Thursday, September 3, 2020

Exile :: Literary Analysis, Julia Alvarez

The sonnet â€Å"Exile† by Julia Alvarez performs the contentions of a youthful girl’s family’s escape from an abusive autocracy in the Dominican Republic to the opportunity of the United States. The setting of this sonnet begins in the city of Trujillo in the Dominican Republic, which was renamed for the severe tyrant Rafael Trujillo; be that as it may, it in the end changes to New York when the family prevails to get away. The speaker is a little youngster who is unsophisticated to the world; along these lines, she doesn't have the foggiest idea what is befalling her family, despite the fact that she induces that something isn't right. The creator utilizes an all-encompassing illustration all through the sonnet to look at â€Å"swimming† and getting away from the Dominican Republic. Through the line â€Å"A rushed pack, permitting one toy a piece,† (13) it feels as though the family were ousted or driven away from its nation. The title of the sonn et â€Å"Exile,† advises the peruser that there was no decision for the family yet to leave the Dominican Republic, yet certain words and expressions emphasize the title. In this sonnet, the speaker expresser her inclination about escaping her home and how segregated she feels in the United States. The writer utilizes four line verses or quatrains, and this is an account sonnet in light of the fact that the speaker recounts to a story. The speaker appears to be somewhat odd in a manner since she doesn't have a clue what's going on; â€Å"Worried whispers† (6) is a similar sounding word usage, and it likewise represents the speaker’s tension. Both her uncle and father don't come clean to the speaker, rather they â€Å"Sugarcoat† it. This is like Emily Dickinson’s sonnet â€Å"Tell all reality however tell it slant† on the grounds that the youngsters may get frightened in the event that they become familiar with reality immediately. In the line â€Å"What a decent time she’ll have figuring out how to swim,† (11) the writer again underscores how grown-ups lie to youngsters so they don't hurt them. The speaker feels like her folks are misleading her; in any case, she just trusts them since she accepts that what grown-ups do can't tur n out badly. Likewise, â€Å"A week at the sea shore so papi get some rest† (15) seems as though the speaker’s father needs to leave the Dominican Republic since he is a threat. The speaker battles all through the sonnet since she is leaving all that she has known behind, and she is setting off to another land that she thinks nothing about.

Saturday, August 22, 2020

The Mediating Effect of Cognitive and Emotional Satisfaction on Customer Loyalty Essay Example

The Mediating Effect of Cognitive and Emotional Satisfaction on Customer Loyalty Essay Example The Mediating Effect of Cognitive and Emotional Satisfaction on Customer Loyalty Essay The Mediating Effect of Cognitive and Emotional Satisfaction on Customer Loyalty Essay Global Journal of Management Innovation Systems ISSN 1943-1384 2009, Vol. 1, No. 2: E5 The Mediating Effect of Cognitive and Emotional Satisfaction on Customer Loyalty Maznah Wan Omar Universiti Teknologi MARA Kedah Peti Surat 187, 08400 Merbok, Kedah, Malaysia [emailprotected] uitm. edu. my ABSTRACT Loyal clients are among the best income maker and are bound to happen in a type of informal. In the compound and energetic Malaysian home PC retail advertise today, client dependability through informal promoting will in general happen gradually and is constrained topographically however is a powerful technique for showcasing. The impact of intellectual and enthusiastic fulfillment on the connection between sales rep introduction aptitudes and customer’s unwaveringness through aim to advance by overhearing people's conversations is imperative. This will at that point lead to expanded advantages for the association as client dedication. The intellectual assessment of consumer loyalty was found to clarify client dependability in a retail setting more than the passionate response. This discovering holds significance to those retailers who have had the option to create elevated standards according to their clients. Catchphrases: Adaptive selling aptitudes, deals introduction abilities, Customer fulfillment, Customer reliability INTRODUCTION As rivalry extends, items and administrations become progressively undefined, and markets become set up, it is getting progressively harder for organizations in retailing businesses to separate themselves from different stores. Basically offering clients with specialized answers for issues doesn't be adequate any longer to be serious and acquire and hold piece of the overall industry. Different worth included administrations, which initiate before the genuine activity starts, had gone a long ways past it, in order to remain serious and create client reliability. Research and business customs have indicated that maintaining clients through worth included administrations costs not exactly acquiring new ones (Wetzels et al. , 1998). A predominant conviction holds that a basic key to execution rests with the capacity to support 1 www. macrothink. organization/ijmis International Journal of Management Innovation Systems ISSN 1943-1384 2009, Vol. 1, No. 2: E5 ustomer connections (Anderson et al. , 1994). Correspondingly, as social worth proceeds priceless, client bond are especially successful when engaged with long haul connections (Wood, 1995). Writing REVIEW Salesperson Behavior Performance lately, various writers have been gone up against with this issue of the changing job of the business power. Cutting-edge patterns of the degree and extension recorded above requi re a re-assessment of the exercises that sales reps must execute so as to effectively assemble and oversee client reliability. Marshall et al. , (1999), met an assorted variety of expert salesmen to give proof for 49 new deals exercises that were not called attention to in Moncrief’s (1986) unique rundown. These most recent exercises fall into the accompanying principle classifications: correspondence innovation, selling innovation, exercises identified with versatile and consultative selling, and group situated exercises. Huge numbers of the particular exercises inside these classifications include aptitudes and substance information divergent from those customarily saw in the past as key salesman achievement factors. This examination subsequently will consider how subjective and enthusiastic fulfillment intervenes the connection between sales rep introduction aptitudes and customer’s expectation to informal. These situational factors have not been considered in earlier research and give new roads to looking at salesman introduction aptitudes in Malaysian market and its outcomes. Moreover, as most examinations have considered sales reps as their unit of investigation, this investigation will add to the little however impending collection of research that explores execution and adequacy connections at the customer’s level. Development of devotion through fulfillment It is all things considered accepted that fulfillment prompts rehash buy and positive verbal suggestion, which are the fundamental markers of dedication. Advertising writing has given a lot of consideration to the connection between consumer loyalty and unwaveringness (Chi, 2005). Various investigations have affirmed a noteworthy positive connection between consumer loyalty and steadfastness/maintenance (Chi, 2005). On the off chance that buyers are happy with the item or administration, they are bound to continue buying, and are additionally ready to spread positive WOM. Sales rep introduction abilities Churchill et al. , (1997, p. 367) characterize selling ability as a salesperson’s â€Å"learned proficiencies at performing work activities,† and portray Salesperson introduction aptitudes as the aptitudes that are related to effectively directing the individual selling process (I. e. the arrangement of interconnected advances that sales reps by and large use to interface with the impact client). 2 www. macrothink. organization/ijmis International Journal of Management Innovation Systems ISSN 1943-1384 2009, Vol. , No. 2: E5 Recognizing the significance of salesman introduction abilities, Marshall et al. (2003) accumulated and positioned team lead impression of â€Å"success factors† that add to sales rep work execution. They report that directors feel that six explicit sales rep introduction aptitudes: tuning in, versatile selling, dealing with protests, shutting, arranging, and prospecting (in dropping request of apparent signif icance) are exceptionally essential to salesman execution (Johlke, 2006). Likewise, this gathering of sales rep introduction aptitudes will be utilized at the core of the estimated model. Consumer loyalty The significance of consumer loyalty to the accomplishment of purchaser products makers (Burns Neisner, 2006) and to the achievement of retailers (Darian et al. , 2001) has been all around reported. Consumer loyalty is viewed as an essential deciding variable of continue shopping and buying conduct. The more prominent how much a buyer encounters fulfillment with a retailer, for example, the more noteworthy the likelihood the purchaser will return to the retailer (Burns Neisner, 2006, p. 49; Wong Sohal, 2003). In rundown, we note the differentiation between exchange explicit and in general fulfillment, and for this examination, we receive the more extensive meaning of fulfillment whereby the general measure is a total of all past exchange explicit fulfillment, and includes both psychological and full of feeling parts. As of late, the general measure has been demonstrated to be a superior indicator of repurchase goals (Jones Suh, 2000). Research Framework and Hypotheses Based on the survey of literary works concerning the investigation factors on sales rep introduction abilities, consumer loyalty, and customer’s goal to informal, the hypothetical system for this examination was created dependent on Oliver’s (1997, p. 392) Cognitive-Affective-Conative Behavior design model. This examination model has been adjusted and utilized in this investigation. Connection between Salesperson introduction ability and Intention to WOM Although a customer’s character and the employee’s client direction were viewed as a significant predecessor to relationship quality, sales rep introduction expertise as opposed to his/her character would play out a larger part in deciding relationship quality (Foster Cadogen, 2000). Salespersons are social on-screen characters who learn practices that are fitting to the positions they take up (Bove Johnson, 2000). As it were, sales rep can be persuaded to adjust their conduct to situational prerequisites despite individual inclinations (Bove Johnson, 2000). Until this point in time, there is an absence of studies researching the various parts of administration that are basic to client maintenance (Zeithaml, 2000)? Moreover, the various results (I. e. 3 www. macrothink. organization/ijmis International Journal of Management Innovation Systems ISSN 1943-1384 2009, Vol. 1, No. 2: E5 attitudinal and social) of relationship quality are left prevalently unexplored in the relationship showcasing writing. Likewise, there is an absence of studies that investigate the effect of elements, for example, salesman introduction expertise on customer’s goal to WOM. Indisputably, there is minimal exact work examining client relationship economies, which is the connection between attitudinal measures (I. e. sales rep introduction aptitude, consumer loyalty) and conduct measures (I. e. client faithfulness, goal to repurchase, aim to WOM, and long haul client relationship productivity), Wong and Sohal, (2006). Thusly, in accordance with the above reasoning’s and discoveries, it is guessed that: H1: There is an immediate constructive connection between salesperson’s introduction abilities and aim to informal (WOM). Connection between Customer fulfillment and customer’s expectation to WOM Customer fulfillment is imperative to advertisers since it is typically thought to be a critical determinant of repeating deals, positive verbal, goal to repurchase, and client dependability. It is qualified to purchasers since it mirrors a positive result following the expense of constrained assets and additionally the positive achievement of earlier needs. As a result, boosting fulfillment is viewed as a huge goal, on the whole for both the firm and the buyer (Mouri, 2005). In like manner, hypothesis recommends that fulfillment takes care of go into the framework to impact following goals and practices (Wallace et al. , 2004). Client

Gothic architecture and romanesque architecture Essay Example for Free

Gothic design and romanesque engineering Essay Gothic Style is the most intriguing and secretive structural time the world has seen. These huge structures of the eleventh through the sixteenth hundreds of years, that are viewed as of Gothic Style, are essentially heavenly. Consistently, wonderful medieval houses of prayer have been transcending over each building and till this day, despite everything make due with their bewildering appearance. The structures worked during the alleged Gothic time frame were not worked with straightforward distinguishing Gothic highlights. Gothic engineering was brought into the world of Romanesque design adjusted by the impact of medieval society. Romanesque and Gothic engineering, despite the fact that having numerous similitudes, additionally have numerous distinctions. There are some who might respect the main Gothic places of worship in France as late expansions of the Romanesque structure boom.The Romanesque contributed incredibly to the improvement of exceptionally enunciated, expressive outside and inside design.'(K Conant p. 6) French Romanesque engineering was the predecessor to Early Gothic in France. What stayed to be done in making the Gothic style as we probably am aware it was to take the extent and complexity of Cluny III, its moderately slim vaulting, its flying supports, going along with them to the rib vaulting of Durham, and building up the compelling highlights of each. (K Conant p. 291) Romanesque engineering was intended to be more for defensive purposes than for any stylish quality. So as not to be pulverized by intruders, the dividers of the Romanesque houses of prayer were constructed thickly. Gothic, then again, had more slender dividers and moved in the direction of a progressively aesthetic methodology. Gothic church buildings were additionally planned with sculptures and models on them, for example, the figure of deformity, which likewise filled in as a rainspout. Romanesque houses of God had scarcely any windows, as the dividers of the church buildings were thick and made situation of windows amazingly troublesome. In spite of Romanesque design, Gothic had many recolored glass windows, which spread hued light, giving a sentiment of harmony. Gothic style utilized many flying braces and pointed curves, while Romanesque utilized adjusted curves for added backing to the overwhelming development of the dividers and roofs. Gothic design was accomplished deliberately by the arrangement of Abbot Suger to reconstruct St-Denis. During the thirteenth century other French commitments affected basilicas and somewhat deleted the twelfth century structures. (Grodecki, p. 73) The extraordinary models of the thirteenth century offered ascend to formalâ continuity that can be seen more obviously all through France than in different nations. France contains more structures that are simpler perused of progressive elaborate stages. Champagne was the most promptly affected by the formation of Gothic engineering. The structures of Champagne and Saint-Remis speak to the last specialized and formal enhancements of Early Gothic engineering. The sixteenth century Parisian church of Saint-Eustache was designed according to the twelfth century Notre-Dame of Paris. Despite the fact that Notre-Dame of Paris is viewed as a negative impact by Grodecki, it was a model for some buildings of lesser measurement and significance in the ward of Paris during the last third of the twelfth century. The structure being four stories tall does not have a triforium: in its place are rose molded roundels that emanate light up to the rooftop. The huge, sufficiently bright exhibition opens to the focal nave through triple curved openings. (Grodecki p. 62) Given the stature of this structure, the manufacturers went to flying braces as a last arrangement. In any case, flying braces were not added to the ensemble. The house of prayer was worked by the slight divider standard; the shallowness of the window breaks and of the exhibition arcade make this slimness perceptible at each level. (Grodecki p.62) A positive effect on Gothic design is Chartres Cathedral. The Chartres type is accepted not exclusively to have filled in as a model for the incredible church buildings both all through France, yet additionally its formal and basic achievement is accepted to have made it a sort of artful culmination sui generis whose verifiable worth without a doubt coordinates that of the most praised manifestations of world engineering. Gothic style isn't to be found in the Chartres type, yet rather in mid-thirteenth century workmanship: specifically Rayonnant style. The ensembles of Paris basilicas all offer certain highlights that make the genuine perfection of the Gothic standards of room and development. (Grodecki p. 107) The massiveness and heavenliness of Chartres is because of the realities that it was the seat of a rich ministerial office and the site of a notable Marian journey. Chartres incorporates a twofold wandering with houses of prayer, because of the consolidating of the plans of No tre-Dame at Paris and of Saint-Denis. The transept is obtained from the Cathedral of Laon. Chartres designers virtuoso and inventiveness is appeared in the inside rise and generalâ structure of the structure. Chartres is three stories and takes after Sens with one contrast: the arcade and clerestory are of equivalent tallness, isolated by a triforium much like that of Laons. The structure of the inside volumes, the outlines of sounds by wharfs and colonettes, the meticulousness of the side paths and walking these highlights include one of the most coherent spatial game plans known to Gothic engineering. (Grodecki, p. 110) The Cathedral of Chartres must be viewed as one of the landmarks that states most expressly the Scholastic or spiritualist reason for medieval workmanship. The impact of this phenomenal structure was quick and far reaching. Chartres incited the disposal of the display during development and the dismissal of certain trademark Champagne highlights. The twelfth century plan of Notre-Dame had been superced ed. There are a few errors about when Gothic originally came to England. As indicated by L Grodecki, the Gothic style was first acquainted with England in 1174 by Guillaume de Sens in the ensemble of Canterbury Cathedral. (Grodecki, p. 195) While C Wilson accepts that Gothic was acquainted with England by method of a progression of pretty much separated scenes, just some of which had significant outcomes. (Wilson, p. 72) Wilson additionally accepts that a portion of the temples which the Cistercians worked in the north of England from around 1155 were Gothic. (Wilson, p. 73) So he is stating that these houses of worship are the most punctual instances of Gothic in the district, which counter cases Grodeckis hypothesis. Tragically it isn't at all away from of the mid-twelfth century Cistercian places of worship in the north of England filled in as the channel through which Gothic impacts arrived at the locale. What can be attested is that at any rate one northern Cistercian church more likely than not been worked in the Gothic style by the late 1150s. The nearness of the Burgundian components at York for all intents and purposes demonstrates that the northern English Cistercians were the medium by which both the draftsman and the Gothic components of his structure were transmitted. (Wilson, p. 74) Avila, which is a corresponding to York, is a blend of Burgundian Cistercian Romanesque and French Gothic. The general public of the medieval time assumed a significant job in the formation of these Gothic Cathedrals. Different social statuses in medieval society can be seen depicted in the craftsmanship and adornment of a medieval house of prayer. (Brookes paper in Swaans GC, p. 13) The materials utilized in developing these buildings were regularly blessings or contributions from the King, organizers, benefactors and skilled workers. Swaan assumes that the workers felt that the church buildings were not implied for their essence with the exception of during development when they offered their trucks or work for building. This would get the job done to say that the contractual workers were of low class laborers. Cranes and pulleys controlled by men and creatures were utilized to pull stones. Basilicas were costly to manufacture; the cash originated from blessings of land, homesteads, houses, and gems. Numerous individuals accepted that giving cash would excuse their wrongdoings. The laborers, for example, the designers, artists, metal forgers, and numerous others, accepted that being a piece of the development would bring them distinction and fortune. Houses of prayer and the individuals inside entreated that God is the most significant piece of a people life and ought to be expressed gratitude toward for everything. Individuals offered petitions and contributions to God at the incomparable Cathedrals figuring it would bring a prosperous and solid life. At whenever were the townspeople feeling despondent or prosperous in any way, shape or form, their primary goal was to go to the focal point of town and express gratitude toward God at the basilica. Commending the Lord turned into a custom of regular day to day existence. As probably the biggest structure of now is the ideal time, the houses of prayer spoke to the sky in which individuals accepted was quiet and peaceful. France was the origin of the Gothic Style. French houses of prayer started the Gothic time that spread all through Europe in an anger that has never been seen since. English houses of God consolidate the craft of Romanesque and Gothic design. The houses of God spoke to confidence, commitment and participation. Also, indicated the individuals that regardless of whether they had a hopeless life, they could generally go to the ameliorating church for salvation. Houses of prayer over the world come in numerous shapes and sizes yet all have a similar reason, to fill in as a spot to applaud Jesus. They will consistently be around to show the underlying foundations of Christianity and depict the design aptitudes served by the individuals of the medieval times.

Friday, August 21, 2020

The death penalty of Kasab Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Capital punishment of Kasab - Essay Example A significant moral issue is whether capital punishment of Ajmal Amir Kasab was defended or not as a few offices of human rights and the pioneers of a few minority bunches have posed this inquiry against the choice or decision of The Indian Supreme Court as indicated by them, capital punishment can't be supported regardless. Capital punishment of Ajmal Kasab can be considered as one of the most loved far from being obviously true or contentious subjects. The article referenced in the informative supplement is loaded with moral issues as Ajmal Kasab murdered blameless individuals with no explanation just for fear based oppression and religion. Then again, human rights and the pioneers of minority bunches requested kindness of Kasab for morals and peacefulness. In this manner, it tends to be considered as a moral issue. Factious Analysis There are two unique sorts of moral speculations with respect to the wellspring of significant worth and trustworthiness, for example, non-important thinking and weighty thinking. The moral issue in capital punishment of Kasab will be talked about using the previously mentioned speculations. Weighty Reasoning The facts demonstrate that moral scholars or masterminds have condemned the viability and legitimization of noteworthy thinking as this moral thinking by and large overlooks the fundamental estimation of good suppositions and classes. A noteworthy hypothesis by and large adjudicators the misleading quality or rightness of a specific activity dependent on the results of a particular activity.

Scientific Literacy in the Philippines

Module 6: Science Education in the Philippine Society Lesson 13: Scientific Literacy Science Literacy Science is as often as possible saw to be critical due to its connects to innovation and industry which, from a national viewpoint, might be territories with high need for improvement. Nations needing to improve their people’s personal satisfaction can't get away from the need to saddle their science and innovation ability as a method of creating intensity. Thusly, science is incorporated as a center component in rudimentary and auxiliary levels regardless of calculated intricacy and significant expense of implementation.Another legitimization for the consideration of science in secondary school curricular is that all residents need to accomplish a level of â€Å"scientific literacy† to empower them to take an interest successfully as residents in present day social orders. It is, in this way, imperative to be guided by over a significant time span encounters in science instruction to have the option to perceive the defining moments for the country’s future which we have to choose now. Studies demonstrate notwithstanding, that a large number of our Filipino students are not accomplishing useful education, without which they see it as too hard to even think about meeting the difficulties presented by our fast changing world.Scientific proficiency is a related idea to issue of social and mechanical proficiency (a term utilized in acknowledgment of the connection among science and innovation in regular day to day existence). Some logical teachers have endeavored to characterize or examine it. The term ‘scientific literacy’ has been utilized in the writing for over four decades (Gullagher and Harsch, 1997) in spite of the fact that not generally with a similar importance (Bybee, 1997). Benjamin Shen (1983) recognizes 3 sorts of logical proficiency: down to earth, community, and logical social literacy.Practical logical education is that sort of logical and specialized information that can be put to use to help tackle reasonable issues. The model given is that of the decrease in the reliance on newborn child formulae. Likewise, the utilization of elective meds like natural plants rather than manufactured ones to forestall the reason for symptoms that are hurtful to one’s wellbeing. Metro logical education empowers the residents to turn out to be increasingly mindful of science and science related issues so he can confront these issues with presence of mind. Shen characterizes urban logical proficiency as â€Å"a level of comprehension of logical terms and builds adequate to . . comprehend the substance of contending contentions on a given question on controversy†. A model normal in numerous nations nowadays is the developing worry about nature especially the contamination of air, water and land. Media have contributed a lot to such mindfulness by bringing to open consideration the exercises of dy namic ecological gatherings. Anyway such concerns are more fiery and various in created nations than in creating nations. It is time that residents of creating nations turned out to be increasingly mindful and mindful to such issues. The third structure is social logical literacy.People who look for this type of logical education want to know something about science as a significant human accomplishment. This gathering would come generally from the scholarly network, the individuals who sit in front of the TV programs like Nova, Invention and comparative revelation narratives. The generally advanced subjects depend on the idea that logical education has 3 parts (Hodson) 1. meaningful ideas with science 2. the idea of logical action 3. job of science in the public arena and culture Norris and Philips(2003) contend that the term â€Å"scientific literacy† has been utilized to incorporate different segments from the accompanying: a.  â â Knowledge of the considerable substa nce of science and the capacity to recognize from non-science; b. ) â â Understanding science and its applications; c. ) â â Knowledge of what considers science; d. ) â â Independence in learning science; e. ) â â Ability to think logically; f. ) â â â Ability to utilize logical information in critical thinking; g. ) â â Knowledge required for shrewd interest in science-based issues; h. ) â â Understanding the idea of science, incorporating its relationship with culture; I. ) â â â â Appreciation of and comfort with science, including its marvel and interest; j.  â â â â Knowledge of the dangers and advantages of science; and k. ) â â Ability to ponder science and to manage logical aptitude. They refer to references to show this. The disarray concerning an exact significance has prompted a call to expel such term as an objective for school science proficiency for future grown-up life through a longitudinal worldwide investigatio n (OECD, 2007), in spite of the fact that this has been scrutinized, not least since its measures are through composed tests and surveys, which for the most part demonstrate creating nations to be fit as a fiddle to meet such an objective. Philippine SettingThe Philippines set up the National Science Development Board, in 1958 and Philippine Science High Schools or schools with science and tech-situated classes were set up on the grounds that there is no gushing, or gathering of understudies as per their scholarly limit at the more significant levels of auxiliary school. Points and Objectives The administration perceives the significance of science and innovation capacity for the advancement of our industry and nation. The instruction area teams up with other government organizations to add to the accomplishment of government goals.As such, DECS (presently DepEd) has centered its endeavors towards projects and undertakings planned for improving English, Science and Mathematics train ing in fundamental training. The targets of rudimentary and auxiliary school science: †¢Ã¢ â â â â â â â At the finish of evaluation VI, the understudy is relied upon to apply his logical information and abilities in perceiving and tackling issues comparable to wellbeing and sanitation, nourishment, food creation, readiness and capacity, condition and the protection of its assets, and developing better available resources of getting things done. Agency of Elementary Education, 1998) †¢Ã¢ â â â â â â â The Secondary Science Education Program intends to create comprehension of ideas and key standards of science, science procedures, abilities and attractive qualities to make the understudies experimentally proficient, profitable and compelling residents (Bureau of Secondary Education, 1998). Instruction for three kinds of proficiency can emerge out of both formal and casual sources. In creating nations like the Philippines, casual sources are not as effectivel y available as they are in princely and created countries.Much of such taking in can be gotten from exhibition halls, science focuses, and greenhouses, zoos, well-ordinate program of talks and tests, visits to assembling organizations and modern destinations, science reasonable and camps, media, clubs and science-related associations. With at least such assets, most creating nations depend on formal instruction (for the most part up to basic levels just) for the advancement of logical proficiency of their residents. ProblemsThe Survey of Outcomes of Elementary Education (SOUTEL) detailed the terrible showing of primary school understudies and the absence of distinction in the accomplishment of fifth and sixth grade. Third International Mathematics and science study (1915) detailed likewise that Philippines positioned among the least scoring nations. Issues are experienced in educational program, learning materials, instructors and understudies execution. Variables of low accomplishm ent in science and arithmetic (Ibe, M) ? Nonappearance of a science culture ? â â â â â â Teacher preparing, the school educational plan  â â â â â â Instructional material ? â â â â â â Teacher-learning process ? â â â â â â Language guidance ? â â â â â â Governance of training Reforms I. Enhancements are remote helped ventures actualized in the nation. Among these are: †¢Ã¢ â â â â â â â The Science and Mathematics Education Manpower Development Program (SMEMDP) of the Japan Bank †¢Ã¢ â â â â â â â Project in Basic Education (ProBE) subsidized by Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) †¢ National Science Teaching and Instrumentation Center, a venture with German governmentII. Data and Communication Technology (ICT) Enhancing logical proficiency through science instruction is building up a capacity to imaginatively use suitable proof based logical information and aptitudes, especially wit h significance for regular day to day existence and a vocation, in fathoming specifically testing yet important logical issues just as settling on capable socio-logical choices. In any case, it is important to perceive that upgrading logical education is additionally reliant on the need to:Develop aggregate association aptitudes, self-improvement and appropriate correspondence approaches just as the need to show sound and convincing thinking in advancing socio-logical contentions. The accentuation on improving logical proficiency is set on a valuation for science; the advancement of individual properties and be securing of socio-logical aptitudes and qualities. (Holbrook and Rannikmae, 2007) The legislature has a ton to do to improve the nature of science and innovation training in the country.The Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS) should actualize and build up the projects made. The school should support the gifts and abilities of understudies to build up their logi cal education just as appliying the information in their lives. References: †¢Ã¢ â â â â â â â Batomalaque, A. Essential Science Development Program of the Philippines for International Cooperation. College of San Carlos, Cebu City, Philippines.

Wednesday, July 1, 2020

Gold Corporation Example For Free - Free Essay Example

Executive Summary As the gold industry leader, Barrick Gold Corporation has the largest production of gold (7.7 million ounces recorded in 2008) obtained from its portfolio of 26 mines, allowing investors incredible leverage to higher gold prices. Barrick wishes to provide sustainable economic development centered around environmental stewardship, as well as a culture of safety superior to those of competitors. An accounting policy examined in this project is the pension benefit plan employed by Barrick Gold, and how it is accounted for using industry trends, practices and the economic situation in order to determine the plan cost and the obligations requiring accruement. While the assets of the plan are recorded at fair value, Barrick uses the analysis of actuaries to determine the losses and gains influenced by the plan. Another accounting policy which will be discussed is the method Barrick utilized to determine its goodwill, as well as its intangible assets. By using a combination of the market-based and cash flow (discounted) approach, Barrick is able to establish the goodwill, as well as the value of the intangible assets. While impairment is correctly recognized when the market value of the assets is higher than the fair value, both the intangible assets and goodwill are assessed every year to determine whether impairment is necessary. Barricks capitalization vs. expense policy considers three different costs; exploration costs, project expense, and environmental cost. In regards to exploration costs, they examine two different types of sites. Brownfield sites contain mineral reserves whereas Greenfield sites do not. The exploratory costs that they incur at Brownfield sites are capitalized and costs related to Greenfield are expensed. Their second expense, the project costs, is usually capitalized when mineralization of proven and probable reserves has occurred. Finally, the environmental costs are usually expensed as incurred. During the third quarter of 2008, Barrick Gold confirmed their conversion to IFRS in the future. As outlined in the annual report, Barrick has approached the conversion and considered the things that would be affected by IFRS like reporting of financial statements, internal controls and procedures, information technology and data systems, disclosure, financial reporting training curriculum, and downstream business activities. After considering the impact of IFRS, they have taken a few steps to get ready for the IFRS conversion such as completing an initial assessment of the merits of a potential conversion to IFRS. They also employed an IFRS team to deal with all the issues, and performed a technical analysis of the accounting differences between GAAP and IFRS statements. With regards to performance, Barricks liquidity ratios are decreasing due to the allocation of capital towards investing activities. In terms of solvency, debt-to-equity has been stable, allowing their liabilities to remain steady with investments being financed mainly with equity. However, some of Barricks ratios are below the average for the industry, potentially indicating poor financial performance. In addition, Barrick has seen a decrease in net income and earnings per share yet the companys dividends are increasing due to positive future expectations. Introduction Barrick Gold Corporation was founded in 1983 by Peter Munk. Its headquarters are in Toronto, Canada with regional business units located in North America, South America, Africa, and Australia. It is the largest company in the industry with 27 mines worldwide and 139 million ounces of proven and probable of gold reserves. It became the largest gold producer after acquiring Placer Dome in 2006. This report will discuss the overall gold industry, Barricks strategies in the near future, some of their accounting policies, transition to IFRS, performance, and financial analysis. Industry Business Strategy Barrick Gold is one of the three major players in the industry with accumulated 2008 sales of $7.9 billion, 16,300 employees, and a market cap of $45 billion. Other main players in the industry include Goldcorp and Newmont Mining, with market caps of $33 billion and $27 billion respectively. Additionally, there are several other mining companies such as Agnico-Eagle Mines Ltd., Yamana Gold Inc., Randgold Resources Ltd., and Harmony Gold Mining Company Ltd., with market caps ranging from $2.4 $12 billion. Most of the gold producing companies have seen increasing profits since 2001 due to rapidly rising gold prices. In 2001, one ounce of gold cost $271 compared to todays $1,100/ounce price. However, there is a possibility that these profits will not be sustained by most companies for five reasons: Rising labour cost, energy cost, raw material cost, depletion of the worlds natural gold reserves, and loss of operations due to environmental restrictions. In addition, gold is a non-r enewable resource meaning that as more gold is explored and mined out of the ground, it becomes harder to find. The increased use of technology has greatly simplified the process of exploring gold, contributing to greater quantities of mined gold. However, the extraction of millions of ounces of gold has decreased the earths natural gold deposits. This forced companies to search for gold in areas where mining is prohibited, thus raising environmental and political issues along with several outstanding lawsuits. This further increased the operational expense of gold mining. In fact, Newmont Mining Corporation (second largest gold mining company) is depleting its current reserves by 10 ounces per minute without discovering gold deposits as large as it used to. Due to increasing operating costs and companies desperate attempts to increase profits, there was marginal expenditure on environment preservation resulting in colossal damages. Tons of heavy metals such as cyanide and mercur y are deposited into the environment annually as a result of spills during the mining process. Cyanide and Mercury increase gold production rates, but both of them are incredibly poisonous to humans, animals, and the overall surroundings. Accounting Policies Pension Benefit Plan for Employees Since 2008, the value for the employee pension plan provided by Barrick Gold has seen a decrease due to the lower value of the assets. These pension assets appear to be valued at their fair value, and when pricing is not possible, market estimations are used. Furthermore, support from actuaries is used in order to determine both the losses and gains, which would be influenced due to the pension. Barrick Gold takes into consideration the economic situation, as well as industry trends and practices, when establishing suppositions for the cost of the reported pension, as well as the obligations, which will need to be accrued. These suppositions include the rate of return (long-term), compensation increases in the future (rate) and estimates of the market, all of which are consulted to uncover the pension cost. Both the assets of the pension plan and the accrued obligations would be regulated if the future presented a discrepancy in costs as compared to Barricks initial estimations. In order to establish the accrued obligation, the discount rate needs to be known, and is actually set annually by utilizing the present value to uncover the contribution needed in the present in order to be able to deliver the outlined future benefits. Competitors, such as Goldcorp, and Newmont mining, have taken similar action to accrue their respective obligations listed as benefit plan for employees. These companies also use discount rates, as well as estimations of the performance of the investment, in order to determine the cost of the pension. Goodwill and Intangible Assets Barrick Gold appears to use industry-specific methods in order to valuate its goodwill. It used both the market based and the discounted cash flow method (DCF) in order to establish the fair value. Market estimations and trading prices (equity) for both Canadian and American companies in the same industry are consulted for the market based method. While the cash flow approach utilizes Barricks best estimation of its assets expected future cash flow, as well as its discount rate. Furthermore, both goodwill and intangible assets are assessed every year to determine impairment. Barrick has stated that due to the decline of the reserves of gold in one of its mines (Plutonic gold mine in Australia), there is an increased chance that there will be a goodwill impairment. This impairment would only occur if there was a persistent decrease of the economic factors influencing the mine, however Barrick has already began to assess the carrying amount of goodwill associated with Plutonic for future impairment if necessary. Both goodwill and intangible asset impairment is recorded when it is found that the carrying sum (amount) exceeds the fair value (net realizable value) of the asset. Other competitors, such as Goldcorp Inc. and Newmont Mining, utilize the same approach since it has now been considered a standard for this industry. The future implementation of IFRS will provide new recommendations on how Barrick Gold should assess their goodwill and intangible assets. Barrick has begun preparing for new rules such as identifying when an intangible asset should be recorded as expenditures (and how they qualify). Capitalization vs. Expensing The final accounting policy discussed is the decision process defined by Barrick Gold to establish whether to capitalize or expense their assets. Expenses such as project expenditures, environment costs and exploration expenses are all examined in detail. Exploration expenditures involve recording the initial search for the mineral deposits and any other costs that were incurred at the sites. There are two different types of sites that are defined by Barrick Gold: Brownfield (containing mineral reserves) and Greenfield (no mineral reserves). Costs related to the exploration of the Greenfield site are expensed as incurred. Exploratory costs related to Brownfield sites are capitalized as incurred if there is a high probability that the mineral resource will develop into a proven and probable reserve. In terms of project expenses, costs related to projects are capitalized only when reserves are converted into mineral substance but they have to be proven and probable reserves. Befor e mineralization is classified as such, the projects are expensed, excluding the costs that are incurred in order to construct tangible asset. Capitalized costs related to tangible assets are accounted for in the account, Property Plant and Equipment. Furthermore, Barrick Gold expenses costs related to the environment during their production phase of mining. In certain cases, if the cost to acquire or install a plant during the production phase prevents future environmental contamination, it is actually capitalized. When a contingent loss occurs due to an asset, a loss accrual is recorded if it is reasonably estimable and updated when new information is received. Competitors in the same field, such as Goldcorp Inc. and Newmont Mining Corporation, state that their exploration costs are always expensed as incurred. However, they do not provide detail as to why it is expensed or whether capitalization should be a consideration. IFRS Conversion Starting from January 1, 2011, all public companies in Canada are required to report in accordance with IFRS instead of GAAP. In early 2008, Barrick Gold performed a preliminary analysis on the impact of IFRS, and later confirmed its conversion. In 2011, Barrick will prepare its financial statements using IFRS, which will improve the comparability of their financial statements with other companies that are also following the standard. These new reporting standards will affect many areas of the company, such as reported figures for financial position and performance, internal controls, procedures for financial reporting, information technology and data systems, disclosure controls and procedures, financial reporting training curriculum, and other business activities that depend on reported figures. Barrick Gold has created an IFRS team which has taken a few initiatives to address the issues pertaining to IFRS and to ensure a smooth conversion process. This team is going to be res ponsible for preparing a detailed plan for IFRS conversion and are planning on completing this plan by the end of first quarter of 2009. Another project undertaken by the team is to perform a technical analysis of the accounting differences between the GAAP and IFRS statements. This report is scheduled to be completed by the third quarter of 2009. Additionally, the IFRS team will be constantly monitoring the IFRS conversion process over the years and will update the conversion plan as well as inform the public of any new developments. Performance Financial Analysis Significant financial strength is one reason why Barrick Gold is considered an industry leader in the gold and rare metal industry. In the following section, we will scrutinize their financial statements and discuss key elements such as liquidity, solvency, and leverage to understand their performance trends. (See Appendix A for Financial Statements Appendix B for Financial Ratios) Liquidity The liquidity of the company has marginally deteriorated over the years. The current ratio (2.23, 3.32 and 2.59 in 2008, 2007, and 2006 respectively) and quick ratio (1.49, 2.42 and 2.07 in 2008, 2007 and 2006 respectively) are both decreasing indicating that the company is losing its ability to meet its short term obligations. This is the result of decreasing current assets (loss of cash and highly liquid cash equivalents) and increasing current liabilities (mainly notes payable and accounts payable). Although this may seem worrying, Barrick seems to be allocating lots of capital (generated through day-to-day operations as reflected in increasing cash from operations (CFO)) towards its investing expenditures. Examples of heavy investing includes the initiation and construction of three new mines (Buzwagi, Cortez Hills, Pueblo Viejo) with potential gold reserves of 3 million ounces a year. Aside from that, CFO is influenced by market prices for commodities such as copper and silver (by-products of gold mining). If their prices decrease, CFO will reduce which Barrick hopes to offset by increasing gold production. Solvency Leverage With regards to their solvency and the ability to meet long term obligations, Barrick has been relatively stable as indicated through their debt-to-equity ratios (0.51 in 2006, 0.44 in 2007, and 0.58 in 2008). This is a good sign because, at a time when both short and long term investments are increasing, Barrick has managed to retain their liabilities to reasonable levels. This is also a further reinforcement of their strategy of pumping as much cash (mainly from income and equity) for their investments. Interest coverage is another interesting point to consider. According to the financial statements, the interest coverage ratio has increased drastically in 2009 (15.71, 13.92, and 66.48 in 2006, 2007, and 2008 respectively). This hike would be reflective of their improved ability to pay interest (the cost of borrowing), but the actual interest incurred has remained quite stable over the years (Annual Report, p.52). The main difference is that Barrick has increased the proportion o f interest costs that it capitalizes within their property, plant, and equipment (PPE). Barrick also uses its gold inventory and mines as a form of leverage. Due to the current financial turmoil, gold prices are at record highs as investors demand more gold (a safe haven) to hedge against capital losses. The increasing cash flows and inventory values presented Barrick with an exceptional chance to attract investors as well as issue debt to support the creation of mines to increase their gold production. Barrick thus promised high returns to their investors through expectations of rising gold prices to mitigate any potential risks. Performance Evaluation We can look for several different financial ratios to evaluate their overall performance. Barricks earnings per share (EPS) have been decreasing over the last three years (1.79, 1.29, and 0.90 in 2006, 2007, and 2008 respectively). This is the result of a sharp decrease in net income due to the financial crisis, coupled with the issuance of more shares in 2009. That being said, Barricks basic and diluted EPS are fairly similar ensuring a very low risk of dilution because there are not a lot of dilutive hybrid securities that could be exercised. Another effect of decreased net income is the decline in the profit margins. However, Barricks gross margin has been quite consistent at the 0.5 mark. This tells us that although revenue is steadily increasing, the direct unit costs for generating that revenue have been increasing proportionally to a level where cost of sales (value of mined gold) is half the revenue. The reason for seeing diminishing profit margin with a consistent gross ma rgin is the increase in write-downs and impairment of assets and investments, along with higher development expenses and amortization. Efficiency is another measure of performance evaluation. Barricks efficiency in using its equity to generate income has been declining since it has generated about $0.17 of income for every dollar of equity in 2006 versus on $0.05 in 2008. Their assets capability for generating revenue has also decreased from 0.11 in 2006 to 0.03 in 2008. The reason for such low returns on equity and asset is the inherent nature of the mining industry which requires the expenditure of large amounts of capital to finance expansion (which it is doing now for the three new mines). This is essentially decreasing returns in the present with the expectation of seeing increases in the future. As far as dividends are concerned, Barrick is considered a safe bet because of the increasing demand for gold, along with potential rise of its future gold reserves. The positive trend is emphasized through the increases in the dividend pay-out ratio; 0.13, 0.23, and 0.44 in 2006, 2007, and 2008 indicating higher proportions of net income paid to shareholders. Despite the economic downturn and decreasing net income, Barrick still managed to increase the dividends per share every year (11Â ¢ in 2006, 15Â ¢ in 2007, 20Â ¢ in 2008, and 40Â ¢ in 2009) due to its immensely positive future outlook. This also portrays the companys confidence in their cash flow, because although cash balance is decreasing today, the main reason is the outflow towards capital investments. Industry Comparison In comparison to the industry, Barrick has the only A rated balance sheet illustrating very low risk, along with stability as a result of having the largest market capital, gold reserves and production. All companies in this industry have seen decreasing levels of cash due to large increases in capital expenditure. In addition, the current ratio has decreased over the past few years for all three companies indicating a trend of poorer liquidity in the industry. However, companies seem to be different with regards to their solvency and leverage. For example, Goldcorp has seen decreasing levels of debt to equity while Newmonts have almost doubled since 2005. Despite variable trends, most gold companies are consistently providing stable dividends as they still continue to see net income on their statements rather than net losses, despite the deep financial crisis. Goldcorp, especially, have seen their income increase by as much as $1 billion in 2009. Conclusion Overall, Barrick Gold is a relatively stable and reliable company. Their business strategies and global focus contributed to their expansion over the years. Just like many of its competitors, Barricks debt has grown over the past few years but it is still considered a safe company for investors with reasonable risk. Furthermore, IFRS conversion will significantly impact the company as the entire reporting process of financial statements along with internal control procedures and information system will all change. This analysis has revealed that Barrick Gold seems to have a successful combination of policies and strategies, therefore making them far more superior than its competitors. Bibliography Sedar (2009) Barrick Gold Corporation Database. November 19, 2009. https://www.sedar.com/DisplayCompanyDocuments.do?lang=ENissuerNo=00000923 Business Week (October 13, 2009) Marcial: The gleam in Barrick Gold. November 21, 2009. https://www.businessweek.com/investor/content/oct2009/pi20091013_849577.htm Barrick Gold Corporation (2009) Annual and Quarterly Reports. November 19, 2009. https://www.barrick.com/Investors/AnnualQuarterlyReports/default.aspx Canadian Business (October 29, 2009) Barrick Gold posts US $5.4 Billion net loss on windup of gold hedging program. November 19, 2009. https://www.canadianbusiness.com/markets/market_news/article.jsp?content=b291772219 Google Finance (2009) Barrick Gold Corp. November 19, 2009. https://www.google.ca/finance?q=abx Corporate Information (2009) Barrick Gold Corporation Company Snapshot. November 20, 2009. https://www.corporateinformation.com/Company-Snapshot.aspx?cusip=C124BA230 Wiki Invest (2009) Barrick Gold Corp. November 21, 2009. https://www.wikinvest.com/special/Companies

Thursday, June 18, 2020

Developing the Learner and the Learning Process - 825 Words

Developing the Learner and the Learning Process (Coursework Sample) Content: The Learner and LearningDeveloping the Learner and the Learning ProcessName of UniversityStudentà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬s Name:Supervisorà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬s Name:Course:Course Code:Due Date: DATE \@ "d MMMM yyyy" 24 October 2015AbstractThe paper attempts to respond to four theory-provoking questions on the learner and the learning process, thus providing a critical summary of the core concepts of learners and learning. In this effect, the paper reviews who are learners, where can learners be found, when does learning happen, and how does learning happen, based on an integrated appraisal of several traditional nd contemporary learning theories in the literature.ContentsTOC \o "1-7" \h \z \u Abstract PAGEREF _Toc413736916 \h 2Contents PAGEREF _Toc413736917 \h 2Introduction PAGEREF _Toc413736918 \h 3The Learner and the Learning Process PAGEREF _Toc413736919 \h 3Who are Learners? PAGEREF _Toc413736920 \h 3Where Are Learners To Be Found? PAGEREF _Toc413736921 \h 4When Does Learning Happen? P AGEREF _Toc413736922 \h 4How Does Learning Happen? PAGEREF _Toc413736923 \h 5Conclusion PAGEREF _Toc413736924 \h 6References PAGEREF _Toc413736925 \h 7The Learner and Learning: Developing the Learner and the Learning ProcessIntroductionThis paper provides a critical summary of learning and the learners, determining who learners are, where learners can be found, when learning happens, and how learning happens. Long after psychologists Jean Piaget and Lev Vygotsky propounded the cognitive development model of learning, scholars and researchers have advanced assorted theoretical assertions/propositions on humanist, cognitive, behavioral, social/situational, and constructivist learning perspectives (Churchill et al., 2013). Arguments reviewed hereafter are integrated from assorted peer-reviewed literature on the theory of learning.The Learner and the Learning ProcessWho are Learners?Learning is an integrated process of acquiring different facets of knowledge (cognitive, experiential, em otional and environmental), which ultimately molds an individualà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬s understanding and world view, besides activating, retaining and advancing requisite skills and knowledge that are critical to the existence and survival of an individual (Ormrod, 2012). Since learning starts long before school, and after (Churchill et al., 2013, p. 76), a learner is an individual who is actively involved in investigating, questioning, reflecting, and experiencing novel concepts or ideas that constitute or facilitate acquisition of new knowledge and skills (Butler, 2000).From a theoretical perspective, a learner is anyone involved in (a) any "quantitative increase in knowledgeà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ , (b) "memorizing" new skills, (c) "acquiring" new knowledge, (d) "making sense of or abstracting meaning" about new concepts, and (e) "interpreting and understanding reality in a different way," as proposed by Ramsden (1992, p. 92) (cited by Churchill et al., 2013, p. 78). A learner is thus an individua l in the early childhood, childhood, adolescence, early adulthood or adulthood stages if life, who is ready for, willing and actively engaged in acquiring new, increased or transformed knowledge (Churchill et al., 2013; Clarke Pittway, 2014; Claxton 1999; Butler, 2000).Where Are Learners To Be Found?The social cognitive development theory asserts that learning occurs within a social context, meaning that learners are children, teens or adults in any social interactions or within a social environment (Olson Dweck, 2008). These social contexts are where most learners are found from a social cognitive perspective (Vygotsky, 1978). The literature variedly proposes that learners are to be found in diverse social and environmental contexts (Norman, 1982; Churchill et al., 2013). These includes when in environments provoking cognitive adaptation to social behavior (psychological perspective - (Piaget, 1977), in social institutions such as the school/organization (sociology cognition pers pective - (Olson Dweck, 2008), and in culturally defined units such as the family or society (Clarke Pittway, 2014).When Does Learning Happen?Learning happens in phases, progressively, and developmentally to be a life-long process in a variety of contexts before and after schooling (Clarke Pittway, 2014). Learning happens from the moment an individual is born (early childhood), even before schooling is initiated, through adolescence, early adulthood and adulthood (Berger, 2011). Learning opportunities emerge from interactions with others in various contexts, after numerous activities, and after experiencing numerous environmental variables. Learning accrues when individuals (children, adolescents, or adults) make it a goal or "have an interest" with something (are thus intrinsically and extrinsically "motivatedà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ), to actively "seek information," understand phenomena, reflect on experiences, and settle on the achievement of certain knowledge or skills (Butler, 2000, p. 162). Given that learning involves "the changes that occur in humans between conception and death" (Clarke Pittway, 2014, p. 32), then learning is a lifelong process and as Berger (2011) asserts, learning is "developing the person through the life span" (p. 17).How Does Learning Happen?The process and state/product of learning happens in diverse contexts, and in assorted ways (Norman, 1982). From a psychological perspective, learning involves the transformation/improvement of the mind and behavior of an individual, while in sociology, learning is the impact of cultural dynamics, human relationships, and the social ideologies surrounding an individual. To philosophers, learning involves the accumulation of reality and knowledge through reasoning and logic, while to historians, learning involves a review of past events for insights on reality and relationships.Based on the socio-cultural cognitive theory advanced by Vygotsky (1978), learning is a mandatory impact of the socio-cult ural context. Learning thus involves the mind (cognitive) (Olson Dweck, 2008; Norman, 1982) and the body (behaviorist) (Piaget, 1977; Ormrod, 2012), when an ... Developing the Learner and the Learning Process - 825 Words Developing the Learner and the Learning Process (Coursework Sample) Content: The Learner and LearningDeveloping the Learner and the Learning ProcessName of UniversityStudentà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬s Name:Supervisorà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬s Name:Course:Course Code:Due Date: DATE \@ "d MMMM yyyy" 24 October 2015AbstractThe paper attempts to respond to four theory-provoking questions on the learner and the learning process, thus providing a critical summary of the core concepts of learners and learning. In this effect, the paper reviews who are learners, where can learners be found, when does learning happen, and how does learning happen, based on an integrated appraisal of several traditional nd contemporary learning theories in the literature.ContentsTOC \o "1-7" \h \z \u Abstract PAGEREF _Toc413736916 \h 2Contents PAGEREF _Toc413736917 \h 2Introduction PAGEREF _Toc413736918 \h 3The Learner and the Learning Process PAGEREF _Toc413736919 \h 3Who are Learners? PAGEREF _Toc413736920 \h 3Where Are Learners To Be Found? PAGEREF _Toc413736921 \h 4When Does Learning Happen? P AGEREF _Toc413736922 \h 4How Does Learning Happen? PAGEREF _Toc413736923 \h 5Conclusion PAGEREF _Toc413736924 \h 6References PAGEREF _Toc413736925 \h 7The Learner and Learning: Developing the Learner and the Learning ProcessIntroductionThis paper provides a critical summary of learning and the learners, determining who learners are, where learners can be found, when learning happens, and how learning happens. Long after psychologists Jean Piaget and Lev Vygotsky propounded the cognitive development model of learning, scholars and researchers have advanced assorted theoretical assertions/propositions on humanist, cognitive, behavioral, social/situational, and constructivist learning perspectives (Churchill et al., 2013). Arguments reviewed hereafter are integrated from assorted peer-reviewed literature on the theory of learning.The Learner and the Learning ProcessWho are Learners?Learning is an integrated process of acquiring different facets of knowledge (cognitive, experiential, em otional and environmental), which ultimately molds an individualà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬s understanding and world view, besides activating, retaining and advancing requisite skills and knowledge that are critical to the existence and survival of an individual (Ormrod, 2012). Since learning starts long before school, and after (Churchill et al., 2013, p. 76), a learner is an individual who is actively involved in investigating, questioning, reflecting, and experiencing novel concepts or ideas that constitute or facilitate acquisition of new knowledge and skills (Butler, 2000).From a theoretical perspective, a learner is anyone involved in (a) any "quantitative increase in knowledgeà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ , (b) "memorizing" new skills, (c) "acquiring" new knowledge, (d) "making sense of or abstracting meaning" about new concepts, and (e) "interpreting and understanding reality in a different way," as proposed by Ramsden (1992, p. 92) (cited by Churchill et al., 2013, p. 78). A learner is thus an individua l in the early childhood, childhood, adolescence, early adulthood or adulthood stages if life, who is ready for, willing and actively engaged in acquiring new, increased or transformed knowledge (Churchill et al., 2013; Clarke Pittway, 2014; Claxton 1999; Butler, 2000).Where Are Learners To Be Found?The social cognitive development theory asserts that learning occurs within a social context, meaning that learners are children, teens or adults in any social interactions or within a social environment (Olson Dweck, 2008). These social contexts are where most learners are found from a social cognitive perspective (Vygotsky, 1978). The literature variedly proposes that learners are to be found in diverse social and environmental contexts (Norman, 1982; Churchill et al., 2013). These includes when in environments provoking cognitive adaptation to social behavior (psychological perspective - (Piaget, 1977), in social institutions such as the school/organization (sociology cognition pers pective - (Olson Dweck, 2008), and in culturally defined units such as the family or society (Clarke Pittway, 2014).When Does Learning Happen?Learning happens in phases, progressively, and developmentally to be a life-long process in a variety of contexts before and after schooling (Clarke Pittway, 2014). Learning happens from the moment an individual is born (early childhood), even before schooling is initiated, through adolescence, early adulthood and adulthood (Berger, 2011). Learning opportunities emerge from interactions with others in various contexts, after numerous activities, and after experiencing numerous environmental variables. Learning accrues when individuals (children, adolescents, or adults) make it a goal or "have an interest" with something (are thus intrinsically and extrinsically "motivatedà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ), to actively "seek information," understand phenomena, reflect on experiences, and settle on the achievement of certain knowledge or skills (Butler, 2000, p. 162). Given that learning involves "the changes that occur in humans between conception and death" (Clarke Pittway, 2014, p. 32), then learning is a lifelong process and as Berger (2011) asserts, learning is "developing the person through the life span" (p. 17).How Does Learning Happen?The process and state/product of learning happens in diverse contexts, and in assorted ways (Norman, 1982). From a psychological perspective, learning involves the transformation/improvement of the mind and behavior of an individual, while in sociology, learning is the impact of cultural dynamics, human relationships, and the social ideologies surrounding an individual. To philosophers, learning involves the accumulation of reality and knowledge through reasoning and logic, while to historians, learning involves a review of past events for insights on reality and relationships.Based on the socio-cultural cognitive theory advanced by Vygotsky (1978), learning is a mandatory impact of the socio-cult ural context. Learning thus involves the mind (cognitive) (Olson Dweck, 2008; Norman, 1982) and the body (behaviorist) (Piaget, 1977; Ormrod, 2012), when an ...