Answer to Chapter 1 Introduction to Derivatives & Risk Management, Chance, Brooks.

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION END-OF-CHAPTER QUESTIONS AND PROBLEMS 1. (Market Efficiency and Theoretical Fair Value) An efficient market is one in which prices reflect the true economic values of the assets trading therein. In efficient markets, no one can earn returns that are more than commensurate with the level of risk. Efficient markets are characterized by low transaction costs and by the rapid rate at which new information is incorporated into prices. 2. (Arbitrage and the Law of One Price) Arbitrage is a type of investment transaction that seeks to profit when identical goods are priced differently. Buying an item at one price and immediately selling it at another is a type of arbitrage. Because of the combined activities of arbitrageurs, identical goods, primarily financial assets, cannot sell for different prices for long. This is the law of one price. Arbitrage helps make our markets efficient by assuring that prices are in line with what they are supposed to be. In short, we cannot get something for nothing. A situation involving two identical goods or portfolios that are not priced equivalently would be exploited by arbitrageurs until their prices were equal. The â€Å"one price† that an asset must be is called the â€Å"theoretical fair value. † 3. (Arbitrage and the Law of One Price) The law of one price is violated if the same good is selling at different prices. On the surface it may appear as if that is the case; however, it is important to look beneath the surface to determine if the goods are identical. Part of the cost of the good is convenience and customer service. Some consumers might be willing to pay more because the dealer is located in a more desirable section of town. Also, the higher priced dealer may have a better reputation for service and customer satisfaction. Buyers may be willing to pay more if they feel that the premium they pay helps assure them that they are getting a fair deal. It is important to note that many goods are indeed identical and, if so, they should sell at the same price, but the Law of One Price is not violated if the price differential accounts for some economic value. 4. (The Storage Mechanism) Storage is simply holding the asset. Some assets, like commodities, require considerable storage space and entail significant storage costs. Others, like stocks and bonds, do not consume much space but, as we shall see later, do incur costs. Storage enables us to more adequately meet our consumption needs and, thus, provides for a more efficient alteration of our consumption patterns across time. For example, we can store grains for the winter. In the case of stocks and bonds, we can store them and sell them later. The proceeds from the sale of the securities can be used to meet consumption needs at the later time. Likewise, storage enables speculators to hold goods and securities in the hope of selling them later at a profit. In addition, storage plays an important role in defining the relationship between spot instruments and derivatives. 5. (Delivery and Settlement) In futures markets, delivery seldom occurs. Since delivery is always possible, however, an expiring futures contract will be priced like the spot instrument. The knowledge that futures prices will eventually converge to spot prices is important to the pricing of futures contracts. 6. The Role of Derivative Markets) Derivative markets provide a means of adjusting the risk of spot market investments to a more acceptable level and identifying the consensus market beliefs. They make trading easier and less costly and spot markets more efficient. These markets also provide a means of speculating. 7. (Criticisms of Derivatives Markets) On the surface, it may be difficult to distinguish speculation from gambling. Both entail high risk w ith the expectation of high gain. The major difference that makes speculation somewhat more socially acceptable is that it offers benefits to society not conveyed by gambling. For example, speculators are necessary to assume the risk not wanted by others. In gambling, there is no risk being hedged. Gamblers simply accept risk without there being a concomitant reduction in someone else's risk. 8. (Misuses of Derivatives) Derivatives can be misused by speculating when one should be hedging, by not having acquired the requisite knowledge to use them properly by acting irresponsibly when using derivatives such as by being overly confident of one’s ability to forecast the direction of the market. 9. The Role of Derivative Markets) The existence of derivative markets in the United States economy and indeed throughout most modern countries of the world undoubtedly leads to a much higher degree of market efficiency. Derivatives facilitate the activities of individual arbitrageurs so that unequal prices of identical goods are arbitraged until they are equal. Because of the large number of arbitrageurs, this is a quick and efficient process. Arbitrage on this large a scale makes markets less capable of being manipulated, less costly to trade in, and therefore more attractive to investors. The opportunity to hedge also makes the markets more attractive to investors in managing risk. ) This is not to say that an economy without derivative markets would be inefficient, but it would not have the advantage of this arbitrage on a large scale. It is important to note that the derivative markets do not necessarily make the U. S. or world economy any larger or wealthier. The basic wealth, expected returns, and risks of the economy would be about the same without these markets. Derivatives simply create lower cost opportunities for investors to align their risks at more satisfactory levels. This may not necessarily make them wealthier, but to the extent that it makes them more satisfied with their positions, it serves a valuable purpose. 10. (Return and Risk) Return is the numerical measure of investment performance. There are two main measures of return, dollar return and percentage return. Dollar return measures investment performance as total dollar profit or loss. For example, the dollar return for stocks is the dollar profit from the change in stock price plus any cash dividends paid. It represents the absolute performance. Percentage return measures investment performance per dollar invested. It represents the percentage increase in the investor’s wealth that results from making the investment. In the case of stocks, the return is the percentage change in price plus the dividend yield. The concept of return also applies to options, but, as we shall see later, the definition of the return on a futures or forward contract is somewhat unclear. 1. (Repurchase Agreements) A repurchase agreement (known as repos) is a legal contract between a seller and a buyer, the seller agrees to sell a specified asset to the buyer currently as well as buy it back usually at a specified time in the future at an agreed future price. The seller is effectively borrowing money from the buyer at an implied interest rate. Typically, repos involve low risk secur ities, such as U. S. Treasury bills. Repos are useful because they provide a great deal of flexibility to both the borrower and lender. Derivatives traders often need to be able to borrow and lend money in the most cost-effective manner possible. Repos are often a very low cost way of borrowing money, particularly if the firm holds government securities. Repos are a way to earn interest on short-term funds with minimal risk (for buyers) and repos are a way to borrow for short-term needs at a relatively low cost (for sellers). 12. (Derivative Markets and Instruments) An option is a contract between two parties—a buyer and a seller—that gives the buyer the right, but not the obligation, to purchase or sell something at a later date at a price agreed upon today. The option buyer pays the seller a sum of money called the price or premium. The option seller stands ready to sell or buy according to the contract terms if and when the buyer so desires. An option to buy something is referred to as a call; an option to sell something is called a put. A forward contract is a contract between two parties—a buyer and a seller—to purchase or sell something at a later date at a price agreed upon today. A forward contract sounds a lot like an option, but an option carries the right, not the obligation, to go through with the transaction. If the price of the underlying good changes, the option holder may decide to forgo buying or selling at the fixed price. On the other hand, the two parties in a forward contract incur the obligation to ultimately buy and sell the good. 13. (The Underlying Asset) Because all derivatives are based on the random performance of something, the word â€Å"derivative† is appropriate. The derivative derives its value from the performance of something else. That â€Å"something else† is often referred to as the underlying asset. The term underlying asset, however, is somewhat confusing and misleading. For instance, the underlying asset might be a stock, bond, currency, or commodity, all of which are assets. However, the underlying â€Å"asset† might also be some other random element such as the weather, which is not an asset. It might even be another derivative, such as a futures contract or an option.

Intelligent Tutoring System For Primary School Students Education Essay

LITERATURE REVIEW This chapter will incorporate the reappraisal of literature of old research that is considered significance in the development of Intelligent Tutoring System for primary school pupils. 2.1 Problem Sphere Problem sphere is the country that needs to be examined to work out a job. In this undertaking, Intelligent Tutoring System is used in the sphere of instruction. Education is the field for larning and learning. It is the procedure where cognition is transferred and received. The intent to hold Intelligent Tutoring System for this undertaking is because to give an end product larning to the pupils particularly primary school pupils. Nowadays, instructors or pedagogues frequently face troubles to manage their pupils. It is because one instructor needs to provide many categories and each category will hold about 20 to 30 pupils. It is impossible to provide each pupil needs and penchant. Each pupil have their ain acquisition manner either they are good in listening, visualising, or making stuff at manus. Since the instructor is impossible to cognize each pupil larning manner, hence, there are demands for Intelligent Tutoring System that can provides a tutoring system that can find the pupils involvement so they will non holding jobs such as deficiency of apprehension and misconceptions. Besides that, the benefit of this tutoring system towards the instructor is the instructor will easy supervise the pupil ‘s public presentation and they will cognize the suited attack to cover with the pupil manners of acquisition. 2.1.1 Learning Manners Students learn in many ways such as by seeing and hearing, reflecting and moving, concluding logically and intuitively, memorising and besides visualising ( Felder, n.d. ) . Teaching and larning are different between each individual. It ‘s all depends on the persons itself. Everybody has larning manner strengths in which different people will hold different strengths ( Dunn, 1990 ) . In 1986, Marie et al. , as cited in ( Farwell, 2000 ) provided an analysis in which approximately 20 to 30 per centum of the school-aged pupils remembers what is heard, 40 per centum easy recalled what they have seen or read and the remainder were normally used both techniques which is they heard and visualise at the same clip. They have their ain manner that will assist them in larning. There are several different theories refering acquisition manners. Auditory, kinaesthetic and ocular are three types of cardinal acquisition manners ( Graham, n.d. ) . Below are the descriptions for each acquisition manners as cited in Graham ( n.d. ) and Farwall ( 2002 ) . Auditory Learners Childs who are audile learner normally prefer more on listening to account by reading them and sometimes they like to analyze by declaiming information aloud. Furthermore, audile scholar may love to environ with music while analyzing or they may necessitate a quiet infinite to analyze without diverted with any sounds. Auditory scholars learn successfully when the manner of giving information are being spoken and presented verbally. Ocular Learners â€Å" Show me and I will understand † is the keyword for ocular acquisition manner. It is a pattern to make new information by looking at something and visualise it. Normally, those people with this sort of larning manner can catch information presented in chart or graph, but they may foster impatiently listening to an account. Kinesthetic Learners Most of the school ‘s kids excel through kinaesthetic which means touching, feeling, and sing the stuff at manus. Learning activity such as scientific discipline lab, field trip, skit and many other activities are the best technique for kinaesthetic scholar. Most people use the combination of manner to acquire best acquisition manner for themselves. As for this undertaking, there are two larning manners covered which is the ocular and audile acquisition manners. This learning manners can be classify via some set of personality inquiries in which it will find the pupils country of acquisition manners. Intelligent Tutoring System will normally come across to several techniques such as Case Based Reasoning technique, Agents technique, Neural techniques, Neuro Fuzzy techniques, Track Analysis and many more. Below are other potencies techniques that can be used for this Intelligent Tutoring System ‘s undertaking despite the Agents technique. 2.1.2 Examples of utilizing Bayesian Networks for Learning Styles Detection Bayesian Networks is one technique that detects pupil ‘s acquisition manners in a web-based instruction system. In 2005, Garcia et al. , had proposed this technique to guarantee that all the pupils can larn even though they have different acquisition manners. Furthermore, Garcia et Al. ( 2005 ) , had besides stated that intelligent agent can used those information to gives the pupils personalized aid and present learning constituents that suit best harmonizing to pupil ‘s acquisition manners. Table 2.1 shows the dimensions of the acquisition manners. Detectors like particulars informations and testing ; intuitive prefer political orientation and theories. Detectors are digesting with item but do non like complications ; intuitive are uninterested by item and love complications. Table 2.1 Dimensions of Felder ‘s acquisition manners ( Beginning: Gracia et al. , ( 2005 ) ) A Bayesian Networks ( BN ) is a directed acyclic graph encodes the dependance relationships between a set of variables ( Pardalos, n.d. ) . It allows us to detect new cognition by uniting adept sphere cognition with statistical informations. In this BN, the nodes represent the different variables that determine a given acquisition manner. The arcs represent the relationships among the acquisition manner and the factor finding it. As shown in Figure 2.1, the theoretical account merely has the three dimensions of Felder ‘s model, perceptual experience, processing and apprehension. Figure 2.1 Bayesian Network patterning pupil ‘s acquisition manners. ( Beginning: Gracia et al. , ( 2005 ) ) The undermentioned sentences describe in item the different states the independent variables can take: Forum: station messages ; answers messages ; reads messages ; no engagement. Chat: participates ; listens ; no engagement. Mail: utilizations ; does non utilize. Information entree: in tantrums and starts ; sequential. Reading stuff: concrete ; abstract. Exam Revision ( considered in relation to the clip assigned to the test ) ; less than 10 % ; between 10 and 20 % ; more than 20 % . Exam Delivery Time ( considered in relation to the clip assigned to the test ) ; less than 50 % ; between 50 and 75 % ; more than 75 % Exercises ( in relation to the sum of exercisings proposed ) : many ( more than 75 % ) ; few ( between 25 and 75 % ) ; none Answer alterations ( in relation to the figure of inquiries or points in the test ) : many ( more than 50 % ) ; few ( between 20 and 50 % ) ; none. Entree to illustrations ( in relation to the figure of illustrations proposed ) : many ( more than 75 % ) ; few ( between 25 % and 75 % ) ; none Exam Consequences: high ( more than 7 in a 1-10 graduated table ) ; medium ( between 4 and 7 ) ; low ( below 4 ) . The chance maps associated with the independent nodes are bit by bit obtained by detecting the pupil interaction with the system. 30 Computer Science Engineering pupils have been interviewed to find the values by experimentation utilizing the ILS ( Index of larning manners ) questionnaire. Then, allow the pupils used the instruction system and recorded their interactions with the system. The information was used to find the parametric quantity of the BN. The Bayesian theoretical account is continuously updated as new information about the pupil ‘s interaction with the system is obtained. The chance maps are adjusted to demo the new observations or experiences. The chances reach equilibrium at certain point in the interaction. The chance values show a really little fluctuation as new information is entered. The values obtained at this point represent the pupil ‘s behaviour. This paper considered for each dimensions three values to do the consequences more comparable. For illustration, for the understanding dimension, it considered the values consecutive, impersonal and planetary. The per centum of happenstances is 100 % for the understanding dimension, 80 % for the perceptual experience dimension, and 80 % for the processing dimension. All information from this paper is cited from Gracia et Al, ( 2005 ) . 2.2 Technique In this undertaking, Intelligent Tutoring System is used to sort pupils larning manners. It used Numberss of regulations as the chief technique because it has the possible to give appropriate end product which is the acquisition manners for the pupils. Below are the descriptions of all techniques that will be used in this undertaking. 2.2.1 Intelligent Tutoring System An early lineation of Intelligent Tutoring System ( ITS ) demands was delivered by Hartley and Sleeman in 1973 ( Shute & A ; Psotka, n.d ) . As stated by Shute and Psotka, Hartley and Sleeman argued that ITS must possess cognition of the sphere ( adept theoretical account ) , cognition of the scholar ( student theoretical account ) , and cognition of learning schemes ( coach ) . Furthermore, in order for ITS to hold appropriate control schemes, it need to hold capturing environment of acquisition, effectivity of communicating and to hold flexible determinations. The ITS is a plan in which pupil can communicated through a sequence of natural linguistic communication inquiries and replies and the coach could both ask and reply inquiries and maintain path of ongoing duologue construction ( Corbett, Koedinger & A ; Anderson, 1997 ) . The authoritative ITS architecture consist of four constituents which are a undertaking environment, a sphere cognition faculty, a pupil theoretical account and pedagogical faculty. Figure 2.2 ITS architecture ( Beginning: Corbett, Koedinger & A ; Anderson, ( 1997 ) ) As cited in Corbett, Koedinger & A ; Anderson ( 1997 ) , pupils engage in job resolution environments and these actions are evaluated with regard to the sphere cognition constituents. Student ‘s cognition province is maintained based on the rating theoretical account. Finally, the pedagogical faculty delivers instructional actions based on the rating of pupil ‘s actions and on the pupil theoretical account. Advantages of ITS as described by Yousoof, Sapiyan & A ; Kamaludin ( 2002 ) , ITS is a systems that can supply considerable flexibleness in presentation of stuff and greater adaptability to react to idiosyncratic pupils need. It besides found to be extremely effectual in their intent. It has been proved by research that the pupils who tend to larn utilizing ITS really could larn fast when compared to the pupils utilizing traditional manner of instruction. Disadvantages of ITS as besides cited in Yousoof, Sapiyan & A ; Kamaludin ( 2002 ) , hazard issues affects the execution of ITS, unsuccessful ITS can do the barrier in execution of ITS, replacing of human coach will besides be a barrier in execution and broad spread of ITS will take topographic point in another five old ages. 2.2.2 Rule Based Expert System Expert system is a computing machine plan that uses cognition and illation process to work out job that are hard plenty to necessitate important human expert to work out for their solution ( Negnevitsky, 2002 ) . It is besides a computing machine plan in which it is able to execute at the degree of a human expert in a all right job country. The most popular expert systems is a regulation based expert system. It besides called as production regulations in which it contains IF-THEN statement. Structure of Rule Based Expert System A rule-based expert system has five constituents: the cognition base, the database, the illation engine, the account installations, and the user interface. Knowledge Base Database Inference Engine Explanation Facility User Interface User Figure 2.3 Basic Structure of Rule Based Expert System ( Beginning: Negnevitsky, ( 2002 ) ) The cognition base contains the sphere cognition utile for job resolution. In a rule-based expert system, the cognition is represented as a set of regulations. Each regulation specifies a relation, recommendation, directive, scheme or heuristic and has the IF ( status ) THEN ( action ) construction. When the status portion of a regulation is satisfied, the regulation is said to fire and the action portion is executed. The database includes a set of facts used to fit aligned with the IF ( status ) parts of regulations stored in the cognition base. The illation engine brings out the concluding whereby the expert system reaches a solution. It links the regulations given in the cognition base with the facts provided in the database. The account installations enable the user to inquire the expert system how a peculiar decision is reached and why a specific fact is needed. An adept system must be able to explicate its logical thinking and warrant its advice, analysis or decision. The user interface is the agencies of communicating between a user seeking a solution to the job and an expert system. The user is the 1 who will be used the system. User is besides the 1 that will seek for solution. Advantages of Rule Based Expert System Natural cognition representation. An expert normally explains the job work outing process with such looks as this: ‘in such-and-such state of affairs, I do so-and-so ‘ . These looks can be represented rather of course as IF-THEN production regulations. two. Uniform Structure. Production regulations have the unvarying IF-THEN construction. Each regulation is an independent piece of cognition. The really sentence structure of production regulations enables them to be self-documented. three. Separation of cognition from its processing. The construction of a rule-based expert system provides an effectual separation of the cognition base from the illation engine. This makes it possible to develop different applications utilizing the same expert system shell. It besides allows a graceful and easy enlargement of the expert system. To do the system smarter, a cognition applied scientist merely adds some regulations to the cognition base without step ining in the control construction. Disadvantages of Rule Based Expert System Opaque dealingss between regulations Although the single production regulations tend to be comparatively simple and self-documented, their logical interactions within the big set of regulations may be opaque. Rule-based systems make it hard to detect how single regulations serve the overall scheme. This job is related to the deficiency of hierarchal cognition representation in regulation based expert systems. two. Ineffective hunt scheme The illation engine applies an thorough hunt through all the production regulations during each rhythm. Adept systems with a big set of regulations ( over 100 regulations ) can be slow, and therefore big rule-based systems can be unsuitable for real-time applications. Inability to larn In general, rule-based expert systems do non hold an ability to larn from the experience. Unlike a human expert, who knows when to ‘break the regulations ‘ , an expert system can non automatically modify its cognition base, or adjust bing regulations or add new 1s. The cognition applied scientist is still responsible for revising and keeping the system. All information for Rule Based Expert System is cited from Negnevitsky ( 2002 ) . 2.2.3 Intelligent Agent An agent is anything that can be viewed as comprehending its environment through detectors and moving upon that environment through effecters ( Rusell & A ; Norvig, 1995 ) . Presently, agents are the point of involvement on the portion of many countries of Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence. Harmonizing to Jennings & A ; Wooldridge ( n.d. ) , an intelligent agent is a computing machine plan that is able to execute immediate response in order to run into its design aims. Flexible here means that the systems must be antiphonal in which agents should separate their environments and react in a timely to alterations that occur in it. Agents should besides be proactive whereby they should be able to exhibit chances, purposive behaviour, and take the enterprise where appropriate. Finally, agents should be societal in which agents should be interrelate when they comfortable with other Artificial Agents and worlds in order to finish their ain job resolution and to assist others with their activities. Advantages of utilizing Intelligent Agent are because agents represent a powerful tool for doing system more flexible. Agents should act like an ‘expert helper ‘ with regard to some application, knowing about both the application and the user, and capable of moving with user in order to accomplish the user ‘s ends. Agents are besides good in bettering the efficiency of Software Development. The restrictions or the disadvantages of utilizing agent as discussed by Jennings & A ; Wooldridge ( n.d. ) are: – No overall system accountant An agent-based solution may non be suited for spheres in which planetary restraints have to be maintained, domains where a real-time response must be guaranteed, or in spheres in which dead ends or unrecorded locks must be avoided. No planetary position Agents may do globally sub-optimal determinations since in about any realistic agent system ; complete planetary cognition is non a possibility. An agent ‘s action are by definition determined by that agent ‘s local province. Trust and deputation Users have to derive assurance in the agents that work on their behalf, and this procedure can take some clip. During this period of clip, the agent must strike a balance between continually seeking counsel ( and needlessly deflecting the user ) and ne'er seeking counsel ( an transcending its authorization ) . An agent must cognize its restrictions. 2.2.4 Multiagent System As stated by Capuano et Al. ( n.d. ) , multiagent system ( MAS ) can be defined as loosely-coupled webs of pass oning and collaborating agents working together to work out jobs that are in front of their single capablenesss. In order to obtain consistent system behaviour, single agents in a multiagent system are non merely able to portion knowledge about jobs and solutions, but besides to ground about the procedures of coordination among other agents ( Capuano et al. , n.d. ) . The thought of multiagent system is that an agent is a computing machine plan that has capableness to execute independent action on behalf of its proprietor or user. In add-on, agent can calculate out for itself what it needs to make in order to fulfill its design aims. A multiagent system is one that consists of figure of agents, which interact with another, typically by interchanging messages through some computing machine substructure ( Wooldridge, 2002 ) . In order to successfully interact, these agents will therefore necessitate the ability to collaborate, co-ordinate and negotiate with each other. 2.2.5 Distributed Case Based Reasoning Case Based Reasoning ( CBR ) is another technique that is widely used in Intelligent Tutoring System and in the field of instruction so. As proposed by Rishi et Al. ( 2007 ) , they combine both technique which are CBR and agent technique to supply pupil patterning for online acquisition in a distributed environment with the aid of agents. In this paper, it focused more on Case Based Distributed Student Modeling ( agent based ) ITS architecture to back up student-centred, self-paced, and extremely synergistic acquisition. The first measure is to construct the effectual acquisition environment which is the CBR where the system maintains a complete and full set of instances ( scenarios ) of pupil ‘s acquisition form and employs an efficient and flexible instance retrieval system. The system as cited in Rishi et Al. ( 2007 ) must used the pupil ‘s larning profile such as larning manner and background cognition in selecting, forming and showing the larning stuff to back up instance based acquisition. As Rishi et Al. ( 2007 ) cited from Yi Shang et Al. ( 2001 ) and Kumar ( 2005 ) , Distributed CBR based pupil patterning enables adaptative bringing of educational contents and facilitates automatic rating of larning results. This system consists of three agents with different expertness. The first agent which is personal agent will concentrate on pupil profiler which include cognition background, larning manner, involvements, class enrolled etc. The other two agents communicated with each other through different communicating channel which situated in distributed environments are learning agent and class agent. Figure 2.4 show the communicating theoretical account among agents. Figure 2.4 Communication theoretical account among agents ( Beginning: Rishi et Al. ( 2007 ) ) Furthermore, the undermentioned activities as shown in figure 2.5 return topographic point during the pupil patterning when the pupil interacts with the system as such, choice of subject by the pupil and acquire to cognize pupil ‘s background by showing jobs to the pupil, analysing the pupil ‘s response by the system, choice of instance by the system based on response, version of the instance by the system, accomplishing the cognition constituent of the pupil theoretical account through instance retrieval, coevals of learning scheme by the system and showing the following job to the pupil. Figure 2.5 Procedure of Student Modeling ( Beginning: Rishi et Al. ( 2007 ) ) Finally, this system is to the full distributed in which it does non bounded with any web topology, it reduces the demand of big storage infinites at the user ‘s site to hive away all the instances and redundancy is maintained for mistake tolerance. The whole system is managed in the distributed environment with merely three agents which are Personal Agent, Teaching Agent and Course Agent. 2.2.6 Path Analysis Learning indexs is the manner of working and analysing the paths and supplying cognition on the activities ( Bousbia et al. , n.d. ) . This will assist instructors to comprehend and construe the scholar ‘s activities in e-learning state of affairss. As in figure 2.5 this paper by Bousbia et Al. ( n.d. ) considers three stairss in the analysis. The first 1 is index ‘s pick. The first measure is fundamentally to steer the aggregation procedure. It helps the instructor to take high degree indexs in which the instructor intends to seek from the indexs base. It will so inquire the instructor to supply extra informations required for their computations. The following measure is observation. In this phase, the system identified the necessary paths extracted through a aggregation tool which installed on the learner side. This tool has specific history such as visited pages URLs, clip and actions. Finally, the analysis and interpretation measure. This is the most of import measure in which it divided into three chief phases which are shoping way rebuilding, indexs ‘ computation and learning manner tax write-off. Figure 2.6 Learning Style Deduction Steps ( Beginning: Bousbia et Al. ( n.d. ) ) There will be three beds remain which are educational penchant bed, larning procedure bed and cognitive abilities bed. The first bed includes properties related to the preferable acquisition clip, environment penchant, information representations and encoding methods. The 2nd bed includes larning scheme, comprehension and patterned advance attack. For the last bed, it includes motive and concentration capacity. The learning manner can be determined by ciphering the value of each bed ‘s property. By utilizing the necessary high degree indexs, the value is deduced. Furthermore, to link the indexs to the acquisition manners, Bousbia et Al. ( n.d. ) sort them harmonizing to theoretical account beds. The possible values of each bed ‘s property are chosen from the bing acquisition manner theoretical accounts, by doing their definitions closer. 2.3 Related Plants Related plants are plants from other research workers which have related to this undertaking or possibly the same technique used but in different field or sphere. Intelligent Tutoring System and some other techniques is the chief focused in this research to compare and distinguish sphere and techniques with other undertakings. 2.3.1 Intelligent Agent in E-commerce Ecommerce or e-commerce is the ability and accomplishment of selling merchandises or services over the Internet ( Ward, 2010 ) . As discussed by Pivk & A ; Gams ( n.d. ) in their article on Intelligent Agent in E-commerce, the article discussed on appraisal of agent engineerings which involved in purchasing and selling. Several agent-mediated electronic commercialism systems are analyzed in the position of a general theoretical account of the purchasing procedure. E-commerce involves business-to-business ( B2B ) , business-to-customer ( B2C ) and customer-to-customer ( C2C ) minutess. It encounters a broad scope of issues such as security, trust, electronic merchandise, catalogues and many more. Intelligent agent can be used or applied to any of these. Pivk & A ; Gams ( n.d. ) had given illustrations on the use of agent in ecommerce such as Tete-a-Tete ( T @ T ) . For illustrations in Figure 2.7, a shopping agent may have proposals from multiple gross revenues agents. Each proposal defines a complete merchandise offering including a merchandise constellation, monetary value and the merchandiser ‘s value-added services. The shopping agent evaluates and order these proposals based on how good they satisfy its proprietor ‘s penchants. If the shopper is non satisfied, he can review them along one or more dimensions. User shopping agent broadcasts this penchant changes to the gross revenues agents in which, in bend, utilize them to counter-propose better merchandise offering. Figure 2.7 Consumer-owned shopping agents integrative negotiate with multiple merchant-owned gross revenues agents. ( Beginning: Pivk & A ; Gams ( n.d. ) ) 2.3.2 Intelligent Agent Based Graphic User Interface ( GUI ) for e-Physician This paper is proposed by Jung, Thapa & A ; Wang ( 2007 ) . It is all about the attack of utilizing ontology based intelligent interface agent that will help the doctor to get on-line entree interface to patient ‘s chart, fast rescheduling such as exigency instance, easy entree to research lab consequences and cut downing overall cost because of optimal use of clip. In this paper, medical homecare system model is designed in real-time environment. There are four types of agents that are used in this system which are Interface Agent, Admin Agent, Laboratory Agent, Diagnosis Agent and Schedule Agent as in Figure 2.8. Figure 2.8 Conceptual Framework of Intelligent Agent Based user interface ( Beginning: Jung, Thapa & A ; Wang ( 2007 ) ) As cited from Jung, Thapa & A ; Wang ( 2007 ) , interface agent is the agent that will interact with the user and will work as an information filtering agent and choose the most critical instance per precedence. On the other manus, research lab agent will be able to supply the item scrutiny study from the research lab database. Furthermore, diagnosing agent will assist the interface agent to propose proper diagnosing by utilizing determination devising regulations. In add-on, administrative agent will supply pre-historic diagnosing tendency of the patient and eventually schedule agent will assist in fixing patient ‘s chart, programming, and fat rescheduling of the program on footing precedence. Those agents will assist in the development of the system and will give user ‘s concluding control for optimisation of their best Graphical user interface. 2.3.3 Intelligent Agent in Computer Games Games are the practical universes that are more traceable than existent universe. It is besides something that can be controlled, formal, and mensurable, supply realistic and important challenge ( Mikkulainen, n.d. ) . Intelligent agents can be deployed in games today. As cited in Lent et Al. ( n.d. ) , they discussed on the usage of intelligent agent in the games called Soar. It make the growing of intelligent agents for games easier by giving common illation engine and reclaimable cognition base that can be merely applied in many different games. Soar allows easy decomposition of the agent ‘s action through hierarchy of operation. It used Quake II and Descent 3 agents in which both have the functionality in the games such as winging in a starship without gravitation, onslaught, explore and many more. Furthermore, Soar invariably cycles through perceive in which it accept sensor information from the game, think ( choice and execute relevant cognition ) and Act ( Execute internal and external actions ) . Interface is another of import portion in developing games since the interface extracts the necessary information from the game and encodes it into the format required in Soar. 2.3.4 Nervous Network-based Fuzzy Modeling of the Student in ITS This paper is utilizing empirical attack that use the neuro-fuzzy synergy to measure the pupils in the context of an ITS is presented. Stathacopoulou, Magoulas & A ; Grigoriadou ( n.d. ) stated that fuzzed logic techniques is widely used in ITS since it have the ability to manage imprecise information such as pupil ‘s actions and to supply human descriptions of cognition and of pupil ‘s cognitive abilities. In this paper, fuzzed logic is used to supply human-like approximative diagnosing of pupil ‘s cognition and cognitive abilities and Neural Network is used to trained human instructor ‘s determinations sing pupil ‘s features and fixed weight Neural Network are used to measure and aggregate rank map. The neuro-fuzzy theoretical account has been tested in natural philosophies domain to measure pupil ‘s features for make up one's minding about the appropriate instruction scheme. Experiments have been performed by Stathacopoulou, Magoulas & A ; Grigoriadou ( n.d. ) utilizing a population of 300 fake pupil instances with the determinations of 5 instructors. The overall mean categorization success has been 95 % . As decision, rating of pupils depends on interior decorator ‘s ability to analyse the cognitive sphere appropriately, define fuzzed sets and associate the pupil response with suited cognition and cognitive features. 2.3.5 FlexiTrainer: A Ocular Authoring Framework for Case-Based Intelligent Tutoring System FlexiTrainer is an authoring model that allowed the fast fleet design of didactically rich and performance-oriented acquisition environments with tradition content and tutoring schemes ( Ramachandran, Remolina & A ; Fu ( n.d. ) ) . This authoring tool specifies a dynamic behaviour of tutoring agents that interact to present direction. FlexiTrainer has been used to develop an ITS for preparation chopper pilots in winging accomplishments. FlexiTrainer consists of two constituents which are the authoring tools and the everyday engine. Core constituent for FlexiTrainer are Task-Skill-Principle Editor, Exercise Editor, Student Model Editor, and Tutor Behavior Editor. Each of these editors has their ain specific functionality. An instructional agent is used to transport out teaching-elated to accomplish instructional ends. It used Bayesian illation to integrate pupil patterning schemes. 2.3.6 Intelligent Tutoring System utilizing Hybrid Expert System with Speech Model in Neural Networks This paper used supervised larning nervous webs to successful rate. Besides being more information bringing systems, this system aid pupils to actively build cognition. This paper by Venkatesh, Naganathan & A ; Maheswari ( 2010 ) enable learning system to be developed in assorted Fieldss and topics. Nervous Model in this system is used for Question Answering System. As shown in Figure 2.9, input bed contains the inquiries on the wanted topics. Both possible inquiries and replies are stored in the coveted end product. Figure 2.9: Nervous Network Architecture ( Beginning: Venkatesh, Naganathan & A ; Maheswari, ( 2010 ) ) On the other manus, address theoretical account consists of linguistic communication extraction ( includes categories such as noun, verb, operator, pronoun and many more ) , speech act classifier ( tutor uses strings of words and punctuation to sort each part of the scholar into speech act units ) , file direction ( used as marker for the lector ‘s manner reply which communicated with ITS faculty ) and manners ( choice individual to be communicated with the ITS either pupil, lector or admin ) . This system non merely cut down development times but besides appreciably simplifies the proficient cognition required of forces involved in the coevals of an auto-regulated intelligent tutoring duologue system ( Venkatesh, Naganathan & A ; Maheswari ( 2010 ) ) . 2.4 Drumhead There are many ways in developing Intelligent Tutoring System as mentioned above. Each technique used has its ain strengths and failings. In this undertaking, Rule-based is used since it gives more impact and significance to the paradigm. The following chapter will demo the research model on the methodological analysis for developing this paradigm.

Short questions about western civilization Assignment

Short questions about western civilization - Assignment Example There came inflation due to scarcity of workers hence no production. 4. i) The war resulted due to dynasty disagreements. William, duke of England despised King of France by not paying homage. The Kingdom of France, and England fort for control of French throne (Bonomi 2003). 5. Fro m military purposes, renaissance era began after dark period elapsed. This gave way to research and discovery in naval ships, new trade routes, and navigation techniques. Press printing assisted a lot. 7. The council aimed at ending the Papal schism in Avignon Papacy. It ended Three-Pope controversy by accepting the resignation of Papal claimants and elected Pope Martin V. It voiced the killing of Jun Hus and ruled out on security matters, and the freedom of pagans (Bonomi 2003). 8. Marsilius of Pauda turned down the godly beginning of papal body. John Wycliffe led a kind of rebellious sect, which preached for biblically centered reforms. He was the morning star of Reformation in influencing secular power. Jan Hus, a Czech reformer, is the initiator of church reformation ahead of Luther and Calvin and a key predecessor to protestant movement in 16th C (Bonomi 2003). 9. The themes included philosophy, literature, and science. Philosophy and literature defined the way of life from logic, to natural, moral, and metaphysics a structure for university education. Science explored the numerous invention milestones, fro machines, geography, chemistry, and mathematics. 16. It came through dialogue among the Protestants and Catholics, and consolidating their own religious identity. The uprising of renaissance again helped to quell the conflicts since drifted to self-actualization (Bonomi

Identify Problems and Solutions Bulling in Schools Essay

Identify Problems and Solutions Bulling in Schools - Essay Example This essay approves that the effects of bullying can be both short and long-term, with some psychological scars often enduring for years (Lumsden, 2002). Pre-school children, not yet able to properly voice their concerns, will display symptoms that can be attributed as the effects of being bullied. These symptoms can include refusing to go to school, refusal to discuss how the day went and feigning illness. Crying for no apparent reason and reluctance to go certain places are also common effects. Between the ages of seven and sixteen years old, the symptoms and effects of bullying become easy to identify. While children this age are perfectly able to articulate themselves, sometimes they can decide to not to, because they are shamed, scared or fear further punishment. The huge fear and inner soreness that bullying causes can sporadically activate a violent and sudden outburst in sufferers when they get to their ‘hot point’ and just cannot take the agony any more. The suf ferer may get dejected, depressed, and suicidal or even murderous. This report makes a conclusion that research has also shown that students are reluctant to bring their concerns to the attention of teachers. In effort to combat this, a more organized approach needs to be taken among teachers when handling school bullying. If there is not a current approach to bullying existing in a school, teachers will continue to have varying responses to handling bullying situations, based on their self-efficacy, intent, and empathy toward the victim. Teacher assessments need be given, and programs need to be developed to enhance teacher self-efficacy and knowledge about bullying.

Airport Security Checkpoints Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Airport Security Checkpoints - Research Paper Example There is no single solution of SSCP design that will work for all airport terminals given the variation in designs and operational requirements. (Elias, 2009) A number of methods and technologies can be used to implement SSCP including walk through metal detectors, X-ray device for whole body scanning, carry-on baggage x-ray and explosive detection systems (EDS). Among these technologies and methods, X-ray machine for whole body scanning such as X-ray Backscatter technology proves to be efficient and convenient for passenger screening.(Elias, 2009) X-ray Backscatter is one of the best screening technologies as far as airport SSCP is concerned given that it has the potential to accomplish what most of the other technologies have failed to accomplish in terms of passenger and language screening. Even though, the technology is considered to be the closest solution to a perfect airline travel safety, privacy issues have been brought to light on the type of imaging on the passengers. X-ray Backscatter uses x-ray beam which are capable of digitally striping a passenger and in the process reveal such contraband materials as liquid explosives, ceramic knives or drugs which are may have passed undetected by conventional x-ray machines and metal detectors. (Hicks, 2010) X-ray Backscatter technology stores images produced when organic objects scatter x-ray photons. The lower periodic table elements have a high capability of scattering photons while those items such as metals absorb more photon. The technology uses this principle to correlate measure and produce an image of the scanned object. The technology has the ability to penetrate items such as clothing and baggage that are usually used to conceal dangerous objects such as weapons and explosives. Unlike the convectional X- ray machines which produce blurry images, X-ray backscatter produces clear images which are easily interpreted and

Peer Critique 1.1a Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Peer Critique 1.1a - Essay Example This also led me to believe that the author would also go into some detail about the research that has already been done so that they can show why there are holes in the current research, which I discovered to be true the more that I read on. Within this introductory paragraph, the author makes it known that research has already been undergone on the topic of the harms and benefits of artificial sweeteners, though this paragraph does not reveal the specific kinds of research that they will be focusing on. However, the author sets up the literature review to explain that further research needs to be on this topic; the purpose of the literature review is not only to show what research has been done and what conclusions have been made, but also to reveal the holes in the these findings. The author feels that the current findings from research are outdated and, by showing the past studies and their conclusions, reveals that this is true. The author chose to organize the research that they are reviewing by first offering an introduction to their topic, then introducing the body of the research, which discusses the cancerous side effects of artificial sweeteners, which looked at the findings of research centered on discovering cancer-related downfalls of artificial sweeteners, as well as the areas where more research should be done. The next portion of research looks to the non-cancerous side effects of artificial sweeteners. This is then followed by a section that is dedicated to the studies that have proven that artificial sweeteners also have their health benefits, such as weight loss. In these aforementioned sections, each section is also ordered based on gender in terms of who is affected the most by the sweetener. The literature review then closes out with a conclusion that briefly goes over what was discussed throughout the rest of the literature review. The structure described above is a

Integrated Marketing For Hydrox Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Integrated Marketing For Hydrox - Assignment Example The checklist will be divided into two sections of which the first will focus on success definition and measurements while the second section will focus on failure definition and measurements. Success definition and measurements One of the factors that can be used as a success definition and measurement of the integrated sales and marketing campaign that is aimed at resuscitating the Hydrox brand is if there is a buzz in the market about the ongoing sales and marketing campaign (Hartley, 2006). This is to say that the campaign will be considered successful if the target audiences engage in positive talks especially in the social media in regards to the Hydrox marketing campaign as well as the brand itself. This will mean that the marketing messages and images that have been used are catchy and create a lasting impression on the target audience. The second and the most important factor that will act as a success definition and measurement will be if there will be a high demand and sales for the Hydrox chocolate sandwich cookie (Hartley, 2006). When retailers such as supermarkets start recording an increase in demand of the Hydrox chocolate cookie and the cookies quickly run out of the shelves after they are restocked, then it will mean that the integrated sales and marketing campaign has been successful. Failure definition and measurements One factor that can be used as a failure definition and measurement is if the integrated sales and marketing campaign fails to get attention from the target audience.

Research Methods Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Research Methods - Essay Example me teachers functioning on a split site system since they spend more time travelling from site to site, thus losing contact time with other colleagues. Although departmental meetings are well attended, there are noticeably fewer discussions in the staff room, as break and lunch times are also travelling times. These issues, with their underlying themes, are generic in nature and are relevant in a variety of contexts and are listed below: Action research is about problem solving to extend knowledge (Hult & Lunnung, 1980, West et al., 1995, McConnell, 2000). My research question involves qualitative research, which lends itself to problem solving in a cyclic manner. It involves a planned reaction to a problem, followed by feedback, evaluation, critical reflection and discussion, to redefine issues concerned with the sharing of information. A greater awareness and understanding of an identified problem is developed over time, which should lead to a solution or improved practice. As Cohen and Manion (1994) point out, â€Å"An important feature of action research is that the task is not finished when the project ends. The participants continue to review, evaluate and improve practice.† However, Cohen and Manion’s approach of ‘review, evaluate and improve’ works well with quantitative research, or for one person trying to affect a change. It does not appear appropriate for uniform progression of a group and group activity over a longer period of time. Hence for a group to progress as a unit, emphasis on developing a consensus between its members is important. For these extended studies a conductor is necessary to form an extended cyclic approach including review, evaluate, conduct and improve. Improved practice and the opportunity to develop my own relationships within the group are important to me in order to develop a sense of worth. I have chosen action research as my method as it brings the interviewer closer to the interviewee, hence it lends itself to

West Side Story Essay Example for Free

West Side Story Essay Do you believe that everyone has a reason to hate someone or something just because of the way they look? May racism be the starting point to hatred? In â€Å"West Side Story†, author Irving Shulman gives us nothing but clues to these questions. The Sharks and the Jets are in a â€Å" turf † war. But two people, one from each side fall deeply in love. Irving Shulman writes how interracial relationships cause hate to increase in an instant and how racism leads up to hate. The story tells the reader how the Puerto Ricans and the Jets cause the world to shake because of racial prejudice. West Side Story† shows how racial prejudice and interracial relationships cause hate to grow. â€Å"West Side Story† shows hate between almost anyone and yet we have no answers on why people hate. After reading â€Å"West Side Story† it made me believe that racism caused by interracial relationships may be what causes hate in this story. In â€Å"West Side Story† two gangs, the Jets and the Puerto Ricans hate each other just because of the way they look, where they are from, and how they live. Racism is a big part in this story. The main part of hate came from an interracial relationship that began between a man of American descent and a Puerto Rican woman, which caused hate to grow between two gangs in the streets of New York. Racial prejudice was very bad in the time this story was written. Anyone can relate to racial remarks. This story truly shows how people used to be and how much the idea of interracial relationships happening changed. Now, it doesn’t matter if two people fall in love even though they are not from the same race. From this you can infer that racism might be what inaugurates hate. Racism might seem like just a word but it’s more powerful than just a word. It only leads to no good in â€Å"West Side Story†. Hate, what is the definition of hate? Everyone has a different perspective of it, but no one can really see what it can lead up to. I don’t understand why people hate for no reason. I think that they are influenced by what they see. Racism is a terrible thing in this story. It makes hate grow a thousand times bigger and causes a huge impact in others’ lifes. Throughout the story there was a part where both gangs went to a dance and one of the gangs were dancing on the contrary side of the building so they wouldn’t mix with the other race. This shows some sort of proof of how both gangs show hate towards one another. Even those that weren’t in any of the gang’s side were involved in discrimination against the other race because they were following what the others were doing. This made me think about how racism begins. It can be caused by those around you, which might be the influence. Racism is an organization in our country. It has existed since our country’s beginning, and there is not much that anyone can do to stop it but ignore it. Anywhere and everywhere you go, there will be someone different but this doesn’t mean you have to hate or criticize those who are different. Towards the ending of â€Å"West Side Story†, the unexpected happened. There was a death and I can conclude that hate and racism were the leading products to this horrific tragedy. For example, Tony had died and Maria was devastated without him. These violent delights have violent ends. Maria had then realized what had killed him and said, We all killed him I can kill now because I hate now. This shows how the racism and hatred of the two gangs lead to event of Tony’s death. People have to understand that love happens. It doesn’t make sense how some people despise the love that happens between two races. It doesn’t matter if both of the people are from a different race. You can’t keep hating on interracial relationships your entire life and being racist against them. Because like this story much of your hatred and racism can lead onto a terrible catastrophic event such as the deaths that happened in â€Å"West Side Story†. Everyone needs to understand that racism isn’t a pretty thing to live with and it’s as bad as hating someone without a purpose. Even if you had a purpose, hate is an evil and powerful thing that can control someone’s mind and influence others. Not only Tony had died in this story but Bernardo, Maria’s brother died too. That is how hate influenced Maria’s supposed to be husband to murder Tony. This interracial relationship caused hates to grow in everyone’s eyes and no one refused to let go of on whose fault it was. It led on, to bigger tragedies. To conclude, the hate that goes towards interracial relationships and racist remarks cause hate to expand in â€Å"West. My final thoughts for this story are that hate and racial prejudice remarks are not the way to situate things, because all they do is hurt others. I want the world to love everyone for who they are. Nothing makes sense anymore, because many are being influenced by hate. How can someone hate two that fell in love? In my opinion the definition for hate is death, because I feel that hate will always lead up to death. You will end up alone in life. Racism is a synonym for hate and even though we can’t do anything about racism we should at least try not to influence it. â€Å"West Side Story† made me think twice about life and that everyone is different and yet equal in the same way, we are all human beings. As I stated earlier racism and interracial relationships cause hate to grow in this world and should be avoided everyday. The world isn’t perfect but we can at least try to make it perfect.

The Most Awesome Day in My Life Essay Example for Free

The Most Awesome Day in My Life Essay While sitting on the loosing bench in San Ignacio Town feeling like a dog that was dis-owned by owner after we lost our volleyball game to the most outstanding team of the day, my life just gat brightened in a split second like a lightning striking some energy into to me when I saw the most beautiful woman I have ever seen in my life. My eyes glued to her as she was slowly walking in my direction with a pair of long legs that lead straight to heaven and walking as if she was going up for miss universe. My jaws fell to the ground as I starred on her like I have never seen a woman before, she moved very elegantly and the way she moved while I was staring at her a second felt like a hour wile looking at this priceless prized position coming my way. She stood five feet nine inches off the ground with long, beautiful and smooth hair resembling a horse’s tail while covered with in flawless smooth silk for skin. Her eyes were like looking into two diamonds as they slowly moved around as she moved elegantly to buy her soda. It felt like everything and everyone around me froze for that moment to just acknowledge her presence as was slowly approaching. Her narrow smooth face that was decorated with a sharp nose, pretty pink lips that look like strawberry and a perfect set of teeth that would have any dentist dying to get his hands on them glittered as she slightly spread her lips to smile and her set of pearls in her mouth glittered. The skin on her face was so pretty and clean it was like if they were allergic to zits. She gat a bit closer to me and I tried to stand up to greet her the time of the day but I couldn’t because my knees felt so weak and was shaking like leaf I couldn’t have done nothing but sit there. She took a few more steps closer and my heart was pounding as if she was walking on them.

Challenges and Opportunities for Evidence Based Practice

Challenges and Opportunities for Evidence Based Practice Introduction In recent years Evidence-based practice (EBP) has been advocating in nursing profession, however until now there still encounter many difficulties, conflict impact on evidence-based practice development. In this essay will be discussed the challenges and opportunities of future direction of evidence-based practice in nursing. EBP is a decision making approach introduction in 1992. Sackett et al. (1996) state that EBP is a best evidence method of health care decision making which means to integrate sources from research findings, clinical expertise and consideration of client preferences, clinical setting and other external factors such as cost. (as cited in Hewitt-Taylor, 2002). EBP is a scientific and systematic process rather than traditional approach such as customs, rituals and authority from transmission to improve quality and efficiency of patient outcome (Shaneyfelt et al. 2006). Challenges can be defined as barriers, difficulty during apply the evidence-based practice in nursing. Actually, there are many challenges of EBP development, in the article will try to divide into four types to discuss: Challenge of the nurse, Challenge of the clinical environment, Challenge of the research and Challenge of the organization. The part of opportunities is to analysis how to improve or diminish the gap between research evidence and clinical practice, and discuss the factors that help for the future direction of EBP in nursing. Challenges Challenge of the nurse, Challenge of the nurse relate to the nurses beliefs or attitude to EBP, lack of understanding, knowledge and skills of EBP. A recent study (Oranta, Routasalo Hupli, 2002) indicated nurses have divergence the value between research and practice; some nurses have conservative ideas that do not welcome change the nursing practice. The result reflect nurses have misunderstanding or negative attitude about evidence based care which may create wrong belief i.e. indifference or ignore the value of EBP. Nurse unawareness of research, are not familiar with EBP, and no sense improve the knowledge, not to mention to implement it in clinical care. (Hutchinson Johnston, 2004; Wang, Jiang, Wang, Wang Bai, 2013). Attitudes affect behavior, if nurse attitude remain unchanged, would increase degree of difficulty to carry out EBP in the future. Lack of skills implementation of EBP also a big challenge facing by nursing (Majid et al. 2010; Hutchinson Johnston, 2004). There are multiple components of EBP include asking suitable questions, selecting the best pertinent information, evaluating the evidence and integration of patient preference, research evidence etc in clinical decision making (Shaneyfelt et al. 2006). Nurse requests ability of integration and critical appraisal research skills i.e. information seeking, understand statistical terms, implementation to run through the EBP process. Provide education and training for EBP should be an important concern in the future for nurse. Challenge of the research Next challenge point related to research. Nurses always complain articles from journal are not readily available (Chau, Lopez Thompson, 2008; Gale Schaffer 2009; Wang et al. 2013). Actually findings from different research may not always have high level of reliability and validly, methodologies and presentation inadequacies or misconception may exist. Nurses probably feel confused and difficult to appraisal quality of findings, research reports are lengthy, include many academic, jargon terms and statistical analyses cause difficult to comprehension (Oranta, Routasalo Hupli, 2002). Furthermore, research finding usually not publishes fast enough and lack of guideline to implement in the clinical practice. Develop the research disseminate type to improve clinical utilization is a main direction in future, otherwise presentation of researches increase barrier to use finding in patient care, eventually obstruct EBP implementation. Challenge of the clinical environment Clinical environment seem to be a big challenge which absolute restrict nurse implementing EBP (Lee, 2003). Most studies (Hutchinson Johnston, 2004; Gale Schaffer 2009; Wang et al. 2013) stated that nurses have lack of time and heavy workload influences on utilization of research in practice setting. Take Hong Kong as an example, according to the survey conducted by Association of Hong Kong Nursing Staff at 2013, the average of nurse-patient ratio1:17 (normal: 1:4-6) in public hospitals, the bed occupancy rate is 92.9%. Nurses not only have daily heavy workload, also facing a serious shortage problem. Time and labour restrict and clinical safety concerns, nurse tend to use traditional practices and cannot keep frequently follow update journals during working (Hutchinson Johnston, 2004). The working environment resistant changing tried and definitely threats EBP utilization in future. Challenge of the organization EBP is a complex and multifaceted process, cannot apply by individual, administrative support is very important. However lack of organization support is the common complaint by nurses. According to Chau et al. (2008) and Hutchinson Johnston, (2004) the most important challenge of research utilization are lack of authority and no time to implement new ideas or involve research activity. These concerns related to the organization which include the setting barriers and limitations; e.g. time, resources, support and mentoring. Besides, conservative attitude of organization such as lack of intention in changes or welcome new ideas must influences EBP utilization (Gale Schaffer, 2009). It would limit the development of clinical practice to implement EBP and reduce the health care qualities. In addition, nurse indicated that corporation with other professionals also a barrier of EBP implementation (Oranta, Routasalo Hupli, 2002). Health care is a team working which involve many different professionals, such as physician, physiotherapist etc. during co-operation may cause differences of decision making. In traditional doctor has the most authority in clinical decision making, nurse advice may cause conflict or challenges by doctor. Therefore relationship between medical and nursing is also an organization related challenge of EBP utilization. Although there are many challenges of EBP in clinical utilization, challenges creates opportunities, the following part would analysis how to overcome some barriers between research evidence and clinical practice, and talk about the factors that relate to the future direction of EBP in nursing. Opportunities Firstly, upgrading of nursing education curriculum improve nurses’ professional status and research knowledge. Nursing students learn of EBP show more potential of ability on clinical decision making (Brown et al. 2010). Although the nursing programme in universities already include research skills teaching to implement evidence-based practice, transferring finding into clinical practice still a big problem for novice nurses. The curriculum should be included how to connect the EBP to the utilization, not just focus the part of research skills training. Besides, base on shortage of nurse, there are different kind of organizations provide nursing training such as nursing school, hospital nurse training courses, these courses more focus on clinical practice, but not include teaching EBP. At least the basic concept and skills of EBP should be educated in those courses which to improve knowledge of apply EBP into clinical practice. Second, solidarity and cooperation is also an opportunity to future direction of EBP. No matter clusters, hospitals or ward in Hong Kong tend to working independently and lack of co-ordinate with other. To provide EBP should include cooperate and sharing. The hospitals or clusters can form some research groups from different hospitals or wards; include senior and junior nurses to conduct research-related work. This kind of workshop would improve the stuffs ability to identify the clinical issues, review researches, analysis, promote to implement research finding or conduct research etc. eventually improve the quality of nursing care. Third relate to organization, the inferiors imitate the superiors; if the organization have positive attitude to motivate and reward EBP can raise the awareness to the staffs pay attention to EBP (Gale Schaffer, 2009). To improve future develop of EBP, organizational should be modified the nurse ratios. Provide more time and facilities to encourage nurse for discussing and applying research finding in clinical (Lee, 2003). Fourth, facing of decreasing birth rate, the elderly increasing inevitable, aging population already became a international problem, elderly care must pay more attention in nursing. Community services would be a big tendency and increase outreach services and day care services nursing care. Communities’ services for example community nurse and Nursing Clinic also help to relive the treatment cost, reduce stress and workload of front line nurse and bed occupancy rate. This situation closely relate to EBP because the role of nurses become more arduous and specialization, the case nurse provide professional health care services with integration, multifunction should have both evidence and knowledge to support the practice and patient outcome. The phenomenon provides opportunity to EBP to walk out the hospitals and integrate into the communities. Fifth, in the future nurses implement EBP may not just focus on Western medicine, also include Chinese medicine. In current years, popularity of Chinese medicine increasing in Hong Kong, most elderly tend to use Chinese treatment such as acupuncture, qigong diet regimen. Chinese medicine research and the utilization on clinical should be part of concern in EBP when making decision. As favorable condition of geography and culture in Hong Kong, combine Chinese and Western medicine would be a tendency, as a nurse should have the knowledge integration and application in clinical care. In conclude EBP utilization provide a more scientific method to the clinical decision making lead to improve and maintain health care quality, it is definitely the general direction in nursing future development. Base on the restrictive of policies and environment, working environment and organization seems to be two bigger challenges of EBP utilization. Although there are many challenges of EBP, different limitations from nursing and the external environment such as aging population, Chinese medication become more popularity etc provide some opportunities to indicate the future direction of EBP. Nursing profession need to sensitive to those factors, then appropriate to develop or improve, probably reduce the gap between clinical practice and EBP, also may provide a new direction for EBP in nursing utilization.

Financial Markets and the Risks They Run :: Financial Markets Institutions Finances Essays

Financial Markets and the Risks They Run Outline the differences between a broker and a dealer (or marketmaker) in financial markets, including discussions of how they are remunerated and what risks they run. A financial market consists of diverse financial assets traded between buyers and sellers. In addition to enabling exchange of previously issued financial assets, financial markets make possible the borrowing and lending by facilitating the sale by newly issued financial assets. Examples of financial markets include the New York Stock Exchange (which is involved in the resale of previously issued stock shares), the U.S. government bond market (which is involved in the resale of previously issued bonds), and the U.S. Treasury bills auction (sales of newly issued T-bills). A financial institution is an organization whose primary source of profits is through financial asset transactions. Examples of such financial institutions include discount brokers, banks, insurance companies, and complex multi-function financial institutions such as Merrill Lynch. Financial institutions participate in financial markets by creating and/or exchange of financial assets. In the financial market there are four institutions that carry out in this type of trade. One of which is a broker which is a commissioned agent of a buyer/seller who facilitates trade by locating a seller/buyer to complete the desired transaction. A broker does not take a position in the assets he or she trades; there is no maintaining of inventories in these assets on behalf of the broker. The commissions they charge to the users of their services determine the profits of brokers. Examples of brokers include real estate brokers and stockbrokers. Dealers, like brokers, facilitate trade by matching buyers with sellers of assets; they do not engage in asset transformation. Unlike brokers, however, a dealer can and does "take positions" (i.e., maintain inventories) in the assets he or she trades that permit the dealer to sell out of inventory rather than always having to locate sellers to match every offer to buy. Also, unlike brokers, dealers do not receive sales commissions.

In Praise of Folly - Erasmus Dichotomy Essay -- In Praise of Folly Es

In Praise of Folly - Erasmus' Dichotomy      Ã‚   The Silenus box is a "case carved like an ugly Silenus" that can be "opened to reveal beautiful, precious objects" (Erasmus 43, footnote). This box appears in Erasmus' Praise of Folly as a metaphor for the central claim in the novel, which is that that which appears to be Folly (ugly) externally, is wise (precious) within. Erasmus reveals this dichotomy on three levels: in the image of the box itself, in his genuine praise of Folly, and in the structure of the novel as a whole. Erasmus, using the female voice of Folly, introduces his reader to the image of the Silenus box early in the text, thereby allowing his reader to carry the image with her for the rest of her time reading (and see its metaphoric nature when appropriate). Folly makes the introduction, saying, "All human affairs... have two aspects quite different from each other." She then goes on to explain that this means, according to Plato, that things that "appear 'at first blush'... to be death, will, if you examine [them] more closely, turn out to be life... in brief, you will find everything suddenly reversed if you open the Silenus" (43). In more direct terms, something which on its surface seems one way (the 'bad' way), has opposite ('good') guts. In The Praise of Folly, the pair of opposites that Erasmus focuses on is that of folly and wisdom. By including a passage dedicated to the description of the Silenus, Erasmus gives his readers a concrete picture to grasp onto that stands for the novel's link between this pair of opposites, which is that wisdom comes under the wrapping of folly. The passage allows the reader to understand this central concept more easily. The concept, in its many manifestations, c... ...this same literary tradition, Rabelais utilizes this peculiar narrative technique in Gargantua and Pantagruel, where he too hides the wisdom in his work behind the veil of foolish, and even vulgar, language. Erasmus' inclusion of the passage explaining the Selenus box allows it to be a metaphor for the central concept in the novel. Through its presence, Erasmus gives us, his readers, a tool with which to separate the layers of his text. Without it, we might be stranded (after reading) with the inaccurate belief that Erasmus was a babbling hypocrite, with contradictory ideas sprinkled throughout his work. But, I suppose, we could have just attributed that fault to Folly, who is always more than willing to accept such a title. Work Cited Erasmus, D. 1511. In Praise of Folly. (Translated by L. Dean and republished by Hendricks House Farrar Straus. 1946.)

Recent Scientific and Technological Innovations Essay

The quality of life is normally taken to mean the general well being of people and the environment in which they live in. it is undeniable that recent scientific and technological innovations have enhanced the quality of life for many. However, the developments of today that promise us a better quality of life are also the ones that can worsen the quality of life. Science and technology give their creators and inventors ever-greater supremacy and control, for good or otherwise, over the physical universe. Indeed, the possible dire consequences and impact of misused and misapplied innovations can affect the quality of life drastically. Technological innovations have resulted in an improved and well-established system of telecommunications and satellites. This leads to ease in access of communication system globally. International calls can now be made so readily that two people at separate ends of the world can now stay instantly in contact with a touch of the dial. But, with the onsl aught of the worldwide web and wireless communication devices, technology has in fact, drawn people away from each other. The presence of electronic email and short-text messages, gave busy people of this high-tech society yet another excuse to dismiss the need for face-to-face meetings and interactions. Humans have become overly dependent upon such gadgets and devices to carry out the basic task such as to communicate. What will result from the above phenomenon is that the generations to come will be lacking in inter-personal and interactive skills. Medical scientific and technological innovations have been largely beneficial. Death rates, infant mortality rates as well as diseases of the past that used to lead to alarming numbers of deaths, have been eradicated greatly. Modern drugs and vaccines have eased much physically suffering. But, the discovery of Euthanasia and Genetic Engineering have sparked off a series of moral questioning concerning the supposed death with dignity as well as issues that include abortion as the latter opens up possibilities of misuse. It is true that abortion practices ena ble pregnant women who are at health risk to remove the baby in the course of pregnancy but many have taken advantage of this procedure to rid themselves of the product of irresponsible actions on their part. Also, Euthanasia, despite being said to be death in dignity, nevertheless, opposes many religious and conservative views. Advanced military technological innovations have provided a higher degree of security for citizens in countries. This does actually contribute to enhancing the quality of life as cyber warfare, biological warfare and nuclear warfare help to create a new form of defence mechanism to protect the people. Conversely, advance military technological innovations have also empowered modern armies a great level of destructive potential and selective aiming targets. This results in civilians and innocent people ending up as the greater victims in wars. In addition, the use of chemical and biological weapons has diffused effects that make the clear-cut drawing of battle lines more complex and difficult. Hence, instead of enhancing the quality of life, humans’ vulnerability increases and security decreases in times of war. Another political and legal aspect in which scientific and technological innovations have helped to improve the quality of life for humans is the availability of knowledge. Indeed, the access to information enhances democracy that provides citizens with a more liberal political system. However, it should be noted that technology, though allowing easy access to the supply of knowledge, actually devalues the worth of information and knowledge. Today, knowledge can easily turn obsolete as focus is placed on the survival of the most info and techno-savvy society. Also, what is accessible from the wide pool of resources on the worldwide web does not always provide the correct and morally upright information. For instance, the wide pool of pornography corrupts one’s mind and worsens the quality of life as it presents an improper, inaccurate and unrealistic view towards sex. Next, computers and high-tech machinery have aided in improving many economies, especially those of the developing countries. For example, South Korea went from being a developing country to becoming a newly industrialized country because they have become more capital-intensive and technologically oriented in their industries. Areas ranging from manufacturing processes to the service sector have been made easy by the use of both the computer and machinery. Nevertheless, such gadgets have become such an indispensable and essential tool in modern life that the need for labour-intensive employment has greatly declined. This puts lowly educated and lowly skilled workers out of jobs. Such an over reliance branches into almost every type of human activity and the importance of human resources will eventually be lost with time. How can quality of life be enhanced when the technology is deemed more valuable and useful than human resource? Another area to ponder about is the environmental asp ect of life. Pollution and deforestation have both worsened the quality of life in today’s society. Health problems have resulted from air, water, soil and hazardous waste pollution. Governments of less developed nations, in their eagerness to improve their economies by employing technology in their commerce, are willing to forsake the importance of the environment in maintaining the quality of life of their people. Poor air quality in twenty megacities in the world, with population of more than ten million results in an increase in lung, heart and brain cancer. This is the effect of traffic fumes; industrial processes, new sewage systems and even open refuse burning. Water quality is greatly diminished by the pollution caused by petrochemical complex, pesticide and factories. The issue of deforestation is also linked to the worsening of the quality of life as basic needs of recreation, culture and leisure are greatly affected. Thus, it is evident that though busy industries can be an indication of a healthy economy that can increase the monetary aspect of standard of living, actually denies humans their basic right to drink clean water and breathe clean, uncontaminated air. In conclusion, the issues of the quality of life that are affected by scientific and technological innovations are urgent and require much reconsideration. The nuclear power that promised virtually limitless, cheap and non-polluting energy for future generations proved otherwise in the disastrous accidents such as those that took place at Three Mile Island and Chernoblyl. Furthermore, the down sides to the supposed enhancement of the quality of life as depicted by the double-edged sword qualities of science and technology like those presented in this argument have clearly shown that recent scientific and technological innovations can increase the quality of life as well as degenerate it.

Multi-agency working in a special school setting

There are about 15,000 kids ( aged under 18 ) with complex and profound acquisition troubles in England ( DCSF, 2008, School Census ) . The Department for Children, Schools and Families ( DCSF ) define composite and profound tilting troubles in the undermentioned footings: In add-on to really terrible larning troubles, the kids will hold other important troubles, such as physical disablements, centripetal damage or a terrible medical status. They require a high degree of big support, for their personal attention every bit good as for their acquisition demands. They are likely to necessitate centripetal stimulation and a course of study that is broken down into really little stairss. Some kids with profound and multiple acquisition troubles communicate by gesture, oculus pointing or symbols ; others communicate by utilizing really simple linguistic communication. For the intent of this survey, in line with the DCSF definition, pupils with complex and profound acquisition troubles are defined as those who portion two features: a profound cognitive damage or larning trouble ; and a complex interaction of troubles in more than one country of operation. Evidence suggests that locally coordinated proviso is being adopted nationally as a person-centred attack to the demands of kids with complex and profound acquisition troubles ( Hirst and Baldwin, 1994 ) . Despite this, the Further Education Funding Council for Learning Difficulties and/or Disabilities Committee ( FEFC, 1996 ) suggests there are still promotions to be made in be aftering between professional groups in order to advance educational patterned advance and societal inclusion ( Department of Health, 2001 ) . In relation to these findings this paper describes a research survey that aims to measure the effectiveness multi-agency working within a proviso for kids with complex and profound acquisition troubles.Multi-agency working: a argument over conceptualizationIn past research, the footings inter-agency and multi-agency have been used interchangeably, doing the construct of multi-agency working less clear. Some research workers, such as Carpenter ( 1995 ) have suggested th at the differentiation between the two is numerical, whereby ; ‘inter-agency ‘ refers to two professionals workings together, such as a instructor and instruction helper, whilst ‘multi-agency ‘ working refers to a state of affairs when there are more than two professional groups are involved, such as a primary school instructor, physical therapist and larning support instructor. Other authors suggest the difference between inter-agency and multi-agency working roots from issues of professional boundaries. For illustration, inter-agency working could be seen as â€Å" like you are traversing into another infinite†¦ † ( Pirrie et al. , 1998, p.213 ) where there are clear function definitions, whilst multi-agency working can be seen as advancing blurred boundaries between professional groups ( Wilson and Pirrie, 2000 ) . The DfES defines multi-agency working as: â€Å" †¦ different services and squads of professionals and other staff working together to supply the services that to the full meet the demands of kids, immature people and their parents or carers. † ( DfES, 2004, p.18 ) . It is believed that the term ‘multi-agency ‘ working screens a wide array of engagement, which could run from meetings between professionals from different bureaus to professionals working collaboratively over long periods of clip and across local communities ( Barnes, 2008 ) . For the intent of this survey, multi-agency working will affect different professionals working together on a regular footing over a considerable period of clip at The Meadows[ 1 ]to run into the demands of the students who attend.Multi-agency working to back up kids with complex and profound acquisition troubles: the demand to organize servicesOver clip, there has been a gradual displacement in the perceptual experience of persons with complex and profound acquisition troubles. Whereby, the medical theoretical account, with its concentration on personal shortage, is bit by bit germinating into a societal theoretical account which highlights the impact of environmental factors, societal factors and entree to educational chances on the lives of those with complex and profound acquisition troubles ( World Health Organization, 2001 ) . The increasing focal point on quality of life has highlighted the demand for professional bureaus to work collaboratively, if those with complex and profound acquisition troubles are to take richer lives ( Mencap, 2000 ; Barnes, 2008 ) . Besides, multi-agency working is being progressively seen as a agency of enabling improved entree to specialist support and resources, easing inclusion and ensuing in raised attainment ( Forbes, 2007 ) . Roaf ( 2002 ) suggests that multi-agency working enables kids with complex educational demands to make their full potency, stating: â€Å" Despite the complexness of their troubles, in school, instructors frequently find that when professionals work closely together, immature people reach their educational potency†¦ † ( p. 2 ) . Roaf ( 2002 ) besides highlights how, in contrast to multi-agency working, accessing services which are fragmented can frequently take to holds in accessing support and kids can at times get ‘lost in the system ‘ . Further research suggests that kids with complex and profound demands frequently experience co-occurring and overlapping troubles ( Maras et al. , 2002 ) which require a holistic appraisal of single demands through multi-disciplinary working. Multi-agency working has been identified as an effectual method of early designation and intercession to turn to complex demands ( Carpenter, 2000 ) and the demand to better multi-agency working to back up persons with complex and profound acquisition troubles was highlighted in the White Paper Valuing People ( Department of Health, DoH 2001 ) . Valuing Peoples advocates a person-centred attack to presenting â€Å" existent alteration in the lives of people with larning disablements † ( p. 5 ) by supplying â€Å" a individual, multi-agency mechanism for accomplishing this † ( p.5 ) . The paper suggests that in order to make the cardinal aim that â€Å" handicapped kids gain maximal life-chance benefits from educational chances, † ( p. 122 ) it is indispensable that wellness attention and societal attention should follow a multi-agency, coordinated attack to back up persons, every bit good as their parents or carers. The overarching purpose of coordinating service s through joint on the job patterns across wellness, societal attention and instruction is to supply a ‘seamless service ‘ ( DfES, 2003, 2004 ) to give kids the best possible start in life and to get the better of the troubles otherwise faced by households through fragmented services ( DoH, 2006 ) . The research base in this country proposes that multi-agency working is a cardinal facilitating factor for enabling kids with complex and profound acquisition troubles to derive improved life-chances and educational chances every bit good as supplying support for parents and carers. The following measure is to see how effectual multi-agency working can be achieved.Pulling on the grounds: factors which facilitate effectual multi-agency workingLiterature from an organizational psychological science perspective suggests that merely seting persons from professional groups together does non needfully take to effectual multi-agency or collaborative working ( Clark, 1993 ; Pirrie et al. , 1998 ) . Alternatively it is proposed that effectual multi-agency working is dependent on broad scope of factors, such as a blurring of professional boundaries which leads to the formation of â€Å" trust, tolerance and a willingness to portion duty † ( Nolan, 1995, p. 306 ) . Besides, success depen ds on the creative activity of a new manner of working that identifies common ends ( Pirrie et al. , 1998 ) , offers clear way at a strategic degree ( Atkinson et al. , 2005 ) and encourages a personal committedness from squad members ( Wilson and Pirrie, 2000 ) . Guidance from Every Child Matters: alteration for kids, provinces: To work successfully on a multi-agency footing you need to be clear about your ain function and aware of the functions of other professionals ; you need to be confident about your ain criterions and marks and respectful of those that apply to other services, actively seeking and esteeming the cognition and input others can do to presenting best results for kids and immature people. ( DfES, 2004, p. 18 ) A elaborate survey carried out with 139 members of multi-agency squads ( Local Government Area Research Report 26 ; Atkinson et al. , 2002 ) found that the primary accomplishments identified for successful multi-agency working across a scope of scenes include: a committedness from all involved ; understanding ain and other ‘s functions and duties ; holding common purposes and aims to work towards ; effectual communicating and information sharing ; strong leading ; holding support or resources needed ; and good working relationships and holding equal clip. Sloper ( 2004 ) found factors at an organizational degree which facilitate multi-agency working include: the planning, execution and on-going direction of multi-agency services ; clear and realistic purposes and aims that are easy understood and accepted ; clearly defined functions and duties with clear lines of answerability ; strong leading from a multi-agency guidance or direction group ; guaranting good systems of communicating and information sharing at all degrees ; and an agreed timetable and incremental attack for alteration. In drumhead, scenes where effectual multi-agency working has been established with a strong committedness from professionals involved has lead to better results for kids with complex and profound acquisition troubles ; nevertheless, the manner in which this is achieved is non simple. There are cardinal constituents identified within the research which are thought to ease multi-agency working but accomplishing effectual multi-agency working is non a straightforward procedure and may change from one puting to another. Based on a reappraisal of the literature around factors which affect multi-agency working, repeating subjects include: the apprehension of functions and duties ; effectual communicating and information sharing ; positive working relationships between persons from different bureaus ; and organizational factors such as how multi-agency working is managed.The Present StudyAt a whole-school staff meeting, The Meadows identified a desire to measure the effectivity of multi-age ncy working centered on students with complex and profound acquisition troubles. At this meeting the school staff reported that they would wish to measure current multi-agency working within the school to larn about how that might be improved for future service bringing. This was so discussed at a planning meeting affecting the research worker, the school SENCo ( Particular Educational Needs Coordinator ) and deputy caput instructor. The present survey is an explorative probe into multi-agency working within this specialist proviso for kids with complex and profound acquisition troubles. The context for this survey is The Meadows School which was established in September 2000 following the reorganization of proviso for kids with particular educational demands in Newtown[ 2 ]and is now presently the lone primary school within Newtown Local Authority catering for the demands of kids with complex and profound acquisition troubles or disablements. In September 2006, The Meadows moved into a edifice which was trade name new and purpose built. Along with instruction and schoolroom support staff, the school is supported by a multi-agency squad of: physical therapists, occupational healers, address and linguistic communication healers, a specializer instructor of the visually impaired, a specializer instructor of the hearing impaired, clinical psychologist, educational psychologist and medical staff, such as the school nurse and the adviser baby doctor. There are presently 124 kids go toing The Meadows, runing in age from 2 old ages to 11 old ages. All are described as holding complex and profound acquisition troubles, which include: terrible autism, complex medical conditions, physical and mobility troubles, every bit good as terrible developmental hold. There is a high proportion of students from an cultural minority background and a little figure of looked after kids who attend The Meadows. An OFSTED review in summer 2007 rated the school as being ‘Good ‘ overall and the undermentioned were rated as outstanding: Foundation Stage proviso, Personal Development and Well-being, Care, Guidance and Support and Curriculum Activities. OFTSED study that â€Å" There are first-class working relationships with other suppliers and bureaus and these have a positive consequence on the development of course of study activities. †PurposesThe purpose of this survey is to measure the effectivity of multi-agency working at The Meadows. This will be achieved by replying the undermentioned inquiries: 1. How is multi-agency working organised and structured at The Meadows? 2. How do multi-agency professionals ( MAPs ) at The Meadows perceive their ain and others ‘ functions? 3. How could multi-agency working at The Meadows be improved for future service bringing?MethodProcedureThis survey was conducted over a four month period from September to December, 2010. Table 1 nowadayss a timeline which illustrates the process ( informations aggregation methods are described in more item in the Measures subdivision of this survey ) .TimeActionRADIO theoretical account ( Timmins et al. , 2003 ) phaseSeptemberOn an informal visit to the scene, The Meadows staff mentioned a demand for research to be conducted within the school. They felt research could assist the school develop future service bringing. I suggested a treatment is held with school staff to place some possible research countries. Phase 1: Awareness of demand raised by the school.Early OctoberI met with school SENCo to discourse possible research countries. The rating of multi-agency working is agreed. I was asked to carry on the research. Phase 2: Invitation to move is given by the SENCo on behalf of the schoolMid OctoberI met with the SENCo, early old ages coordinator and deputy caput instructor to discourse research inquiries and purposes to be investigated. Phase 3, 4 & A ; 5: Identifying stakeholders and discoursing who the results will impact and holding the focal point of concern.End OctoberA research brief is emailed ( See Appendix One ) sketching the purposes of the research, research aims, attack, methodological analysis, timings and contact inside informations, including why information will be collected and how it would be used. Staff are asked to supply feedback on research brief. Phase 5 & A ; 6: Identifying stakeholders and discoursing the focal point of concern every bit good as determining a model for informations assemblage.Early NovemberI visited The Meadows to carry on a semi-structured interview with the early old ages coordinator, deputy caput instructor and caput instructor to larn about the school and how multi-agency on the job maps. Phase 7: Gathering Information stage 1.Mid NovemberI conducted observations over two forenoons ( about seven hours ) to roll up informations. The intent was to depicting four things: the accomplishments and cognition staff were using in their function, working relationships between multi-agency staff, how multi-agency working was structured or organised and what sort of support was offered by MAPs. Phase 7: Gathering Information stage 1.End NovemberI explored student files for information. The intent was to measure the accomplishments and cognition MAPs were using in their function and how multi-agency working was structured. Phase 7: Gathering Information stage 1.DecemberData was collected through the usage of questionnaires. Phase 7: Gathering Information stage 2.MeasuresThe overarching purpose was to measure multi-agency working at The Meadows with an involvement in placing ways of developing future support for kids with complex and profound acquisition troubles at the school. A multi-method attack was used affecting two stages. Phase one, was chiefly analytic-inductive ( Robson, 2002 ) , using an interpretative attack as the footing for question, whereby, semi-structured interviews were conducted, pupil files were explored and observations were used to bring forth rich, qualitative information. Phase two consisted of structured questionnaires used to look into subjects originating from the interview responses and research relationships between variables to bring forth quantitative informations. Semi-structured interviews I visited The Meadows to carry on a semi-structured interview with the early old ages coordinator, deputy caput instructor and caput instructor to larn about the school and how it operates as a multi-agency squad. A semi-structured attack with open-ended interview inquiries was used, as suggested by Cohen and Manion ( 1989 ) to let the research worker to be flexible throughout the oppugning procedure, so that a free-flow of information could be achieved. An interview agenda of inquiries was created based on subjects which had emerged from a reappraisal of the literature. A list of possible inquiries was written ( see Appendix Two ) to motivate the interviewer sing the cardinal points to cover and subjects to turn to. As recommended by Robson ( 2002 ) there was flexibleness over the sequencing of inquiries, their exact diction and the sum of clip and attending given to different subjects depending on the response of the participant. The interviews were tape recorded which Robson ( 2002 ) suggests is good pattern to supply comprehensive informations for ulterior analysis. This method besides allowed me to concentrate on edifice resonance which is an built-in portion of a successful interview procedure ( Dexter, 1970 ) . At the start of each interview I described the interview procedure, about how long it should last, and the general topics to be covered. I asked the interviewee ‘s permission to enter replies and reassured confidentiality. The interviewees were asked if they had any inquiries before get downing the interview and once more at the terminal. After the interviews were complete, through informal treatment, participants were asked to reflect on the interview procedure. From feedback, it was found that respondents felt they had been able to reply inquiries in their ain clip and in their ain manner. Participants said they felt relaxed and liked my interview manner, as it was informal and â€Å" set them at easiness. † Observations I conducted observations over two forenoons and observed 15 members of staff working across four categories including, instructors, larning support practicians, physical therapists and address and linguistic communication healers. Before get downing observations, I introduced herself by mentioning to the information outlined in the research brief and inquiring for each participant ‘s consent to be portion of the research procedure. The observation technique involved analyzing a scope of grownups working with kids and depicting four things: the accomplishments and cognition staff were using in their function, working relationships between multi-agency staff, how multi-agency working was structured or organised and what sort of support was offered by MAPs. This was recorded on an observation record sheet ( see Appendix Three for sample record sheet ) . As proposed by Robson ( 2002 ) , information was recorded during observations and extra information was added shortly after each observation period, including interpretative thoughts and subjective feelings. Questionnaires The purpose was to try as broad a scope of bureaus as possible and cod informations through the usage of questionnaires from a scope of professionals from different bureaus who support students at The Meadows. An explanatory missive, along with a structured questionnaire ( See Appendix Three ) were sent to each member of staff at The Meadows through the usage of the school ‘s internal postal system and through electronic mail besides. The questionnaire was structured into six subdivisions. These subdivisions were based on subjects originating from the reappraisal of literature, interviews and observations conducted antecedently. The six subdivisions were as follows: background information, which explored the respondents ‘ function and clip worked at The Meadows ; communicating between MAPs including: teaching staff ; physical therapists ; occupational healers ; address and linguistic communication healers ; a specializer instructor of the visually impaired ; a specializer instructor of the hearing impaired ; clinical psychologist ; and educational psychologist. apprehension of ain and other multi-agency professional ‘s functions at The Meadows ; positions on administration and construction of multi-agency working at The Meadows as these facilitated or inhibited each respondent ‘s ain work and overall multi-agency working within the school ; environmental factors which may impact multi-agency working ; and other Factors act uponing multi-agency working. The inquiries were a mixture of open-ended inquiries which had no predetermined response options and needed respondents to enter their replies in sentences and scaling inquiries which required respondents to click a corresponding response on a five-point ordinal graduated table. A pilot questionnaire was administered to four participants. Through informal inquiring, respondents gave feedback which was incorporated into the concluding questionnaire design. 20 questionnaires were returned ( N=20 ) from a scope of bureaus, including: larning support helpers ( N=3 ) ; educational psychologist ( N=1 ) ; occupational healer ( N=1 ) ; address and linguistic communication healers ( N=2 ) ; physical therapist ( N=1 ) ; instructors ( N=6 ) ; librarian ( N=1 ) ; and senior Management staff ( N=5 ) .ConsequencesThe consequences will be reported in relation to the research aims below: 1. How is multi-agency working organised and structured at The Meadows? 2. How do MAPs at The Meadows perceive their ain and others ‘ functions? 3. How could multi-agency working at The Meadows be improved for future service bringing?How is multi-agency working organised/structured at The Meadows?In order to derive insight into how The Meadows operates as a multi-agency squad, observations across the school were conducted, pupil files held at Newtown Inclusion Support were explored and information was gathered through interviews with the school ‘s early old ages coordinator, deputy caput instructor and caput instructor. Contented analysis of the informations from observations and interviews ( See Appendix Four for process ) suggests that The Meadows operates as an operational multi-agency bringing squad. Diagrammatic representation of this type of attack is provided in Figure 1.1. Figure 1.1 Operational squad bringing theoretical account During the interviews participants ( caput teacher, early old ages coordinator and deputy caput instructor ) were asked to name all the bureaus that on a regular basis work at The Meadows and depict how services are coordinated and delivered to back up students at the school. From their responses, it was possible to build a figure to demo the bureaus and their connection ( See Figure 1.2 ) . When asked, interviewees described multi-agency working at The Meadows as â€Å" a scope of experts who work in close propinquity and work together to present support to students, † ( head teacher ) with the overall purpose being, to accomplish â€Å" a bipartisan exchange of cognition, thoughts and accomplishments † ( head teacher ) between all those involved ( as indicated in Figure 1.2 ) .The Meadows Multi-agency squad bringing theoretical accountFigure 1.2 The Meadows ‘s multi-agency squad bringing theoretical account. Health professionals: physical therapist, occupational healer, address and linguistic communication healers, clinical psychologist, pediatric adviser, Educational Psychologist. Education professionals: Educational Psychologist, instructors, larning support practicians, senior direction, co-ordinators. Other services: Parents, voluntaries, meal-time supervisors, site staff, disposal staff, drivers, librarian Social services: Social workers. The purpose of the operational bringing squad was reported to be for professionals from different bureaus to work together on a daily footing and to organize a cohesive multi-agency squad that delivers a person-centered service straight to students who attend The Meadows. By utilizing this attack senior direction at The Meadows hope to supply a â€Å" seamless service for parents † which offers a broad comprehensiveness of expertness, accomplishments and experience and hope this attack encourages â€Å" joined up believing † between bureaus, â€Å" an efficient free flow of information † and would promote â€Å" more creativeness. † Through questionnaires, MAPs who work at The Meadows were asked to rate their cognition and apprehension of assorted structural and organizational elements of multi-agency working at The Meadows such as the staffing construction and the organisation of the course of study. Respondents were asked to rate the extent to which they were involved in determining these elements and how they impacted on their engagement in multi-agency working. Chart 1 below represents the mean questionnaire response from staff ( larger sized chart available in Appendix Five ) . The responses were divided into three groups: senior direction, learning staff ( including larning support practicians ) and professionals who are employed by external bureaus such as address and linguistic communication healers, occupational healers, physical therapists and psychologists. This was done to see whether there were differences between groups. Although evaluations across all countries were high for all groups, it was found that senior direction rated their cognition of the construction of The Meadows and engagement in determining service bringing as highest across most classs. Teaching staff rated 2nd highest across the same countries and external bureaus rated lowest across these countries. This suggests that external bureaus perceive they have the lowest apprehension of The Meadows ‘s course of study, the least chances for joint planning and preparation bringing and the least input into future service bringing. Qualitative responses on the questionnaires from professionals employed by external bureaus, suggest that clip restraints are the chief ground for the deficiency of engagement in joint planning and preparation. Additionally, during interviews some staff reported that some MAPs do non hold a clear apprehension of The Meadows ‘s thematic course of study, which leads to them to propose extra marks which are ill-fitting with the curriculum marks already in topographic point. It was felt this frequently puts increasing demands on learning staff who are responsible for implementing marks suggested by external bureaus.How make MAPs at The Meadows perceive their ain and other ‘s functions?Through questionnaires MAPs were asked to name the cardinal accomplishments and cognition they considered that they implemented in their function at The Meadows. This information was triangulated with informations from observations and single student files. Figure 2 illustrates the cardinal accomplishments and cognition used by multi-agency staff at The Meadows in their daily working. Figure 2. diagrammatic representation of cardinal accomplishments and cognitionCommon Skills & A ; Knowledge– specializer cognition ;– assessing pupil advancement ;– communication with other professionals & A ; parents ; and– experience.Address and Language Therapists:– cognition of communicating development and swallowing troubles ; and – mark linguistic communication and option signifiers of communicating.Physical therapists:– expertness in all right and gross motor development ; and – placement and seating options.Teaching Staff( including larningsupport practicians ) :– communication with parents & A ; a broad scope of professionals ; – experience of working with kids with a broad scope of demand ; and – program, learn & amp ; assess student advancement.Educational Psychologist:– advice on behavior direction rules ; -advice on accessing the course of study ; and – support student ‘s academic development. The cardinal circle in Figure 2. entitled ‘Common Skills and Knowledge ‘ , identifies a set of common accomplishments that all MAPs employed in their work at The Meadows. The qualitative responses from questionnaires suggested that some MAPs felt that there was some â€Å" function convergence † and â€Å" deficiency of lucidity † sing the cardinal duties of some professionals they worked with, which at times lead to repeat in the work carried out by different persons, peculiarly when measuring student advancement. This will be explored further in the Discussion subdivision of this paper. The following measure was to research how staff at The Meadows perceived their ain functions. Through questionnaires staff were asked to rate statements associating to their function and the functions of other MAPs. Consequences are presented in Chart 2 ( larger sized chart available in Appendix Five ) . The bulk of MAPs felt that they had a really good apprehension of their ain function and others ‘ functions. All staff members viewed themselves chiefly as a member of The Meadows ‘s staff squad. Those who are employed by an external bureau viewed themselves as chiefly members of The Meadows staff squad and besides view themselves as portion of an external bureau. Qualitative responses from this group suggest that some persons found that belonging to two administrations can be â€Å" hard to pull off at times, † can sometimes be â€Å" frustrating † and can at times â€Å" lead to conflict. † Overall, respondents felt that professional boundaries were non hard to traverse and they perceived that professional boundaries were somewhat blurred. Through questionnaires, staff were asked to rate the grade to which they understood the functions of other professionals who worked at The Meadows and how often they had contact with them. The consequences are presented in Chart 3 ( larger sized chart available in Appendix Five ) . The consequences show that there are fluctuations in the degree of apprehension of some professional functions and in the degree of contact with some professional groups. From the mean overall responses it is suggested that most respondents felt they had the clearest apprehension of the functions of: teaching staff, larning support practicians, address and linguistic communication healers, the instructor of the visually impaired, nursery nurses, the wellness attention squad and disposal staff. These groups were besides rated as holding the highest degree of contact, which suggests that high contact can take to better apprehension of others ‘ functions. There was least contact with the clinical psychologist, the instructor of the hearing impaired, societal workers and the educational psychologist. Qualitative responses from the questionnaire suggested that clip limitations affect contact with some professional groups, particularly those with merely one member such as the clinical psychologist, the instructor of the hearing impaired, societal workers and the educational psychologist, which adversely impacted other workers ‘ apprehension of the function.How could multi-agency working at The Meadows be improved for future service bringing?In general, respondents believed that multi-agency working at The Meadows was effectual and well-organised. However, qualitative responses suggested some countries for possible betterment were: clip restraints, deficiency of communicating and function ambiguity. Through qualitative responses on questionnaires it was suggested that communicating between MAPs was an country which could be addressed to better future service bringing at The Meadows. Seven cardinal elements to better communicating were identified, these were: systems in topographic point to let confidential exchange of information between bureaus for illustration, through secure web waiters ; chances for multi-agency meetings at regular intervals and available on a ‘as needed ‘ footing ; chances to run into as a whole staff with all MAPs who work at The Meadows to construct better working relationships ; a dependable point of contact to mention to for information and counsel when MAPs are non in school or non readily available ; a shared country on the school ‘s intranet where MAPs can portion information, programmes and how to implement recommendations ; guarantee disposal staff have a clear apprehension of the duties of MAPs who visit the school and are notified of when they are due to see ; and guaranting communicating with parents presents a â€Å" clear and cohesive image, † ( deputy caput instructor ) particularly when many professional bureaus are involved and there is possible for conflicting advice. Suggestions for bettering the apprehension of other multi-agency professionals ‘ functions were contributed as a manner of bettering future service bringing at The Meadows. Five perceived cardinal elements to better apprehension were identified. These were: a profile of each multi-agency professional who operates at The Meadows that other school staff can mention to, for information about their functions and duties ; more contact with MAPs. Classroom-based staff suggested it would be helpful if MAPs spent more clip in category ( if possible ) and had more chances to work straight with learning staff, kids and parents ; more chances created for joint planning between MAPs and classroom-based staff. more staff meetings to specify functions and construct professional relationships ; and more multi-agency engagement in the school ‘s â€Å" visioning yearss † where future service bringing is discussed.Reliability, cogency and generalisabilityIt is of import to observe some of the restrictions of this peculiar survey. One such restriction is that the findings are specific to one peculiar scene and limited to the minute in clip the survey was conducted. It can non be assumed that consequences can be generalised to other instances and fortunes. The attack used in this survey does hold the potency to give conceptually rich, psychological histories of complex phenomena ( Turner, 1992 ) .The design of this survey was developed based on treatments with school staff and the research worker ‘s ain contemplations, doing it likely that prejudices exist which limit the dependability and cogency ( define and be specific ) of findings. For illustration, the steps used and the research design were determined by the research worker ‘s perceptual experiences of what the school would happen good and of import. Another possible restriction is that trying was across a figure of bureaus in this survey, nevertheless, there are other bureaus which were non involved that would hold been utile to include, the most noteworthy being societal workers, farther it would hold been helpful to research parents ‘ positions. The choice of bureaus and interviewees may hold led to the consequences being skewed. In footings of informations aggregation steps used, there are a figure of strengths and restrictions to each which are summarised below. Semi-structured Interviews: This attack allows some grade of flexibleness and provides a wealth of verbal and non-verbal rich and enlightening information ( Robson, 2002 ) . However, this attack lacks standardisation and can raise concerns over dependability ( Robson, 2002 ) . Besides, the flexibleness of this attack increases the likeliness of interviewer prejudice which can impact the cogency and dependability of responses. Focused Observations: The observation informations provided rich, qualitative information embedded within the context of the scene ( Robson, 2002 ) which added to the face cogency and dependability of the informations collected. However, experimental informations are capable to reading by the perceiver and trust on what the perceiver chooses to go to to. Besides, a deficiency of multiple perceivers can impact the dependability of reported informations. Questionnaires: This attack allowed a scope of persons to be involved in the research which may non hold been possible otherwise, due to clip restraints. Questionnaire response rate may hold been increased if the questionnaire could hold been shortened or conducted at a more convenient clip. Since content analysis was carried out by one research worker this may besides hold led to researcher prejudice. In footings of overall dependability and cogency of this survey, it is of import to observe that by utilizing a multi-method attack and triangulating the findings from several methods of informations aggregation ; it is possible to better dependability and cogency ( Robson, 2002 ) .Discussion and decisionsThe intent of this survey was to measure the effectivity of multi-agency working within a proviso for kids with complex and profound acquisition troubles by replying the undermentioned inquiries: 1. How is multi-agency working organised and structured at The Meadows? 2. How do MAPs at The Meadows perceive their ain and others ‘ functions? 3. How could multi-agency working at The Meadows be improved for future service bringing? When turn toing the first inquiry, it was noted that The Meadows maps as an operational multi-agency bringing squad. This attack relies to a great extent on effectual communicating and a high degree of committedness from all bureaus involved ( Atkinson et al. , 2002 ) . It relies on the effectual sharing of information and resources every bit good as the demand to happen clip to construct good working relationships between bureaus ( Atkinson et al. , 2002 ; Roaf and Lloyd, 1995 ) . When working within this theoretical account of service bringing, it is extremely of import to construct cognition and apprehension of each other ‘s functions, duties and precedences in order to advance cooperation between bureaus ( Atkinson et al. , 2002 ; Easen, 1998 ; McConkey, 2001 ) . When compared to staff who were for good based at The Meadows, such as learning staff and senior direction at the school, bureaus which are employed by external administrations, had the least apprehension of The Meadows ‘s course of study and rated their engagement in joint planning and staff preparation as lowest. Qualitative informations supported the position that that these countries were a possible failing in multi-agency working at The Meadows and that by turn toing the restrictions in these countries, future service bringing could be improved. In peculiar, it was suggested that MAPs should hold a clear apprehension of the alone course of study The Meadows provides for each single student. Pupils work on a â€Å" thematic course of study based on chance † ( head instructor ) , which includes elements of the National Curriculum and besides is separately tailored to supply chances to develop accomplishments and experiences in countries such as personal and societal instruction, communicating, independency and drama relevant to each kid. Rushmer and Pallis ( 2002 ) suggest that for an administration to accomplish its ends and aims, the work of single squad members must be linked into a consistent form of activities and relationships. The consequences from this survey suggest there is a set of common accomplishments that all MAPs employed in their work at The Meadows, viz. : specializer cognition, measuring student advancement, pass oning with other professionals every bit good as parents and pulling upon old experience. In relation to these findings, other research suggests that blurred professional boundaries and deficiency of lucidity around functions and duties can constitue a barrier to integrated working ( Cameron and Lart, 2003 ) . In contrast, other research has shown that joint-working relies upon the meeting of the accomplishment, experience and cognition of each professional to bring forth positive results that merely working together can accomplish ( Rushmer and Pallis, 2002 ) . When look intoing how multi-agency working at The Meadows could be improved for future service bringing, staff felt that betterments could be made to the effectivity of communicating between professional groups and where there is function ambiguity originating from integrated working ( Percy-Smith, 2005 ; Stewart, Petch, & A ; Curtice, 2003 ) . For case, there is ambiguity around the different functions and duties of professional bureaus who work at the school. Expand on this†¦ The consequences of this survey are supported by findings from old research on multi-agency working which suggest that clip is a cardinal hinderance to effectual multi-agency working ( Gill, 1989 ; Hudson, 2003 ; Lloyd-Bennett & A ; Melvin, 2002 ; Stead et al. , 2004 ; Walker, 2003 ) . This survey indicates that The Meadows could develop communicating and apprehension. This could be encouraged through increased articulation working and chances for contact through meetings and preparation, better cognition of each other ‘s functions would besides assist persons work together efficaciously. Encouragingly, professionals at The Meadows are by and large happening joint working a good and positive experience and are acute for it to develop. Through a mixed-method attack this survey captures the sentiments and contemplations of a group of professionals who have developed successful coaction to back up kids with complex and profound acquisition troubles who attend The Meadows and has explored ways in which this success can be built upon for future pattern.Word Count: 5,798MentionsAnning, 2001 Atkinson et al. , 2002 Bank, 1992 Barnes, 2008 Barnes, 2008 Brown and White ( 2006 ) Cameron and Lart, 2003 Cameron and Lart, 2003 ) . Carpenter ( 1995 ) , Carpenter, 2000 Clark, 1993 ; Pirrie et al. , 1998 Cochrane, 2000 ; DCSF, 2008, School Census Department of Health, 2001 Dexter ( 1970 ) DfES, 2003, 2004 DfES, 2004 DoH, 2006 ) . Easen, 1998 FEFC, 1996 Forbes, 2007 Gerwirtz, 2002 Gill, 1989 ; Hudson, 2003 ; Hirst and Baldwin, 1994 Kimberlee, 2001 LGA Research Report 26 ; Atkinson, Wilkin, Stott, Doherty, & A ; Kinder, 2002 Lloyd-Bennett & A ; Melvin, 2002 ; Maras et al. , 2002 McConkey, 2001 Mencap, 2000 ; Nolan, 1995 Percy-Smith, 2005 ; Pirrie et al. , 1998 Roaf ( 2002 Roaf and Lloyd, 1995 Robson, C. ( 2002 ) Real World Research: A Resource for Social Scientists and Practitioner-Researchers. 2nd erectile dysfunction. Oxford: Blackwell. Rushmer and Pallis ( 2002 ) Rushmer and Pallis ( 2002 ) Sloper ( 2004 Stead et al. , 2004 ; Stewart, Petch, & A ; Curtice, 2003 ) . Turner, 1992 Walker, 2003 Wilson and Pirrie, 2000 Wilson and Pirrie, 2000 World Health Organization, 2001