Operations Management - 937 Words

Sunderland Business School Level: M Module: Operations Management Module Code: PGBM03 Module Leader: Tom Cuthbertson Issue Date: 26th July 2011 Return Date: 16th August 2011 Contribution to Module Assessment 100% This is an individual assignment. Work submitted must adhere to the University policy on Cheating, Collusion and Plagiarism. Introduction If Marketings function is to identify the needs of customers, then it is Operations Management which has the role of providing the required products or services in a way that satisfies the criteria imposed by the market. Efficient operation of this function is therefore important if the organisation is to be successful. An understanding of the main operational tasks is†¦show more content†¦You are invited to review all the models and concepts that we have discussed. Tom Cuthbertson Moderated by Dr Tie Xu Module Leader PGBM03 Operations Management – Assignment Business Report Structure – 3000 words +/- 10% Size 12 font, spacing 1.5, include word count. Report Presentation †¢ Front Sheet – Name / Student Number / Programme / Module / Date †¢ Table of Contents †¢ Introduction †¢ Main Body of Report – Analysis of theory and practice related to this organisation or company †¢ Conclusion and Recommendations †¢ References - 10 to 20 †¢ Appendix – not included in word count Use Turnitin and submit Turnitin report with your hard copy of assignment. Typical distribution of word count could be; 500 words Introduction 2000 Main body analysis 500 Conclusion and Recommendations PGBM 03 Module Assessment Grading Criteria First Class (70 – 100%) A creative and original response to the assignment brief. Critically reflecting on perceived theory and experiences. Wide and appropriate use of sources (theory and practice) based on reading and experiences. Report written fluently, with evidence of a highly developed capacity to structure work systematically and argue logically. Merit (60 – 69%) Comprehensive knowledge of concepts and theories. Appropriate application ofShow MoreRelatedOperations Management : Operation Management1355 Words   |  6 PagesOperations Management Introduction Operations management is the activity of managing the resources that create and deliver services and products. The operations function is the part of the organization that is responsible for this activity. Every organization has an operations function because every organization creates some type of services and/or products. However, not all types of organization will necessarily call the operations function by this name. Operations managers are the people who haveRead MoreOperation Management - Cadburyworld2493 Words   |  10 Pagestechnology to streamline the operation process) and facility costs (old and outdated facilities) at lowest possible. In return, they have to compromise low costs with their other objectives. The unskilled staffs and outdated facilities are compromised with the quality in the core process. For example, the brief video (facility) in the packaging plant is outdated and requires commentary notes from some guides. However, the unskilled guides are not familiar with the operations so they need to read fromRead MoreOperation Management And Operations Management2148 Words   |  9 PagesOperation management Introduction Being an operations manager is not an easy task, it involves good control and responsibilities for the major activities within the organisations in order to achieve goals that might be in form of services or in form of goods. The operation management roles may be different from business to business depending on the size and resources available, each organisation has its own operations functions, and in order to produces goods or services they have to convert theRead MoreImportance Of Production And Operations Management2317 Words   |  10 Pagesthe production and operation of enterprises. In order to remain competitive, companies in different countries have different factors of competitive advantage. A clear competitive advantage is the key to gain success in production and operation management. An effective operations management is the foundation of enterprise competitive advantage and the fundamental guarantee to realize corporate strategy. This essay deals with the importance of production and operations management in the enterprise,Read MoreOperations Management : Operation Management Essay2171 Words   |  9 PagesOperation Management Operations administration concentrates on precisely dealing with the procedures to create and circulate items and administrations. Operations administration is the procedure, which joins and changes different assets utilized as a part of the creation/operations subsystem of the association into quality included item/benefits in a controlled way according to the arrangements of the association. In this way, it is that part of an association, which is worried with the changeRead MoreOperation Management2751 Words   |  12 PagesTABLE OF CONTENTS 1. OPERATION MANAGEMENT 3 1.1. DEFINITION OF OPERATION MANAGEMENT 3 1.2. THE ROLE OF OPERATION MANAGER 3 1.3. RELATIONSHIP OF OPERATION MANAGEMENT WITH OTHER CORE FUNCTIONS 3 2. CASE STUDIES 3 2.1. HEATHROW INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT 3 2.2. NESTLÉ UK CHOCOLATE FACTORY 3 3. MAJOR UNDERSTANDINGS OF THE STUDY 3 4. CONCLUSIONS 3 REFERENCES 3 1. Operation Management For the success of an organization, the management crew plays a major role. An organizational structure is based on differentRead MoreOperations Management986 Words   |  4 PagesOPERATIONS MANAGEMENT Select two organisations that you are familiar with – one with a service output and one with a product output, and compare and contrast these organisations with respect to the following aspects: 1.1 The process of transformation of inputs to outputs 1.2 Process and Capacity design 1.3 Supply Chain management 1.4 Scheduling Operations Management refers to the management of the production system that transforms inputs into finished goods and services, (http://csuponomaRead MoreOperation Management2436 Words   |  10 PagesOPERATION MANAGEMENT IS IMPORTANT TO ALL BUSINESS To be able produce specialized managers capable of fulfilling strategic tasks within business and government enterprises the need for the practice of operations management cannot be forgone. Operations management is very significant in business operations since it forms the heart of the organisation by controlling the system of operation. Operations management deals with the design, operation, and enhancement of the systems that generate and deliverRead MoreOperations Management Chapter 18 Manual1950 Words   |  8 PagesChApter 18 Management of Waiting Lines Teaching Notes Some of the math and calculations can be left out in order to focus more clearly on the concepts of waiting lines. For example, all infinite source problems, including single channel (except constant service time) can be handled using the infinite source queuing table. In the past, queuing presented students with a good bit of computational requirements, and because of that, students frequently lost sight of the underlying concepts. WithRead MoreOperations Management1791 Words   |  8 PagesQUESTION 1 Operations management must be managed properly in order to improve an organization’s productivity and profitability. In the Cadbury World case, several micro and macro processes are involved and those processes bring some impacts to Cadbury World. Thus, Cadbury World must possess a sustainable micro and macro processes to achieve the best outcome and performance. Micro processes that involved are easily to manage compared to macro processes because macro processes are hard to manage

Overfishing Essay - 1099 Words

Overfishing is a huge issue around the world. Overfishing occurs when more fish are caught than the amount they can reproduce. This overfishing problem is a huge decline in population of fish. Due to overfishing the animals at the top of the ocean food chain such as Sharks will have no food to eat. Overfishing is a major problem for the ecosystem of the ocean. Overfishing affects the ocean ecosystem in many negative ways. Fishermen can target the fish at the top of the food chain or the bottom of the food chain, but either way it both can affect the ecosystem. Targeted fishing of top predators eventually disrupts marine communities, causing an increased abundance of smaller marine animals at the bottom of the food chain.(WWF)†¦show more content†¦Overfishing affects the ecosystem in a negative way. Overfishing causes a chain reaction in other populations. If one species is being overfished that fish could possibly be the prey to another species. Herring is a vital prey species for the cod. Therefore, when herring are overfished the cod population suffers as well.(ypte) Due to one species being nearly depleted the other can possibly become depleted as well due to the marine food chain being very sensitive. Overfishing a specific species of fish can soon cause it to become extinct. Species such as the Blue-fin tuna has been fished so much along the Coast of Japan that it has become an endangered species and decreases the biodiversity of the ocean. If this, Continues, more species will be driven to extinction and aquatic ecosystems will collapse.(Revolution) Due to overfishing, the aquatic ecosystem can be in danger of collapsing. Overfishing not only affects the fish itself, but the ecosystem. If overfishing continues there may be a chance that the ocean can become completely de pleted of fish. Studies show that, More than 85% of global fish stocks in our oceans are at significant risk of IUU fishing.(WWF) Overfishing causes many problems for the ecosystem of the ocean. This overfishing over-exploitation is not only in one ocean but multiple. Several ocean areas, every single species of fish is at high or moderate risk to illegalShow MoreRelatedEssay about Overfishing Is Destroying the Oceans of the World1550 Words   |  7 Pagescan still convince so many people that they are taking sustainable amounts of fish we must examine one of their more common arguments. It is most often said that most of the fishery scientists, biologists, and ecologists sounding the alarm about overfishing are greatly underestimating the ability of the stocks to replenish themselves or overestimating the necessity of a particular factor. Unfortunately some of these scientists are exaggerating their data to try and galvanize a response from the generalRead MoreOverfishing: the Problem and the Solution Essay example1764 Words   |  8 PagesOverfishing: The Problem and the Solution Your Name Axia College of University of Phoenix Overfishing: The Problem and the Solution A major environmental problem that has developed over the last few years is overfishing. What is overfishing? Overfishing is simply what it sounds like. Overfishing occurs when fishermen are catching fish so quickly and at such high rates that the fish are unable to reproduce fast enough to replenish the population. It is my belief that, if this has not alwaysRead MoreTragedy of the Commons: Overfishing the World’s Oceans Essay1699 Words   |  7 Pagesconsidering some of the environmental issues facing our planet. One of the major concerns confronting the environment today is the overfishing of the world’s oceans, depleting some species to near extinction. With continued advances in technological and industrial proficiency, fishing vessels are able to fish across the globe, further exacerbating the effects of overfishing. Because the oceans are considered a shared or common resource, they inherently lack specific property rights protection and areRead MoreEssay on E ffects Of Overfishing Atlantic Cod on East Coast Ecosystems603 Words   |  3 PagesOverfishing is a global issue that has many negative effects on the environment (Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 2009). Fish are a major resource that many people rely on for not only nutrition, but also for a means of income (Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 2009). As the population of the world increases, so does the demand for fish, which puts oceans under a lot of pressure (Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 2009). Due to advanced fishing technologies and equipment, going out further into the oceans and catchingRead MoreOverfishing Essay782 Words   |  4 PagesOverfishing is a form of overexploitation where fish stocks are reduced to below acceptable levels. Overfishing can occur in water bodies of any sizes, such as ponds, rivers, lakes or oceans, and can result in depletion of certain resources. By deplete resources is meant using up or consuming supplies. Coastal management is defense against flooding a nd erosion, and techniques that stop erosion to claim lands. Both hard engineering and soft engineering are types of coastal management strategies. TheRead MoreArgumentative Essay On Overfishing1314 Words   |  6 PagesAbstract: Overfishing is the process of fishing to the point where more fish are caught than the population can replace through natural reproduction. It may seem profitable to quickly grab as much fish as you can, but it is extremely harmful to the marine ecosystem. The results of this have lasting impacts on the balance of life in the oceans, and the social and economic well-being of the coastal communities who depend on fish for their way of life. Fortunately, there are efforts being done to helpRead MoreName: Abdulaziz Abdulkhaev Grade: 10 Ms. Leggett One World Essay: Biodiversity and Ecosystem600 Words   |  3 PagesOne World Essay: Biodiversity and Ecosystem Losses Overfishing There are many environmental problems that cause biodiversity and ecosystem losses. They include: Overfishing, Coral reef destruction, Invasive species disruptions/alien species, and Deforestation. The problem that I chose to discuss and look for scientific solutions is Overfishing. Many countries over the world rely on fishing as their primary source for protein. That makes this a global issue. First, What is Overfishing? Well, accordingRead MoreWhy And How Should We Regulate Coastal Fisheries1508 Words   |  7 Pagesreliant on its coastal fisheries offering a vast amount of fish, shellfish and crustacea. For hundreds of years we as a country have relied on the sea for food, but after many decades of overfishing and destructive fishing methods it has left our fish stocks severely depleted and in need of time to recover, in this essay I will discuss the many ways that the government and public can help our coastal fisheries to recover. One of the biggest problems our fisheries fac e is bycatch which is the catchingRead MoreThe Issue of Overfishing995 Words   |  4 Pagesprogressing rapidly on various fronts. Nevertheless at the same time, the problem of overfishing is becoming increasingly worrisome and attract extensive attention of the society. In this essay, I will address overfishing and propose some possible causes of this phenomenon which can give contribution to some solutions. Introduction This issue of overfishing covers vast fields, such as science, humanity, economy, society and nature. The termRead MoreThe Issue Of Canadian Fisheries1431 Words   |  6 Pagesresults in the overuse of open access resources by independent agents, looking to retrieve as many resources as possible without giving regard to other users of the common property. This essay focuses on the issue of Canadian fisheries as a common example of the issue and a topic subject to much academic research. This essay serves as a two-part discussion of policies regarding common property open access. Specifically, two main categories of common-property source regulation price and quantity regulation

Continuous teacher professional development through collaboration Free Essays

string(68) " up a codification of behavior when they have helped to develop it\." The School as a Learning Environment Introduction A positive acquisition environment can be described as an environment in which a community of scholars dwelling of kids and grownups work together to supply, promote and prolong their ain and one another ‘s acquisition ( Barth, 2001:31 ) . In this essay the writer, pulling from professional experience in an Irish primary school context and mentioning to relevant literature, will sketch the cardinal features of schools that are positive learning environments. It will be outlined how devolved leading affecting all teaching staff ; supplying students with a voice sing school policies and their ain acquisition ; a physical environment which enables and encourages larning ; advancing uninterrupted teacher professional development through coaction ; and steps to affect all parents in the administration of the school and in heightening their kids ‘s, and through the procedure their ain, larning are cardinal features of schools that are positive learning environments. We will write a custom essay sample on Continuous teacher professional development through collaboration or any similar topic only for you Order Now It will besides be highlighted how factors such as opposition to alter among school forces, dysfunctional staff relationships and recent Irish Government policies are common obstructions to gaining such environments. Teacher Leadership With a invariably increasing work load and duty â€Å" the demands and challenges of prima schools are merely excessively great for any one individual ( the principal ) † ( Stoll, 2009:122 ) . As Barth ( 2001 ) notes principals need aid in â€Å" carry throughing this impossible occupation description † ( p. 84 ) . One possible solution to this state of affairs is devolved leading whereby teaching staff are provided with leading functions and duties in the running of the school. Much has been written in educational literature recommending this engagement of instructors in leading functions ( Callan, 2006: 214 ; Harris, 2008:31 ; Sergiovanni, 1992 ; Stoll and Fink, 1996:52 ; The Teaching Council, 2010 ; Tuohy, 1999:166 ) . Cases in which instructors can take include take parting in the creative activity of a school vision and associated policies, determining course of study for the school, planning and prima staff development activities, prosecuting in determinations abo ut how financess should be allocated and engaging new instructors ( Barth, 2001:88 ) . The writer ‘s school has started this procedure of instructor leaders with greater duty being given to the in school direction squad, which consists of instructors who hold Posts of Responsibility, sing determinations about school policies, but this is merely a first measure every bit in order for schools to accomplish maximal good results â€Å" all instructors must take † ( Barth, 2001:85 ) . This teacher leading can take to a positive acquisition environment in legion ways. It can assist to prolong and advance instructor committedness and motive to the school as they are involved in doing determinations which affect them ( Fullan, 2003:38 ) , which can besides promote instructors to alter their schoolroom pattern which is important to school betterment ( Fullan and Hargreaves, 1991:23 ) . This leading function can fix instructors for the function of chief instead than all of a sudden puting them unprepared into this place subsequently in their calling ( Fullan and Hargreaves, 1991:20 ) and enable these teacher leaders to larn as they can larn through the experiences of leading ( Barth, 2001:82 ) . It has been argued that if instructors are provided with leading functions they in bend will supply leading functions for students turning the school into a more democratic environment with less subject jobs and higher student accomplishment ( Barth, 2001:80 ) and that better d eterminations are made as a consequence of scattering determination doing sing school issues such as subject processs and professional development ( ibid:82 ) . This leading function besides adds assortment to the instructor ‘s function and can enable them to act upon the lives of grownups every bit good as students ( ibid:83 ) . Sharing leading can besides enable the principal to go a scholar in this acquisition environment as he can larn through coaction with these instructor leaders ( Fullan and Hargreaves, 1991:122 ) . As Barth ( 2001 ) notes â€Å" A school civilization hospitable to widespread leading will be a school civilization hospitable to widespread acquisition † ( p. 81 ) . Pupil Voice Equally good as supplying instructors with greater duty through leading functions another cardinal feature of a positive acquisition environment is one in which students are given greater duty by apportioning them a voice sing school policy and their ain acquisition. The United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child ( 1989 ) states â€Å" States Parties shall guarantee to the kid who is capable of organizing his or ain positions the right to show those positions freely in all affairs impacting the kid aˆÂ ¦ . † ( Article 12 ) . Irish Policy recognised this right with the publication of the National Children ‘s Strategy ( 2000 ) which aims to make â€Å" An Ireland where kids are respected as immature citizens with a valued part to do and a voice of their ain aˆÂ ¦ . † ( Department of Health and Children, 2000:10 ) . An obvious context for kids to exert this voice is sing their school experiences as a consequence of the big part of their lives they spend in school ( Devine, 2004:112 ) . Opportunities for students to be given this voice in school include affecting them in building and take parting in their ain acquisition by supplying feedback to instructors on lessons sing how students learned and ways the instructor could do the lesson more ambitious or gratifying ( Claxton, 2008:157 ) and by puting up pupil councils to discourse school policies and processs ( McLoughlin, 2004 ) . This voice can even travel every bit far as learning instructors as Barth ( 2001:3 ) describes a school in which students provide direction to instructors sing information communicating engineering accomplishments. This writer ‘s school has begun the procedure of supplying this voice to pupils through the constitution of the Green Schools Committee in which pupil representatives from every category meet on a hebdomadal footing to discourse school environmental processs. Supplying students with this voice can make a positive acquisition environment in a figure of ways. The positives of giving pupils chances to lend to school policies such as the codification of behavior are outlined by the National Education Welfare Board ( NEWB ) observing that: Students are more likely to back up a codification of behavior when they have helped to develop it. You read "Continuous teacher professional development through collaboration" in category "Essay examples" Relationships of trust between instructors and pupils can turn through the procedure ( NEWB, 2008:16 ) . Childs can besides larn accomplishments of hearing, negociating and pull offing differences through active battle in a societal context ( NEWB, 2008:16 ) . Supplying students with this voice can actuate them to come to school by demoing them that both they and their sentiments sing determinations that affect them affair ( Stoll and Fink, 1996:139 ) . It shows kids that the school will handle them rightly as Devine ( 2004:122 ) notes kids feel that schools treat them below the belt when schools exclude their positions. Children ‘s ability to larn about issues such as democracy, justness and inclusiveness can be made more effectual as kids experience these rights foremost manus through pattern and engagement ( Devine, 2004:124 ) . In his survey of a pupil council set up in a primary school McLoughlin ( 2004:132 ) noted positive acquisition results for the students involved including felicity and pride as a consequence of being involved, a sense of belonging, increased assurance a nd a turning sense of partnership with school forces. Claxton ( 2008 ) notes that puting up pupil councils to discourse issues of existent importance enables participants to â€Å" cognize that what they learn by undertaking these issues will function them good in ulterior life † ( p. 149 ) . Resistance to Change In order to include these comparatively fresh constructs of instructor leading and pupil voice as outlined above schools have to get the better of the common obstruction of opposition to alter. As Eisner ( 1992 ) notes â€Å" It is much easier to alter educational policy than to alter the ways in which schools map † ( p. 610 ) . This opposition can come from instructors and principals. This opposition to alter is an obstruction to gaining a positive acquisition environment as Stoll and Fink ( 1996 ) note: A school is either bettering or it is acquiring worse. It can non stand still because its context is invariably altering ( p.42 ) . Many instructors may defy alteration as they fear new inventions that they feel might expose their ain perceived insufficiencies ( Stoll and Fink, 1996:50 ) , experience a sense of loss go forthing a set of familiar set of behaviors behind and fear the hereafter and the unknown ( Tuohy, 1999:27 ) . Experienced instructors may defy alteration as a consequence of familiar modus operandis they have built up which require minimum attempt on their portion ( Eisner, 1998:159 ) . The writer experienced this opposition to alter on several occasions. One such juncture was when the writer displayed a posting saying to pupils â€Å" You have the right to give your sentiment, and for grownups to listen and take it earnestly † , adapted from Article 12 of The United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child ( 1989 ) , in his schoolroom. Several of the writer ‘s co-workers expressed their disapproval of this message being displayed to kids due to its ‘inappropriateness ‘ on the evidences that students should make precisely and without inquiry as they are instructed to by instructors as has ever been the instance. This mentality earnestly restricts the possible to supply a voice to pupils as outlined above. This writer has besides witnessed instructors learning the same content utilizing the same methodological analysiss twelvemonth after twelvemonth irrespective of alterations in national or school policies. Callan ( 2006 ) in researching the School Curriculum Development ( SCD ) enterprise in 20 Irish secondary schools notes that principals can besides defy alteration saying â€Å" Consequently, one learned in the procedure of this enterprise that one could non presume that there was a preparedness, willingness, or a capacity among school principals to change their function † ( p. 107 ) . Possible grounds for this include principals desiring to keep on to power and control and to be at the Centre of doing determinations sing everything that happens in their school ( Barth, 2001:108 ) . This has an obvious damaging consequence to the end of supplying leading functions for all instructors. Physical Environment Cohen, McCabe, Michelli and Pickeral ( 2009:3 ) highlight the importance of a school ‘s physical environment observing that the environmental-structural dimension of a school including its cleanliness, infinite and stuffs and aesthetic quality is one of four indispensable dimensions sing the quality and character of school life. Research has shown that the first alteration the bulk of freshly appointed principals make upon get downing in the function of principal is a calculated alteration to the school ‘s physical environment ( Stoll and Fink, 1996:51 ) . Marie Stubbs when appointed principal to St. George ‘s Roman Catholic Secondary School in London, England transformed the fighting school which was on the threshold of closing from the Office for Standards in Education ( Ofsted ) into a positive acquisition environment which went on to be nominated by Ofsted as a national illustration of good pattern. One method she adopted to accomplish this was by doing several alterations to the school ‘s physical environment. These included painting each floor of the school a different bright coloring material doing the school more visually appealing and welcoming to pupils, altering the schools atrium by seting in new comfy chairs doing it a more comfy and inviting topographic point for pupils and seting up noticeboards incorporating images and information about pupils and their activities, including birthday notices, to demo them they were valued ( Stubbs, 2003 ) . The late appointed principal in the writer ‘s school has besides made several alterations to the school ‘s physical environment including the creative activity of a new computing machine room which enables students to larn, and hopefully learn, information communicating engineering accomplishments. Claxton ( 2008 ) identifies extra physical characteristics of a learning school including shows which show the journey of acquisition every bit good as the terminal merchandise, such as a student ‘s different efforts at making a picture, showing to them â€Å" We are every bit interested in the traveling as in the arriving † ( p. 145 ) . He besides states that â€Å" One of the ways you can recognize a larning power civilization is by looking at the objects and shows that instructors have chosen to ‘decorate ‘ their classroomsaˆÂ ¦ . † ( p. 145 ) encouraging shows that develop students ‘ â€Å" acquisition musculuss † ( p. 148 ) . He recommends a schoolroom layout which encourages students to travel about and larn from each other in a societal context ( p. 148 ) . Such a layout can enable students to larn through the societal procedure described by Vygotsky where with aid from person more knowing and skilled in a co-operative scene, t he scholar is able to accomplish more than he could entirely ( Stoll, Fink and Earl, 2003:38 ) . A school physical environment which both enables and encourages larning is hence a cardinal feature of a positive acquisition environment. Continuous Teacher Professional Development through Collaboration Equally good as promoting students to larn, positive acquisition environments encourage instructors to larn. Stoll and Fink ( 1996 ) highlight a important ground for this stating: a important subscriber to pupil acquisition is teacher larning. When instructors are professionally fulfilled, demonstrate occupation satisfaction, accomplishments and cognition, and have a strong feeling of efficaciousness around their pattern, they are more likely to actuate students to desire to larn ( p. 152 ) . Another factor in instructor larning promoting student acquisition is the illustration this sets for students many of whom will seek to emulate their instructor ‘s illustration ( Barth, 2001:28 ) . In order to supply a positive acquisition illustration, instructors can be seen by their pupils to be seeking out ways of going a better instructor. In making so they are patterning person who is invariably looking to acquire better at what they do ( Claxton, 2008:157 ) . It has besides been argued that teachers become better pedagogues when they invariably learn how to learn ( Barth, 2001:28 ) . The Education Act ( 1998 ) refers to the significance of instructor larning observing the importance of â€Å" a school environment which is supportive of larning among pupils and which promotes the professional development of instructors † ( subdivision 23-2c ) . The cardinal issue is how the school supports this development. This development should be uninterrupted and changeless because there will ever be a demand for instructors to better ( Fullan, 1991:344 ) and â€Å" When instructors stop turning, so make their pupils † ( Barth 1990:50 ) . Many educational authors advocate the importance of coaction between instructors as cardinal to their professional development ( Callan, 2006: 71 ; Lieberman and Miller, 1999:69 ; Palmer, 2007:146 ; Stoll and Fink, 1996:54 ) . As Stoll et Al. ( 2003 ) note â€Å" If systems to back up professional growing are intended to prolong their acquisition, they must nevertheless, aid schools develop as acquisition communities where ped agogues collaborate to ask critically about their ain pattern † ( p. 173 ) . Methods of teacher coaction presently used by the writer include squad instruction, in which the mainstream category instructor and resource instructor prepare and Teach lessons together and joint planning, where instructors of a specific twelvemonth group program lessons together on a monthly footing. Other methods, non yet utilised in pattern by the writer, include mentoring, in which a senior member of staff provides feedback to a late appointed instructor sing lessons, lesson readying, resources and planning ; collaborative action research, in which instructors examine a specific country of the school such as methodological analysiss used in learning job work outing accomplishments in mathematics ; and common observation and feedback of lessons in which ‘critical friends ‘ observe each other ‘s lessons and supply critical feedback sing strengths and failings in learning methodological analysiss employed ( Stoll et al. , 2003:94 ) . In trying to make a collaborat ive acquisition environment it is of import that instructors are shown that collaborative work can take many diverse signifiers and empowered to choose patterns which suit them best instead than one peculiar attack being forced on them ( Fullan and Hargreaves, 1991:123/124 ) . These collaborative environments can assist instructors to larn in assorted ways. As Rosenholtz ( 1989:85 ) notes they can enable instructors to admit that instruction is hard and that it is of import to seek aid from co-workers. In pass oning more with co-workers, instructors can go more confident and certain about what they are seeking to accomplish and how good they are accomplishing it. Merely as it has been noted that pupils larn better in a societal context from each other the same can be said about instructors. Equally good as instructor coaction bettering instructors ‘ chances to larn it can make likewise for students as â€Å" you can non hold pupils as uninterrupted scholars and effectual confederates, without instructors holding these same features † ( Fullan, 1993:46 ) . It besides enhances the school ‘s overall ability to better as a high degree of shared vision and teamwork is required to convey about important alteration ( Tuohy, 1999:179 ) . Dysfunctional Staff Relationships An obstruction to teacher acquisition, particularly in footings of collaborative acquisition, and hence to gaining a positive acquisition environment is dysfunctional staff relationships. It has been noted that negative school environments have actively hostile relationships among staff ( Peterson, 2002 ) . The writer, through experience of learning in a school with over 30 instructors on staff, has seen dysfunctional, and even hostile, staff relationships as a consequence of subcultures or ‘cliques ‘ of instructors organizing, a procedure described as â€Å" Balkanization † ( Fullan and Hargreaves, 1991:72 ) . In the writer ‘s experience members of assorted subcultures had no involvement or desire in working with yet alone join forcesing with members of other subcultures. This subculture outlook, and ill will which sometimes accompanies it, besides provides a hapless illustration to pupils who frequently strive to emulate their instructor ‘s illustrati on. In add-on as Fullan and Hargreaves ( 1991 ) note: Balkanization may take to hapless communicating, indifference, or groups traveling their separate ways in a school. This in bend can bring forth hapless continuity in supervising pupil advancement and inconsistent outlooks for their public presentation and behavior ( p. 72 ) . Another type of dysfunctional staff relationships are congenial relationships as opposed to collegial 1s ( Lieberman and Miller, 2008 ) . These congenial civilizations can curtail instructors ‘ potency to larn through coaction as although relationships are good-humored and compatible they do non affect the struggle or hazard needed to convey about effectual critical coaction and acquisition among instructors, such as critical feedback sing lesson observations, as instructors are excessively concerned sing their popularity ( Lieberman and Miller, 2008:18 ) . In the writer ‘s experience dysfunctional relationships can besides be between principals and instructors around issues such as work load, acknowledgment, regard and duty assigned to instructors by principals. This has a negative consequence on positive acquisition environments as Barth ( 2001 ) notes a common feature of a troubled school is â€Å" troubled, embattled, or antiseptic decision maker – teacher relationships † ( p. 105 ) . These dysfunctional staff relationships can therefore earnestly impede a school ‘s possible to go a positive acquisition environment and as Stoll and Fink ( 1996 ) note â€Å" Until clime and collegiality issues receive attending, instructors in schools sing troubles frequently show small involvement in development of instruction and acquisition schemes † ( p. 78 ) . Parental Engagement Educational literature has noted the positive benefits, such as making a sense of community belonging, which can accrue from affecting other grownups in the local community besides instructors in schools ( Fullan, 1993:84 ; Stoll et al. , 2003:73 ; Tuohy, 1999:89 ) . Involving the most important grownups in students ‘ lives, their parents or defenders, can go a cardinal feature of a positive acquisition environment. Parents can be encouraged to go involved in the administration of the school by doing costumes for school dramas, supplying aid in schoolrooms, providing resources, giving negotiations on countries of expertness, training athleticss squads, functioning on school commissions and the Board of Management of the school, join forcesing with instructors sing their kids ‘s acquisition and lending to the development of school policies. This engagement can hold several positive results. The National Education Welfare Board ( NEWB ) ( 2008 ) outlines the significance of affecting parents in developing the codification of behaviour school policy for a school by pulling on their outlooks, penetrations and experience which may offer the school a different position. Possible positive consequences include fiting parents to reenforce to their kids the messages about acquisition and behavior that are contributing to a positive school, giving parents an penetration into the demands for instructors to learn efficaciously and assisting parents to hold a strong sense of pride and ownership of the school ‘s work ( NEWB, 2008:16 ) . In add-on as Stoll and Fink ( 1996 ) note â€Å" The fact remains that parents and instructors need to be ‘reading from the same page ‘ to advance student acquisition and development † ( p. 135 ) . It has been noted that most parents have a important desire for schools to be p ositive larning environments as they want their kids to larn to their full potency ( Barth, 2001:168 ) . By join forcesing with parents sing their kids ‘s larning instructors can happen out a wealth of information refering these students such as their involvements enabling instructors to construction lessons based on these involvements which can increase pupil motive. Schools can besides follow steps to affect parents in heightening their kids ‘s acquisition at place. In researching international surveies from 20 states on school – household – community partnerships, Drum sanders and Epstein ( 2005:208 ) discovered this was the country most households in most states requested support and counsel in. This can be achieved by schools carry oning plans and patterns, such as workshops and place visits, to beef up rearing accomplishments and aid parents supply place environments to back up their kids ‘s acquisition. Research suggests these steps can advance a positive acquisition environment as a consequence of positive influences on households ‘ patterns at place, parent and student attitudes about schools, students ‘ academic accomplishment and instructors ‘ attitudes towards parents ( Sanders and Epstein, 2005:208 ) . Parents can besides be encouraged by instructors to talk to their kids sing their ain acqu isition in their mundane lives. As kids frequently look to their parents as function theoretical accounts this can excite kids ‘s acquisition and enable them to see the importance of womb-to-tomb acquisition ( Barth, 2001:24 ) . Drum sanders and Epstein ( 2005 ) besides discovered â€Å" Surveies across states indicate that pupils benefit when they interact with household members about subjects they are larning in category † such as in reading, spelling, literacy and mathematics ( p. 217 ) . In transporting out the attacks outlined parents can besides go scholars in this acquisition environment and understand the altering nature of schools and acquisition. The writer has witnessed merely limited parental engagement confined to fund-raising responsibilities through engagement in the Parent Teachers Association. Even in this limited engagement parents from cultural minorities groups, disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds and the Traveller community are non included which appears to be the norm in many Irish schools ( Lodge, Devine and Deegan, 2004 ) . Schools hence need to affect all parents in the administration of the school and heightening students ‘ acquisition as â€Å" Most kids learn academic topics in school, but how they learn, what else they learn, and why they learn are influenced by schools, households, communities and their connexions † ( Sanders and Epstein, 2005:214 ) . Government Policies While outside spouses, such as parents, can assist to make a positive acquisition environment, external factors beyond the schools control, such as recent Irish authorities policies can besides be an obstruction to gaining such an environment. Recent Budgets have created such an obstruction. Budget 2009 increased category sizes which besides led to a loss in learning stations ( Department of Finance, 2008 ) while Budget 2010 saw cuts made in the allotments to teacher professional development ( Department of Finance, 2009 ) which has been outlined as a cardinal feature of a positive acquisition environment. Budget 2011 programs to cut down instructor Numberss in mainstream primary schools with the backdown of Resource Teachers for Travellers and cut downing the figure of Language Support Teachers by 500 in the following four old ages ( Department of Finance, 2010 ) . In making so the Irish authorities are taking support constructions for students and their parents who, as has been not ed in this essay, frequently do n’t hold a voice or input into schools. The Department of Education and Science placed a moratorium on primary schools advancing instructors to stations of duty ( DES Circular 0022/2009 ) . In response to this step the Irish National Teachers Organisation ( INTO ) instructed its members non to set about extra responsibilities where a post/acting station of duty is non filled as a consequence of this moratorium ( INTO, 2009 ) . These combined steps, by curtailing instructors ‘ possible to take on excess duties, have hence badly hindered the capacity for schools to implement teacher leading for all instructors as outlined in this essay. The writer ‘s school late underwent a Whole School Evaluation in which three departmental inspectors inspected the schools effectivity for the continuance of a hebdomad. These inspectors placed a heavy accent on written planning which the writer felt did small to heighten the quality of instruction and acquisition in the school. Problems such external reviews can convey on schools include force per unit area to conform to the review theoretical account and standards and they can suppress originative and critical instructor contemplation on the opinion and rating of school effectivity ( Stoll and Fink, 1996:170 ) . The inspectorate completed unheralded ( incidental ) external reviews in over 450 primary schools throughout all parts of Ireland between October 2009 and October 2010 ( DES, 2010 ) . Finland, which has no national school reviews but a system of school self-evaluation ( Webb, Vulliamy, Sarja and Hamalainen, 2006 ) , was one of the highest superior states in the Organi sation for Economic Cooperation and Development ( OECD ) Programme for International Student Assessment ( PISA ) study of instruction public presentation while in both literacy and maths degrees Irelands ranking declined significantly when compared to 2000 ( OECD, 2010 ) . It can be argued hence that the current Department of Education and Skills theoretical account of school reviews can make an obstruction to gaining positive acquisition environments. Decision As outlined in this essay, principals, instructors, students, parents and the schools physical environment can all play important functions to enable schools to go positive learning environments. The cardinal features of such a school can be described as one that provides leading functions and associated duties to its full teaching staff ; affords a voice to pupils sing school policies and their ain acquisition ; contains a physical environment that enables and encourages larning ; promotes uninterrupted instructor acquisition and development through coaction ; and has steps to affect all parents in the administration of the school and in heightening their kids ‘s acquisition. As illustrated by holding these features the school will heighten the possible and motive to larn in all its participants making a community of scholars. In the writer ‘s experience while initial stairss have been made Irish primary schools still have to to the full gain this presently mostly theoretical theoretical account of a positive acquisition environment. Reasons for this include troubles in get the better ofing common obstructions such as opposition to alter from school forces, dysfunctional staff relationships and recent authorities policies. Developing the features outlined is important to making a community of scholars as American pedagogue Laurence Downey ( 1967 ) expressed it â€Å" A school Teachs in three ways: by what it teaches, by how it teaches and by the sort of topographic point it is † .1 1 Quoted by David Hopkins Teaching and Learning as the Heartland of School Improvement Seamus O Suilleabhain Memorial talk, NUI Maynooth, September 2001 How to cite Continuous teacher professional development through collaboration, Essay examples

Is academic performance the best indicator of sucess in life Essay Example For Students

Is academic performance the best indicator of sucess in life? Essay Is academic performance the best indicator of success in life? No The definition of success differs from person to person and field to field. One could take economics success as the ingredients to label a person successful in life. Others may look at it as a capacity to overcome challenges, irrespective of what someone ears and the nature of their private life. So who is a successful person and who is a failure? Do school choices and school grades provide way of predicting or ensure future success? If this is true should there be more emphasis on students to work hard and gain formal qualifications. But is this true? Arent some college drop-outs like Bill Gates and Richard Branson successful icons of success? And should we automatically consider the millions of young people who have not had the opportunity to gain academic certificates to be failures in life? First, success never depends on grades. If success was solely based on grades than employers and potential social partners would not ask for biodata and resumes. Why would employers bother interviewing prospects in order to find out what they are like as people? They would Just hire based on the best paper qualifications. Certain people do very well in school however they spend their lives in a prison facility. So qualifications alone are never enough to determine a guaranteed success. Success also depends on physical characteristics, personality and motivations. Secondly, success is not a grade or a degree, if that was the case then why arent all graduates from Mc Gill, Ottawa U and University of Toronto not all successful? The rule of success is hard work and destiny. If a student gets good grades but is not effective in relationship building, solving crisis, and proper planning even though he ight be successful at acquiring a Job his life could lack the basics like love, family, stability and healthy relationships? Thirdly, if you look at the directory of successful people who are doctors, engineers and computer professionals then you could notice that many of them would dream to be employed by success icons like Bill Gates and Mark Zuckenberg, who have had great success in the corperate world. Bill Gates has not stepped a foot in higher education however he is a successful entrepreneur. Successful entrepreneurs even benefit from not having academic qualification as going to college forces people to earn and think alike. This environment makes it more difficult for people to develop are sometimes not able to explore their qualities fully through academics. In conclusion, I am not in the belief that academic qualifications ensures success in life because nothing is guaranteed, family and friends are more important then money and success never depends on grades. You could have a degree but there will always be someone with something better and you will be in a competition with them. Do you think academic performance is the best indicator of success in life?