Wikis as an Educational Tool

Introduction of the Concept of Wiki A wiki is a website that runs on wiki software that offers a simple mark-up language editing functionality or to as what-you-see-is-what-you-get (WYSIWYG) (Wikipedia, n.d.). Wiki is a collection of webpages that are interlinked and are editable by a person viewing the webpage.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Wikis as an Educational Tool specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Wikis serve as the humblest content management systems that allow collaborative work. As a content management system, the wiki software provides a template for the layout of each page that make up the wiki (Brian, n.d.). How do Wikis Allow Users to Place Content on the Web The simplicity of a wiki lies in the what-you-see-is-what-you-get (WYSIWYG) mark-up language that allows anybody with or without the knowledge of computer programing language and with a basic literacy of computers and the internet to e dit a page or create a new page on the wiki. Editing and creation of new pages occurs in real time and changes are noticeable immediately on the wiki. The real-time feature and ease of editing makes wikis great collaboration tools. The wiki software that manages how content appears on the wiki offers a rigid input structure that ensures all content added to the wiki appear in the same manner on the whole wiki. A person editing the wiki can only type in, insert hyperlinks and to some extent can upload facility for multimedia content is availed. People who wish to edit wikis need to log into the site (Brian, n.d.). Wide Range of Topics found on Wikipedia Wikipedia is currently the most popular wiki in the world. It offers about eight million pages that have been interlinked and are editable by anyone who can access the wiki. According to Wikipedia (n.d.), the site offers 18 million articles that are a product of voluntary collaboration. The English version of the wiki has over 3.6 mil lion articles. As of 2008, Wikipedia had covered the following subjects: culture and the arts, biographies and persons, geography and places, society and social sciences, history and events, natural and the physical sciences, technology and the applied sciences, religions and belief systems, health, mathematics and logic, thought and philosophy (Wikipedia, n.d.).Advertising Looking for research paper on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Use of Wiki as Training or Learning tool The collaborative nature of wiki makes it more of a way of working rather than a tool because the density of the collaboration defines the wiki. Wikis offer subject specific repositories and provide a real opportunity for increasing knowledge distribution on a given topic because of the wiki’s ease of deployment across the internet (Smith, n.d.) There are several approaches of using wikis in the teaching or learning process. The most comm on is the cooperative or collaborative paradigm where students form heterogeneous groups that maintain and facilitate individual learning. The main advantage of the setting is that it nourishes a positive interdependence among the group members while enhancing the individual accountability and appropriate development and use of collaborative skills (Parker Chao, 2007). Wikis facilitate computer-supported collaboration and this is extendable to the learning process. The wiki serves as a knowledge platform on which members of a collaborating community share interesting work together and discuss issues that concern the common work among them (Parker Chao, 2007). Since wikis meet the requirements of any successful community of practice, they provide the best means of collaborative work. Students can use wikis to conduct group discussions with their fellow students or collaborate on class assignments for student groups. Secondly, there is the constructivist paradigm that view knowledge and meaning as a construction rather than a natural occurrence. This approach emphasizes on the learner interaction to be active and manipulative, constructive and reflective, authentic, challenging and conversational as well as meet real world cooperative and collaborative expectations. To fit into this category of learning tools, wikis allow learners to be explicit in their reflection of the learnt material. In addition, wikis offers rich and flexible functionality that transcends the minimal technological barriers presented. Given that people learn by social and communal activities, wikis assist to enact knowledge when used educationally because they provide a community-focused approach (Parker Chao, 2007).Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Wikis as an Educational Tool specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Other than group collaborations, wikis allow a dyadic collaboration of teacher and student on a give n topic because of its real-time editing structure. Such collaboration is achievable in form of writing articles and irrespective of the geographical location of the participants (Parker Chao, 2007). The open nature of wikis broadens their use depending on the imagination of the user. Current popular forms of educational wiki are single user wikis for personal collection and editing of thoughts, lab book wikis for students to keep notes online for peer reviewing, collaborative writing wikis for joint writing and knowledge base wikis for providing a knowledge repository (Smith, n.d.). Educational areas that best adapt to use of wiki are project-based learning that rely on wikis for project planning and documentations. Secondly, online education uses wikis to disseminate information to allow group discussions of geographically distant students as well as form knowledge repositories for online classes. The final benefit of wiki in education is the ability to freeze them by making them private so that information contained in them cannot be edited thus creating a knowledge artifact (Parker Chao, 2007). References Brian, M. (n.d.). How wikis work. Retrieved from how stuff works: https://computer.howstuffworks.com/internet/basics/wiki1.htm Parker, K. R., Chao, J. T. (2007). Wiki as a Teaching tool. (A. Koohang, Ed.) Interdisciplinary Journal of Knowledge and Learning Objects, 3: 57-72. Smith, C. (n.d.). Wikis and Education. Retrieved from Shambles: http://www.shambles.net/pages/learning/ict/wikiedu/Advertising Looking for research paper on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Wikipedia. (n.d.). Wiki. Retrieved from Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wiki This research paper on Wikis as an Educational Tool was written and submitted by user Yandel R. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Entrepreneurship And Special Interest Tourism The WritePass Journal

Entrepreneurship And Special Interest Tourism Abstract Entrepreneurship And Special Interest Tourism ). A key segment of the tourism sector that has gained increasing importance over the past few years is Special Interest Tourism (SIT). SIT has come to be recognized as a key contributor to this sector. According to estimates by Mintel (2002), over one-third of British consumers have either participated or engaged in a special interest holiday. Evidence by Shaw Williams (2002) has also shown that SIT is dominated by small businesses. Page et al. (1999) has further pointed out that small business are at the cornerstone of tourism development in local economies and that most travelers would come into SMTEs operating services. This raises a fundamental question: why does SIT appeal to small business enterprises? This paper seeks to address this question by exploring on SIT and SMTEs operations in the industry. The paper also details some of the management problems that might be facing such businesses during their early operations. Before exploring further, it is worthwhile defining the terms: Special interest tourism and Small Tourism Enterprises. Special interest tourism concept SIT has been given a varied set of definitions. Hall Weiler (1992) proposed that SIT occurs when the decision and motivation to travel are primarily determined by a particular special interest. Derrett (2001), Swarbrooke Horner (1999) and Douglas et al. (2001) expanded on this definition by characterizing SIT as a form of tourism: motivated by the desire to engage in new or existing interests undertaken for a distinct purpose or reason That is line with the principles of sustainability. In simple terms, Special Interest Tourism refers to the provision of customized tourism activities that cater for the needs and interests of individuals and groups. Ecotourism is a prime example of special interest tourism. For example, in Brazil, ecotourism has become very popular due to biological and scenic diversity. Ecotourism and special interest travel is experiencing a rapid growth in Brazil as the two major aspects of segmented tourism (MacDonald 2012). This new class of travelers has in the recent years transformed the tourism industry and changed the trend in tourism from the traditional holidays that characterized mass tourism to more specific prestige holidays (Poitevin 2012). Global warming has also given rise to a new niche in tourism. With the melting of icecaps and vanishing of coral reefs, a new nice tourism has developed (Climate tourists) whose primary motives to travel are driven by a special interest (Poitevin 2012). Antarctica Diving Expedition is a prime example of this particular special interest tourism package offer. This type of special interest tourism appeals mainly to tourists whose motives of travel are educational. The Antarctica Diving Expedition offer tourists with a unique opportunity of sightseeing above and below water insights into the white continent (Poitevin 2012). The Antarctica Diving experience also allows tourists to explore the subjective components such as the wildlife and the associated adventurous features. As noted by Trauer (2006), the growth of the SIT sector reflects the changing trend of tourism from the traditional mass tourism to one driven by specific interests. Its importance in the tourism market is evident by its remarkable growth in various countries. Studies by McKercher Chan (2005) have shown that 81% of US adults who travel are historic /cultural travelers. The number of SIT tourists has been found to be more than other tourists, with their stays even longer (Mackay et al. 2002). Small and Medium Tourist Enterprises (SMTEs) Having defined special interest tourism, it is equally important to understand what we mean by small business tourism enterprises. For the purpose of this analysis, we define SMTEs as comprising of all business in the tourism industry which are small by nature, owned and managed by sole operators and which employ up to 50 employees (Buhalis 1996). There is now an emerging consensus that small and medium enterprises (SMEs) have an important role to play in the tourism industry. For example, in New Zealand, SMTEs play an important role of economic development, contributing to the social fabric of the local communities (MacDonald 2011). Similarly, the Australian tourism industry is dominated by small businesses that employ not more than 20 workers. 88% of the businesses in hospitality sector (restaurants, cafes and accommodations) comprise of the small businesses. Also, the cultural and recreational service sector in Australia is dominated by small businesses, with over 96% of the businesses comprising of the SMEs (Breen ). These small tourism businesses have a sizeable influence on tourism experience and the ability to offer personalized products to Niche markets (Macleod 2003). Why SIT appeal to small businesses Ecotourism and other special interest travels are known for their connection to nature. It is precisely this reason that special interest tourism appeal for many of the small business enterprises. Larger organizations are known to be profit driven, often have little regard to sustainability development. On the other hand, the very fact that SMTEs are small by nature and locally owned implies that they are more sustainable. With regards to this, small enterprises are viewed one of the vehicles through which sustainability issues can be spread in the STI sector. The focus on small-scale, environmentally sensitive and locally owned developments has led to the development of small business enterprises in the SIT sector. The priori assumption is that given their relatively small nature and local ownership, then SMTEs are viewed as contributing towards sustainable development. Whilst there is some indication in tourism literature that small business enterprises improve sectoral linkages, there seems to be no comprehensive mechanism for evaluating their contribution to sustainability objectives. Researches which expressly address this connection are noticeably lacking (Roberts Tribe 2008). The priori assumption is that by being small and locally owned, SMTEs are automatically more environmentally focused than the larger enterprises. This is not necessarily true and in fact, some authors have questioned this automatic conclusion. Hamzah (1997) argues that despite the growing demand for small-scale accommodation in Malaysia, these small scale developments have deteriorated into grotesque enclaves, adversely affecting marine life and ecosystems. Nonetheless, there are many positive examples where small tourism entities have proved to be environmentally benign such as in the Maho Bay Resort in the US (Roberts Tribe 2008). Market liberalization and other aspects of globalization also play a critical role. Globalization impacts and the increased market liberalization have provided small business entrepreneurs with opportunities to tap into the growing SIT sector. Large businesses enterprises have always ignored market niches. On the other hand, the small business enterprises have reaped the benefits of market niches by identifying customer needs and tailoring new niche products for potential future customer segments in the tourism industry (Peters Buhalis 2004). Niche markets provide SMTEs with an attractive opportunity to compete with the larger enterprises and to dominate the SIT sector. Their desire to tap the latent consumer demand in niche markets is what has led to their dominance in the SIT sector. In fact, Hall Weiler (1992) conceptualizes SIT as a predecessor of Niche Tourism. However, the choice to pursue a niche market does not necessarily imply the success of the business. Similar to other business decisions, this decision requires critical assessment. Whilst niche markets may provide opportunities to tap into new and untapped resources, it requires different management skills in order to ensure success. Small business enterprises are also more flexible and can react quickly to the changing market demands. Their typical flat hierarchy management structure provides them with the opportunity to make decisions faster and to react promptly to market changes (Peters Buhalis 2004). And given the rapid changes of the SIT sector, it is not surprising that the sector remains largely dominated by SMTEs. However, McKercher Chan (2005) have challenged the importance of the SIT sector as a potential growth sector for SMTEs. They argue that whilst tourists participate in a range of activities at a tourist destination, this rarely translates into strong commercial opportunities. They also point out that tourists who visit certain destinations of special interest may do so for secondary reasons. For example, tourists who visit museums may not necessarily be cultural tourists and their visits could only be part of their wider tour. Although these arguments may have some relevance, there is need for further research to be done to confirm their assumptions. Challenges facing small business in early operations Indeed we have identified the vital role played by SMTEs in the tourism sector. We’ve also identified the reasons why the SIT sector is dominated by the SMTEs. Equally important to highlight are the challenges that these small business face in their early operations. Whilst, SMEs play a critical role in the growth of the SIT sector, it should be noted that they are more vulnerable to failure especially during their early years of operation. According to a study by Buhalis (2011), 40% of SMTEs fail within the first 3 years and close to 60% over the 10 year period. Despite their unmatched abilities to stimulate the growth of the tourism industry through rapid injection of cash into the sector, SMTEs are often typified by a lack of management expertise and strategic vision (Buhalis 1996). Their inability to utilize managerial tools to address their strategic problems is their major weakness. A key characteristic of SMTEs is their informal organizational structure. SMTEs operate informal organizational structures, wherein both the management and operations are run by the family of the proprietors. As such, family principles usually prevail over business practices, thereby causing managerial problems.   The lack of management expertise in SMTEs inevitably originates erratic production and delivery procedures which may impact negatively on customer satisfaction and jeopardize the image of the business (Buhalis 1996). With such informal organizational structures, irrational decisions may be made which may adversely affect the business. Marketing is yet another point of weakness. Not only are SMTES usually unaware of the marketing tools and techniques but are also product oriented, failing to understand the changing consumer needs. The lack of marketing research debilitates their knowledge of the changing needs of consumers and prevents them from improving their services (Buhalis 1996). Further, promotional activities of small businesses are usually ill-targeted, inconsistent and uncoordinated (Poitevin 2012). Most SMTEs thus tend to rely upon tourism intermediaries to promote their offerings. Their dependence on these intermediaries limits their control over their businesses. For example, European tour operators control accessibility to tourism destinations, especially given that they own most of the airlines. As such, intermediaries tend to reduce the bargaining power of SMTEs within the distribution channel (Buhalis 1996). Further, these weaknesses are magnified by the fact that most SMTEs are illiterate in IT, hence are not able to take advantage of opportunities in the emerging electronic markets. The illiteracy of SMTEs in IT can be seen with their under-representation in most computer reservation systems and global distribution systems (Buhalis et al. 2011). Their illiteracy prevents them from benefiting from emerging electronic markets and this ultimately endangers their competitiveness and market share. Perhaps the greatest weakness with SMTEs is their deficiency in managing the human resources. The small size and the seasonal nature of problems experienced by SMTEs provide little opportunities for employing professionals, offering staff training and competitive salaries (Poitevin 2012). As such, most of the SMTEs would tend to rely mostly on personal skills and staff enthusiasm and thus face competitive disadvantages over the larger enterprises which have all the required resources for employing proficient personnel. In light of these management problems, there are political issues that also come into play and which cannot be ignored. Despite the growth in demand of special interest tourism, it is striking to note that SMTEs have not been accorded the necessary support from the government. For example, a UK study by Simpson Docherty (2004) identified distrust of government agencies as impacting on a large number of SMTEs. Governments have a critical role to play in order to support SMTEs. As Elliot (1997) suggests, government is a marker of economic influence and plays a mandatory role as regulators in the market. Page (2003) further points out that governments should help SMTEs enhance their competitiveness through stimulation of new ideas and innovations, and by providing them with support and assistance at a fledgling stage. The reality however is quite the opposite. For example, in the UK, SMTEs are poorly treated. Whilst the UK government is pinning all its hopes on SMTEs and entrepreneurs to pull the local economy away from a double-dip recession, it is striking to note that these small businesses are poorly treated. Almost every year, SMTEs are overcharged by  £3.6bn for basic products and services, compared to what the larger enterprises are charged (Poetvin 2012). Robert Tribe (2008) further notes that in many special interest tourism destinations, little is known about the critical role played by SMTEs in the sustainability progress. In addition, SMTEs are generally politically weak, lacking a strong lobbying voice for protecting their interests (Poetvin 2012). Clearly, the challenges facing SMTEs are enormous. With the tourism sector growing more professional and given increased emphasis on quality management; SMTEs typical lack of a strategic vision, management and business expertise and their illiteracy in IT may become a liability to these businesses (Buhalis 1996). This necessitates the need for more strategic management schemes for SMTEs, strengthening their political voice and government support. Conclusion It is clear that the past few years have seen the growth of Special Interest Tourism. Over one-third of British consumers have either participated or engaged in a special interest holiday. A key feature of the SIT sector is the dominance of small business enterprises. The SIT sector has appealed to these businesses for a number of reasons. First, the focus on small-scale, environmentally sensitive and locally owned developments has led to the development of small business enterprises in the SIT sector. Second, small business have targeted market niches, identifying customer needs and tailoring new niche products for potential future customer segments. On the other hand, the large business enterprises have always ignored market niches. And thirdly, SMTEs are more flexible than large organizations and thus can react quickly to changing market demands.   However, a recent study by McKercher Chan (2005) has argued that whilst tourists may participate in a range of activities at a special interest tourist destination, this rarely translates to strong commercial opportunities. These assumptions are yet to be confirmed. SMTEs face a range of management challenges especially in their early operations. SMTEs typical lack of a strategic vision, management and business expertise and their illiteracy in IT are a major hindrance to their success. There is need to have in place strategic management schemes for SMTEs, establish a strong lobbying voice and government support. Nonetheless, SMTEs remain the cornerstone of tourism development. With tourists evolving toward seeking individualized and unique experienced as opposed to the traditional mass holidays, Special Interest Tourism will continue to gain more prominence. Reference Ali-Knight, J.M., 2011. The role of niche tourism products in destination development. Sunderland: Business Education Publishers, pp. 1-14. Breen, J., Bergin-Seers, S., Jago, L. and Carlsen, J., 2005. Small and medium tourism enterprises: the identification of good practice. Cooperative Research Centre for Sustainable Tourism. Buhalis, 1996. ‘Enhancing the competitiveness of small and medium sized tourism enterprises’. International Journal of Electronic Commerce, vol.6 (1) Buhalis, D., Leung, D. and Law, R., 2011. Etourism: critical information and communication technologies for tourism destinations. CAB International Cooper, C.   and Sheperd, R. 1996. Educating the educators in tourism. 1st ed. Surey: World Tourism Council. Derret, R., 2001. ‘Special interest tourism: starting with the individual’. In: Douglas, N. and Derett, R (eds) Special Interest Tourism. Australia: Wiley. Douglas, N., Douglas, N. and Derrett, R., 2001. Special Interest Tourism. Sydney: John Wiley Sons. Elliot, J., 1997. Tourism: Politics and Public Sector Management. London: Routledge. Hall, C.M. and Weiler, B., 1992. Special-interest tourism. Canada: John Wiley Sons Hamzah, A., 1997. ‘The evolution of small-scale tourism in Malaysia: Problems, opportunities and implications for sustainability’. In M.J. Stabler (ed.) Tourism Sustainability – Principles to Practice. Oxon: CAB International.acKay, K.J., Andereck, K.L, and Vogt, C.A., 2002. ‘Understanding vacationing motorist niche markets’. Journal of Travel Research, 40(4), pp. 356-363. Macleod, D.V.L. (Ed.), 2003. Niche tourism in Question Interdisciplinary perspectives on problems and possibilities. Glasgow: University of Glasgow, Crichton publication. McKercher, B., and Chan, A., 2005. ‘How special is special interest tourism?’ Journal of Travel Research, 44(1), pp. 21-31. Mintel, 2002. Special Interest Holidays, Leisure Intelligence. Page, J., 2001. Tourism- a modern synthesis. 1st ed. London: Thompson Publishers. Page, S.J., 2003. Tourism Management Managing for change. Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann. Peters, M. and Buhalis, D., 2004. Family hotel businesses: strategic planning and the need for education and training. England, UK: University of Surrey Poitevin, M., 2012. Following Antarctics tourism product: the general management challenges and issues facing small tourism enterprises (STEs). [viewed on 22nd July 2013] available from http://interestmeonit.weebly.com/1/post/2012/7/following-antarctics-tourism-product-the-general-management-challenges-and-issues-facing-small-tourism-enterprises-stes.html Roberts, S. and Tribe, J., 2008. Sustainability indicators for small tourism enterprises an exploratory perspective. University of Surrey, UK, Taylor Francis publishers. Shaw, G. and William, A., 2002: Critical Issues in Tourism: A Geographical Perspective. 2nd Edition. England: Blackwell Publishing. Simpson, M., and Docherty, A. J., 2004. ‘E-commerce adoption support and advice for UK SMEs’. Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, 11, 315-328. Swarbrooke, J., and Horner, S., 1999. Consumer Behavior in Tourism. Great Britain: Butterworth-Heinemann. Trauer, B., 2006. ‘Conceptualizing special interest tourism frameworks for analysis’. Tourism Management, 27(2), pp. 183-200. World Travel Tourism Council (WTTC), 2012. Tourism in the UK contributes more to GDP than automotive manufacturing. [Viewed on 22nd July 2013] available from wttc.org/news-media/news-archive/2012/tourism-uk-contributes-more-gdp-automotive-manufacturing/

Popular Music, Social Practice and Cultural Politics Essay

Popular Music, Social Practice and Cultural Politics - Essay Example In fact the general feeling was that it was a passing phase. But this was not to be because Rap took a very serious turn in the late 1980’s when the â€Å"bubble gum† kind of rap evolved into the more serious kind of â€Å"Gangsta Rap†. From very humble beginnings, Gangsta rap made a huge name for itself and flooded the mainstream markets that generated not only huge profits but widespread popularity to the rapping artists as well as the labels that sold them. Popular rappers started writing harsh and edgy lyrics that celebrated street warfare, the use of drugs and also glorified promiscuity. They experienced place-based identity with LA deeming itself to be â€Å"fresh territory† with a high â€Å"novelty value and stories of gang conflict and police confrontations. The identity of the rapper was his hood which he used most of the time. Eithne Quinn, takes a long hard look at the genre of Gangsta rap and gives us a rich and insightful analysis in relation to contemporary culture. Quinn finds contradictory statements as she explores the ideologies, the intricacies and the culture of the Black working class. Nuthin But a "G" Thang shows how Gansta rap is not simply a pop culture fad but instead embodies profound shifts in American culture and everyday life." (S. Craig Watkins, author of Representing: Hip Hop Culture and the Production of Black Cinema) Quinn enumerates that the social group involved in Gangsta Rap were the people who were considered to be in crisis and these included the black youth from poor homes who were all out to make money. On the other hand, a major part of the society in general and other public figures and proponents of respectable â€Å"family values† did not take well to the fast life-styles and blatantly charged lyrics which incited a lot of distaste and anger in them. Yet nothing much could be done about it and hence for the last thirty years,

Required to perform an Analysis of Variance using SPSS Essay

Required to perform an Analysis of Variance using SPSS - Essay Example The observed result is the level of sales in that locality in the fortnight following the appearance of the first advertisement. From the two way analysis of variance, it can be observed that the main effect length and media are significant. This is because the significant value of media is 0.000; the significant value of media is 0.0000 which are less than 0.05 level of confidence. This implies that there is significant difference in the main effects. The significant value of the interaction of main effect media and length is equal to 0.001 which is less than 0.05 level of confidence. This implies that there is significant difference in the interaction. The percentage of the value of sales volume accounted by the model is 78.4%. This is because that value of R-squared is equal to 0.784. From the mean comparison of the sales posted though the Tv or radio advertisement, it can be observed that the value of significant difference indicate that there is no significant difference in the mean sales of the given by either Tv or Radio. From the pairwise combination of medium and length, it can be observed that the combination of long length and radio form of advertisement give the least sales. This implies that the combination of advertisement of long length and radio is the one that cannot be used for

Australias Economic Objective of Resource Allocation Essay Example for Free

Australias Economic Objective of Resource Allocation Essay The objective of efficient resource allocation refers to an economys ability to meet its obligations in ensuring that all social and economic objectives are met without waste, for example to allocate resources so that they are distributed efficiently to improve the standard or living. This is the only way that we can ensure that we will be able to maximize the number of goods and services that we are able to provide. In addition, we will also be more likely to guarantee the long term availability of the resources that are currently available to us. The current target for efficiency target concerning labor is 1.5-2% per year or more. Thus, the economic objective of efficiency in resource allocation exists when our productive inputs are used to create the highest possible value of national output (ie GDP is at its highest level). In turn, having more GS available helps to ensure the maximum satisfaction of our societys needs and wants. In Economics, we distinguish between four different types of efficiency:1.Productive (or Technical) efficiency: Is about firms producing GS using the least-cost method and by minimizing the quantity of resources used. This is perhaps the easiest type of efficiency to understand. In this instance, we are interested in ensuring that any time we produce a good or service we are able to do so by using the smallest number of resources. If I use a tree to make four cricket bats, and you can produce five cricket bats from a tree of the same size, then your productive efficiency is better than mine. Another example is also sometimes a higher level of investment spending by firms on new equipment rather than simply employing more staff is the cheapest way to lift output per worker. 2.Allocative efficiency: ensures that resources are only used to make those particular types of GS that best satisfy societys needs and wants. That is, we want to produce those things most desired by the community first. This is a problem experienced by many of the worlds poorer countries,  especially those which suffer from poor governance. Corrupt leaders will often use a countries scarce resources to provide elaborate palaces, rather than ensuring that their people have access to clean drinking water. This is very poor allocative efficiency. 3.Dynamic efficiency: entails that firms are able to respond quickly to changing economic circumstances. To be dynamically efficient means that firms are aware of the changing circumstances, and they are able to adapt to meet those new needs and tastes of customers. For example, as technology has improved, many businesses have elected to adopt computers. This has involved buying the hardware, choosing the correct software and training the staff. In going through this process, the firm is demonstrating their dynamic efficiency. 4.Inter-temporal efficiency: means that there is a suitable balance between resources being allocated towards current consumption and saving that becomes available to finance future investment. Causes of efficiency of resource allocation:Cyclical changes in domestic economic activity resulting from changes in demand side conditions that affect efficiency in resource allocation. Supply side structural causes of changes in labor in lobular and capital productivity. Demand Side CYCLICAL FactorsIf levels of AD and EA slow leading to a recession (due to weak demand-side conditions like drops in business confidence/consumer), labor efficiency can suffer for at least 4 reasons. 1.Firms are reluctant to sack experienced staff during a slowdown of sales, as they hope that recovery is not far away and thus save them the cost of hiring and training new staff. This leads to over staffing which lowers the level of output per hour worked. 2.Prolonged or severe cyclical recessions in EA causes higher cyclical  unemployment as staff are cut in numbers, slowing down efficiency rates because more of labor resources are idle. 3.Business confidence about sales and profits, once down, can partly cause recession. This causes the firm to cut investment on new PE with new technology, consequently productivity slows. 4.Cyclical slowdown in domestic productivity sometimes follows trends in the level of EA and productivity overseas. Productivity also slows when there is an inflationary boom following cyclical rises in the level of domestic economic activity. This is true when the growth in AD exceeds the economoys productive capacity. Productivity may slow down in this situation. 1. Workers may not work as hard as they feel secure in the jobs when the economy is stretched to its capacity. Abseentisms can rise, along with strikes and industrial unrest, cutting efficiency. 2. When the economy is at its full capacity, there can be diminishing returns resulting from equipment breakdowns, labor shortages, leading to less efficient natural, labor and capital resources. 3. Rapid inflation can undermine business confidence, leading to reduced investment in new technology and equipment, slowing efficiency. 4. Investment used for expanding the business through plant equipment can be pumped into less productive or more speculative areas (eg real estate and stock market activities.) This is a mis allocation of resources that slows down productivity. So, when EA is weak due to reduced level of AD, productivity falls due to pessimism, reduced investment, unemployed resources, and labor hoarding. However, at the opposite extreme, excessively strong spending and EA means that productivity suffers from the above reasons. Productivity is likely to be maximized when AD and domestic EA are at ideal levels and demand side conditions are positive but are neither too weak nor too strong. Business Confidence Optimism of business (eg ^ consumer confidence, ^ household disposable incomes) has a cyclical impact on efficiency. This results in the business investing in new equipment with latest technology, leading to the worker having a greater value/amount of machinery to use in the production process than previously (capital deepening), thus raises theh level of GDP per hour worked. Interest Rates Higher business overdraft means that firms are more reluctant to borrow in order to purchase new, more efficient plant equipment due to increased repayments. Investment thus is reduced and productivity slows. Company Tax Rates Impacts the level of the firms investment spending. Reduced tax rates increased investment spending and better productivity. Supply Side Structural FactorsSupply factors are far more significant than demand factors when we are considering the impact that certain events will have on our ability to allocate our resources efficiently. If you think about this for a moment it is logical supply factors are those things that affect the ability and willingness of producers to supply a good or service at a given price. When the US economy experiences an increase in AG, we should see an increase in output without any pressure on productive capacity that may result in inflation. This is a sign that resources are being allocated more efficiently. As a result, we can conclude that any factor that will lead to an increase in aggregate supply will also lead to a more efficient allocation of resources. For example during the 1990s the Australian economy saw the introduction of technology on a larger scale. This improvement in capital assets, combined with the necessary support in the form of training for the workforce, resulted in significant improvements in productivity, showing that resources were allocated more efficiently. Climatic conditions Drought and below average rainfall (2002-03 06-07), floods, cyclones (coastal Northern QLD 2006) impacted efficiency in resource allocation because national output is reduced far more than the volume of inputs of labor or capital resources. Drought also had an impact in the efficiency in water, gas and electricity sectors that is, the same labor inputs have been used but less output has been produced. Sporting events (Before and After) Events like the Sydney Olympics (2000) and Melbs Commonwealth Games (06) may have helped in slowing productivity. Studies show during these events that worker efficiency fell perhaps due to distractions and telecasts and worker fatigue from watching TV replays at night. Changing rates of investment in new technology Investment spending on new PE like ICT and robotics occurs in waves or cycles, that is, speeds up or slows down. After the flurry of robotics, electronics and computer and internet based technologies in the mid-late 1990s, many recent innovations have been far less significant, tending to slow efficiency. However fairly recent spending on RD as a proportion of GDP from 1.51 to 1.78% b/w 200-1 and 2004-05 is a sign that US productivity will rise again. BIBLIOGRAPHY www.abs.gov.auMorris, Economics Down Under 2nd Edition

AleÅ¡ Hrdlička (March 29, 1869 - September 5, 1943) :: Essays Papers

AleÃ… ¡ HrdliÄ ka (March 29, 1869 - September 5, 1943) AleÃ… ¡ Ferdinand HrdliÄ ka was born to Maximilian and Karolina (Wajnerovà ¡ or Wagner) HrdliÄ ka on March 29, 1869, in Humpolec, Bohemia, which is now Czechoslovakia (Gillispie, 527). His father was a respected master cabinetmaker who owned his own shop. The oldest of seven children, HrdliÄ ka attended local schools and received private tutoring in Latin and Greek from Ludolfa PejÄ och, a Jesuit priest who was attracted by the boy’s abilities (James, 371). He left high school in 1882 at the tender age of fourteen, to emigrate with his father to New York City, where the other members of his family later joined them (James, 371). Once in America, HrdliÄ ka went to work with his father as a laborer in a cigar factory to help contribute to the family income. He attended the evening courses to learn English and to gain himself a high school equivalency diploma (Gillispie, 527). A serious attack of typhoid fever at the age of 19 altered the course of HrdliÄ ka’s life drastically. It is said that his attending physician, a trustee of the Eclectic Medical College in New York, became interested in HrdliÄ ka and persuaded him to undertake the study of medicine at the college. Graduating at the head of his class in 1892, he started a practice in New York’s Lower East Side. At the same time, to broaden his medical background, he began attending the New York Homeopathic Medical College, from which he graduated, again at the head of the class, in 1894 (James, 371). Shortly thereafter, he passed the Maryland State Medical Board (allopathic) examination, hoping to be able to join the staff of the John Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, but he gave up this plan to accept an offer of a research internship in the new State Homeopathic Hospital for the Insane at Middletown, New York. It was while he was in this position that he became interested in the application of anthropometry to medicine. Through his autopsies and examinations of the patients, he became interested in whether physical characteristics and skeletal measurements might show systematic differences according to sex and type of insanity (James, 371). It was this interest which led to an invitation in 1896 to join a multidisciplinary research team being assembled by the histologist Ira Van Gieson (1866-1913) to staff the newly created Pathological Institute in New York City (Spencer, 503).

Quotes on 1984

Golden country â€Å"Presumably she could be trusted to find a safe place. In general you could not assume that you were much safer in the country than in London. There were no telescreens, of course, but there was always the danger of concealed microphones by which your voice might be picked up and recognized; besides, it was not easy to make a journey by yourself without attracting attention† An old, close-bitten pasture, with a footpath wandering across it and a molehill here and there.In the ragged hedge on the opposite side the boughs of the elm trees swayed just perceptibly in the breeze, and their leaves stirred faintly in dense masses like women's hair. Surely somewhere nearby, but out of sight, there must be a stream with green pools where dace were swimming? It was in the sun, they in the shade. It spread out its wings, fitted them carefully into place again, ducked its head for a moment, as though making a sort of obeisance to the sun, and then began to pour forth a torrent of song the rented roomWhat appealed to him about it was not so much its beauty as the air it seemed to possess of belonging to an age quite different from the present one. The soft, rain-watery glass was not like any glass that he had ever seen. The thing was doubly attractive because of its apparent uselessness, though he could guess that it must once have been intended as a paperweight. It was very heavy in his pocket, but fortunately it did not make much of a bulge. It was a queer thing, even a compromising thing, for a Party member to have in his possession. There was a small bookcase in the other corner, and Winston had already gravitated towards it.It contained nothing but rubbish. The old man was standing in front of a picture in a rosewood frame which hung on the other side of the fireplace, opposite the bed. Winston came across to examine the picture. It was steel engraving of an oval building with rectangular windows, and small tower in front. It seemed vaguely f amiliar. Winston wondered vaguely to what century the church belonged. It was always difficult to determine the age of a London building†¦. One could not learn history from architecture any more than one could learn it from books.Statues, inscriptions, memorial stones, the names of streets — anything that might throw light upon the past had been systematically altered. Winston lingered for some minutes more, talking to the old man, whose name was Charrington. All the while they were talking the half-remembered rhyme kept running through Winston's head. ‘Oranges and lemons say the bells of St Clement's, You owe me three farthings, say the bells of St Martin's! ‘ It was curious, but when you said it to yourself you had the illusion of actually hearing bells, the bells of a lost London that still existed somewhere or other, disguised and forgotten†¦ et so far as he could remember he had never in real life heard church bells ringing. He got away from Mr Char rington and went down the stairs alone. He had already made up his mind that after a suitable interval – a month, say – he would take the risk of visiting the shop again. Yes, he thought, he would come back. He would buy further scraps of beautiful rubbish. He would buy the engraving of St Clement Danes, take it out of its frame, and carry it home. He would drag the rest of that poem out of Mr Charrington's memory. Even the lunatic project of renting the room upstairs flashed momentarily through his mind again.