Philosophy of Education, Worldview, and Educational Leadership - Free Essay Example

Abstract My philosophy of education is centered on my Christian worldview. As an administrator and educator, I understand that modeling ethical values for students is an important part of how I help students to learn. The purposes of education are to prepare effective citizens, and when these purposes are combined with a Christian worldview, students can learn how to assist one another not only for the good of society, but for their own spiritual development as well. Students also learn by doing, and when students can roleplay how to solve ethical dilemmas, then they are more prepared to positively influence society. As an administrator, I realize that effective communication enhances the collaborative learning community of school stakeholders. I assure that teachers address diversity in each classroom, and foster supportive environments for each students background, ethnic group, race, language of origin, gender, ability and disability levels, and socioeconomic status. Key words: leadership, ethical, worldview, administrator, Christian Philosophy of Education, Worldview, and Educational Leadership My philosophy of education is centered on outcomes for the student not only in school, but in his or her post-secondary journey and achievements as well. These outcomes are focused on education in academic, social, and spiritual domains (Buehrer, 2014; De Muynck, Hegeman, Vos 2011). Students are naturally motivated to increase their understanding of the world and learn. Some students have the motivation to learn more strongly than others, but this aspiration can be tutored, developed, and refined in an effective manner. Knowing students have a natural inclination to learn, my philosophy of education is centered on supporting positive student outcomes, which can center on important Christian beliefs (Moreland, 2007; Van Brummelen, 2009). When we impart through education and for effective student outcomes the nature of morality, structure of society, and existence of God, we truly educate students. Philosophy of Schools Learning My philosophy for schools and student learning includes an ethical worldview. My personal philosophy of education is concerned with a Christian worldview (Buehrer, 2014; Van Brummelen, 2009). Philosophers such as Plato and Aristotle taught about the social order and what it means to be a good citizen. I know that for students, I need to collaborate with school stakeholders to provide a total and comprehensive way to understand knowledge, ethics, humanity, and meaning. Character and moral education can allow students to discover for themselves what they think about the world around them and what the purpose of their learning is supposed to be (De Muynck, et al., 2011; Gutek, 2011). By equipping students with the understanding that they can participate in moral decision making, students can discover for themselves how to best be good citizens. Although there are numerous ways of presenting an ethical worldview in academic courses, one way is to relate learning to an overall understandi ng of the universe and order. As learners, we can investigate the philosophical foundations of specific disciplines, recognizing that our worldview shapes our thinking about each area. Students can then reason, construct, and question through insights to understand the nature of reality and knowledge. The why of education, then, should impart long-range goals for students not only in this lifetime, but their outcomes beyond schooling as well. We need to be fair to students and let them also choose what they believe (Van Brummelen, 2009). We need to give students a chance at think about not only outcomes in this lifetime, but the life hereafter, however we do not need to compel them to do so. If students choose to be Christian, Muslim, or even atheist, they need to define for themselves their beliefs in the cognitive domain (Buehrer, 2014). Students can then be equipped to decide what beliefs they embrace and what they accept as true. Teaching religion is not the calling of public schools, but we need to teach students how to think and choose for themselves what they believe with effective instructional practice. Acts 28:31(King James Version). We can teach students how to effectively think by modeling these thinking skills to students. Instructional Practice My Christian philosophy of education relates to my instructional practice in that I try to be an effective role model for students. In the classroom and when I model for students, then, they have an idea of how they can choose to react in certain situations (De Muynck, et al., 2011; Gutek, 2011). I can show students how I respond to various circumstances in life. For example, if I have a flat tire, drop my lunch tray, or model for a student how to make better grades, I think about the Bible. We are supposed to be humble and have patience, and I model these characteristics to my students. Luke 8:15 (King James Version). Modeling appropriate behaviors for students on what to do regarding last minute decisions or how to handle tough situations is very important. By being an effective role model, I can model positive expressions of faith to others. I can represent how to be Christian by treating others the way that I would like to be treated. Matthew 7:12 (King James Version). Also, for discipleship, I can model values that allow students to know that they can make the right choices and decisions and speak up for themselves (Van Brummelen, 2009). As an adult with values that promote good citizenship, I can have a modeling and peer-related ministry that helps students know what the right actions are to take in different situations (De Muynck, et al., 2011; Gutek, 2011). For example, if a student falls in the floor, I should try to help that student up instead of laugh or make fun of that student. Pedagogical practices, then, include role play for students in different situations, such as helping another student who is struggling. So, teacher and learner relationships need to be centered on positive role models, and the school leader needs to b e an effective communicator to enhance these relationships. Teacher-Learner Relationships My overall Christian philosophy of education impacts students and collaborative colleagues in the following manner. As an administrator, I do my best to communicate in appropriate, productive, meaningful, helpful, and healing ways with teachers, students, parents, and colleagues (Buehrer, 2014; Van Brummelen, 2009). I also communicate via phone, email, in person, and with various media, whether it is with others, individually, or in small or large groups. As an administrator, I need to model Christianity and communicate with people of all ages, socioeconomic and educational levels, and backgrounds. I do the best that I can to listen attentively and empathetically to the concerns and problems of people, and this is just part of what I do. I also write newsletters, collaborate on a team regarding different school and district-related issues, summarize school improvement plans, tell stories, and talk with parents about student successes. I am also a collaborative instructional leader who works with my staff regarding research-based curriculums, instruction, and learning strategies (Buehrer, 2014; Van Brummelen, 2009). I strive to motivate values of good character and citizenship for teachers to foster intellectual growth and development for their students. Also, I do my best to focus on the big picture, which is positive and lifetime good outcomes for my students. I am sensitive to the worldview of school stakeholders and strive to effectively communicate how to best achieve the most positive outcomes for my students. It is also important to consider diversity in a worldview approach to education. Diversity It is important that teachers consider all types of diversity issues in the classroom. A students background, ethnic group, race, language of origin, gender, ability and disability levels, and socioeconomic status are just some of the points of diversity that must be addressed by the teacher in the classroom (Buehrer, 2014; Van Brummelen, 2009). Each student may come from a different religious background. Depending on the missions and goals of the school, the teacher needs to be sensitive to each students background (Gutek, 2011). Inviting parents to visit the school and share their culture is an effective way to promote successful student engagement. Instruction needs to relate to students background knowledge (Knight, 2006). For example, if a student is from Guatemala, the teacher could invite the parent to participate in a class discussion related to what is being taught. For example, if it is a writing lesson, the parent could share a story from his or her country, and students could retell the story in an essay. Additionally, communication with parents and school stakeholders is very important for teachers and school administrators. When aspects of students culture are incorporated into each lesson, then student diversity can positively impact instruction. Conclusion My Christian worldview is that as a school administrator, I realize that for students to have effective results in their educational experience, it is important that I model ethical and Christian values to them (Buehrer, 2014; Van Brummelen, 2009). Education is the vehicle to teach students to be effective citizens who treat one another ethically. When students can understand how to make decisions by constructing positive answers to different ethical dilemmas, then students will become effective citizens. By being an effective role model, I can show students how to be successful in school and beyond. As a role model and administrator, I strive to listen, empathize, and communicate effectively with individual students, parents, teachers, administrators, and community members. As a school leader, I assure that diversity is addressed in each classroom regarding each students background, ethnic group, race, language of origin, gender, ability and disability levels, and socioeconomic stat us. References Buehrer, E. (2014). Faith, freedom, and public schools (Eight online instructional modules). Lake Forest, CA: Gateways to Better Education. De Muynck, B., Hegeman, J., Vos, P. (Eds.). (2011). Bridging the gap: Connecting Christian faith and professional practice in a pluralistic society. Proceedings of the European Conference of the European Chapter of the International Association for the Promotion of Christian Higher Education. Sioux City, IA: Dordt College Press. Gutek, G. L. (2011). Historical and philosophical foundations of education: A biographical introduction (5th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson. Knight, G. (2006). Philosophy education: An introduction in Christian perspective. (4th ed.). Berrien Springs, MI: Andrews University Press. Moreland, J. P. (2007). Kingdom triangle: Recover the Christian mind, renovate the soul, restore the Spirits power. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan. Van Brummelen, H. (2009). Walking with God in the classroom: Christian approaches to teaching and learning (3rd ed.). Colorado Springs, CO: Purposeful Design Publications.

Media s Influence On Society s Emotions And Opinions

Media has continuously manipulated and defined society’s emotions and opinions. In the United States, media emerged as a dominant social figure in the 19th century (Thomson Lee). Since then, media has serviced the purpose of providing the audience with real-time information on issues and news surrounding local, national and international events. Whether it is written, broadcast, or spoken – communication has become the key to the members of society. In fact, daily life relies heavily on the information provided by media. While being exposed to a lot of information may be positive, it can also cause an overload of negative repercussion on people and society. Many experts agree that media is dominated by images that negatively impact the way society take actions in their day to day life. The media has also generated a set of tools that can be used dramatically to improve organizational performance. It has contributed to political leaders worldwide by identifying, and re flecting their ideas through the mass communication epidemic. The article â€Å"Broadcasting Populist Leadership: Hugo Chà ¡vez and Alà ³ Presidente† was written by Eduardo Frajman and published in the Journal of Latin America in August 2014. During the political period of Venezuelan president, Hugo Chavez (1999-2013), used a broadcasting strategy to create a movement by airing a TV show called â€Å"Alà ³ Presidente.† One of the populist strategies used by political candidates in Latin America was through mass media. TheShow MoreRelatedThe Basic Assumptions Of Dissonance Theory1374 Words   |  6 Pagesbolstering to make up for the dissonant behaviors, reduce the importance assigned to their belief, or avoid the dissonant behavior altogether. 2. Define eudaimonic emotions. Why should media scholars be interested in eudaimonic emotions? What are the consequences of experiencing eudaimonic emotions when experiencing narratives? Eudamonic emotions are those that come from experiencing scenarios demonstrating morality. This can come from a character performing an act of altruism, for example, or a tragedyRead MoreFahrenheit 451 By F. Bradbury1131 Words   |  5 Pagesbetween the our world now and the world presented in Fahrenheit 451 we will be able to see the different themes and the factors that influence them. The four main factors that influence the story are the controlling government, terrible social conditions, advances technology and censorship. Although, some a play a bigger part than others, without all the them the book s final outcome could have changed in a drastic way. The government in Fahrenheit 451 ties into most of the drama throughout the bookRead MoreThe Effects Of Menstruation On Women s Development998 Words   |  4 Pagesculture and media it has become a punchline. During puberty, young boys and girls start to experience changes in their bodies. Young girls experience a similar to experience to their male counterparts up until their first menstruation. This is the milestone that changes everything, some girls celebrate their newfound womanhood while others mourn the lose of their childhood innocence. While each response is unique and justified there is another reaction that will affect a young woman s developmentRead MorePropaganda And Doublespeak And The World Of Doublespeak1389 Words   |  6 Pagescivilizations. Propaganda and doublespeak are the use of verbal exchange to have an impact on the emotions, attitudes, and opinions of human beings. To try to get them to approve on a particular political, religious, or economic point of view, or even to start a war. It is suspicious manipulation of the opinions of the societies to a large extent by their government. In the effort to manage the nation s thought process, the government has used the language of mass propaganda and doublespeak for sellingRead MoreBrave New World By Aldous Huxley1192 Words   |  5 Pages In Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, people in the book show lack of emotion,feelings,interest or concern especially regarding matters of general importance or appeal wishing we had lack of apathy, my prediction is that people will no longer have strong emotions about anything important.They will become apathetic about most issues.We are convinced that one individual doesn’t matter. We can’t really make a difference in anything we believe in. That’s one of the reasons why people have started toRead MoreReflection Of Media Literacy962 Words   |  4 PagesMass media, a cultural industry for a large of people, is seen everywhere all across the globe. It is right that people want to know what is going on in the world around them, hence there is no doubt that media literacy have already became an essential skill for everyone’ s life in the ever-changing world. A person who is media literate can clearly describe the role of media in their lives. According to the Center for Media Literacy (CML) definition, media literacy is the ability to understand,Read MorePropaganda And Doublespeak By Donna Woolfolk Cross1374 Words   |  6 Pagesdoublespeak have a long history, going back to the ancient societies. Propaganda and doublespeak are the use of verbal exchange to have an effect on the emotions, attitudes, and opinions of human beings. To try to get them to accept a particular political, religious, or financial point of view, or even to start a war. It is careful manipulation of the opinions of the societies mostly by their government. In the effort to control the nation s thought process, the government has used mass propagandaRead MoreThe Agenda Setting Model Can Guide The Public Opinion And Mass Communication1464 Words   |  6 Pagespublic opinion and mass communication about some social or political issues. Different with media effects model, the media effects more like to telling people how to think, however, the agenda setting mode l is successful in telling people what to think about. In a general way, agenda setting theory was constructed in the environment of traditional mass media, and the purpose is to study traditional mass media. About the visual agenda setting, the particular pictures, videos affect the influence of theRead MoreUnderstanding The Medi The Extensions Of Man1334 Words   |  6 Pagestype of this written task one is a opinion column about the Marshall McLuhan’s book Understanding the Media: the Extensions of Man. He believed that the world has to live within a mosaic of culture, exemplified by the TV news, the only unifying factor which - the fact that they occurred on the same day and hour. efficient media studies is dealing not only with the content of the media, but also with the very media, with the cultural context in which the media operate. It emphasizes its basic ideaRead MoreAll of the Other Ways of Knowing Are Controlled by Language. ¡Ã‚ ¨ What Does This Statement Mean and Do You Think It Is a Fair Representation of the Relationship Between Perception, Emotion, Reason and Language?1463 Words   |  6 Pageshuman society. Whenever we write or speak, we use it; whenever we make a promise or ask a question, we use it. In the statement  ¡Ã‚ §All of the other ways of knowing are controlled by language ¡Ã‚ ¨, language is defined as  ¡Ã‚ §words ¡Ã‚ ¨ and this  ¡Ã‚ §control ¡Ã‚ ¨ can be defined as  ¡Ã‚ §dominate ¡Ã‚ ¨. Then this saying seems not so fair to represent the relationship between the four ways of knowing. It is more sensible to say language gives some support or limit to our reason ¡Aperception and emotion. It may influence them

Child Abuse Sibling Incest - 1898 Words

Running Head: CHILD ABUSE: SIBLING INCEST Incest Within the Family Unit and Sibling Abuse H_D 300: Child Neglect and Abuse Fall 2014 Laiklyn L. Luikart 11334761 Abstract Incest is a form of child abuse that involves sexual contact between family members and the child. Sexual abuse is most commonly found within the family, categorizing it as incest. Incest has detrimental affects on children’s physical, cognitive, and socio-emotional development and furthermore changes the dynamic of the family system, a child’s main resource. There are different types of familial incest, but sibling sexual abuse is universal accepted as the most prevalent form. The family violence is usually an active household cycle passed down from generations and most perpetrators have been victims of abuse themselves. Treatment of victims is a slow healing process that requires a safe environment and stable, healthy relationships. Keywords: Incest, Sibling Sexual Abuse, Children, Family Violence In America, all states have passed a law outlawing incest to be committed. Incest is the most commonly occurring type of child sexual abuse that involves sexual behaviors of different variations within the family unit. Adults can choose to be involved in incest, but for most cases that occur, children fall victims of incest by force. Diana Russell’s research about incestuous abuse contributes to the findings that incest does not just occur in America, but it is a prevailing issueShow MoreRelatedThe Case Of Sexual Abusers1550 Words   |  7 Pageslarge percentage of incest crimes involving children are often done by a male figure in the family. It’s usually father, or the stepfather, in the family who is the perpetrator, and the daughter who is the victim. In cases of daughter and father incest, the mother is usually aware of what’s going on but pretends not to know. 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The movie opens with what looks to be a normal American family in the 1960’s with two boys Christopher Chris Dollanganger, Jr., who is approximately 16 years old, CoryRead MoreRape and Sexual Assault1997 Words   |  8 Pagessituation in which it occurs, the sex or characteristics of the victim, and/or the sex or characteristics of the perpetrator. Different types of rape include but are not limited to: date rape, gang rape, marital rape or spousal rape, incestral rape, child sexual abuse, prison rape, acquaintance rape, and statutory rape. Date rape, often referred to as â€Å"acquaintance rape†, is an assault or attempted assault usually committed by a new acquaintance involving sexual intercourse without mutual consent. TheRead MoreAn Additional Facet of the Incest Taboo: a Protection of the Mating-strategy Template5027 Words   |  21 PagesMAINTENANCE of the incest taboo have been sources of interest and debate for decades in a number of different disciplines. The universality of the taboo, in one form or another, has served to fuel the discussions. Nested within differences in the theorists orientations and conclusions is a consensus that, with very few exceptions, sexual intercourse is prohibited between members of the nuclear family who are not spouses -- father-child, mother-child, son-sibling, daughter-sibling. Most cultures extendRead MoreThe Relationships Between Parents and Children in Greek and Roman Myths1422 Words   |  6 PagesContrary to the present archetypes involving the relationships between parents and children, Greek and Roman myths show us that at one point in time, incest was considered socially acceptable. Many Greek and Roman myths contain twisted relationships between parents and children. These twisted relationships can be broken into three different categories: mothers and sons that have exceptionally strong bonds, parents that are threatened by their children, and the betrayal of parents or children. 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Depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, insomnia, alcohol and or drug abuse, hypertension, obesity, sexually transmitted diseases, lack of trust and marital problems are all more frequent in the demographic of adults who were sexually abused or coerced as children (Child Sexual Abuse I: An Overview). Pedophiles were previously known to be organizedRead MoreThe Controversial Issues Of Abortion1528 Words   |  7 Pagesmandatory waiting periods, and biased counseling. As of right now, abortion is legal. Abortion should remain legal because of the following issues child-bearing women can potentially face: medical issues, safety concerns, and rape/incest situations. Women considering abortion may be undergoing this procedure due to very serious medical issues, either with the child or themselves. A common, fatal condition in children where most women choose to terminate their pregnancy is Trisomy 18. Trisomy 18, otherwise

Arranged Marriage Essay free essay sample

In the book, Arranged Marriage, Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni depicts how various women are treated in India’s arranged marriages today. The short story, â€Å"Clothes,† shows an Indian woman content with her life, living with her husband in America. Mita was lucky with her arranged marriage, as her husband treated her like a queen. Somesh is kind to Mita, buying her American clothes and encouraging her to strive with these new opportunities given to her, like going to college: â€Å"But first he wants me to start college. Get a degree, perhaps in teaching. I picture myself in front of a classroom of girls with blond pigtails and blue uniforms, like a scene out of an English movie I saw long ago in Calcutta. They raise their hands respectfully when I ask a question. ‘Do you really think I can? ’ I ask. ‘Of course,† he replies. I am gratified he has such confidence in me† (Divakaruni 27). We will write a custom essay sample on Arranged Marriage Essay or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Somesh is an amazing husband, putting his wife’s needs before his own, as Mita explains, â€Å"I scold Somesh to hide my embarrassed pleasure. He shouldn’t have been so extravagant. We can’t afford it. He just smiles† (Divakaruni 25). â€Å"Clothes† models a perfect arranged marriage, where the happy couple has a balance of power instead of the woman being treated unjust. â€Å"A couple of days later Mother had another mark on her face, even bigger and reddish-blue. It was on the side of her forehead and made her face look lopsided. This time when I asked her about it she didn’t say anything† (Divakaruni 3). The story, â€Å"The Bats,† describes an abusive relationship, from an arranged marriage. Every night the woman sleeps alone, crying herself to sleep, trying to hide both the physical and mental pain from her daughter. As the mother and her daughter were sneaking out to visit Grandpa-uncle, and escape the father, the daughter thought to herself, â€Å"I wondered when Mother bought them and how she’d paid for them, and then I wondered how she would buy our tickets. She never had had much money, and whenever she asked for any, Father flew into one of his rages† (Divakaruni 3) The husband in this story is horrible to his wife, keeping money for himself, and hurting her, and she has been living in a struggle. The wife and her daughter go to visit their Grandpa-uncle, and are free at last, until one day her husband sends her a letter. He promises his wife everything will change, and he will be a better husband when she comes home, so they take the train back to the same abusive husband. This story shows what can happen when the wife is trapped, at a total loss of power, and some of the decisions she is forced to make when all hope is lost. â€Å"For the first time it occurred to me that if things worked out the way everyone was hoping, I’d be going halfway around the world to live with a man I hadn’t even met† (Divakaruni 18) These are the words of Mita, explaining her impending arranged marriage. She had not even met the man she was supposed to marry, she was just being forced to move away from her family, into a stranger’s home. The stories â€Å"Clothes† and â€Å"The Bats† portray two very strong women, both in arranged marriages. They both set goals for themselves, because they know what they want, however, one has it easier. Mita, in â€Å"Clothes† is encouraged by her husband to study in college, so she can go on to do great things. Her husband is supportive, listens to her, and helps Mita to have a successful, happy life, where as in â€Å"The Bats† the woman is abused, and desperate to get away from her husband to be finally free. In an arranged marriage the women never know who they are going to marry, and although they may get lucky with a great husband, often times they are abused, powerless, and treated poorly.

Yorktown Technologies free essay sample

Technologies, was founded by two gentlemen, Alan Blake and Richard Crockett, with the objective to patent the idea of producing GloFish ® genetically modified tropical zebra fish which would fluorescent all the time. Zebra danio fish are native to India. These fish are clear with stripes on them. The objective of these fluorescent fish is to identify water contamination. After further analysis, patenting this idea was not possible as these fishes where already been developed for research. As a result, Crockett and Blake proceeded in modifying their business strategy to license the packaging and reselling of fluorescent fishes to large industry buyers. Yorktown Technologies founders, met with Dr. Ivan Pruchansky who developed the fluorescent zebra fish and had expressed interest in working with the startup. Dr. Pruchansky eventually decided not to work with Yorktown Technologies for various reasons that triggered him, such as environmental community concerns, involving the university on the licensing of his discovery and jeopardizing his academic credibility. We will write a custom essay sample on Yorktown Technologies or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page After the unsuccessful negotiations with Dr. Pruchansky, Blake and Crockett partnered with National University of Singapore (NUS) as they had developed their own fluorescent fish and expressed interested in commercializing their fish. As a result, an agreement was signed which gave Yorktown Technologies rights to NUS line of fluorescent zebra fish and patent that covered all fluorescent ornament fish in exchange for a 16% royalty fee. This agreement would set Yorktown Technologies on a competitive advantage as competitors enter the market. Blake and Crockett implemented successful fundraising strategies which raised $5 million in preparation for the launch of GloFish ® genetically modified tropical zebra fish project. Yorktown Technologies secured two distribution agreements with the largest Florida freshwater ornamental fish producers and distributions in the country, 5-D Tropical and Segrest Farms. Despite the successful efforts in fundraising, Yorktown Technologies first year performance drove a loss of $120,000 compared to the $4 million company surplus projections. Although Yorktown Technologies sales have increased year over year, the main problem in this case is they haven’t reached their geographical targeted audience and facing channel distribution. Analysis and Evaluation As various issues have been addressed at Yorktown Technology, Blake and Crockett still need to evaluate the problems which are hindering the growth of the organization to drive long-term sustainable success. We will focus on five key areas to provide Blake and Crockett on what to expect, this includes: marketing environment, consumer market, channel infrastructure, competition and address any ethical concerns. All of this information will be used to provide a recommendation to Yorktown Technologies board of directors. Marketing Environment: Yorktown Technology faced a variety of environmental challenges, which triggered them to launch their product sooner than planned. There are various environmental agencies which are developing negative publicity of the impacts of genetic fluorescent zebra fish. Negative publicity prohibited Yorktown Technologies in marketing fish to Californian population which historically demonstrated adoption of innovative products. Yorktown has taken action to defend, educate and drive awareness of these fluorescent zebra fish. This effort has been implemented through media, such as television, magazines, newspaper and website. Regardless of the environmental concerns and Dr. Pruchansky’s effort, approval has been granted to market across the country, excluding California. Yorktown Technologies should provide additional report to California government to obtain approval. There is a significant level of market share Yorktown Technologies can obtain as the aquarium industry is worth over $1,000 million (Cato and Brown, 2003). The United States is the number one importer of ornamental fish despite European Union being the largest market for ornamental fish (Livengood and Chapman, 2012). Additionally, the United States produces and sells over 200 million ornamental fish and distribute to over 5,000 retail establishments (Kerin and Peterson, 2012). Moldvay (2012), published the United States 40% of pet owners, own a fresh water fish compared to cats and dogs (refer to table 1). The marketing environment and opportunities to succeed in the aquarium industry is significant just the proper marketing strategy needs to be implemented. Consumer Market: According to Yorktown Technologies, the negative â€Å"buzz† on genetically fluorescent zebra fish didn’t seem to impact initial sales. Blake communicated to USA Today, â€Å"Public demand for GloFish ® fluorescent fish has been extraordinary, even greater than we had anticipated† (USA Today, 2003). â€Å"Finicky† fish consumers accepted the product favorably. Product innovation was implemented after a retailer informed Yorktown Technologies that fish lovers like different, unique fish and that â€Å"variety drives purchases†. It isn’t too late to perform market research analysis on the targeted population to understand the unmet needs. After obtaining the retailer’s feedback and evaluating the flaws of the Red Zebra Danio (i. e. minimal brightness, loss of color), NUS developed a new generation of fluorescent GloFish ® that would address the flaws followed by launching different color fluorescent zebra fish (i. e. green and orange). The next phase should consist of line extension strategy by expanding the color variation to provide variety to consumers. In 2008, over $4 million was estimated to have been spent on Yorktown Technologies products and the United States consumer ornamental fish market is growing at a nine percent rate year over year. This requires Yorktown Technologies to identify the opportunity recognition to differentiate the supply of fluorescent zebra fishes. Concurrently, Yorktown Technologies should invest the time and effort to address the government’s request to enter the California market. This will be a significant win since California is the most populous state reported by the Census Bureau. Historical this population has proven to embrace innovated products. There is a significant consumer market to offer ornamental fish which would benefit Yorktown Technologies. Channel Infrastructure: Yorktown Technologies understands they need to identify the optimal distribution channel to reach their targeted population. There are five distribution options which Blake is evaluating to determine the optimal solution considering the firm’s resources. For instance, Yorktown Technology should strengthen the relationships with â€Å"mom and pop† (independent pet stores) pet shops through marketing not only their products but also these businesses where the GloFish ® products are sold. This will allow optimal display of the fish at the pet shops increasing the likelihood of visibility and increase demand. Although the Census Bureau indicates there is a decline in pet stores, sales are increasing at a substantial annual rate. According to Moldvay (2012), pets are considered part of the family, therefore owners will cut back on personal discretionary spending first before reducing spending on their pets. Another option is establish and strengthen relationships with major retail chains. Yorktown Technologies should present a new case to the three major retail chains demonstrating product line performance throughout the country, including California, and proposed optimal economies of scale that will benefit both parties. Overall, this will require to keep in mind the price sensitive and expert fish lovers. If this attempt fails, then Yorktown Technologies should reach out to medium size pet stores to introduce the product line which slowly will gain exposure and open opportunity to enter into the major retail chains market. According to the IBISWorld (2012) publication, PetSmart and PETCO own 63% of the pet store market share. PETCO recognizes the opportunity recognition by offering the product line at some of the stores now it is time to open the dialogue to roll out the product line across all stores. Blake is evaluating leveraging kiosks to increase awareness, education and sales. Finicky fish hobbyist would be more interested in purchasing the fish in person versus by mail or online. Blake understands that kiosk generate $10 billion annually which is a great appetite to steer positive organization growth. This is a model where other GloFish ® product lines can be cross-sell and proper educational information can be provided to the public. Additionally, Yorktown Technologies can ensure proper display of the fluorescent zebra fish is presented to capture audience attention. Developing a strategic pilot in metropolitan areas where kiosk can be used to initiate interest and sales. Eventually, if the pilot demonstrates to be successful then kiosk expansion discussions can be developed. Unfortunately, the cost to lease a kiosk is extremely costly for Yorktown Technology to invest currently. Another alternative is the internet which is a cost effective channel to sell the GloFish ® product line. The operational cost are minimal which shipping would need to be a variable Yorktown Technologies would need to address. Blake performed analysis on the shipping cost and the cost was greater than the fish value. Mintel (1991) notes that most of the weight of shipment is water and it is expensive to ship a box of water around the country. Per the US Census Bureau, retail e-commerce sales have increased year over year attributed to $60 million and is forecasted to continue to increase. Yorktown Technologies should develop partnerships with independent pet stores or major retail pet stores to request consumers to pick up their online orders at local stores. Not only would this benefit Yorktown Technologies, but the stores will generate extra foot traffic with the possibility of generating additional sales. If shipping is required, a relationship should be established with a package delivery company (i. e. USPS, UPS, FedEx, etc) to determine a flat rate and potentially offer free shipping to the consumers incorporating a satisfaction guarantee offer. This strategy can work if the website provides value, such as educational videos are provided, to sell the product to consumers. Unfortunately, consumers will not be able to select the â€Å"right† fish as variation exist amongst them where satisfaction concerns could not be met. Absolutely a channel to evaluate further as e-commerce growth continues to grow year over year. Finally, going international is another alternative Blake is considering. Although going international requires a significant level of investment, there are tariffs to consider, illegal breeding possibilities and would require to address foreign regulations. The international market is much larger but the US is the number one importer of ornamental fishes (Livengood and Chapman, 2012). Countries such as India and European Union identify a lucrative industry to export ornamental fishes as source for income generation (De and Ramachandran, 2011). Blake indicates there are a few countries with restrictions making it impossible to enter those countries. Yorktown Technologies priority should strengthen the market share and relationships in the United States prior to going global. Competition: Yorktown Technologies has monopolize the ornamental fish, GloFish ®, since they have patent the fluorescent ornamental fish from NUS making it difficult for competition to enter the market. Consequently, there is already and existing market (National University of Taiwan, NUT) with similar products (fluorescent green medaka fish) and lower prices already abroad (Kerin amp; Peterson, 2010). Competing with the medaka fish will be very challenging for Yorktown Technology as they currently don’t have a strong financial foundation to compete aggressively and invest in the international arena. As a result, this could cause the end of this organization. An option could be for Yorktown Technologies to determine if there is business benefit to develop a similar patent agreement with NUT to diversify the product line and legally introduce the fish in the United States. This would be a proactive approach for Yorktown Technologies before a competitor obtains the NUT agreement and competes with them in the United States. A more thorough explanation of the competitive position will be defined through a SWOT analysis. Yorktown Technologies strengths consist of being the first and only organization to patent a fluorescent ornamental fish. It has monopolize the market giving them full market share on fluorescent ornamental fish. Another strength is they have incorporated the trading up offering by leveraging NUS enhancement to ensure the GloFish ® is more colorful and avoid losing the color as the fish matures. Additionally, they have taken a proactive approach to introduce product variation by providing fish lovers’ two additional colors to select. Scientist support the genetically engineered fish since they don’t pose any harm to the environment. With strengths comes weakness, Yorktown Technologies is encountering lack of brand awareness by various environmental communities. They haven’t been able to build a relationship with these environments to address their concerns and educate them on the benefits of the fluorescent engineered fish. Another weakness is identifying a solid distribution channel to maximize their sales force. They are encountering poor display of their products with independent pet stores and unable to successfully distribute to all major pet retailers. Yorktown Technologies is encountering challenges with controlling shipping cost. From outside perspective, Yorktown Technologies has several opportunities that can help the firm reach its full potential. First, management should invest time and effort to provide the report California government has requested to reach ~40 million consumers. Strengthen relationships with retailers to obtain optimal display and offer their products across major retailers. Additionally, Yorktown technologies has the opportunity to develop partnerships with package delivery companies to minimize shipping cost and be able to offer products via their website or request consumers to pick up their order at a local pet store. Another opportunity can be to diversify their product line by developing a patent agreement with NUT which will leveraged their fluorescent green medaka fish. Providing educational material and attending seminars will be instrumental to ensure the companies brand isn’t impacted with the negative â€Å"buzz†. Threats is the final category of the SWOT analysis. The major threat the organization is facing is poor distribution strategy. If the strategy isn’t finalized it will continue to impact the organizations growth opportunity. Additionally, the Asian competition will be required to address as they are manufacturing large volumes of the genetically modified medaka. Another factor to be consider is the validation of altered medaka imports which could/is hinder Yorktown Technologies future growth opportunities. Ethical Concerns: Despite the controversy GloFish ® generated prior and after the launch, various scientist confirmed these genetically engineered zebra fish weren’t a threat. The FDA (2003) announced that these genetically engineered zebra danio fish don’t pose a threat to the environment from the unmodified fish. Dr. Jyotshna Kanungo (2009) observed they are extensively used for research since they are similar to humans in many ways. These fishes have been instrumental in research and have made significant discoveries recently. Additionally, these fish have similar pathways as humans which have vertebrates, liver, pancreas, etc (FDA, 2013). The cost of maintenance is minimal and their fast development are advantages in using this specimen in laboratories. The concerns addressed by the environmental organizations don’t display any concerns to humans or to their species. Ethical issues aren’t a factor for Yorktown Technologies. We live in an environment where products and food are mostly genetically engineered which don’t cause an issue to society. There is confirmation from many scientist and organizations which indicated there is no concern with these fishes therefore the ethical dilemma surfaced aren’t relevant. It is almost a decade since the launch of GloFish ® and no reports have been addressed reporting negative side effects to the environment and original species. Finally, science is used to provide opportunities, hope and success to people and businesses. Hence if there are any concerns in genetically modifying the zebra danio fish then are the issues with in-vitrio where hope is given to couples to become parents. This is definitely a sensitive matter but genetically engineered zebra danios absolutely don’t drive ethical concerns they drive opportunity. Yorktown Technologies recognized the opportunity in the aquarium industry and developed research to partake in this industry. Recommendation Based on the information provided in the analysis, it is highly recommended that Yorktown Technologies dedicates the time and resources to abide with the California government request to enter this geographic arena to expose ~40 million people with this innovative and sophisticated product. Additionally, Yorktown Technologies should build and strengthen the relationships with independent pet stores and major retailers (i. e PETCO) by promoting the pet stores in Yorktown Technologies marketing efforts (i. e. magazines, website, public relations) in exchange of selling the product and providing optimal visibility. Next, Yorktown Technologies should diversify their product line by introducing variations and potentially patenting NUTs fish. This will aid in adding additional complexities for competitors to enter the fluorescent fish industry. Blake is aware that in order to acquire market success, a strong distribution strategy needs to be address. Hence, the internet channel will be the most cost effective channel in comparison of the kiosk. Yorktown Technologies should establish strong relationships with package delivery companies to obtain a cost effective shipping fee. Additionally, consumers can be given the chose to pick up the fish at their local pet shops for their convenience. This would absolutely require partnerships to be built with local and major pet shops to establish a same day pick up program. Finally, Yorktown Technologies should develop education campaigns to address the concerns that have been addressed by various organizations and offer online promotions to increase adoption rates. There are opportunities for Yorktown Technologies to reach its targeted population as one out of eight American households owns a freshwater fish aquarium (Kerin and Peterson, 2010).

Free Essays on The Boxer Rebellion

When Japan defeated China in 1895, European powers answered with an order they called, â€Å"carving up the Chinese melon.† Following the division of Africa among European powers, they turned their sights to what they saw as an extremely weak Chinese government. European powers and America began to scramble for what was called â€Å"spheres of influence.† These spheres of influence involved holding leases for all railway and public advantages in different regions of China. Russia got Port Arthur, Britain got the New Territories near the Hong Kong region, Germany got Shandong and America got nothing. America was focusing largely on Guam and the Philippines and had missed the opportunity and so insisted on the â€Å"open-door policy† in China where commercial opportunities were equally available to all Western powers. In result, the political and territorial integrity of China would stay intact. The imperial court responded to this foreign threat by giving aid to various secret societies. Traditionally, secret societies had been formed in opposition to imperial government; as such, they were certainly a threat to the Qing government. However, anti-foreign sentiment had risen so greatly in China that the Empress Dowager Ci Xi believed that the secret societies could be the leaders in a military deportation of Europeans. This policy reached its crucial period in 1900 with the Boxer Rebellion. The Boxers, or â€Å"The Righteous and Harmonious Fists,† were a religious society that had originally rebelled against the imperial government in Shandong in 1898. They practiced an animistic magic of rituals and spells that they believed made them invulnerable to bullets and pain. The Boxers believed that the expulsion of foreign devils would magically renew Chinese society and begin a new golden age. Much of their discontent, however, was focused on the economic scarcity of the 1890s. They were a passionate and confident grou... Free Essays on The Boxer Rebellion Free Essays on The Boxer Rebellion When Japan defeated China in 1895, European powers answered with an order they called, â€Å"carving up the Chinese melon.† Following the division of Africa among European powers, they turned their sights to what they saw as an extremely weak Chinese government. European powers and America began to scramble for what was called â€Å"spheres of influence.† These spheres of influence involved holding leases for all railway and public advantages in different regions of China. Russia got Port Arthur, Britain got the New Territories near the Hong Kong region, Germany got Shandong and America got nothing. America was focusing largely on Guam and the Philippines and had missed the opportunity and so insisted on the â€Å"open-door policy† in China where commercial opportunities were equally available to all Western powers. In result, the political and territorial integrity of China would stay intact. The imperial court responded to this foreign threat by giving aid to various secret societies. Traditionally, secret societies had been formed in opposition to imperial government; as such, they were certainly a threat to the Qing government. However, anti-foreign sentiment had risen so greatly in China that the Empress Dowager Ci Xi believed that the secret societies could be the leaders in a military deportation of Europeans. This policy reached its crucial period in 1900 with the Boxer Rebellion. The Boxers, or â€Å"The Righteous and Harmonious Fists,† were a religious society that had originally rebelled against the imperial government in Shandong in 1898. They practiced an animistic magic of rituals and spells that they believed made them invulnerable to bullets and pain. The Boxers believed that the expulsion of foreign devils would magically renew Chinese society and begin a new golden age. Much of their discontent, however, was focused on the economic scarcity of the 1890s. They were a passionate and confident grou...

Acid Rain Essay Example for Free (#3)

Acid Rain Essay Essay Topic: Acid rain , SO2 Choose cite format: APA MLA Harvard Chicago ASA IEEE AMA company About StudyMoose Contact Careers Help Center Donate a Paper Legal Terms & Conditions Privacy Policy Complaints ? Acid Rain is rain, snow or fog that is polluted by acid in the atmosphere and damages the environment. When fossil fuels are burned they release mostly CO2, but they also release two harmful gases, sulphur dioxide and various nitrogen oxides. The sulphur dioxide, SO2, comes from the sulphur impurities in the fossil fuels. However, the nitrogen oxides are created from a reaction between the nitrogen and the oxygen in the air, caused by the heat of the burning. When these gases mix with clouds they form dilute sulphuric acid and dilute nitric acid. Cars and power stations are the main causes of Acid Rain. Acid Rain has effects on plants, soil and even buildings. The acid reacts with the limestone and then the limestone begins to erode. From previous knowledge, I know that limestone has the chemical formula CaCO3. Limestone, chalk and marble are all calcium carbonate. When an acid reacts with a metal carbonate (such as calcium carbonate) the fizzing shows that a gas is produced. That gas is carbon dioxide, CO2. Adding hydrochloric acid to a rock sample is one of the tests for a carbonate rock, like marble, chalk or limestone. It is also why these rocks are greatly affected by acid rain. The word equation is for this reaction between calcium carbonate and hydrochloric acid is: Calcium carbonate + hydrochloric acid –> calcium chloride + carbon dioxide + water The chemical formulae for this reaction between calcium carbonate and hydrochloric acid is: CaCO? + 2HCL –> CaCL2 + CO2 + H2O The rate of reaction can be calculated by measuring amount of Carbon dioxide gas that is obtained by the syringe. There were various types of apparatus which I included: Goggles Syringe Stop clock Measuring cylinder Spatula Hydrochloric Acid Marble-Powder and Chip Boiling tube Bung Preliminary experiment. Before actually beginning my investigation, I will firstly carry out a preliminary investigation. This will help me to see the improvements that I can make after the experiment. I will be able to see possible downfalls and failures in my method, work out appropriate quantities of chemicals to use and generally improve the quality of the final experiment. Below is the set up apparatus that I will use for the preliminary experiment and the actual experiment: The preliminary experiment is performed so that I can predict the volume of acid, the mass of the chip and powder and the length of time that I will be timing for. 1. Firstly, I set up the apparatus. 2. I will specify a curtain mass of marble using a balance and I will place it into the boiling tube. 3. Then, I will measure a quantity of acid and quickly add it to the boiling tube whilst after quickly placing the bung onto the top of the tube. 4. I will record the amount of CO2 gas which is given off, every curtain amount of time. This will produce a rate of reaction. For many experiments the rate of reaction can be changed by altering curtain variables. For this reaction there is no catalyst, therefore we cannot alter this variable. However there are three main variables that could be changed: Temperature of the acid – this would be varied by starting off with the acid at room temperature (around 24i C) and then using acid with temperatures of 30i C, 40i C and 50i C. Concentration of the acid – the concentration would be varied three times, using hydrochloric acid with concentrations of 0. 5M, 1M and 2M. Surface area of the calcium carbonate – the surface area would be varied by using different sizes of calcium carbonate. I will predict that the 2m acid and the powder will be the fastest reaction as the acid is more compact with acid particles in the same volume of water. This helps more successful collisions take place between the particles. The more collisions there are the increased rate of reaction. I found out that I should use 1 gram of mass for the chip and powder marble and 30cmi of acid. This is because the reaction is not too fast or slow. I can get an acceptable number of results recorded. I will be using three different concentrations of acid, 0. 5m, 1m and 2m. (m=molar) The time I will be using will be starting at when the syringe starts to move up to 180 seconds. I will be keeping the amount of acid the same and the mass of the marble so that I conduct a fair test. The temperature was kept at 24i C-25i C. Results 0. 5m with chip 0. 5m with powder Mass of chip = 1. 0g Mass of powder = 1. 0g Time (s) Volume (cmi ) 10 2 20 4 30 5 40 6 50 7 60 8 70 9 80 16 90 17 100 18 110 20 120 21 130 22 140 24 150 25 160 26 170 27 180 31 Volume of acid = 30cmi Volume of acid = 30cmi Time (s) Volume (cmi ) 10 14 20 17 30 19 40 20 50 22 60 23 70 23 80 25 90 29 100 34 110 35 120 37 130 38 140 38 150 38 160 39 170 40 180 40 1 m with chip 1 m with powder Mass of chip = 1. 0g Mass of powder = 1. 0g Volume of acid = 30cmi Volume of acid = 30cmi Time (s) Volume (cmi ) 10 21 20 30 30 36 40 38 50 39 60 31 70 42 80 43 90 43 10 44 110 44 120 44 130 44 140 44 150 44 160 44 170 44 180 44 Time (s) Volume (cmi ) 10 4 20 5 30 6 40 9 50 12 60 15 70 18 80 21 90 24 10 27 110 31 120 34 130 37 140 40 150 44 160 47 170 50 180 52. 2 m with chip 2 m with powder Mass of chip = 1. 0g Mass of powder = 1. 0g Volume of acid = 30cmi Volume of acid = 30cmi Time (s) Volume (cmi ) 10 5 20 9 30 13 40 16 50 22 60 26 70 33 80 36 90 46 10 46 110 46 120 51 130 54 140 57 150 57 160 57 170 57 180 57 Time (s) Volume (cmi ) 10 0-60 20 † 30 † 40 † 50 † 60 † 70 † 80 † 90 † 10 † 110 † 120 † 130 † 140 † 150 † 160 † 170 † 180 † Conclusion. After completing my experiment my results show me that as the concentration of the acid is increased, the reaction takes place faster and more gas is produced in a shorter space of time. Due to this I found that the 2M hydrochloric acid (the strongest concentration of acid I used) produced the most gas in the shortest time. The 0. 5M hydrochloric acid (the weakest concentration of acid I used) produced the least amount of gas in the longest time period. I can clearly see from the graph that the 2M hydrochloric acid gave the fastest reaction and produced the most gas in the shortest space of time, because the gradient of the curve is the steepest and goes far higher than the other curves showing that a larger amount of gas was produced because the ‘gas produced’ axis is the ‘y’ axis. The fact that the 2M acid had the steepest curve shows that the reaction was fastest because a large amount of gas was produced (high on the y axis) and in a short space of time (short on the x axis). This will give a steep gradient on the graph. The 0. 5M hydrochloric acid gave almost the opposite curve when the results were placed on a graph. Not much gas was produced in a long space of time and so the slope was very gentle and low on the graph. The 2M hydrochloric acid produced the most gas in the shortest amount of time and was generally a quicker reaction due to its significant difference in particle arrangement compared to the 0.5M and 1M hydrochloric acid. The more concentrated 2M hydrochloric acid has more acid particles in the same volume compared to the 1M and 0. 5M acid. This means there are more available acid particles to react with the calcium carbonate. The reaction will be quicker when using the 2M acid because there are more particles available to react with. The calcium carbonate particles can react with more acid particles quickly as they are easily accessible, whereas in the 0. 5M acid, there are few acid particles in a volume and so some calcium carbonate particles will have no acid particles to react with, causing the reaction to be slow and uneventful. All reactions will only occur if there is enough energy to make it happen. This minimum energy is known as activation energy. Activation energy is the minimum energy for which two reacting particles must collide for a reaction to take place. When particles collide they slow down, stop, and then fly apart again. This will occur regardless of whether they have enough energy to react. In an unsuccessful collision the particles separate unchanged, but in an effective collision the activation energy barrier is crossed and the particles that separate are chemically different from those that came together. I think my results are definitely sufficient to support my prediction. They equal everything I predicted and I am very pleased at how well they turned out. Evaluation I think that the experiment went very well. All my results matched my prediction and everything went ‘according to plan’. The gas produced by each acid had a steady increase however; there were a few rogue points. Overall I achieved what I set out to do. I would have liked more time on the experiment to make sure everything was perfect, though. Due to the short time limit we were quite rushed in completing the experiment. There were a few aspects of the experiment that could have been improved to make the experiment even more accurate. For a start the experiment was undertaken over a few days. Each day had a different temperature and so this would have affected the results. If one day had been hotter than the others the heat would have influenced one reaction to take place faster. Also due to the fact that the experiment lasted a few days, different equipment was being used each day. Some gas syringes were slightly stiffer than others and so wouldn’t move out as fast. If on one day you had a very stiff gas syringe that wouldn’t move very easily and on another day you had a very loose gas syringe, then the results would be very different as the loose gas syringe would give results that say that the reaction happened very fast and the stiff gas syringe would give results that say the reaction was slow. To prevent this from happening the experiment should have been undertaken and finished on the same day, using exactly the same equipment as you started with for each acid. The initial part of the reaction when the acid first reacts with the calcium carbonate is very fast. A lot of gas is produced at the beginning of the reaction. However the way the apparatus are set up means that when you pour the acid onto the calcium carbonate, there are a few seconds when the gas is able to escape before the gas syringe is connected to the test tube. To avoid this from happening a test tube containing the calcium carbonate should be placed inside a beaker containing the hydrochloric acid. They must not be touching, as the reaction would then start. Then the gas syringe will be connected to the beaker. When the reaction is ready to start, the beaker is knocked so that the test tube falls over, consequently causing the reaction to take place as the acid and carbonate would mix. Then when the initial gas is produced it will all be ‘caught’ as the gas syringe is already in place. The surface area of the calcium carbonate should also have been kept equal. The same number of equally weighted chips should have been used. E. g. all 1g chips. This way the reaction is fair and accurate, as a large surface area will cause the reaction to take place faster. Keeping all the surface areas the same would have kept the experiment fair. However to do this would have taken a long time and we only had a limited amount of time. Another way of keeping the temperature the same would have been to do the experiment in a water bath. This would have allowed us to do the experiment over a few days as well. Acid Rain. (2017, Aug 09).