are but not ‘all’. For example, products such as electronic items, books, music items, households, and sports stuff are easily sold on the internet where customers do not hesitate to buy them. Whereas, products such as jewelry, shoes, apparel, and pets are not sold quickly and in large quantity; reason being that customers feel the need to try these products and analyze them whether they suit them or not. Moreover, customers hesitate a little bit when purchasing expensive products online due to security and safety issues, where spamming websites might collect their useful information such as, credit card numbers and use them at their fullest. E-tailers are reducing such risks by designing websites that do not allow such spams, pop-ups, having copyrights, trademarks, and ensuring built-in firewall system to prevent any unwanted happenings. Answer – 5 Although physical departmental stores do keep in touch with the customers face-to-face and listen to any feedback or complaint that they might have; however, internet can also provide such customer contact, build relationships with them, and boost them to benefit both the parties – business and the customer. Companies can, via internet, can boost the levels of customer service by devising and implementing certain strategies including keeping records of their customers, making them calls after a certain period of time to provide any information about new deals/offers, listening to their complaints, and asking for their suggestions to improve the thing they think needs the same. Moreover, websites must have a separate category for feedback or complaints where the customers can post their feedback either positive or negative. Another innovative strategy is provide them with the option to comment on certain deals and offers for the products or services being offered, which would instantly give a fair idea about the attitudes of customers towards those offers or deals. Many organizations have added sections for online surveys or research that request the customers to spare a few minutes and answer certain questions. Customers actually like giving their remarks or suggestions because they think they are being given importance by the businesses that might prefer to keep their customers satisfied at every cost. Answer – 6 The methods of conducting business have really changed as the impact of globalization has causes several flexibilities and easiness in our lifestyles and daily life. Many businesses find it costly to open it in a physical location and expanding through outlets, which often does not target large audience. Therefore, many businesses are starting through internet where they can target customers from all over the world, market their products or services easily and economically, and get payments right away. Not only this, those businesses that do not operate virtually and have physical locations are finding it more effective and financially beneficial to market their products through internet, and that what is called Internet Marketing. Internet marketing also contains the elements of Direct Marketing, where the promotion of products is done online such as, websites (ResearchStarters, 2008). It does not mean that when businesses are started online they would always save costs and be successful; in fact, many businesses fail due to several factors and one significant of them is poor marketing strategies. Of course, the consumers would not have any idea that a new business has started that for instance, sells soccer jerseys, through its website. The target market should have to be made aware of that business, the products, new offers/deals, customer value, feedback, etc. Therefore, all this requires the business to use effective marketing tools and strategies where it can convey the message to the audience, impress them, convince them to purchase, and provide feedback. Businesses can use online marketing strategies such as, designing websites that grab the attention of the customers at first sight, force them to explore, make them realize that they are everything for the company, provide them with ease in shopping online, and let them give a chance to give a feedback. Moreover, businesses can also use the strategy of mass-emailing to the customers or potential customers whether they are individuals or other entities. Placing ads on popular and most-visited websites is another strategy but is quite expensive. And finally, the use of social networking websites such as, Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace, is lucrative since it is inexpensive and targets wide range of audience. Conclusion E-tailing is the result of e-commerce that has made it much easier for the businesses to market and sell their products online by using certain softwares and websites. Extensive information is provided to the customers through websites about the products and services they want to purchase; moreover, the customers can shop with utmost convenience without going somewhere and wasting their time. Talking about the two industries – online shopping and online marketing assistance – the role of e-commerce is sound, since the services provided by these industries are loved to be taken by the customers while staying at their places and clicking mouse buttons, without wasting any time or fuel. Further improvement can be made in attracting more online customers by improving websites, adding new features, and becoming more customer-centric.