The Importance of Art Education in Young Children Essay -- The Benefit

In today’s society, much of our evaluation of academic achievement is based on a very narrow perspective of what sort of capabilities determine a child’s intelligence. The typical mindset of today’s educational systems views students who receive high scores on standardized tests such as the SAT or ACT as high ability students; such a statement, although true, limits the opportunities of students who are, in fact, intelligent, but in different academic areas. Because of the recent focus on math and reading scores, schools are doing away with art-related programs at an aggressive and alarming rate. What many do not realize, or rather, realize, but fail to acknowledge, is that involvement in art encourages development in many different areas and has been shown to improve a child’s overall performance (Arts). Involvement in visual arts enables children to begin building important life skills at a young age. Therefore, integrating art programs into the young c hild’s educational curriculum will help them reach maximum potential throughout their lifetime. Visual arts should be kept in schools because it enables children to express themselves, improves academics, and provides a therapeutic outlet that encourages maximum opportunity for development. One of the many benefits of involvement in visual arts is self-expression. A piece of art often reflects the mood of the artist or depicts a scenario that is related to an incident of importance in the artist’s life (Schlerf). As a result, visual art has become a helpful tool of communication. This is especially true for children, who may not know how to otherwise convey their feelings. These feelings could be expressed outright or through a metaphorical approach. Children might communic... ...hing Group. Harvard Graduate School of Education, 2011. Web. 24 Oct. 2011. "Fact Sheet About the Benefits of Arts Education for Children." Americans for the Arts. 04 Apr. 2009. Web. 14 Sept. 2011. Schlerf, Lauren. "Arts Education Initiative: Therapeutic Potential for Children - Erika Schnaps." MyPortfolio. University of Southern California, 07 Mar. 2011. Web. 24 Oct. 2011. Smith, Fran. "Why Arts Education Is Crucial, and Who's Doing It Best | Edutopia." K-12 Education & Learning Innovations with Proven Strategies That Work | Edutopia. Edutopia, 28 Jan. 2009. Web. 24 Oct. 2011. "What Are The Benefits Of Art Programs? | LIVESTRONG.COM." LIVESTRONG.COM - Lose Weight & Get Fit with Diet, Nutrition & Fitness Tools. Demand Media, Inc., 2011. Web. 14 Se "What Is Art Therapy?" Art Therapy. International Art Therapy Organization, 2009. Web. 24 Oct. 2011. 1.

Excel Igcse Computer Studies Glossary Essay

Actuator – It is a device that can be operated by signals from a computer or control system causing physical movement. (E.g. devices for opening windows in a computer controlled ventilation system) Algorithm – It is a sequence of instructions designed to perform a particular task and it is independent of any programming language. It includes precise details about the operations to be performed and in what order. (E.g. pseudo-code or program flow chart) Batch processing – It is a processing that doesn’t start until all the data are collected without any needs of human interaction. It uses computer during overnight. (E.g. payroll system, billing, cheque processing) CAD (Computer Aided Design) – It is the use of computer system that allows engineers and architects to design new projects by producing drawings. (E.g. designing new cars) Command-line interface – It is a set of commands instructed by the user in order to communicate with the computer and get the requirements sorted out. Compiler – It is a program that converts high-level language into machine language and converts whole program before execution. Cookies – It is a text which the user receives when in access to the internet website and gets automatically downloaded onto the user’s computer and further develops to infect a computer. (E.g. it can be blocked when the user rejects it by setting its restriction on the web page) Data integrity – It refers to the accuracy of data. Data-logging – It is an automatic capturing and storing of data readings from sensors over a period of time. (E.g. weather forecasting) De-skilling – It is replacing a semi-skilled labour with a micro-processing control system. Dry run – It is working through a program or a section of a program manually. This is useful for locating errors, particularly run time errors. E-commerce – It is an electronic commerce that allows buying and selling goods and services through the internet/computer networks. Either B2B or B2C, they still serve their products. (E.g. on-line shopping, Internet/online banking) H.J.Hong Encryption – It is a way of preventing data files that contain sensitive  information from being used if they’re stolen. Expert system – It is an application of artificial intelligence (AI) to a particular area of activity where traditional human expert knowledge and experience are made available through a computer package. (E.g. medical diagnosis) Generic software – It is a type of software that can perform many different related tasks. Intranet – It is a communication system, providing similar services to the internet solely within a particular company or organization. It makes it possible to share documents, databases and applications, using the same protocol as the internet. (E.g. more secure data) Logic gates – They are the components used in making logic circuits. Each gate has 1 or more inputs and produces a single output that depends upon the input(s). Simulation – It is a study of the behaviour of a system by using a model. (E.g. flight simulator) Structure diagram – It is a means of representing the design of a program or system and it demonstrates what happens at a program level Top-down design – It is the technic of breaking down a problem into subtasks that are sufficiently simple enough to be written as a self-contained module or procedure. (E.g. allows several programmers to work on the same large task, each module can be tested/debugged separately) Validation – It is a check on the data input and detects any data that is unreasonable and unacceptable. Video-conferencing – It is a form of an electronic communication through Internet for people who are geographically separated to transmit audio and video data. (E.g. meetings held at different locations) Virtual reality – It is a computer simulation that uses special interactive devices such as data gloves to create an artificial environment. (E.g. viewing newly constructed houses/pilot training) Virus – It is a program which replicates itself and damages files or data. (E.g. it alters the data on the infected computer without the user knowing it)

Critical Thinking Assignment: Buddhism

1. The question of Origin- Those who follow Buddhism have faith that the universe and god are one and the same. (Weider & Gutierrez, 201, 56) Buddhist turn to the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama also known as Buddha to live correct and at death escape the course of karma. After death, they trust they will become one with the universe. 2. The question of identity- The question of identity in Buddhism is answered in their belief that all living things are equal. They believe you must live according to the teachings of Buddha in order to escape karma and reincarnation after death. . The question of meaning/purpose- For Buddhist the primary goal is to reach Nirvana and end all personal suffering. In order to end suffering one must eliminate all fleshly desires and follow the teachings of Buddha which consists of the â€Å"Four Noble Truths† and the â€Å"Noble Eightfold Path†. 4. The question of morality- Because Buddhist believe everything is sacred they follow the † Ethical Code† instructed in the â€Å"Eightfold Path† which entails refrain from all forms of evil. The major points in the â€Å"ethical code† are; one must keep from taking a person’s life, stealing, immoral sexual behavior, lying and intoxication. 5. The question of destiny- Buddha rejected the idea Hindus hold about karma, which states that a person will continue to be reincarnated throughout time. He believed that one could escape through the denial of personal desires which lead to dissatisfaction because nothing in this world lasts. Buddha taught that everyone could reach Nirvana as long as they lived right. Once they reach Nirvana believers will live in a state where one feel neither hate nor love. Part 2: Compare and Contrast 1. The question of origin- Christians believe God is the creator of the universe and everything in it. Buddhist believers follow the idea that the universe and everything in it are one and the same. To the Buddhist everything has always existed unlike for Christians who believe there was a beginning which is explained in the book of Genesis. 2. The question of Identity-In Genesis 1:27 the bible states that we are created in the image of God. Just as we inherit traits from our parents we inherit traits from God. Buddhist believe humans and animals are one with the universe and both are equal in importance. 3. The question of meaning and purpose- For Christian’s the meaning and purpose of humans is found in John 17:3. John tells us that we are to know God through his Son Jesus Christ. We are to have a close intimate relationship with God. As ambassadors of Christ we are to go and communicate to the world what we know about Jesus, who makes this relationship with God possible. Buddhist do not believe in a personal God. They believe god is distant and does not become involved personally involved in people’s lives. The Buddhist believe their main purpose in to escape the karma and reach Nirvana where they will live without any desire. 4. The question of morality- Without God we are unable to determine what actions are right and wrong (Weider & Gutierrez, 2011, p 61) Christian believers follow the word of God as a guide to live their live. The bible calls believers to love God and to love their neighbor as they love themselves. These two commandments keeps believers from sinning against their neighbor. Buddhist believer in Buddha’s â€Å"Four Noble Truths† and the â€Å"Eight Noble Truths†. Their â€Å"Ethical Conduct† section says a person should conduct himself with â€Å"right speech, right action, and right livelihood. † These codes will liberate a person from the cycle of karma. Unlike Christians Buddhist do not believe in forgiveness the way Jesus offers it. However both beliefs agree that respect is inevitable to live in peace. 5. The question of destiny- Christians believe in heaven and hell. The difference in where a person will go depends on their acceptance in Jesus as Lord and Savior of their lives. Repentance of sin is followed by the forgiveness of Christ. A Christian will live for eternity in heaven if they accept the forgiveness offered by Jesus Christ. Buddhist believe â€Å"salvation† must be worked out. According to the teachings of Buddha anyone can reach Nirvana as long as the person works to behave â€Å"right† during their lifetime.

NSA: National Security or National Stalkers? Essay

In 2010, it became legal for the National Security Agency (NSA) to access private email logs, social media accounts and other internet databases (Risen & Poitras, â€Å"N.S.A. Gathers Data on Social Connections of U.S. Citizens). Risen and Poitras (2013) explain that the intention of this change was to help protect the United States (U.S.) from future terrorist attacks and was for the general purpose of national safety. It is unclear how many terrorist attacks all of this new intelligence has actually prevented, however, it is very clear that the NSA’s actions are violating the privacy of not only American citizens, but everyone who lives on American soil. With the internet as a resource, this means that they can not only listen in to conversations, but access virtually any data that is entered via the internet. This includes credit card numbers, GPS coordinates, flight destinations, contact information for family members, personal pictures and much more. The NSA not only vio lates the constitutional rights of American citizens, it puts everyone in the country at great personal risk for crimes such as fraud and discrimination. One of the greatest issues with the access the NSA has is that it violates the constitutional privacy laws. The fourth amendment to the Bill of Rights, protects the American people â€Å"†¦against unreasonable searches†¦ but upon probable cause†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (â€Å"The Bill of Rights: A Transcription†). Risen and Poitras (2013) reveal that the NSA is not even required to check that the individuals they gather information about are foreigners or have anything to do with foreign relations. This extensive access to all personal data including bank accounts, GPS coordinates and insurance information is the definition of an unreasonable search without probable cause. Everyone’s information is collected and stored before there is any reason for the government to search for it. This is in direct violation of the people’s constitutional rights. Of further concern is the deceit with which the NSA continues to address its capabilities. â€Å"Jon Stewart Slams Obama’s Domestic Spying Program† explains that although President Obama claimed that emails and phone calls of the general public were not being tracked, it later became evident that this was not the case. It turns out that the internet has become just one more tool for the government to use to spy on its resi dents. Yet the lies divulged by the NSA demonstrate that not only are  Americans being spied on, they have no way of truly knowing which of their personal information is at risk. As a result, it becomes even more difficult to protect oneself from privacy breaches and indicates the NSA, itself, is not an entity that can be trusted. After all, if they are lying about what they are collecting, there is no way of guaranteeing that they are not also lying about other aspects of their operation, including the way in which the personal information is used. Those close to NSA staff members are particularly vulnerable to internet privacy violations. In â€Å"Jon Stewart Slams Obama’s Domestic Spying Program† a news clip shows that NSA workers have been known to use their capabilities to spy on their loved ones. Clearly the private internet information collected by the NSA can and is misused on a regular basis. According to â€Å"The NSA’s New Spy Facilities Are 7 Times Bigger than the Pentagon† the agency has thousands of employees who are apparently able to use their resources to spy on anyone they are personally interested in. This could lead to the destruction of personal relationships and very dangerous behavior such as stalking or even murder. Another large group of vulnerable individuals are those who bank online. Anyone who uses the internet to make purchases or even view their banking information becomes at an increased risk of fraud. Not only does the NSA have access to all of their information, the mere existence of it means that it can be hacked into or even leaked. Persons of all socioeconomic backgrounds are now vulnerable to theft of their hard earned money as a result of the NSA’s alleged attempt to prevent terrorism. Furthermore, the bank information can be used in such a way that it not only deplete funds, but permanently destroys credit backgrounds and entire identities. According to Risen and Poitras (2013) all foreigners are at a greater risk for being monitored online. This includes both groups that are legally and illegally present in the U.S. and even those who have obtained citizenship. Although the purpose of spying on foreign residents more heavily appears to address the need to prevent terrorism, many (if not most) of these individuals have done nothing to warrant a search of their virtual belongings. It is as if the NSA presumes that everyone could be guilty unless they are proven innoce nt, which is the exact opposite of the way in which the U.S. judicial court operates. In fact, such tactics are a blatant form of discrimination. Mental health patients are also at particular risk. Although their  information is supposed to be confidential and kept strictly between a patient and doctor, the NSA is able to view these communications when they occur online. Such access essentially vetoes the doctor-patient confidentiality agreement. A potential result is the decrease in trust within these delicate relationships and, furthermore, a decline in treatment success. Kaiser patients, for example, are able to email their doctors to access their services more quickly and conveniently. Since these emails can be viewed by the NSA, patients may resist using this valuable resource. Some patients may refrain from revealing information altogether, even via a face-to-face appointment, since medical records are now often published within internet systems for the purpose of more efficient care. Finally, innocent children are put at risk by the NSA’s monitoring of private internet information. Whether parents want to share photographs of their pride and joy with family or tweens are exploring their social relationships, the NSA is watching. For any parent is uncomfortable to think that a stranger, whether or not they work for the government, can view pictures or information about a child with the click of a button. This group may also be the least protected online because they may not know that their information can secretly be seen. Although parents can try to safeguard their youngsters from the general public via computer restrictions and monitoring, they cannot protect them from the capabilities of the NSA. In conclusion, the NSA may be causing more harm than good with their legalized privacy breaches. Everyone is at risk, whether they are aware of it or not. It appears that the potential harm to society is not being weighed properly against the desired gain. There is not denying that it is in the best interest of all American residents that terrorism be prevented, however, the current tactics being used seem inefficient and costly to our society. Innocent people are being persecuted while criminals find ways around this flawed system of spies. If the public is aware that they are being monitored, terrorists are aware as well. It would be in the best interest of the NSA to find alternate, and more sophisticated ways to identify potential hazards instead of surveying the entire U.S. population via the internet. In fact, it is likely that the dangerous persons we seek will be the first to remove relevant communications from the internet, given the circumstances. By creating paranoia and destroying the U.S. quality of  life, we may be creating exactly what terrorist parties are working to achieve. Works Cited â€Å"The Bill of Rights: A Transcription.† National Archives and Records Administration. National Archives and Records Administration. Web. 31 Aug. 2014. . â€Å"The Constitution.† The Constitution. Web. 01 Sept. 2014. . â€Å"Jon Stewart Slams Obama’s Domestic Spying Program.† YouTube. YouTube. Web. 01 Sept. 2014. . â€Å"The NSA’s New Spy Facilities Are 7 Times Bigger Than the Pentagon.† Defense One. Web. 02 Sept. 2014. . Risen, James, and Laura Poitras. â€Å"N.S.A. Gathers Data on Social Connections of U.S. Citizens.† The New York Times. The New York Times, 28 Sept. 2013. Web. 02 Sept. 2014. .

Finance management for business Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Finance management for business - Assignment Example All financial activities, starting from the capital investment decision making to the investment banking, come under the category of corporate finance (Ehrhardt, 2013). Among all these domains, one of the most important departments of corporate finance is related to the capital investment decisions. It deals with various factors such as, whether a proposed investment should be carried out or not, the proportion of equity and debt investment involved in the investment pattern, whether the shareholders should be provided dividends on the investment made and various other decision making purposes (Megginson and Smart, 2008). The short term issues handled in this domain includes the management of current liabilities and current assets, investments, inventory control and other short term financial factors. The long-term issues deal with new capital investments and capital purchases. Investment analysis is one of the important parts in corporate finance. The role played by a corporate fina ncier is to evaluate the financial needs of an organisation for raising the capital best suitable for the required needs. b) Difference between corporate finance and corporate funding requirements Corporate funding requirements are the necessities for which funding is required by a corporation. On the other hand, corporate finance is the department which deals with the financing of such requirements. Corporate finance deals with the requirements and management of such funding (Gallagher and Andrew, 1968). As already stated above, the function of the corporate financier is to evaluate the financial needs of the organisation that is required for raising the most appropriate capital funding pattern to finance such needs. c) Debt and Equity Financing The debt and equity financing strategies are two entirely different types of financing strategies. The debt financing indicates that the owner of the business has borrowed more money from the external sources for financing the operational a ctivities. On the other hand, equity financing implies the funding by the business owner from the internal sources by means of issuing equity shares

Consumer Behavior Master Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4250 words

Consumer Behavior Master - Essay Example The following are the 6 stages: Stage 1: Problem Recognition or in other words awareness of need-In this stage the consumer realizes the need for a certain product. For example, when a person is hungry, he thinks of eating some thing. Hunger--Food. Hunger stimulates your need to eat. But this kind of thought can easily be stimulated through advertisements. Children are often attracted by the advertisements of ice creams, chocolates and lot of other items. In other words when a person recognizes that there is some deficit in their life, they try to fulfill those needs. When one see a commercial for a new pair of shoes, it stimulates the recognition the need for a new pair of shoes. Stage 2: Information search-Once a person realizes the need for an item, then the second immediate step would be to find out more information about the item. This can be done through internal search, memory, print and visual media, friends and relatives, word of mouth, marketer dominated sources, comparison shopping, public sources etc. A successful information search leaves a buyer with possible alternatives or in other words different brands. For example, when a person is hungry, and wants to go to a restaurant, he has probably a set of restaurants to choose from depending on what kind of food item he likes to have. It can be Chinese food, Indian food, burger king, or klondike kates etc. Stage 3: Evaluation of Alternatives-Once a set of alternatives are present it is time for evaluation of each of them. Hence there is a need to establish criteria for evaluation, features the buyer wants or does not want, in the case of restaurant tastes that the customer likes. The customer based on the criteria for evaluation rank or weight alternatives. If the customer is not satisfied then they resume search. For example, if the customer wants to eat something spicy, then the Indian food gets highest rank. If not satisfied with the choices then return to the search phase to find another restaurant. Look in the yellow pages or internet etc. Information from different sources may be treated differently. Marketers try to influence by "framing" alternatives. Stage 4: Purchase decision-The fourth step is the stage when the final decision is made. Choose buying alternative, includes product, package, store, method of purchase etc. Stage 5: Purchase--May differ from decision, time lapse between stage no 4 and 5, product availability. However, this is one of the most important stages in the process. Stage 6: Post-Purchase Evaluation-This is the stage of outcome that can be either satisfaction or dissatisfaction. For example, if the Indian food was very delicious, the customer will be satisfied but if it was not up to the expectation of the customer, then the customer might be dissatisfied and will be reluctant to go to the same restaurant the next time (udel.edu, N.D.). 2. Two major learning theories have dominated research and teaching in consumer behavio