Lessons in Pragmatism Essay

Having been a Para Educator since 1994, serving both Special Education as well as General education children, I have had countless opportunities to observe incredible teachers in action. In fact, one of my most vital responsibilities is to collect observational data on various special education students and their IEP goals. This allows the teacher to generate reports of student progress and to help in modifying goals and objectives as needed. It is unfortunate that the writing of this paper falls during the summer months making it impossible to conduct a formal observation of a specific lesson plan in real time. Therefore, the focus of this presentation shall be a lesson plan which was located in the database of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, an organization dedicated to providing enriching, meaningful mathematics curriculum while ensuring availability for all students. This particular lesson plan is a multi-dimensional lesson, or a better an investigation, written by Laurie St. Julien (2008) and printed in the publication Teaching Children Mathematics. It has been generated toward third graders as a means to â€Å"pose their own mathematical questions from real data† (St. Julien, 2008, pg. 506) Before performing any critique of a lesson plan, it is first helpful to identify the basic philosophies that provide its foundation. In a course structured around empowerment through group dynamics conducted by Brunson and Vogt (1996), the results correlated with the theology that â€Å"an empowering educational philosophy promotes trust, collaborative learning and tolerance for ambiguity†. (Brunson & Vogt, 1996, pg. 73) Pragmatism is a philosophy that centers not on the simple passing of knowledge from teacher to student, but around the teacher and student acting as co-learners in the educational process. Stallones, 2011) Pragmatic teachers believe that in order for children to flourish, they must be provided with opportunities to create their own knowledge through experience with the real world in a social context. This Pragmatic theology can be traced back to philosopher John Dewey (1859 – 1952). He saw education as the process of reconstructing knowledge through experiencing the real world; seeing Philosophy as a discipline that required constant change, paradoxically requiring the same reconstruction in education. Neubert, 2009) Following this school of thought, students are guided to generate their own questions, and to use scientific means to come to their own conclusions. This seems to go in tandem with the 7000 Pancakes lesson plan, centered on the theme of the incredible weekend output of the busiest International House of Pancakes in the country. This is quite pragmatic in that it clearly relates to a real world construct familiar to most children, as well as the fact that this particular pancake house just happens to sit next to Disneyland. The students have not been asked to arrive at a singular conclusion, but rather to hypothesize and test their theories, problem solve solutions to and adjust their assertions. This is done in a systematic way over more than one period. (St. Julien, 2008) They are also asked to generate and share their own small group generated questions, This allows for the development of scientific analysis and critical thought, particularly when coupled with the opportunity to scientifically attempt to answer each other’s questions through experience. In addition, Pragmatism favors the merger of various disciplines, in this case the blending of mathematics and science. The lesson plan includes an element that focuses on the eggs that are needed to create various numbers of pancakes in various time increments; however it also questions the properties of the egg and how they change when prepared differently embodying a scientific component to the lesson. This is accompanied by hands on demonstration of all of the aforementioned components, even culminating in a pancake breakfast! St. Julien, 2008) The real world connection in every aspect of this lesson, and the scaffolded guidance required by the teacher to implement it effectively, shows the true pragmatic nature of the lesson and its creator. The strengths of the lesson in question are numerous. The social requirements within the various groups and in the numerous opportunities for open discussion provided a psychosocial aspect to this lesson. These social skills are vital in every aspect of adult life, beyond the practicalities of mathematics. This is support by Siegel (1995) in her assertion that â€Å"learning is a social process in which learners actively construct their understandings†. (Smith, 1995, pg. 407) By using the real world construct of the familiar pancake house, and the visual aids that the lesson facilitates the students in developing a vested interest in investigating the questions that naturally arise through scientific analysis. The hypothesis and analysis process that resulted were well established and right on target for the inquisitive mind of a third grader. Allowing them to tactilely handle the different components of the pancakes allowed them to commit the information to memory in meaningful ways, allowing them to apply this new knowledge to other situations. The scientific component is also a major strength, however I believe yet another discipline could have been added to this lesson; I would also ask them to keep a scientific journal chronicling the experience as well as write a short reflective essay at the end to tie in the language aspect as well. To find any other fault with the lesson plan in question or to better it would prove to be extremely difficult.

A World Without Computer

I have once believed that the world would not change much because I’m not interested in computers at all, but it turned out to be quite the opposite. When I got up early in the morning, I found the sun still shining in the sky, the streets were still congested with cars. â€Å" Oh, I have said that, nothing will happen! † I murmured to myself. On my way to my school, everything was going in order. â€Å"Ha!It,s peculiar that there are still a lot of people living on computers while I cannot find the change they have brought to the society, you see, nothing changed at all!† A few minutes later, I arrived at the school safe and sound. Oh!†I was surprised by the new utensil in my familiar classroom when I took the first pave into the classroom. The place where the big computer in our classroom should have been is now put a new blackboard in. And the teacher stepped into the classroom with a thick pile of books instead of a laptop. â€Å"Oh, yes. †I began to realize that the computers have disappeared in our life. At 12 o,clock, when I finished my lunch ,I walked into the library as usual to go to translate the English book with a PC . To my surprise, I found several students looking up some words from the dictionary . They were sitting on wooden chairs in the room where computers used to be placed in. â€Å"God!†I uttered,â€Å" I will come to know it soon. † After spending the whole computerless day in the school, I went home with the feeling of something’s lose. I was not surprised to see the empty table where the computer had been putting for so long a time . when I entered my room, suddenly I realized that I should hand in some paper about the physic experiments. Soon, I was in a dreadful mass. For piles of books were placed in front of me, and I was buring my head into the paper. I was obliged to check it up all the books I had. Because I couldn’t click the mouse and browse through the ?any more. Finally, I managed to finish the papers and lay in the soft sofa. â€Å"Oh,I felt that I cannot stay alive without a computer ,Hope that it will show up tomorrow. †I was so tired that I quickly fall asleep. I dreamed of various kinds of computers. Oh, a world without computers is terrible!

Total amount of holdings News Corporation

Daily Mirror, New York Post, Sun, Times, XX Century Fox Films, HarperCollins†¦ – is there anybody, who doesn’t know these names nowadays? But not everybody knows that all of them are the names of great Empire News Corporation, which belongs to Rupert Murdoch.Total amount of holdings News Corporation for June 2001 was 43 milliard dollars, and annual income of the company was 14 milliard dollars. More then 30.000 employees work in 720 firms, which belong to the company in 52 countries all over the world. Isn’t it impressive? And at the head of all those companies is one person – Rupert Murdoch. How he managed to do it? Cannot we use his â€Å"know-how†? Stuart Crainer tries to answer with changing success all these questions.When I read this book, the first thing I noticed that I didn’t regret reading it. I found a lot of interesting information, which was written in good literary language. You read the book with bated breath, trying to un derstand secrets of a giant of media industry. All those things will help you in your future life – not only in business. They explain approach to life – these facts can change you life, they can make an earthquake in the system of your values.By Crainer’s opinion, although Rupert Murdoch is the head of one of the most successful and influential companies in the world, his style of management was examined rarely. This book is determined to fill this gap to some extent. Not accidentally you can see already in the header promise to show 10 main secrets how to create successful business.It is biography by genre, and the author seems to claim to the role of â€Å"business-biographer† of the mighty of this world. Curious reader certainly will find out details from early life of media giant. You can find in the book chronology of important bargains and business deals, which resulted creation of that which is called now â€Å"the Empire of News Corporation†.But the story about a person by name Rupert Murdoch is not the main for the author. The main milestones of Murdoch’s life are presented in the role of necessary â€Å"frame† for business phenomena called â€Å"Rupert Murdoch†.In capacity of background, where the figure of main hero of narration is boldly demonstrated, Crainer skillfully uses different theoretical conceptions, results of examinations, investigations, management models of such recognizable authorities in the field of management as Henry Minzberg, Warren Bernis, Fill Hodgeson, Rendell White, Jay Forester, etc.When other famous businessmen – for example, Bill Gates – found their popularity by their innovations and ability to choose time for serious business deals; the success of Rupert Murdoch is based on his ability to be a perfect manager. Essence of this quality and main reasons of his career success the author tried to catch by formulating 10 secrets of successful business.Murdo ch is follower of old school of management. In description of professional way of ambitious manager you will not find â€Å"motives† which are so popular nowadays, as constant learning, delegation of extreme powers and responsibility. Business is a war, and life, by opinion of businessman, is nothing more nor less than â€Å"series of interconnected wars†.Rupert Murdoch was born in Melbourne (Australia). He was a son of famous Australian military correspondent and publicist Sir Kate Murdoch (1886-1952) (Andrew Walker, p.5). After he graduated from Worchester college (Oxford, 1953) he inherited from his father two newspapers in Adelaide (Australia) – â€Å"Sunday Mail† and â€Å"The News†. In 1969 he bought his first newspaper in Great Britain – London â€Å"News of the World†.Four years later he bought already two newspapers in the USA: â€Å"San Antonio News† (subsequently â€Å"Express-News†) and â€Å"Texas News†. In 1974 Murdoch finally settles down in New York and continues his business, buying more and more newspapers. From the beginning of 80-s people start to speak about Murdoch as one of biggest media-magnates of the world. After he bought in 1985 studio XX Century Fox Films, his power started to spread over cinema, and later over TV-industry as well.Nowadays Rupert Murdoch is giant mammoth of Empire The News Corporation Ltd (Woopidoo! Biographies Business Masters, p.1), which consists of three regional colossi – News Ltd (Australia), News International (Great Britain) and News America Holdings Inc. (USA).Totally News Corporation, which states a value of $30 milliards, consists of approximately 800 companies, from which 52 are quite big. The biggest enterprises: BSkyS, Los Angeles Dodgers, XX Century Fox Film and Star TV (Center for American Progress p.1). Annual income of Rupert Murdoch Empire was approximately $12 milliards during those years.Rupert Murdoch is really promin ent figure. By opinion of the author Stuart Crainer, co-founder of consulting company Suntop Media, in civil social conscience rules such a vicious image of Murdoch that nobody would like to share the same room with such a person.Society remembers that already at the beginning of his career magnate didn’t disdain to use such means as to publish in once serious issues erotic and scandal materials; he fired his own workers without any compunction; in other words, he used everything, which in his opinion, in any way could assist in development of media giant (Capstonideas.com, p.1).

The Butcher of Milwaukee's Human Slaughterhouse Essay - 1

The Butcher of Milwaukee's Human Slaughterhouse - Essay Example The discovery that a man so confident, tidy, well mannered and clean was capable of such heinous murders, as well as cannibalism, would be a central aspect of this study. To investigate the motives and incentives that led a seemingly average man to indulge in a killing spree that lasted and went undetected for 13 years is what this essay will concentrate on. Furthermore, the analysis will be aided by the use of two theories that will scrutinize factors that have contributed to the crime in question and led to the constitution of Jeffrey Dahmer who came to be known as ‘the man who redefined serial murders’ by the Online criminologist. Â  According to Tru Crime Library, Detective Patrick Kennedy was the person who gained Jeffrey Dahmer’s trust and hence plummeted into the depths of his degeneracy. His killing spree of 13 years took root from fantasies about killing men and having sex with their corpses at the age of fourteen. By sixteen he had become an alcoholic with an intense interest in chemistry and dismembering animals. Research, as stated by Dr. Randall Lockwood (vice president of training and initiatives for the Humane Society of the United States), has found excessive links between animal cruelties in the early years of childhood to future serial killings. A common characteristic shared by serial killers like Jeffrey Dahmer, Ted Bundy, and David Berkowitz. Â  In June of 1978, right after graduation, Dahmer committed his first murder. Steven Hicks, a hitchhiker that he picked up, had sex with and then drank beer with was the first of his victims.