Thursday, October 31, 2019
Romantic Composers' Enthusiasm for Writing Orchestral Program Music Essay
Romantic Composers' Enthusiasm for Writing Orchestral Program Music - Essay Example Being a representative of Early Romanticism, Hector Berlioz was one of the true founders of Romantic era in music. Writing in the grand romantic tradition, Berlioz is famous for his large operas and symphonies. He brought the true Romantic spirit into program music and can be considered as not less significant and even revolutionary figure than Beethoven with his passion and emotional depth of expressions. Berlioz is mostly famous for his Symphonie fantastique and Grande Messe des morts; both appeared as true progress in program music organizing. Written in 1830, Symphonie fantastique is divided into five thematic parts or movements. This Berlioz's composition can be surely referred to as program music since it is subtitled as An Episode in the Life of an Artist and has its own narration. During the time of writing this symphony, Berlioz has extremely fallen in love with the Irish actress, Harriet Smithson, and this fact is the background of the Symphonie fantastique plot. As for the technical content and using new approaches in the composition, Symphonie fantastique is filled with the intensively dramatic music and unusual timbres and textures. Being a professional conductor and highly talented composer, Hector Berlioz used a large orchestra with prominent role of brass and percussion p to four timpani players. On the other hand, it occurs that Berlioz was also highly impressive and sensitive person, and, therefore, composition was always an extremely creative process for him. As it is said in introduction of Symphonie fantastique text: "In this condition his sensations, feelings and memories find utterance in his sick brain in the form of musical imagery. Even the beloved one takes the form of melody in his mind, like a fixed idea that is ever-returning, that he hears
Tuesday, October 29, 2019
Three Mile Island Essay Example for Free
Three Mile Island Essay INTRODUCTION            The Three Mile Island incident stands not only as a reminder of the potential hazards of nuclear power, but of the potential hazards of an economically driven society and a government infiltrated by corporate interests. The events behind the most dangerous nuclear accident in American history are as straightforward as they are alarming; On Mar. 28, 1979, failure of the cooling system of the No. 2 nuclear reactor led to overheating and partial melting of its uranium core and production of hydrogen gas, which raised fears of an explosion and dispersal of radioactivity and consequently left the citizens of Harrisburg PA and the surrounding areas in a man-made disaster area of which they remained largely oblivious for some time.  An ensuing federal investigation of the accident would fault human, mechanical, and design errors, and recommend changes in reactor licensing and personnel training, as well as in the structure and function of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, (Three Mile Island).            BODY            Inarguably, failure to prevent the Three Mile Island nuclear accident rests on human shoulders; the accident resulted from mistakes, oversights, and misjudgments and unlike natural disasters such as floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, or major fires, left no immediate physical alterations in the surrounding environment; however, the possibility to lay blame for the accident on specific actions or non-actions by specific reasons lured many who were impacted by the accident to search for immediate victims and villains. (Houts, Cleary, and Hu vii)            One of the primary concerns surrounding the accident was the potential dangers of the radioactive leak which was especially frightening because it cannot be felt or seen and is not easily understood. It is not possible to tell by ones senses when one is being radiated. Therefore, it was impossible for people living near Three Mile Island to assess the danger directly or to know what protective actions to take though the immediate psychological impact was devastating to nearby residents. (Houts, Cleary, and Hu xi)            The accident at Three Mile Island grew in its immediate impact on the citizens near the plant due to media-influence. Recent studies of the incident and comprehensive studies of those impacted by the disaster reveal profound psychological damages as well as physical damages to personal health and well-being. Subsequent lawsuits against the power plant were upheld by federal courts which ruled the accidental release of radioactive gases resulted from a partial meltdown of the reactor core after a combination of mechanical and human failures allowed the core to lose cooling water[] the company is responsible for health problems, such as cancer and birth defects; however, the full impact of the disaster on the population and the environment may not be known for many years to come.  (Murray 3)            While the media exaggerated threats and claims of possible hazards, the state and federal and corporate spokespeople, at first, downplayed the event and only later admitted that findings about the status of the reactor suggested to Met Ed, NRC, and state officials that the accident had caused more damage and presented a greater threat to the citizens of central Pennsylvania than they had previously realized which ultimately led to a complete dissolution of trust between the impacted citizens and corporate interests. (Walker 102)            The impact on the citizens near the plant took three major forms: psychological, physical, and economic. Detailed studies of those impacted by the disaster showed that Nine months after the crisis, 11% of respondents within five miles of TMI stated that they had visited a physician concerning symptoms they thought were due to the situation at Three Mile Island and that in many cases, these health problems were ultimately found to be of a anxious or psychological origin. (Houts, Cleary, and Hu 95). Long-term impacts, as mentioned earlier, included cancer, birth-defects, and an undermining of trust in government or in corporate America. Many of the citizens near Three Mile Island relocated and left their homes of many years due to the unknown impacts of the disaster which may still be unmeasured.            CONCLUSION             I feel that the Three Mile Island accident severely damaged the relationship between community and corporation not only for those who suffered in the disaster but for anyone who is familiar with its history. To me, it is appalling that the company realized the power plant was leaking radiation uncontrollably but failed to inform the public or explain the risk, leaving the media to misinform the public in many cases making the situation worse for those who had to endure it. To me, the accident stands as an almost symbolic occurrence which shows the perils of greed and corporate proliferations and the reality that American citizens are sometimes not provided for by their companies or government but are often put at risk by their actions.(Goldsteen, and Schorr 129)        SUMMARY             Though the accident at Three Mile Island can overtly be traced to: A series of mechanical and judgmental errors it can also be traced to deeper roots in the economically driven private sector of American society and also to the superficiality of media and of the failure of government to adequately inform its citizens about the potential risks of an private industrial power-plant operating near their residences. The accident caused a breach in trust between ordinary citizens and government and corporate hierarchies; the full impact of the disaster is till unknown and will only be determined over time. (Houts, Cleary, and Hu ix)  Works Cited  Three Mile Island. The Columbia Encyclopedia. 6th ed. 2004. Goldsteen, Raymond L., and John K. Schorr. Demanding Democracy after Three Mile Island.  Gainesville, FL: University Presses of Florida, 1991. Houts, Peter S., Paul D. Cleary, and Teh-Wei Hu. Psychological, Social, and Economic Impacts          on the Surrounding Population Psychological, Social, and Economic Impacts on the     Surrounding Population. University Park, PA: Pennsylvania State University Press, 1988.  Questia. 11 Oct. 2007 http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=od=99373973. Murray, Frank J. Supreme Court Lets Stand Three Mile Island Lawsuits. The Washington     Times 6 June 2000: 3. Questia. 11 Oct. 2007 http://www.questia.com/PM.qst? a=od=5001743165. Walker, J. Samuel. Three Mile Island: A Nuclear Crisis in Historical Perspective. Berkeley, CA:            University of California Press, 2004. Questia. 11 Oct. 2007 http://www.questia. com/PM.qst?a=od=105355260.
Sunday, October 27, 2019
The Goals And Ideals Of Les Six Film Studies Essay
The Goals And Ideals Of Les Six Film Studies Essay Les Six is a name given in 1920 by critic Henri Collet to a group of six composers working in Montparnasse whose music is often seen as a reaction against the musical style of Richard Wagner and impressionist music. (Owen 2011.) The works of Arthur Honegger, Darius Milhaud and Francis Poulenc all play an important part in French music and the 20th century. Research question What were the goals and ideals of Les Six? Consider the works of Honegger, Milhaud and Poulenc. 2. LES SIX Members A younger group of composers absorbed the strong influence of neoclassicism but sought to escape the old political dichotomies. (Grout 2009: 880.) Les Six was a group of young avant-garde French composers. Initially Les Nouveaux Jeunes, the name was changed along with the line-up to crystallize as Les Six in 1923. With Jean Cocteau as the spokesman and Satie as the guru, the group was formed and the name was given by French critic Henri Collet. With this identifying label, the individual composers gained public attention as a group in force. (Owen 2011.) Despite the elements the six composers had in common, their differences were far greater. In the 1920s each of them was pursuing solo careers (Latham 2002: 10). Best remembered today, are Darius Milhaud, Francis Poulenc and Arthur Honegger. Few pieces by Louis Durey and Georges Auric are performed. Germaine Tailleferre was probably still best remembered because she was the only woman of the group. (Kelly 2003: 51.) The group was officially launched in January 1920 by a series of two articles by the French music critic and composer Henri Collet in the French journal Commedia. While it seems apparent that Cocteau was behind these articles, the actual name of the Group was selected by Collet who decided to compare Les Six with the Five Russians. (Kelly 2003: 4.) The members of Les Six were: Georges Auric (1899 1983) Louis Durey (1888 1979) Arthur Honegger (1892 1955) Darius Milhaud (1892 1974) Francis Poulenc (1899 1963) Germaine Tailleferre (1892 1983) Although Honegger was a member of Les nouveaux jeunes and, subsequently of Les Six, he shared with the other members a stimulating companionship rather than a group aesthetic, the existence of which he always denied. (Sadie 2001: 680.) Darius Milhaud was a pioneer in the use of percussion, polytonality, jazz and aleatory techniques. Few of his works of the 1920s are in the spirit of Les Six, however one might seek to define it. Le boeuf ser le toit had nothing to do with Les Six until it was hijacked and turned into a ballet by Cocteau. (Sadie 2001: 679.) Ironically, in the only work to which all members of the group contributed, the Album des six, Milhaud is represented by a Mazurka he wrote in 1914. More important to his music of the 1920s was the confirmation of opera as a major and continuing thread. (Kelly 2003: 89.) During the first half of Francis Poulencs career the simplicity and directness of his writing led many critics away from thinking of him as a serious composer. Gradually, since World War II, it has become clear that the absence from his music of linguistic complexity in no way argues corresponding absence of feeling or technique. (Sadie 2001:227.) Georges Auric was a child prodigy and at age 15 he had his first compositions published. Before he turned 20, he had orchestrated and written incidental music for several ballets and stage productions. (Owen 2011.) His participation in Les Six led to writing settings of poetry and other texts as songs and musicals. Louis Durey was primarily self-taught. From the beginning, choral music was of great importance in Dureys productivity. After the Les Six period, Durey continued with his career. (Owen 2011.) Germaine Tailleferre was the only female member in the group Les Six. She studied piano with her mother at home, composing short works of her own. (Owen 2011.) Music by Les Six The only musical project in which all six composers participated in was Lalbum des six (published in 1920) and it is a solo piano music collection, which were all dances. Prà ©lude (1919) by Auric Romance sans paroles, Op. 21 (1917) by Durey Sarabande, H 26 (1920) by Honegger Mazurka (1914) by Milhaud Valse en ut, FP 17 (1919) by Poulenc Pastorale (1919) by Tailleferre Les six has a lot of compositions under their names but none of them included all six composers, except for Lalbum des six. Each of these individual composers has contributed to the group Les Six in their own unique styles and ways. Their styles are most certainly equally different and with such diverse styles they were able to come as one and compose many pieces while they were still known as Les Six. The goals and ideals of Les Six was to create an individual style of its own, because of the great differences in style and techniques each of them had, but in the end, they were all able to work as one to create Lalbum des six which has gained wide popularity. 3. WORKS OF HONEGGER, MILHAUD AND POULENC Arthur Honegger Arthur Honegger (1892 1955) was a Swiss composer, who was born in Le Havre, France. His serious-minded musical aesthetic was entirely different from that of others in Les six. He developed unusual musical and dramatic forms in large-scale works for voices and orchestra, and was one of the 20th centurys most dedicated contrapuntalists. (Sadie 2001: 679.) It is very clear that Honeggers compositions are tonal but characterized by a highly individual use of dissonance, if you listen to his compositions very carefully you will be able to hear the dissonances that occur. His music was first heard publicly in Paris in July 1916 (Sadie 2001: 680). The series of large-scale dramatic works and major symphonic scores he composed during the following 30 years established him as one of the most significant composers of his generation. His symphonic movement Pacific 231 (1923), a translation into music of the visual and physical impression of a speeding locomotive, was hailed as a sensational piece of modernist descriptive music. (Grout 2009: 881.) It was said that his symphonic movement Pacific 231 was misinterpreted by the public as specifying programmes, rather than sources of musical inspiration (Spratt 1987:69). This movement is a great example of the goals and ideals of Les Six, they all had a very different approach to music but all their ideas combined became a great masterpiece of its own individual style. Darius Milhaud Darius Milhaud (1892 1974) was a French composer, who was born in Marseilles. He was associated with the avant garde of the 1920s, whose abundant production reflects all musical genres. Though his sources of inspiration were many and varied, his music has compelling stylistic unity. (Sadie 2001: 675.) There is scarcely a genre not represented in Milhauds output. From grand opera to childrens piano pieces, everything seems to be there in extraordinary profusion. He found his musical voice very early on, and there was neither anguish in creation, nor any problem of language or expression, let alone of technique. (Sadie 2001: 677.) It was also apparently said that he could compose anywhere and at anytime, he was not bothered by the disturbance around him. The decade of the 1920s ended with Christophe Colomb and Maximilien, the former and justly celebrated work, the latter one of Milhauds mot riotously noisy scores. (Collaer 1988: 176.) The works of the 1930s are characterized by a greater tendency towards through-composition, in comparison with the clearcut sectional divisions of the earlier works. The opera Mà ©dà ©e is perhaps his finest work of this period: a fascinating study of a woman scorned, graphically portrayed in some of the composers most angular, expressionist music. (Sadie 2001: 679.) Then in the course of the 1950s emerged what might be called his final style. This development can be seen by comparing the operas David and Fiesta, though it comes out especially in the chamber music which, in his late years, he produced abundantly. (Kelly 2003:56.) Despite the impression his music usually gives, he had at times, and especially during the early years, a distinctly theoretical turn of mind, a feature that sets him quite apart from his contemporaries (Sadie 2001:678). Francis Poulenc Francis Poulenc (1899 1963) was a French composer and pianist, who was born in Paris. Poulenc regarded this dual heredity as the key to his musical personality: he associated his deep Catholic faith with his Aveyronais roots and attributed his artistic heritage to his mothers family. It is certainly the case that two strands, profane and religious, co-exist in his work. (Sadie 2001:227.) Poulenc destroyed his first attempts at composition, dating from 1914. He made his public dà ©but in Paris in 1917 with his first work, Rapsodie nà ¨gre, dedicated to Satie and performed at the Thà ©Ãƒ ¢tre du Vieux Colombier at one of the avant-garde concerts orgnaized by Jane Bathori. (Mellers 1993: 37.) Poulenc learnt a clear but colourful style of piano playing, based on a subtle use of sustaining pedal, and in his own piano music he was insistent on there being beaucoup de pà ©dale. (Sadie 2001: 228.) In his earlier pieces such a style gives body to the often arrogantly popular tunes that abound, softening the ostinatos in the Sonata for piano duet (1918) and the quasi-Alberti bass in Trois mouvements perpà ©tuels (1918). (Sadie 2001: 228.) Poulenc admitted that his reliance on past formulae (long pedal notes, arpeggios, repeated chords) was not always free of routine and that in this regard his familiarity with the piano could be a hindrance; his most inventive piano writing, he claimed, was to be found in his song accompaniments. (Buckland 1999: 346.) His own favourite pieces were the 15 Improvisations ranging in date from 1932 to 1959 and in dedicatee from Marguerite Long to Edith Piaf. This confirms that the piano was not always a vehicle for his deepest thought, he called the Thà ¨me varià ©e (1951) an oeuvre sà ©rieus and included a retrograde version of the theme in the coda to show that he was up with the latest serial idea, but it is hardly the best of him. (Sadie 2001: 228.) 4. CONCLUSION Through my research on Les Six, I have concluded that each of these six composers were very different in style, and had their own unique technique. Each of them made huge contributions to Les Six and keeping the title going for a long time before they embarked their separate careers. But it is very evident that they all had different musical backgrounds but could each collaborate with one another to make music work. The composers that influenced and created the group Les Six have clearly made a mark in 20th century music. It is very clear that the goals they aimed for were achieved through their music and the talent that each one of them brought to this versatile group. It is remarkable that the different ideas they all had could be compiled into one idea as a group. SOURCES Buckland, S. 1999. Francis Poulenc: Music, Art, and Literature. United Kingdom: Ashgate Publishing Limited. Collaer, P. 1988. Darius Milhaud. San Francisco Press. Grout, D. 2009. A History of Westerm Music, eighth edition. New York: Cornell University. Kelly, B. 2003. The Tradition and Style in the Works of Darius Milhaud. United Kingdom : Ashgate Publishing Limited. Latham, A. 2002. The Oxford Companion to Music. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Mellers, W. 1993. Oxford Studies of Composers: Francis Poulenc. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Owen, P. 2011. Les Six. Encyclopaedia Britannica. Peter Owen Publishers. http://www.britannica.com/EBcheck/topic/547009/Les-six. 10 September 2011 Sadie, S. 2001. The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, second edition. New York: Macmillan Publishers Limited. Spratt, G. 1987. The Music of Arthur Honegger. Cork: Cork University Press.
Friday, October 25, 2019
Service Learning Essay -- Education Educating College University Essay
The Society for Experiential Education defines service learning as, â€Å"any carefully monitored service experience in which a student has intentional learning goals and reflects actively on what he or she is learning throughout the experience†(Staton 1). Service learning is a great opportunity to get extra learning experiences while also experiencing the community around the universities campus. â€Å"Service learning allows students to apply what they are learning from their instructors, peers, and readings to genuine tasks that occur outside the four walls of the classroom while simultaneously helping others†(Staton 1). Universities are using service learning to expand beyond the classroom and provide students with experiences that will benefit them in the future. Service learning provides students with some fundamental aspects of life that can simply not be taught in the classroom. Service learning is a very beneficial tool in expanding on class room topics in the real world. There are numerous reasons why universities should incorporate service learning into their curriculum. One way that service learning is so beneficial to college curriculums is that it will cheapen the price of credit hours. Many universities have made the service learning free credits, which will appeal to students when they are making the decision to attend school. And trust me, as a college student, the cheaper the credit hour the more appealing the school is. Another very beneficial aspect of service learning in curriculums is that it gives students a taste of the â€Å"real world†. â€Å"Service learning allows students to apply what they are learning to real-world problems, become more involved in the community surrounding the campus, and develop career g... ...nication†(Staton 3). The students in these classrooms really benefit from the extra communication skills that are taught by the college students. Service learning is a program that many universities around the country have turned to in order to improve their curriculum. It provides students with many excellent opportunities to go out in the community and get more then just a typical â€Å"college education.†The students who have been involved in service learning feel that they have become well-rounded human beings and have a taste of what it is like to function in the real world. Another great part of service learning is that not only the students benefit from it. The university, as well as the surrounding community are both rewarded by the program. Service learning is a great program that can be incorporated into any subject matter that a university offers.
Thursday, October 24, 2019
Human Relations and Communications: Theories Present in Education Today Essay
Human relations, interactions and communication are the foundation of educational leadership. As with most businesses, the need for strong leadership and communication is more important than ever, especially because of the growing accountability of schools and school systems. In order to work well within the organizational environment of a school, superintendents, coaches, teachers, parents, community members and students must be able to communicate in a variety of effective modalities (Razik & Swanson, 2010). Behind these modalities are human relationship concepts and communication theories that help leaders to make decisions based on research that can help improve their organizational communications systems. Over time, the theories have developed and the ways of effective communication have changed along with the technology that promotes them. There are many communication and human relations theories that can still be applied today given the effective and efficient ways that educational leaders can now communicate. Hill: Interactional Conventional Theory and Modern Forms of Communication A theory on communication that looks at how society continues communication or may even change the ability to communicate is the Interactional Conventional Theory (Razik & Swanson, 2010, p. 132). Society continuously evolves throughout history. With these changes the ability to communicate also has to change. Over the last twenty years technology has redefined our idea of how to communicate. As students become more comfortable with chatting, texting and other new forms of communication this has lead teaching to evolve its forms of communication as well. If communication is based on cultural norms then as technology changes the norms of society so must the ability to communicate (Razik & Swanson, 2010, pp. 132-133). New forms of communication are created all the time. Technology has enhanced communication from the traditional face to face or group conversations to e-mail and social media. Written letters as communication have transformed into instantaneous e-mail communication, which can be received at a moments notice from a smartphone. One of the most widely used forms of communication for college and high school students is social media like Facebook (VanDoorn & Eklund, 2013, p. 1). Educational leaders have accesses to technology of e-mail and social media, which make communication more accessible than ever before. One of the modern challenges of educators is how to use technology like Facebook as an educational tool (VanDoorn & Eklund, 2013, p. 1). Educational sites have emulated the flexibility of sites like Facebook in order to make learning and educational communication more accessible for students (VanDoorn & Eklund, 2013, p. 1). Educational cites such as Edmodo and Web 2.0 can be used to further student education in an off campus capacity (VanDoorn & Eklund, 2013, p. 2). These sites also provide opportunity for students to communicate with teachers during non-school hours where they can ask questions about homework or that day’s lesson. This is no different from the traditional face-to-face contact or calling by telephone (VanDoorn & Eklund, 2013, p. 2). A study done on twenty college students showed that they preferred to use text based communic ation to face-to-face communication (VanDoorn & Eklund, 2013, p. 6). Just as how students use text-based communication for recreational communication they also feel more comfortable with this form of communication with educators. A useful educational tool used by teachers is the Edmodo website. This site is designed to have the same make up as Facebook but it allows teachers and student to communicate about educational topics. Teachers can create groups for students to join where communication can take place at their convenience (Harper, 2010, p. 19). From these groups students can post responses to questions posted by the teacher. Edmodo also allows students access to lessons that they may have missed from being out of school (Harper, 2010, p. 20). The site reinforces educational skills of writing, which students have to do in by posting responses, and having them use higher order thinking skills to develop personal responses (Harper, 2010, p. 21). Edmodo is also a great way to assign paperless homework for students. Kristianson: McClelland’s Social Motives and Intrapersonal Relationship Theories One of the prominent human relation theories that are still evident in schools today is the McClelland Social Motives theory. McClelland noted that there are three main social motives that exist within organizations: power, achievement, and affiliation. â€Å"Achievement refers to the desire for people compete against a standard of excellence†(Razik & Swanson, 2010, p. 112). This is clearly evident within most school sites, because successful educational leaders have the natural desire to achieve and set goals, visions, and missions for their district or school. There is always a bar set and leaders are motivated to reach that percentage of student mastery. At Granada Primary School, in Phoenix, Arizona, there is a sign posted on every single door: A- 152. Our leaders expect that we will â€Å"Build a Legacy†and continue to achieve â€Å"A†status with 152 overall points needed to maintain that goal, an increase of nine points from the previous year. This is an excellent example of an achievement goal. The leaders at our school use their positional and personal power to influence others, as outlined by McClelland as a power motives for leaders. Lastly, the affiliation motive is also quite evident. The need for affiliation, or a need for positive relationships within an organization, is one of the most evident theories. Leaders, teachers, students, and community members all desire positive relationships, and that puts leaders in power by building positive relationships. Those that have positive relationships tend to have bet ter communication, and as a result, better job performance (Razik & Swanson, 2010). In addition, interpersonal relationship theories are highly evident within this school site. Positive interpersonal relationships are key for building a climate of trust in which a principal must be consistent with their words and actions (Green, 2013, p. 142). When this occurs, stakeholders will begin to approach the leader and communicate directly. This is evident in many principals â€Å"open door policy†in which staff members can come freely, without fear of superiority or negativity, but a reciprocal relationship. This is not limited to the relationship between teachers and leaders at a successful school site, but all stakeholders. It is evident that those who maintain positive interpersonal relationships with everyone around them have more success in the classroom. This past year, a teacher that responded negatively to lack of student achievement was reciprocated in the students’ abilities and motivation to perform for that teacher. Conversely, the teachers that responded positively to the same situation had more student growth. This is seen in Fig.2 of Weiner’s interpersonal relationship theories and motivation of both parties involved in said communications (Weiner, 2000, p.8). The beliefs about the responsibility of other stakeholders, and their subsequent reactions, are very similar as seen in Granada Primary’s school achievement data for the 2012-2013 school year. This is important in leadership because the same attitude can be applied for principals and their staff. McAdams: Cognitive Dissonance Theory, Social Exchange Theory, and Theory â€Å"Y†Communication and human relation theories are very important in the success and operation of a school. At the school where I work communication is foggy most of the time with people playing the guessing game. The administrator (principal) constantly says one thing and does another. This is the Cognitive Dissonance Theory (Lamourex, 1996). This theory makes for a chaotic environment. He also says he is going to ensure that the school dress code is adhered to by the teachers but his actions allow the dress code to be violated without consequences. He is so indecisive that people don’t know whether to take him seriously or not. In the midst of a meeting, he will change what he beliefs to match other actions. He also seeks reassurance from others after making a difficult decision. He often feels that more seasoned people have more to offer than he does so he looks at them for approval. If he were confident in his ability to lead he would not waver so much. This makes him an ineffective leader. Presently, the Social Exchange Theory is also used. This theory requires the leader to compare benefits and costs of actions. This is beneficial because it forces us to think things through carefully before acting on anything. It also helps to ensure we use instruction al time wisely in order to make the most of our teaching abilities. Time on task is stressed at our school. When we have staff meetings the administrators are constantly tell us to put in the time it will take to produce the outcome we desire. Teachers work extra hours (before and after school) to make sure students have the extra intervention needed to pass the Standards of Learning (SOL) tests. Along with Communication Theories there are Human Relation Theories present within the school system. Administration has the belief that staff will do the job they are supposed to do. This causes them not to micromanage us. This is an example of Theory â€Å"Y†of the human relations Theories. They believe â€Å"Individuals will exercise self-direction and self-control in the service of objectives to which they are (Green, 2013).†This allows the teachers to feel free to be creative and do what’s best for the students. Operating under the â€Å"Y†theory puts my administrator under the facilitator of information category. He allows the staff to accomplish the tasks as they see fit as long as it is productive and in the best interest of the students. This theory is a demonstration of Standard 2, which states: â€Å"An education leader promotes the success of every student by advocating, nurturing, and sustaining a school culture and instructional program conducive to student learning and staff professional growth (Green, 2013).†McClary: Organizational and Pygmalion Leadership Theories At William J. Clark Middle School organizational theory is used. They do a lot of individual and group interaction with the ultimate goal of every student can learn and be successful in mind. â€Å"A focal interest of organization theory must be inevitably be the understanding of how to organize people and resources in order to collectively accomplish desired ends†(Greenwood, 2010, 78). Within the school several meetings occur weekly. Every Tuesday is team and faculty/departmental meetings. The administration uses the team leaders and department chairs to relay messages to other faculty members. Furthermore, the administrators will sit in on the meetings if there is something they would prefer to personally state on their own or to monitor to make sure that these meetings are being conducted. Tuesday Academy meetings are the whole school meetings that are conducted by the administrators. Then, they have grade level content are meetings on Wednesdays and grade level content area data meetings on Thursdays. The administrators are involved in these meetings on a weekly basis. They often sit and participate to make sure they are communicating in an effort to effectively plan for the students. They participate in these meetings as well by providing suggestions, materials, and resources that will allow them to possibly reach every to increase student success. In every meeting, you have no choice but to communicate and get the job done. Emails are used to communicate frequently communicate. Also, monthly calendars are printed with important dates on them as a reminder. The school uses different aspects of mass communication to reach the people within the school and the public. The school has various school meetings and events that allows the public to be involved such as the â€Å"Back to School Bash†, Open House, Parent-Teacher Conference Day, Parent/Academic Nights, Honors and Awards Banquets, PTA, Athletic Banquets, Winter and Spring Musicals, and etc. However, in order to inform the school and the public about what is happening at the school they use various means of communication. They send out emails. The school’s website is used to display information. Memo letters are sometimes sent home but not as often in an effort to save paper. Information is displayed on the school’s bulletin board. Also, Parentlink is used. The purpose of Parentlink is to inform parents through telephone. This is a great tool for those people who are not tech savvy, don’t have access to a computer or the Internet. You can set Parentlink to call all numbers that are stored in the database and the receiver will hear an automated or recorded message informing them about something pertaining to the school. The good thing about this source is that it lets you know who received the message, if it went to voicemail, or if the number was not a working number, therefore, it needs to be updated in the system. The Pygmalion leadership theory is frequently used at William J. Clark Middle School. Weekly the administrator is required to perform a minimum of 10 observations. Therefore, that means they are always in the classrooms monitoring instruction. These frequent observations allow the administrator to see strengths and weaknesses in a person. It allows them to see if there is any room for growth. After every observation is done the administrator provides immediate feedback. An individual meeting with each person is scheduled. In these meetings positive feedback is given and negative feedback if necessary. If weaknesses are observed the administrator provides suggestions, resources, and materials for them to improve. The administrators provide themselves as a resource as well. The administrator will model for them what she expects to be done in the classroom from start to finish. She will send them to different teachers to observe. Also, a Support Institutes for Teachers (SIT) is implemented at the school to serve as a lifeline for new and struggling teachers. Rogers: Miles’ Resource Model, Likert’s Supportive Model, and Theory â€Å"X†Saltonstall viewed human relations as the study of people in action. (Razik, & Swanson, 2010, p. 105) Davis explained the term by referring to the interaction of people in all types of endeavor- in business, government, soc ial clubs, schools, and homes. (Razik, & Swanson, 2010, p. 105) Although human relationships have existed since the beginning of time, the art and science of trying to deal with them formally in the work setting is relatively new. (Razik & Swanson, 2010, p. 103) It is important to note the different human relation theories and how they are displayed in schools in order to better understand human relations and communication. Miles’s human resource model assumes that work is not inherently distasteful and that people want to contribute to a meaningful goal. (Razik & Swanson, 2010, p. 104) At Plymouth high school, this theory is displayed by teachers’ willingness to go the extra mile for students to achieve the goal of improving test scores. Many teachers say they are not in education to become a millionaire. They teach because they want to make a difference. Sure we have teachers that dislike the current state of education, but for the most part teachers focus on achieving the goal of educating the youth of tomorrow. Likert’s supportive model emphasized the more the members of an organization feel supported, the more they will feel a sense of personal worth and importance in all their interactions and relationships with the organization. (Razik & Swanson, 2010, p. 104) The new administrator displays this theory at Plymouth high school. She is very conscious of her efforts of making sure everyone feel valued and supported. She has an open door policy. Teachers can talk to her about their concerns without being afraid of any consequences. She makes sure the teachers concerns are addressed in a timely manner. During staff meetings, she praises teachers for various accomplishments. She has encouraged teacher’s collaboration. She has even gone as far as allowing teachers to recreate the vision of the school. The new administrator has changed the culture of the school. Teachers are now taking ownership in the school and in the process of achieving its goals. The support that was generated from the principal has now improved the interaction of colleagues throughout the building. Theory X assumes that average human being has an inherent dislike of work and will avoid it if he can. (Razik & Swanson, 2010, p. 106) Most people that are like this must be coerced, controlled, directed, and threatened with punishment to get them to put forth effort to achieve objectives. At Plymouth high school, we are struggling with test scores in the CTE department. Many of the students do not take the class seriously. The teacher has become complacent, and avoids working hard at all cost. He allows the students to control the classroom. The principal walked in on his class watching a movie that did not have any relation to his CTE course. Administration had no choice to put him on an action plan. The action plan spelled out what it would take in order for him to keep his job. He responded by completing the entire list of task on the action plan. He actually planned meaningful lessons. The students are actually learning. It took the threat of him losing his job to get him to actually begin putting forth maximal effort. In conclusion, a variety of human relations and communication models must be implemented at school sites to have an effective, efficient organization. Modern communications play a large role in the implementation of these theories. Many different modalities of communication must be used. Face to face interactions need to remain interpersonal and motivated. Leadership must carefully weigh the benefits and costs of different conversations in order to communicate more directly and positively. Communication must be backed through careful observation and proactive, frequent feedback. Barriers to effective communication must be broken down at all costs to the well being of the school site. When these theories are combined, it is evident that schools are progressing towards new and exciting achievements that will continuously improve education. References: Eden, D. (1988). Pygmalion, goal setting, and expectancy: Compatible ways to boost productivity. Academy Of Management Review, 13(4), 639-652. doi:10.5465/AMR.1988.4307530 Green, R. L., (2013). Practicing the Art of Leadership: A Problem-Based Approach to Implementing the ISLLC Standards, Fourth Ed. Boston: MA: Pearson Education, Inc. Greenwood, R., & Miller, D. (2010). Tackling design anew: Getting back to the heart of organizational theory. Academy Of Management Perspectives, 24(4), 78-88. doi:10.5465/AMP.2010.55206386 Harper, A. L. (2010). Social Networking with Edmodo: Let your digital footsteps lead the way. Kentucky English Bulletin, 59 (2), 19-21. Lamoureux, E.R. (1996). An experiential approach to teaching communication theories: Incorporating contemporary media to clarify theoretical concepts. Razik, T. A. & Swanson, A. D. (2010). Fundamental Concepts of Educational Leadership and Management, Third Ed. Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon. VanDoorn, G. & Eklund, A. (2013). Face to Face book: Social media and the learning and teaching potential of symmetrical, synchronous communication. Journal of University Teaching and Learning Practice, 10 (1), 1-2. Weiner, B. (2000). Intrapersonal and interpersonal theories of motivation from an attributional perspective. Educational Psychology Review, 12(1), 1-14.
Wednesday, October 23, 2019
IT User NVQ – Communication
Most businesses of a certain site will have a company website to ell and advertise their products and services. These companies will often have a staff intranet run on company servers for employees only. This gives access to company Information, handbooks, procedures, forms and announcements. Paper based Information Is found in newspapers, books, maps and other printed literature and materials. Marketing information takes form in posters, billboards, leaflets, business cards and advertisements. Copyright law applies to all Information that Is available to view and be stored.It applies to music downloads, personal details, medical history, financial records, and retests a company or creator from plagiarism and theft of owned ideas and work. When referencing someone else's work it is important to acknowledging sources such as websites or books used. This also applies to Images taken from Imaging sites unless bought through stock photography. Electronically, access to Information can be restricted and permissions granted to only those chosen by the authority, an example of this is an HRS folder in a company network.Only authorized members of the HRS department would have access to the folder and Its contents as It would contain personal and confidential Information. A person or a business proven to be breaking the Data Protection Act and Copyright laws will be heavily fined and can face a prison sentence. Bal . 2 Describe a minimum of four different features of information. Manuals and training guides provide information on how to use products and appliances Including manufacturing guidelines and warranty information.Training guides are tutorials for the use of hardware and software, these start from a beginner level to more advanced features and functions. These can be supplied both paper and electronic format. Books containing factual Information can be bought from specialist bookstores, queasiness or borrowed from libraries. These can be history and language bo oks or 1 OFF ordinate survey maps contain information about local, national or international areas and countries, whilst reports are created to show information relating to finance, success, stock and inquiry.These can be presented in a written form or a presentation on television or over the radio. Creative work is a vital part of advertising information to attract interest and sales. Companies produce posters, brochures and other marketing materials to appeal to their current customer base and attract curiosity from new ones. Information treated on marketing materials usually relates to discounts, new products, extended sales, company profiles and imagery of goods, ideas and concepts.Live information such as bus / trains times, road traffic news, national news bulletins and weather forecasts are available to provide continuous up to date coverage online, on television and through electronic displays. This is arguably the most widely used and necessary information feature to allow the smooth operation of transport, businesses and increasing public knowledge on local and worldly matters. 82. 1, 82. 2, 82. 3 & 82. 4 Use a minimum of three different examples of access, aviation and search, one from each category. Use a minimum of three different search techniques and evaluate if the outcomes are fit for purpose.Access – entering a password to access a file or folder, creating a database query, entering an exact web address into an internet browser. Navigate – the use of website menu bars, browsing a company intranet, using bookmarks and favorites to store and recall websites and pages of interest. Search – the use of a search engine, using the find tool in Microsoft programs, using a wild card in database systems when a range of results is required or the exact search name unknown. Evaluation: – It is important that the information searched for and the results are relevant and up to date.Some websites are not regularly updated so will contain outdated information, a way to check for this is to check the end date on the copyright notice at the base of most home pages. Other informative sites such as Wisped are contribution based so users all over the world can input information on a topic. This information may not be accurate or be referenced incorrectly. Using a wildcat in databases will result in increased data found; sort through this for the information required will take time. However it is a useful tool if the name or description of what is being searched is unknown.Level of detail required is fundamental to how information is searched and accessed. For more detailed such as books and magazines on a specific topic. Navigation must be a sufficient option on any commercial website so the user can easily find what they are looking for. Poor design and limited functionality will dissuade users from using a site. 83. 1 & 83. 2 – See Using Email evidence 83. 3 A minimum of three different examples of manag ing storage. Managing storage in electronic communication is important to allow for organization ND easy retrieval of information.Creating message folders and suborders with rules attached for incoming mail will help to organize busy infixes into different categories such as department, sender name and importance. Suborders can be included for completed tasks or read and replied to emails. Any important attachments should be downloaded to a specific folder and the email archived or deleted if possible to create more space. Archiving important emails allows them to be saved on an individual computer or on a network. These emails can be retrieved when needed and opened in a compatible email client.Deleting unwanted emails ND regularly clear Junk and deleted items folders will help to increase space and also the running speed of an email program. These folders can be set to auto empty on close of the program or after a certain number of days. 83. 4 & 83. 5 Describe how to, and respond appropriately to, at least two common IT- based communication problems. When communicating through IT some problems can occur which can be rectified by following guidelines set by the network administrator of the manufacturer. Examples of problems that can occur are attempting to send or receive an email with an attachment that is too large or unreadable.Many businesses set size restrictions on incoming and outgoing mail for security and space management. Decreasing the size of the file or finding an alternative method of delivery such as a USB stick will allow the recipient to receive without further issues. Sometimes an attachment cannot be opened as it has been created in a program not installed on the recipient's computer. Appropriate programs, or the sender and resave in a different format. Emails from unknown senders can be problematic. These can be SPAM or fishing emails attempting to trick the recipient into entering personal or banking details ender the guise of a legitimat e company.They can also be innocent messages that can contain a virus attachment which is intended to damage the recipient's computer. Ways to prevent this are to install antivirus software and update it regularly. Increase firewall settings and if possible install spare prevention software also. Be wary of emails from unknown senders, if an email address does not appear legitimate most email clients have a block feature to stop further emails being received from the address. Any emails that appear to be genuine such as from a bank are often not so contacting the company by phone will clarify what is required.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)