Review of communication skills Essay Example for Free

Review of communication skills Essay In the group interactions, I was a class room assistant who was meeting the parents of a young child with behavioural problems.  When Mr and Mrs Shaw arrived I called them in to the office using a soft tone and with a hand gesture I offered them a seat in front of my desk. They seemed pleased to be meeting me and were very concerned about their son Matthew. They were both talking in a calm slow voice with varying tone.   I started by asking how Matthews behaviour was at home. Mr Shaw was relaxed and sitting in an open posture. He said Matthewss behaviour was fine and there was nothing wrong with him. Mrs Shaw became tensed and looked away from her husband and said she had experienced problems at home when Matthew was around other children, as he would become angry and frustrated over simple things. Mr Shaw sat upright and told his wife there was nothing wrong with Matthews behaviour and that this was normal. I reassured them both that this could be understandable as he is an only child and may not be use to sharing with other children. Maintaining good eye contact I said I was experiencing the same problems in the class as Matthew is becoming very disruptive and a lot of parents are complain that their children are frightened of Matthew. Mrs Shaw became very upset and did not keep eye contact with me, and Mr Shaw was now in a closed posture. In a strong tone Mr Shaw demanded what was doing to help Matthew. I leaned forward and using a soft tone I told them the school could offer support for Matthew as long as the parents were willing to help, I then showed them some of Matthews class work and the areas he was doing good in. His mother seemed pleased and became less tensed. I offered a special needs program pointing out the benefits where Matthew could be taken out of the class room for a few hours a week. Mr Shaw became very tensed and leaned back in his chair as his face muscles became tight. He said his son did not need a special needs program and this was a waste of time, I went over the benefits o the program again, speaking clearly as I read the most important points. Mrs Shaw was unsure and wanted to agree only if her husband would support the program, but she agreed to look at the leaflet and consider it with her husband. I explained how one to one help for Matthew would benefit him in his school work and also the other children, I then said they could discuss the program at home and decide, and then they could arrange another interview if they were happy with the program. Mr Shaw stood up and I handed Mrs Shaw the leaflets. I thanked them for their time and shock their hands, I said using a polite tone they could come see me any time if they were unhappy about any thing. I showed them to the door and Mrs Shaw was very thankful for my advice and agreed to come back and discuss the program for Matthew. Mr Shaw thanked me but did not shake my hand and made no eye contact with me as he left and I said he was very welcome to come back any time.

Overview and Analysis of the PAPA Model

Overview and Analysis of the PAPA Model PAPA Model: Today, the massive use of computer science information technology in the business world and other intuitions has brought many ethical issues and concern. Mason introduced four most crucial ethical issues of the information era on 1986: which are Privacy, accuracy, property and accessibility abbreviated to PAPA. Mason’s PAPA model focused on the individual impairment which could arise from the unethical or misuse of information and information technology. Based on the Framework developed by Mason we can analyse and reach the conclusion on ethical issues emerged by the unethical use of information technology. PAPA model enlightens depth knowledge on what the Privacy, accuracy, property and accuracy means, how they are interrelated, what are their differences and how they help us to reach the conclusion on ethical issues. Privacy: In general understanding, privacy means the right to be free from secret scrutiny and to determine whether, when, how and to whom, one’s personal or organisational information is to be revealed. The privacy Act 1988 regulates how personal information is handled. The Privacy Act defines personal information as †¦information or an opinion, whether true or not, and whether recorded in a material form or not, about an identified individual, or an individual who us reasonably identifiable. There are two main factors which threaten our privacy today, firstly growth of information technology with its capacity of scrutiny, communication, computing, retrieval and storage, and secondly the increased value of information in decision making. Accuracy: It is the condition or quality of being true, correct or exact; free from error or defect. Inaccuracy may cause detracting situation on person’s life, organisations and business values. Here arises some question: who should be responsible for accuracy and authenticity of collected information? How can one believe that the data will be correctly inputted, processed properly and presented to users? On what basis should we believe bugs in database or system and processing are not done with intention and occurred accidently. Who takes the responsibility for glitch in information and how the victim will be reimbursed. Property: Property issues are concentrated on ownership and value of information. It also seeks the answer of few questions like, who is the owner of the information. What is the value of the exchange, and in which way the access to information or the recourses should be allocated? Here property means the intellectual property and its right. Once the intellectual property is provided somewhere or transmitted, it is complicated to keep the person as it becomes communicable and more difficult to be reimbursed. Accessibility: its issues are concerned on who has the permission to access the information, who holds the rights or keys to access it, what data an individual or organisations are privileged to acquire with which safeguards and under what terms and conditions? After going through the scenario provided and from my own research I consider, all four areas have given rise to ethical issues for Joseph where some have higher level of the issue whereas other has a low level effect. Most importantly it gives rise to privacy issues followed by others. Privacy issues: Joseph’s personal or we can say the very confidential information was compromised which could lead to very disastrous consequences, identity theft makes life miserable. If Joseph had given attention on lecture’s warning to them to be careful and vigilant while providing personal information to companies over the internet, he might be on safe side but rather he thought him old-fashioned and never thought some issues may arise while providing information to a company like Sony. How can one decide on whom to trust? How much information can one give to others? Accuracy Issues: Being the customer of Sony Joseph had right to get accurate and timely information, to whom he had provided his personal information to credit card details with trust. Accurate information of personal information and credit card details being hacked was provided only after a whole week of the incident following by other misleading and fake information. Though, the hackers couldn’t do any misuse of data they might have destroyed everything in a week time customers could take precaution to Property Issues: When Joseph could not restore the backup file it gives rise to property issues. He bought games from Sony he collected trophies but did he really own that? Did Sony own the data that customers provided? Sony’s data breach is one of the biggest data breach to date which has given rise to various concerns in the Sony’s privacy policy and security measures. Though, other issues also marked a question to Sony’s management especially it has fueled to Privacy concern. When an organisation gathers personal information of its customers, employees and other stakeholders they must assure the safety and security of those. Breach of personal information can be proved very dangerous and it has been proved in many cases, for example, Jessica’s Story of the mail scam. The main issue and the question arise to Sony is where they really serious on Privacy issues, had they meet all the privacy measures and followed the protocol. If they had done so how someone could hack and enter into their system. Breach of over 77million accounts including all the personal details and credit card of the customer was not a small issue. This issue gave a big question mark to Sony. The mana gement took a whole week to inform its customer of the actual reason for shutdown of its network, which is questionable. If a breach does occur, effective handling of the response is a key. This means planning and preparing for such an event in advance. A policy should be drawn up, under which it is suggested that prompt notification is made to both the customers and the regulators. All staff should have data protection training appropriate to their role, and appropriate compensation, support and remedial plans should be prepared. Though it was Sony violated the privacy of its customer Appropriate technical and organisational measures shall be taken against unauthorised or unlawful processing of personal data and against accidental loss or destruction of, or damage to, personal data. I find some statements made by Privacy commissioner Timothy Pilgrim questionable. He stated that Sony did have a case to answer as they did not intentionally disclose any confidential information is not surprising, simply put Australia has no real commercial Privacy or security legislation for Sony to breach. The fact that Sony did not show a duty of care and/or displayed a complete lack regard for the personal information entrusted to them by their clients is completely ignored by the commissioner. Sonys duty of care is to maintain appropriate IT security systems, policies and procedures to maintain client data confidential, private and available whether at rest, in transit or in a process. It is obvious that they did not take these duties of care obligations seriously until that proverbial substance hit the fan. Statement by Pilgrim â€Å"Sony has now extra security measures to strengthen protection around the network platforms† highlights its historical disregard for client confidentiality in their corporate culture and I do not think that any Australian Government officials should comment and try to forgive such obvious laissez-faire behaviour. Can he answer us, what reasonable steps Sony took to protect individual’s credentials? Now, they actually created a CSO role. They didnt have this before? What fines were handed down for this breach? How can he show that legislation protects individual’s information to overseas organisations? I opened this investigation because I was concerned that Australians personal information may have been compromised, Pilgrim said. However, his concerns were unfounded, with Pilgrim finding that the company hadnt breached the Act. Seriously, just why does Sony Corporation require our full date of birth? Year only should be adequate to verify a customer is over 18 probe further only if the year reveals someone turning 18 that year. As such, Sony should be 100% liable for any loss plus damages for emotional distress to any customer, their spouse and immediate family, in respect of any customer who has their identity was stolen and fraud committed. And also it has to be made clear that whether it identified a culprit in the intrusion. Guilty must be punished.

Taxes on Cigarettes :: Essays Papers

Taxes on Cigarettes The article â€Å"Smoke Signals†, by the New York Times and the New Jersey Sunday edition, presented an overview of for the state of New Jersey’s recent decline in cigarettes bought in the last year. The article starts off by explaining to the reader how smokers took a financial beating at the cash register every time they went to a convenience store to buy cigarettes. In a smokers reduction movement the state of New Jersey doubled the sales tax on cigarettes forcing smokers to spend an extra forty cents on every pack they bought. Len Fishman, the state commissioner of Health and Senior services, stated that the tax increase was meant to drive down the consumption entirely. As Mr. Fishman traveled around the state he discovered that many people were already trying to quite smoking, they just never had the right physical motivation to pursue their goal. These people explained that the dramatic increase on tax was the finale straw that broke the camels back, and provided the right motivation for them to quite smoking. The tax increase put New Jersey behind only Hawaii and Alaska at $1 a pack, and Washington state at 82.5 cents a pack. Over a six month period the revenue collected from cigarette sales had dropped by 12 percent. For 1998 the revenue earned by cigarette sales should have been roughly 54.2 million cartons, but with the tax increase that number had been dropped to 47.4 million cartons. This gap represents a 6.8 million carton difference, an outstanding decrease in cigarette sales. To all smokers the tax increase means a substantial amount of money will be necessary to maintain their habits. Some smokers will go through great lengths to save as much money as possible, even if it means traveling to other states to buy their smokes. Both Pennsylvania and Delaware reported a significant increase in cigarette sales over the next six months after the tax took affect. Over a one year period Delaware even had a ten percent increase, manly due to the tax increase in New Jersey. The state of Massachusetts raised their tax 25 cents a pack in 1992 and reported a 12.5 percent decrease in sales the following year. Certainly a more alarming statistic is not necessarily how much the tax has decreased the sales of cigarettes, although very impressive and healthy, but rather the percent of under aged children and high school students who already smoke and who are beginning to smoke.

Animal Farm: Snowball Essay

He was a great leader, a devious leader, but caring at the same time. You may have thought I was talking about a man, but I was talking about a very powerful pig on a farm. I read a book called Animal Farm by George Orwell. The animals in this story represented humans in the Russian revolution. It was a very interesting book and I related most to a character named Snowball. The character that I feel represented me the most is an eloquent, passionate, and intelligent pig named Snowball. In the beginning of the novel, Snowball was the leader of Animal Farm. He and Napoleon often competed against each other. Even though Snowball believed in Animalism and felt that pigs were more superior to the other animals on the farm everyone still agreed with everything that he said. He created the slogan â€Å"Four legs good, two legs bad.† Snowball had always won the animal’s side against Napoleon. Later on, Snowball led a battle against Mr. Jones and the other farmers. The crusade was called the Battle of the Cowshed. After the animals won, Snowball had even more power than he had ever had before. He had an idea that they should build a windmill to power the farm and provide better service for the animals. Napoleon realized that Snowball had to leave the farm. He got Snowball to leave the farm by having dogs chase him away and he never came back after that. The author of Animal Farm named George Orwell, represented Snowball as Leon Trotsky. I think that Orwell did a very good job comparing a pig to a tremendous war leader from the Russian revolution. Snowball and Trotsky shared many characteristics. Some of them are that they were both clever leaders, they both wanted to make life better for their comrades and that they were both admirable, good speakers. In my opinion, it seems like it would be very difficult to represent important, influential people from the Russian revolution to animals. Orwell did a very nice job of comparing the two. Not only does Snowball compare to Trotsky, he also can represent me too. The competent pig, Snowball can represent me in some ways too. We are both smart, nice, caring, and responsible. Another way that we are alike is that we both compete against people. Snowball competes against Napoleon, and I compete against other girls at dance competitions. As you know, Snowball was a devious but caring leader. He led the Battle of the Cowshed, had conflicts with Napoleon, and got chased out of the farm by vicious dogs that Napoleon sent to attack him. I believe that Snowball was a better leader than Napoleon because he cared more about the animals, but at the same time Snowball treated the pigs better than the rest of the animals on the farm. Snowball may have gotten chased out of the manor farm, but he will always be my favorite and most representable leader from the book. Works Cited: http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/animalfarm/characters.html. n.d. Orwell, George. Animal Farm. Harcourt Brace & Company, 1946.

Shakespeares Sonnet 116 Study Guide

Shakespeare's Sonnet 116 Study Guide What is Shakespeare saying in Sonnet 116? Study this poem and you will discover that 116 is one of the best-loved sonnets in the folio because it can be read as a wonderfully celebratory nod to love and marriage. Indeed it continues to feature in wedding ceremonies worldwide. Expressing Love The poem expresses love in the ideal; never ending, fading, or faltering. The final couplet of the poem has the poet willing this perception of love to be true and professes that if it is not and if he is mistaken, then all of his writing has been for nothing–and no man, including himself, has ever truly loved. It is perhaps this sentiment that ensures Sonnet 116s continuing popularity in being read weddings. The idea that love is pure and eternal is as heart-warming today as it was in Shakespeares time. It is an example of that special skill that Shakespeare had, namely the ability to tap into timeless themes that relate to everyone, no matter which century they were born in. The Facts Sequence: Sonnet 116 forms part of the Fair Youth Sonnets  in the folio.Key Themes: Constant love, Ideal love, enduring love, marriage, fixed points, and wandering.Style:  Like Shakespeares other sonnets, Sonnet 116 is written in iambic pentameter  using the traditional sonnet form. A Translation Marriage has no impediment. Love is not real if it alters when circumstances change or if one of the couple has to leave or be elsewhere. Love is constant. Even if the lovers face difficult or trying times, their love is not shaken if it is true love. In the poem, love is described as star guiding a lost boat: â€Å"It is the star to every wandering bark.† The star’s worth cannot be calculated even though we can measure its height. Love does not change over time, but physical beauty will fade. (Comparison to the grim reaper’s scythe should be noted here–even death should not alter love.) Love is unchanging through hours and weeks but lasts until the edge of doom. If I am wrong about this and it is proved then all my writing and loving is for nothing and no man has ever really loved: â€Å"If this be error and upon me proved, I never writ, nor no man ever loved.† Analysis The poem does refer to marriage, but to the marriage of minds rather than the actual ceremony. Let us also remember that the poem is describing love for a young man and this love would not be sanctioned in Shakespeare’s time by an actual marriage service. However, the poem uses words and phrases evocative of the marriage ceremony including â€Å"impediments† and â€Å"alters†Ã¢â‚¬â€œalthough both used in a different context. The promises a couple make in marriage are also echoed in the poem: Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,But bears it out ev’n to the edge of doom. This is reminiscent of the â€Å"till death do us part† vow in a wedding. The poem is referring to ideal love which does not falter and lasts until the end, which also reminds the reader of the wedding vow, â€Å"in sickness and in health†. Therefore, it is little surprise that this sonnet remains a steadfast favorite in wedding ceremonies today. The text conveys how powerful love is. It cannot die and is everlasting.   The poet then questions himself in the final couplet, praying that his perception of love is real and true, because if it is not then he may as well not be a writer or a lover and that would surely be a tragedy.

Giant Water Bugs, Family Belostomatidae

Giant Water Bugs, Family Belostomatidae Theres a reason members of the family Belostomatidae are called giants. The giant water bugs include the biggest insects in their entire order. North American species can reach 2.5 inches long, but the size record for this family belongs to a South American species that measures a full 4 inches in length at maturity. These hulking Hemipterans lurk below the surface of ponds and lakes, where theyre known to nip at the toes of unsuspecting waders. What Do Giant Water Bugs Look Like? Giant water bugs go by a number of different nicknames. Theyre called toe biters for their habit of sampling peoples feet (which, as you might imagine, is a startling and painful experience). Some call them electric light bugs, because as adults these winged behemoths can and do fly, and will show up around porch lights during mating season. Others call them fish killers. In Florida, people sometimes call them alligator ticks. No matter the nickname, theyre big and they bite. Members of the family of giant water bugs shares certain morphological traits. Their bodies are oval and elongate in shape, and appear flattened. They have raptorial front legs, made for grasping prey, with thick femora. Giant water bugs have short heads, and even shorter antennae, which are tucked beneath the eyes. A beak, or rostrum, folds under the head, just as in terrestrial true bugs, like assassin bugs. They breathe by means of two small appendages at the end of the abdomen, which function like siphons. How Are Giant Water Bugs Classified? Kingdom – AnimaliaPhylum – ArthropodaClass – InsectaOrder – HemipteraFamily - Belostomatidae What Do Giant Water Bugs Eat? A giant water bug eats just what you would expect a large, predaceous, aquatic insect to eat: other insects, tadpoles, small fish, and snails. Theyll eat whatever they can catch, and they dont concern themselves with finding small prey.  Giant water bugs can overpower critters several times their size with their strong, grasping forelegs. According to some sources, giant water bugs have even been known to capture and consume small birds. Like all true bugs, giant water bugs have piercing, sucking mouthparts. They pierce their prey, inject them with strong digestive enzymes, and then suck up the pre-digested bits. The Life Cycle of Giant Water Bugs Giant water bugs undergo incomplete metamorphosis, just as all true bugs do. The young eclose (emerge from their eggs) looking much like miniature versions of their parents. The nymphs are entirely aquatic. They  molt and grow several times until they reach adulthood and sexual maturity. Interesting Behaviors of Giant Water Bugs Perhaps the most fascinating thing about giant water bugs is the way they care for their offspring. In some genera (Belostoma and Abedus), the female deposits her eggs on her mates back. The male giant water bug is tasked with caring for the eggs until they hatch in 1-2 weeks. During this time, he protects them from predators, and regularly brings them to the surface for oxygen. He will also move to stir up the water around his body, keeping it oxygenated. In other species (genus Lethocerus), the mated female deposits her eggs on aquatic vegetation, above the water line. But males still play a role in their care. The male will usually stay submerged near the plants stem, and will periodically climb out of the water and wet the eggs with water from his body. Giant water bugs are also known to play dead when threatened, a behavior is known as thanatosis. If you happen to scoop up a giant water bug in a dip net while exploring your local pond, dont be fooled! That dead water bug might just wake up and bite you. Where Do Giant Water Bugs Live? Giant water bugs number about 160 species worldwide, but only 19 species inhabit the U.S. and Canada. Throughout their range, giant water bugs live in ponds, lakes, and even drainage ditches. Sources: Borror and DeLongs Introduction to the Study of Insects, 7th edition, by Charles A. Triplehorn and Norman F. Johnson.Guide to Aquatic Insects and Crustaceans, Izaak Walton League of America.Belostomatidae, University of California-Riverside. Accessed February 21, 2013.Giant Water Bugs, Electric Light Bugs, Lethocerus, Abedus, Belostoma (Insecta: Hemiptera: Belostomatidae), by Paul M. Choate, University of Florida Extension. Accessed online February 21, 2013.Giant Water Bugs, Electric Light Bugs, University of Florida. Accessed February 21, 2013.Family Belostomatidae - Giant Water Bugs, BugGuide.Net. Accessed February 21, 2013.Giant Water Bug Parents, The Dragonfly Woman. Accessed February 21, 2013.

Free Essays on Modified Grading Scale

Modified Grading Scale Policy Description As the University of Idaho Education Board, appointed by the University and State Board of Education we feel that changing the grading scale will help push the University of Idaho to a higher level of academia. We represent the administration and the State Board’s interest in the operation of the University. We are the governing body authorized by the State and the administration. The policy will appear as follows in the 2004 spring semester faculty-staff handbook: Grading Policy: The grading scale of the University of Idaho is as follows for all non pass/fail classes. 95% and above is an A. 85-94% is a B. 75-84% is a C. 65-74% is a D. Failing grades will be given to students with a grade of 64% and below. We feel that this grading scale is a beneficial tool for setting a higher academic standard for our students. This will also help promote the University of Idaho and its faculty as an institution of higher learning. The administration working with the faculty will oversee the implementation of the new policy. The three audiences most affected by this plan will be the current students, faculty and the prospective students of this university. Current Students A) Practical and Informational Concerns The current students of this university will have to make some changes to meet this new policy. They may need to change their study habits if they would like to maintain their current grades. This may mean; studying more and taking advantage of their professor’s office hours. They may also have to cut back on extracurricular activities. For those students who already have 95% and above in their classes, no change will be necessary, they merely need to continue their study habits. For all other students this policy will be demanding but well within their abilities. Current students will need to know that the grading scale has been raised by 5% across t... Free Essays on Modified Grading Scale Free Essays on Modified Grading Scale Modified Grading Scale Policy Description As the University of Idaho Education Board, appointed by the University and State Board of Education we feel that changing the grading scale will help push the University of Idaho to a higher level of academia. We represent the administration and the State Board’s interest in the operation of the University. We are the governing body authorized by the State and the administration. The policy will appear as follows in the 2004 spring semester faculty-staff handbook: Grading Policy: The grading scale of the University of Idaho is as follows for all non pass/fail classes. 95% and above is an A. 85-94% is a B. 75-84% is a C. 65-74% is a D. Failing grades will be given to students with a grade of 64% and below. We feel that this grading scale is a beneficial tool for setting a higher academic standard for our students. This will also help promote the University of Idaho and its faculty as an institution of higher learning. The administration working with the faculty will oversee the implementation of the new policy. The three audiences most affected by this plan will be the current students, faculty and the prospective students of this university. Current Students A) Practical and Informational Concerns The current students of this university will have to make some changes to meet this new policy. They may need to change their study habits if they would like to maintain their current grades. This may mean; studying more and taking advantage of their professor’s office hours. They may also have to cut back on extracurricular activities. For those students who already have 95% and above in their classes, no change will be necessary, they merely need to continue their study habits. For all other students this policy will be demanding but well within their abilities. Current students will need to know that the grading scale has been raised by 5% across t...