Friday, January 24, 2020

My Philosophy of Education Essay -- Philosophy of Teaching Teachers Es

My Philosophy of Education â€Å"Though your beginning was insignificant, yet your end will increase greatly† â€Å"A hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove, but the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child† Anonymous I can remember the days of yester when my childhood friends and I played pretend teacher. The reasons that I decided to enter the teaching profession were very simple indeed. I have never known a day throughout my life thus far that I did not have a love for children. Throughout my youth I was involved in my church nursery, Sunday school, and vacation bible school. I have always tried to involve myself in anything that revolved around children. As my youth progressed into adolescence my love for children only grew. Today as study towards my degree I only grow anxious awaiting the day I will hear the voice a child say â€Å"Good morning Mrs. Rushbrook.† Philosophies of Education began many years ago when individuals began to express their own views and opinions to others. The views and opinions they expressed then became called philosophies. Many great educators have developed philosophies in which they feel very strongly about. Today, however I am at the point in which I will allow the world to know my philosophy of education. Students are the building blocks of life. They are the ones who will endure after â€Å"we as a people† are gone. They will then pass on the knowledge granted to them to others and so on until the end of days. The cycle never ends. If â€Å"we as a people† do not pass on the knowledge in which â€Å"we† want to stay then â€Å"we† show that o... ...n out of the room and talked to one on one if he or she has a disciplinary problem. Interacting one on one with the child is the only that he or she can full express himself or herself. Eye to eye contact can work miracles. I will try my utmost not to take unnecessary disciplinary actions. If a student is rhythmic in his or her actions then he or she shall be punished. I feel that my philosophy of education has been expressed. I believe my views and opinions about becoming a future educator can be seen very vividly. I admire those entire teachers who are out in the world today and are changing the lives of each child who enters their room. â€Å"A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops† Henry Adams â€Å"Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss you will land among the stars† Les (Lester Louis) Brown

Thursday, January 16, 2020

Learning Theories Based on Behavioral Perspectives Essay

Behaviorism is a school of thought in psychology based on the assumption that learning occurs through interactions with the environment (Cherry,2011). Two other assumptions of this theory are that the environment shapes behaviour and that taking internal mental states into consideration is useless in explaining behaviour. Ivan Pavlov, a Russian physiologist discovered the classical conditioning in the 1920s. Classical conditioning focuses on the learning of involuntary emotional or physiological responses. In his laboratory, Pavlov was in a dead end by his experiments to determine how long it took a dog to secrete digestive juices after it had been fed, but the intervals of time kept changing. At first, the dogs salivated in the expected manner while they were being fed. Then the dogs began to salivate as soon as they saw the food. Finally, they salivated as soon as they saw the scientists enter the room. Pavlov decided to make a detour from his original experiments and examine these unexpected interferences in his work. In one of his experiments, Pavlov began by sounding a tuning fork and recording a dog’s response. There was no salivation. At this point, the sound of the tuning fork was a neutral stimulus because it brought forth no salivation. Then Pavlov fed the dog. The response was salivation. The food was an unconditioned stimulus (US) because no prior training or conditioning was establish the natural connection. The salivation was an unconditioned response (UR) because it occurred automatically-no conditioning required. Using the food, the salivation, a tuning fork, Pavlov demonstrated that a dog could be conditioned to salivate after hearing the tuning fork. At the beginning of the experiment, Pavlov sounded the fork and then quickly fed the dog. After he repeated this several times, the dog began to salivate after hearing the sound but before receiving the food. Now the sound has become a conditioned stimulus (CS) which bring forth salivation by itself. The response of salivating after the tone was now a conditions response (CR). In my opinion, this method can be very useful for people to train their pets. These techniques also useful in the treatment of phobias or anxiety problems. Teachers can apply classical conditioning in the class to familiarize students with new environments and help students overcome their anxiety. John B. Watson further extended Pavlov’s work and applied it to human being. In 1921, Watson started the Little Albert experiment. The goal was to condition Albert to become afraid of a white rat by pairing it with a very loud noise (UCS). At first, Albert showed no sign of fear when he was presented with rats, but once the rat was repeatedly paired with the loud noise (UCS),Albert developed a fear of rats. It could be said that the loud noise (UCS) induced fear (UCR). In my opinion, Watson’s theory of classical conditioning can be use to create a phobia. I think that this method can be applied to trigger feelings of fear toward something harmful or dangerous in order to avoid something bad from happening. It can be used in a classroom to teach students what is bad and cannot do. Operant conditioning is a method of learning that occurs through rewards and punishments for behaviour. Through operant conditioning, an association is made between a behaviour and a consequence for that behaviour. Operant conditioning was coined by behaviourist B.P.Skinner. He believed that internal thoughts and motivations could not be used to explain behaviour. Instead, he suggested that we should look only at the external, observable causes of human behaviour. Skinner’s system is based on operant conditioning. One of the key concepts in operant conditioning is reinforcement. Reinforcement is any event that strengthens or increase the behaviour it follows. There are two kinds of reinforcers; positive reinforcers and negative reinforcers. Positive reinforcers are favourable events or outcomes that are presented after the behaviour. Negative reinforcers involve the removal of an unfavourable events or outcomes after the display of a behaviour. In both of these cases of reinfo rcement, the behaviour increases. This operant conditioning work all around us in everyday life. Children completing a task to get a reward from parent or teachers or even employees try hard to finish a project are examples of operant condition. In my point of view, these kind of activities are useful for they give pleasant results and make the individuals work hard when completing something. Some ill-behaviour also can be removed if it brings bad effect to the individual. Thus, operant behaviour will be enhanced and unpleasant stimulus will be removed. In a nutshell, I think all of this learning theories inspired by Pavlov, Watson and Skinner are essential in introducing the first learning theories of education. Scientists are able to produce a variety of new learning theories based on their experiments. They are the pioneers in creating the initial theories of education and a source of reference to those involved in education.

Wednesday, January 8, 2020

The Capital Budget - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 5 Words: 1569 Downloads: 1 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Business Essay Type Research paper Did you like this example? The Capital Budget Introduction The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated healthcare system in the United States and provides public-sector care for honorably discharged veterans of the U.S. armed forces. The VHA is mostly financed from general taxation, offers a broad range of health care services to meet veterans needs, and can be characterized as a veteran-specific national health service. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "The Capital Budget" essay for you Create order Historically, since the 1970s, the quality of the VHAs service was considered poor by almost all relevant stakeholders who have significance to the organization. Currently, VHA is a large vital system that offers a useful consensus for the opponents of integrated publicly financed and provided health care. In recent years, many articles has been published in academic and popular press reporting a significant change in the VHAs performance indicating that U.S. health policymakers have interesting facets to learn from the system in the context of its high cost and apparent underperformance of the predominant, market-based sector (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). The Department of Veteran Administration (VA) primary responsibility and accountability is to provide effective usage of taxpayer dollars and continues to eliminate wasteful spending. Payroll Forecast The Veteran Administrationsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ compensation reported new rates for compensation and pension benefits in 2014 are subjected to the types of compensation. VA disability compensation provides monthly benefits to Veterans in recognition of the effects of disabilities, diseases, or injuries incurred or aggravated during active military service. The program also provides monthly payments to surviving spouses, dependent children, and dependent parents in recognition of the economic loss caused by a Veterans death during military service or after discharge from military service as a result of a service-connected disability (www.benefits.va.gov). U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, Office of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs reported that Veterans, their families and survivors that get disability compensation and pension benefits received a 1.5% for a cost-of-living increase embedded into their monthly payments which began on Jan. 1, 2014. This sentiment provided the in crease expresses a substantial way that our Nationà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s gratitude of the sacrifices given by our disabled and wartime serviced Veterans. As required by law, the disability payments did not round down to the nearest dollar figure, and that Veterans and survivors will receive an additional increase to their monthly benefit compensation payment. For Veterans without dependents, the new compensation rates ranged from $130.94 monthly with a disability rate at 10% to $2,858.24 monthly. The COLA increase applied to disability and death pension recipients, survivors receiving dependency and indemnity compensation, and other benefits like automobile and clothing allowances. Under federal law, the cost-of-living adjustments for VAà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s compensation and pension matched those for Social Security benefits. In January 2013, the last adjustment was made when the Social Security benefits rate increased to 1.7 percent. In FY2013, VA provided over $59 billion in compensati on benefits to nearly 4 million Veterans and survivors, and more than 515,000 Veterans and survivors spent $5 billion in pension benefits (www.va.gov/opa/pressrel). Trend Analysis Noticeably, the competition in healthcare and the evolution over the past decade has been a rollercoaster dilemma and the use of market forces in healthcare has provided important discussions for future healthcare developments. During the period when managed care was accepted to transform the way Medicare care organization provided services in which the reversal of many of the changes took place. With the integrated delivery vision implemented is now being replaced that consumers take a more active role in their well-being and healthcare services. This evolution now provides a greater role for consumers to apply more competitive pressure on providers to improve their quality of care and reduced costs. Therefore, future competition might revolve around consumersà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ to choose healthcare providers with the quality ratings and better efficiencies. The Center for Studying Health System Change (HSC) periodically surveys households and physicians which effective responses hav e the potential that may evolve in different directions in the future. Unfortunately, the market and policymakers reacted and the responses to the backlash in opposition to managed care that concluded some perspectives on the healthcare evolution for competition fostering in the next few years (www.healthaffairs.org). The Department of Veteran Administration advocating being a responsible steward and closely monitor the resources and essential needs. VA continues to work to decrease improper payments, recoup misallocated funds and to effectively dispose of unwarranted real estate. In addition, VA continued to improve the systems used that forecast and capture cost by adopting the process of direct tracking of people, equipment and consumables goods through the implementation of a modernized financial management system. As the Department continues to plan, program, budgets, and execute (PPBE) processes that connect strategy to budget and subsequently budget to performance. Also, it will continue to review internal buying patterns including identifying opportunities for strategic sourcing that will achieve considerable savings for recurring requirements (www.va.gov). 3. Expenditure Forecast The Veteran Administration FY2014-2020 Strategic Plan builds on past accomplishments to drive improvements in quality, customer service, preparedness and management systems. The Plan includes emphasis on Veteran by allowing them to control how, when and where they wish to be served. The FY 2014-2015 agency priority goals are: 1) Improve veteran access to benefits and services, 2) Eliminate the disability claims backlog, and 3) Eliminate veteran homelessness. Since the CBO examined the demands on VA and projects, the resources the agency need to provide medical care for all enrolled veterans during the next 10 years (2011à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å"2020) with no predicted appropriations for VA (www.va.gov). In developing the strategic plan and looking beyond FY2014-2020 timeframe, the strategic goals and objectives is to improve VA in the short term while positioning the VA Department the capability to respond to many challenges and opportunities they face in the next 15-20 years. The FY 2014-2 020 Strategic Plan is based on rigorous analysis of long-term trends that affect veterans includes their benefits, service delivery and the workforce by conducting scenarios which describe a range of future challenges and opportunities the VA Department may confront 20 years from now in order to respond and adjust to vital trends, challenges and opportunities (www.va.gov). On November 7, 2014, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) released à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“The 2010 National Survey of Veterans (NSV)à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  public data file in Excel format. The file contains results of the data collection such as veterans demographic and socio-economic characteristics and identifies VA benefits and services most utilized by Veterans. The expenditures vary according to each state from highest/lowest usages in thousands of dollars. For the State of Indiana, recorded the Veteran Population: 490,380; Compensation Pensions: $1,092,855; Education Vocational Rehab: $150,033; Insurance Indemnities: $27,941; Construction: $8,783; Loan Guaranty #: $0; General Operating Expenses: $48,931; Medical Care: $1,149,224 for a total expenditure equal $2,477,767 (www.va.gov/vetdata/expenditures.asp). Capital Budget Compare two (2) options for predicting the cost of needed repairs to the current building that houses the selected agency by completing Exercise 1 at the end of Chapter 1 (page 92). Provide a rationale for recommending one (1) of the two (2) options. Include the figures to support the rationale. The city administration is considering refurbishing the lighting system of its administration building. After an initial investigation, the city procurement office has narrowed down the choices to the following two options: ÃÆ' ¢-   Option 1 is an Urgolight system that costs $500,000 to purchase and install. ÃÆ' ¢-   Option 2 is a conventional system that costs $100,000 to purchase and install. ÃÆ' ¢-   Both systems are expected to last for 20 years. ÃÆ' ¢-   The energy cost for option 1 is $20,000 and maintenance is $2,000 in todayà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s dollars. ÃÆ' ¢-   The energy cost for option 2 is $50,000 and maintenance is $10,000, also in todayà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s dollars. ÃÆ' ¢-   Assume that the discount rate is 4% and all future costs are paid at end of year. PROJECTED INSTALLATION SYSTEMS OPTION 1: Urgolight OPTION 2: Conventional Cost Efficiency Net Present Value (NPV) $ 500,000 $ 100,000 2 Payback Period (PP) Year End Year End 1 2 Energy Cost 20,000 50,000 1 Maintenance Cost 2,000 10,000 1 Discount Rate 4% 480,000 96,000 2 Expectation: 20 Years X X 1 2 (Chen, Forsythe, Weikart Williams, 2009, p.92). Capital expenditures refer to expenditures for expensive and long-lasting goods in which organizations set a minimum life expectancy such as five years before it is called a capital good. Also, a minimum value is set such as $50,000 before it is classified as a good or group of goods bought at once. Therefore, recommend to elect Option2 à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Conventionalà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  due to the initial savings between the two choices. Conclusion The Department of Veteran Administration (VA) has a fundamental responsibility to be an effective steward of taxpayer dollars and continue to eliminate wasteful spending, as well as, make sure that effective controls, practices and safeguards methods are in position that prohibits misspending of tax dollars (www.va.gov). References Benefits.va.gov. (2014). à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Veteran Administration Compensations.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  Retrieved, Nov. 2, 2014 from https://www.benefits.va.go v/COMPENSATION/types-compensation.asp Benefits.va.gov. (2014). à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Compensations: Benefits Rates.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  Retrieved, Nov. 2, 2014 from www.benefits.va.gov/compensation/rates-index.asp. Chen, G. G., Forsythe, D. W., Weikart, L. A., Williams, D. W. (2009). à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Budget Tools: Financial Methods in the Public Sector.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  Washington, D.C.: CQ Press, p.92 HealthAffairs.org. (2014). à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Competition in Health Care: Evolution Over The Past Decade.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  Retrieved, Nov. 8, 2014 from https://content.healthaffairs.org/content/24/6/1512.full Oliver, Adam. (2007). à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“The Veterans Health Administration: An American Success Story.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  Retrieved, Nov. 8, 2014 from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2690309 VA.gov. (2014). à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Expenditures.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  Retrieved, Nov. 6, 2014 from https://www.va.gov/vetdata/ Expenditures.asp VA.gov. (2014). à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Strategic Planning.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  Retrieved, Nov. 8, 2014 from https://www.va.gov/op3/docs/StrategicPlanning/VA2014-2020strategicPlan.PDF VA.gov. (2014). à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Veterans to Receive 1.5% Cost-of-Living Increase.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  Retrieved Nov. 3, 2014, from https://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=2503