The Application of Vygotsky’s Theory to the Design

2. Why does learning require disequilibrium according to Piaget? Provide an example of how teachers can create discrepant events. 3. What is the Zone of Proximal Development in Vygotsky’s thought? Do you think it is a good model of learning? Why or why not? The Application of Vgotsky’s Social Development Theory to the Designing of a School Curriculum Christina Nardone: 102150672 Educational Psychology 02-46-324-01 Assignment A: Conceptual Comment University of Windsor Instructor: Anoop Gupta October 1st, 2012Lev Vgotsky’s theories have become central to understanding cognitive development and have influenced many research initiatives in the past couple years. Social interaction and culture are thought to be the back bone of learning in his theory of social development, where he argues that social learning tends to occur before development (McLeod, 2007). This theory is one of the foundations for Constructivism, which can be defined as an active learning process, in which new knowledge is built on previous knowledge (Hoover, 1996).An important component of social development theory is the Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD). It has been defined as â€Å"the distance between the actual developmental level as determined by independent problem solving, and the level of potential development as determined through problem solving under adult guidance, or in collaboration with more capable peers† (Vygotsky, 1978, p. 90). According to Vygotsky, learning occurs in this zone.Scaffolding is a technique related to the ZDP in that the adult or peer adjusts their level of help to the learner depending on their performance in the task. (Young, 1993). These components of social development theory would be useful in designing an educational curriculum. Schools should retire the instructional approach to teaching and adopt a more interactive approach so that students can be actively involved in their learning. Incorporating scaffolding techniques to th eir lectures would be beneficial as well as adding some collaborative learning tasks with their peers.The focus of learning should be on how well students have developed their problem solving skills, not just how much information they have learned. Also, testing and assessment should take into account the zone of proximal development; two children could have the same actual levels of development but different potential levels of development, which one child could be more capable than another child in completing many more complicated tasks. Works Cited Hoover, W. A. (1996, August 3rd). The Practice Implications of Constructivism.Retrieved September 30th, 2012, from SEDL: Southwest Educational Development Laboratory: http://www. sedl. org/pubs/sedletter/v09n03/practice. html McLeod, S. (2007). Lev Vgotsky. Retrieved september 30th, 2012, from Simply Psychology: http://www. simplypsychology. org Vygotsky, L. (1978). Mind in Society: The development of higher psychological processes. Ca mbridge: Harvard University Press. Young, M. (1993). Instructional design for situated learning. Educational Technology Research and Development, 41 (1).

Police Details in Massachusetts Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Police Details in Massachusetts - Essay Example Rather, you live in Massachusetts and see a police officer directing traffic. No big deal, right In theory, police officers would be the most qualified for directing and influencing drivers. However, by analyzing accident statistics as well the cost of having police officers direct traffic, one may find that the cost is simply too high. In short, the possible benefit of police details simply does not outweigh the actual cost to businesses and consumers. For the people of Massachusetts, it seems like detail work has always been done by police officers. Whether a road is being paved, a pothole being filled, or any type of construction that may affect the roadways, police officers have been the most likely candidate to direct traffic. Many people believe that using police officers is safer than using flagmen. However, there are many different things to consider when making this argument. In 2004, extensive studies were performed in order to measure how much safer roadways are with police officers rather than flagmen. By comparing the accident rate between Massachusetts and other states that do not use police for details, one finds that it is no safer to drive in Massachusetts than any other state (BHI Policy Study.) Despite the use of police details, the accident rates in Massachusetts are some of the highest in the nation. Property damage and bodily harm due to accidents is the highest in Massachusetts than any other state. Interestingly, from the years 1994 to 2003, Massachusetts ranked third of all states in terms of lowest fatality rate in highway work zones (BHI Policy Study.) These statistics show that although police detail work is beneficial in the safety of high-speed road construction, the safety in lower speed road construction does not prove to be any better. With this data, it is not surprising that state officials and politicians are now looking into r egulating when and where police details should be used, and when and where flagmen would be suitable. As many people know, the state of Massachusetts is suffering from financial strain. Since 2001, the state has been going through a deep recession, losing about 11 percent of employment and over 200,000 jobs (Gavin.) It is projected that Massachusetts will continue to lose jobs until around 2010, and this year alone, there is a projected job loss of 4 percent (Gavin.) Due to the state's financial strain, state officials are eager to find ways to cut back expenses and improve job growth. One of the most obvious ways to cut back on expenses is limiting the use of police details. State leaders are already targeting the use of police details in order to restore economic growth. For decades, police have been used for construction projects without question. The practice that was once seen as necessary and just a fact of life is now being questioned by some of the highest-ranking state officials. On March 27th of this year, Governor Deval Patrick, Senate President Therese Murray, and House Speaker Salvatore F. DiMasi met together at the Beacon Hill press conference, announcing the agreement to create new regulations that would encourage officials to use civilian flaggers during low-risk construction projects (Viser.) This plan would focus on low traffic areas such as dead-end

Story Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 5

Story - Essay Example Zax has gone through a lot of psychological trauma in the last six years since when his body started to transform from a child’s to an adult’s. It was the start of teenage when he started to notice his chest grow larger than it should. His class fellows and friends called him everything from a girl to an aunt. The condition has negatively affected Zax’s self-esteem. This is the prime reason he has had a very small circle of friends ever since the onset of his teenage. Zax wants to change the condition and is ready to do whatever it takes to come out of the web he has concocted around himself out of the sheer consciousness of his chest. Zax is too shy to visit a doctor with his family to discuss the condition. While his manboobs are a big concern for the people outside his home, they seem to be invisible to his immediate family. Zax really has nobody to be psychologically counseled from. He searches the condition over the Internet and learns that this is a condition called ‘gynecomastia’. Contrary to his expectations, he finds that gynecomastia is increasingly becoming a major concern among men, and many men suffer from the condition at least at some point in their life. Zax explores the causes of and details about gynecomastia and learns that having gynecomastia makes an individual no less of a man biologically than the men who do not have gynecomastia. He finds out that there are no major causes of gynecomastia and that it can be acquired by any man, though certain factors like consuming steroids can optimize its chances of occurrence. Zax also finds out that the condition is treatable through liposuction or surgery and once treated, it never comes back. Now that he has learned the biology of the condition, Zax feels confident about sharing the problem with his parents. He convinces his parents to let him undertake a surgery. The family visits a surgeon, and the surgeon recommends liposuction to treat Zax’s gynecomastia. The whole

Step by Step Procedure Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Step by Step Procedure - Essay Example It identifies the individual student’s capabilities and skills. It also constructs an ambitious and hopeful future. Planning involves the student in the monitoring program and makes the student feel important and engenders concepts of â€Å"self-determination† (Individualized Service Plan, n.d., p. 11). Based on this conceptual framework, the following Step-by-Step Academic Plan is suggested for intervening in and monitoring an individual student’s academic instruction and progress. Step 1: Once a student is identified and his or her specific needs are identified, conduct a survey calculated to gather information relative to the student’s identified area of risk in terms of learning and the student’s academic goals overall. Step 3: Record the basic information in the Academic Plan. Basic information includes, Student name, identification number, date, high school, academic year and whether or not the student is one academic probation. Step 4: Provide a summary of the student’s needs. For instance record the student’s year at school, where academic support is required and the student’s academic goals. State the student’s academic goals in his or her own words. Step 5: Set out the steps to be taken and monitored relative to the Academic Plan. Identify the start date and record the need identified in a specific subject. Next establish the student’s academic goals with respect to the area in which the student is underachieving. List the student’s responsibilities with respect to meeting the desired goals. For instance the student may be required to attend tutoring or will study or do both for a specific period. List the advisor’s responsibilities as well. The advisor may be required to collaborate with the student’s tutor relative to progress in the area of assistance. The advisor may also be required to have on-going study conferences with the student. The advisor will also be required to monitor the

Case Study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 38

Case Study - Essay Example Recruitment or talent acquisition can be defined as â€Å"the set of activities and processes used to legally obtain a sufficient number of qualified people at the right place and time so that the people and the organization can select each other in their own best short and long term interests (Schuler, 1987). The talent acquisition methodology adopted by Jamie is also a key learning from the case. Jamie recruited people based on their potential and trainability. This was done by a series of assessment tests. It is clear that the people recruited for the organization are suitable to help achieve the organization’s vision. Jamie had used various techniques to assess potential candidates. The techniques used by Jamie were aimed at finding the right person for the job. In a similar way, a manager while hiring potential candidates shall make use of different recruitment techniques to ensure that the person selected is the most suitable for the job. The training process imparted by Jamie to his trainees was a thorough with clear plan. Classroom coaching was accompanies with practical activity. Each component of the training was aimed at improving the skills of the candidates. For example, he had week camping session to foster team spirit. He also had the trainees learn about livestock farming and quality evaluation which is an important part of a chef’s job. In a similar fashion, it is necessary that the training process of an organization is directed towards imparting specific skills to the candidates with continuous involvement from the manager. Jamie was supportive towards the weaker students. This ensured that every candidate got equal opportunity to perform and learn. An organization should have a clear and concise plan for the improvement of the weak performers. Having such a performance improvement plan not only improves the employee’s morale but also organization’s effectiveness. It is important to understand that each individual in the

EEOC Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

EEOC - Essay Example EEOC is a regulatory or a supervising body which is awarded with the function of ensuring that laws that are federal in nature are being followed by organization. These laws have made discrimination based on various aspects completely illegal. The main responsibility in the case of age discrimination of EEOC is to work as an investigator of age related discrimination charges that have been levied on employers who have at least 20 people working in their workforce (Findlaw, 2014). Once the investigate and figure out that charges levied are true, the EEOC tries to settle the case with the employer and if the charge settlement does not take place then EEOC files a law suit from the side of the employee who has experienced discriminatory practices. They even play the role of educator and they try to make sure that age related discriminatory practices do not occur by educating the employers and employees. In case of age related discrimination the federal laws state that it is the role of the employer to not to fire or hire or make decisions regarding compensation, benefits and training for employers on the basis of their respective age. But these laws are only limited to employees and applicants who age between 40 and 65. The law clearly states that employees should not be divided and provided less burdens and benefits in contrast to their age, and this clause even includes discrimination that is related to age and is conducted in terms of paying wages (Eeoc.gov, 2014). Employers are even restricted from printing as well as publishing material that is considered discriminatory on the basis of age. For example: employers may advertise positions based on ages and may restrict those who are above 40 from applying. Such advertisements are considered unlawful. The law even states that elements such as retirement as well as insurance plan should not even influence an

The decline of the Great Muslim Empires Essay Example for Free

The decline of the Great Muslim Empires Essay From the middle of the fifteenth century and up to the end of the eighteenth century three Great Muslim Empires had been dominating in the Islamic zone of then world: the Ottoman Empire in Asia Minor, the Mughal Empire in India, and the Safavid Empire in Persia, forming the most rapidly expanding forces in world affairs (Kennedy 1989). They all failed sooner or later due to the internal factors such as weakening of centralized political control, excessive enlargement of the territories, religious diversity, and rulers conservatism resulted in failure to implement the modern technologies (Kennedy 1989). The prevailing factors of their sunset were not the same for each of them, although there were several common ones. But the major contribution to the process of their decay was made by the outer world. Internal weaknesses were enough to wreck the Muslim empires, but each also failed to recognize the threat to their dominance posed by the rise of the West. By the beginning of the seventeenth century the main world communication routes didnt pass through the Middle East any more and the European states dominated at sea turning a profit from their advances in science and technology and successfully carrying out the gunpowder policy as well as promoting their trade on the territories earlier controlled by the Muslim empires (Wells 1933). To find the factors which led to the decline of the Great Mughals, the Safavid Dynasty, and the Ottoman Empire, while the Europeans went ahead, we should investigate their features, compare them and draw a conclusion.   Considering chronology of their decline, one can find a certain similarity – the period of extinction went along by the reign of a certain leader: the Ottomans fell apart after Suleyman the Lawgiver rule, the Safavids – by the end of Abbas Is reign, and the Mughals – after Aurangzers rule. The timing of collapse for the Ottoman, Safavid, and Mughal empires substantially differ. While the Ottoman state declined for the period of three centuries, the Safavids drop was much faster as well as those of the Great Mughals. The reason of rapid Safavids decay noticeably lied in the uselessness to defend from the neighboring Ottoman Empire in the seventeenth century resulted in complacence of the Safavid Shans, their growing corruption and decadence. The Mughal Empires fall is owed to heavy hand rule and aggressive East India Company trade policy. Ottoman rulers in turn had a very short–term policy unwilling to develop their territory as well as to invest in it and mercilessly exploiting land and peoples, they relied on continuous expansion for stability, and when the empire did not grow, it gradually collapsed (Hooker 1999). The Ottoman Empire was the long–lived one in comparison with the Mughals and the Safavid dynasty (a short–lived one). It reached its peak by 1600 under the reign of Suleyman the Magnificent and then has been gradually declined up to the end of the eighteenth century, but even survived through the First World War, and was disbanded in 1918. The Mughal Empire survived until 1857, it, as Phillip Myers affirmed, lasted upwards of 300 years, – until destroyed by the English in the present century, but in fact its rulers after 1803 were the pensioners of the East India Company (Myers 1902). As for the Safavids their demise after the reign of Abbas I was too prompt, and internal disorder plagued the empire which resulted in Afgans successful conquest of its capital Isfahan in 1722 (Hooker 1999). The Ottoman Turks†¦ were to falter, to turn inward, and to loose the chance of world domination†¦ To a certain extent it could be argued that this process was the natural consequence of earlier Turkish successes: the Ottoman army, however well administrated, might be able to maintain the lengthy frontiers, but could hardly expand farther without enormous cost in men and money (Kennedy 1989). The latter thought by Paul Kennedy could be referred not only to the Ottomans – it also determines one of the main economic reasons underlying the nature of Safavids and Mughals sunset. It is very expensive business to run an empire encompassing vast territory and one day such empire becomes too big to be successfully governed. The rapid expansion of the Muslim Empires spread their governments and military administrations too thin. The enormous expenses impoverished them and built up long–standing hostility among the people towards the lavish emperors. This subsequently led to the frequent rebellions and instability in the society in all three concerned empires (Hooker 1999). The lack of flexibility in attitude to the newer weaponry and resistance to any military technology that threatened the dominance of the Muslim Empires caused them to fall behind Western nations. Backwardness of Janissaries, their hereditary membership since 1637 resulted in transformation of Ottomans powerful army into a mob of cobblers and weavers. In case of the Mughals the most dramatic effect was taken by the recruitment of slave armies that finally became to dominate their hirers and govern independently. Similarly to them the Safavid Shan Tahmasp I begun introduction of converted slaves into military since the middle of the sixteenth century who later would acquire positions of influence under Shah Abbas I. But after conclusion of the treaty delimitating frontiers with the Ottomans in 1639 the army got peace and declined in size and quality (Kennedy 1989). During the seventeenth century all three empires showed the signs of weakening centralized political control. At the same time vast corruption among the bureaucracy and local aristocracy became evident. In the Safavid Empire which was a theocracy unlike the Ottoman and Mughal nations a new class of wealthy religious aristocrats owed everything to the state, but plundered it. Later sultans in the Ottoman Empire reduced to puppets dominated by Janissaries and viziers. Venality and corruption run through all level of bureaucracy. The last Mughal powerful emperor Aurangzeb decided to extend the territory under his control to the entire Indian subcontinent, and this campaign although being successful emptied his exchequer and increased his enemies. He faced rebellions in the north, and throughout the empire Islamic invaders, Hindu separatists and Sikh revolutionaries caused centralized political control to break down. Furthermore the rebellions in all three empires were excited over economic reasons: the heavy tax burden posed on peasants, alienation of the non–Muslim merchant classes in the Ottoman Empire; land seizures from Quizilbash landholders by the Safavid ruler Abbas I; a punitive tax on Hindu subjects re–imposed by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb (Hooker 1999). Religious diversity also contributed to the Great Muslims decay, although not so much as the above mentioned factors. Without religious tolerance the empires got a great many internal enemies disposed to the rebellions. The complexity of religion issue interrupted also the further development of the Muslim Empires. For example, Paul Kennedy stated with respect to the Mughals, that the system was weak at the core. The sheer rigidity of Hindu religious taboos militated against modernization (Kennedy 1989). The crisis in the Muslim Empires deepened also due to the external factors. They all were based on land routes, not sea travel, and this enabled the Europeans to dominate in trade by sea after discovering African water route to India by the Portuguese explorers. Muslim monopoly of trade with Asia ended then which unsettled the Ottoman economy and led to the inflation there. Although the English occasionally traded through Persia, the Safavids economy was weakened as well by the general loss of trade. Since the seventeenth century the trade routes in the world went through the oceans, which let the Europeans to have a great advantage controlling the trade by sea with India and the Far East. Having no seafaring skills, the Muslim Empires failed to resist to such domination, and they were to be reconciled with the presence of the Europeans in their cities (Wells 1933). In conclusion, the immense Muslim Empires were doomed to lose to the Europeans who advanced in science and technology, removed one of the sources of profit for the Muslim merchants having discovered new trade sea routes, and rose powerful nation–states able to gain territories not only due to gunpowder policy, but as the result of successful economic invasion. The Western Europeans, and particularly the Dutch, the Scandinavians, the Spanish, the Portuguese, the French and the British were extending the area of their struggles across the seas of all the world†¦ Great innovation, the ocean–going sailing ship, was inexorably extending the range of European experience to the further most limits of salt–water (Wells 1933). Bibliography Hooker, Richard. World Civilizations. Islam. Washington State University Web Site. 1999. http://www.wsu.edu:8080/~dee/MODULES.HTM Kennedy, Paul. The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers. London: Fontana Press. 1989. Pp. 10–16. Myers, Phillip V. N. A General History for Colleges and High Schools. Boston, U.S.A., and London: CINN Company Publishers. 1902. Pp. 460–464. Wells, Herbert G. A Short History of the World. London: Waterlow Sons Ltd. Printers. 1933. Pp. 168–235.