Friday, April 17, 2020
Why You Should Be Googling Yourself 3 Tips for Online Reputation Management
WHY YOU SHOULD BE GOOGLING YOURSELF: 3 TIPS FOR ONLINE REPUTATION MANAGEMENT Image via Wikipedia A lot of marketers will tout the benefits of social media marketing for businesses: Youââ¬â¢ve probably heard that businesses actually have two different reputations, online and offline. The same goes for individuals ââ¬â everyone whoââ¬â¢s a member of a social networking site has an online presence. When dealing with the Internet, you have to be proactive when it comes to online reputation management, both personally and professionally. Weââ¬â¢ve written a blog before about online reputation management and the importance of managing your Wikipedia page. Weââ¬â¢ve all heard the horror stories about people getting fired for things they say or do on the internet, getting passed over for jobs because of their MySpace or Facebook profiles, and serious backlash against businesses from bloggers (NBC, anyone?). Hence the importance of online reputation management. Online reputation management actually combines two things: marketing and PR. Whether as an individual or business owner, online reputation management should be a regular part of your life ââ¬â like paying the bills or filing your taxes. Luckily, online reputation management can be done fairly easily. Here are 3 tips to keep your online reputation in check: 1. Google yourself! Thatââ¬â¢s right ââ¬â the best way to see what people are saying about you or your business is to regularly Google your name. Better, yet, set up a Google alert for yourself. Just go to http://www.google.com/alerts, type in your name or your businessââ¬â¢ name, and Google will automatically email you daily (or weekly) updates any time your name appears on the web. 2. Use Google Alerts to generate good PR. Your online reputation affects you in many ways ââ¬â it can make sales plummet or soar, it can land you a job or get you fired. Check your Google alerts diligently and then â⬠¦ respond. Thatââ¬â¢s right: Say you see that an unsatisfied customer has posted a blog about how horribly rude your sales rep was when they called to place an order. Donââ¬â¢t just sit there and let the blogger ââ¬â and all of her friends ââ¬â wallow in their newfound hate for your company. Instead, be proactive: Comment on her blog. Apologize, offer her a discount, or ask her to call or email you ââ¬â whatever you would normally do to appease a dissatisfied customer. The same rule can apply to good press: perhaps someone posts a positive Twitter message about you or your company, or a glowing product review on their blog. You donââ¬â¢t have to keep mum ââ¬â friend them, message them, thank them for their time and let them know youââ¬â¢re available if they have any questions. When it comes to online reputation management, responding to the bad AND the good can help build positive relations. 3. Make the decision to keep your social networking profiles public or private. For individuals, itââ¬â¢s probably safest to have all of your social networking profiles private ââ¬â you never know whoââ¬â¢s going to find those pictures from last Memorial Day (your boss) and what he might think about it (my employee is an alcoholic idiot). If you choose to keep your profiles public, be sure not to post anything that could potentially be damaging ââ¬â stuff like racial or sexual slurs and incriminating photographs could come back to haunt you. If your business is on a social networking site, you probably need to keep the profile public for anyone to view. You should only be posting business-related items on your profile ââ¬â no personal updates! So what to do if you are your brand? Many self-employed and independent contractors have two online personalities: a public and a private one. Make a professional Facebook or Twitter page, and update them to help you with your marketing and PR. Any personal stuff should be kept separately, like on a private Facebook blog. This prevents any potentially damaging crossover. Have you had any experience where your online reputation management helped ââ¬â or hurt ââ¬â you? Tell us about it, or let us know if you have any other tips to keep your online image in check!
Friday, March 13, 2020
Used Books Business
Used Books Business Abstract There is a huge demand for used books because it is easy to acquire cheap books that are still in good condition. It is therefore high time to develop an online bookstore because of the low-risk involved. However, there are three things to consider.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Used Books Business specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More First, the existence of a reliable procurement team that can locate and procure quality used books at a low price. Secondly, there is a need for a reliable group of IT workers that that can develop and maintain a website. Finally, a group of workers that can help maintain a brick and mortar store as starting point for marketing and advertising. Introduction The rapid change in technology has made it possible to establish an online business with minimum risks. The cost of creating an online presence is insignificant (Leo, 2009). The only thing needed to do is a plan and hard work. One of the more remarkable business ideas is to sell used books online. According to one commentary, ââ¬Å"Sellers of used books help build a better world by preserving and spreading knowledge â⬠¦ helps communities by conserving resources, reducing the waste going to landfills, and making books more affordable (Weber, year, p.7). It is therefore one of those businesses that enable the entrepreneur to make money and do something that is worthwhile. The following is a description of the integrated marketing plan that proves its viability. The target market will be all the consumers of used books in the United States. The inspiration for creating an online used bookstore comes from the success of Amazon the biggest online seller of books, both new and used. In 2002 alone, the founder of Amazon acknowledged that fifteen percent of the orders in the quarter are for used products (Windwalker 2002, p.14). According to one report, ââ¬Å"Used book sales on the Internet jumped 33 perce nt in 2004 â⬠¦ now, one of every 12 books sold is a used book and two-thirds are purchased online with a total annual sales of $609 million (Weber, 2006, p.7). Even if it is relatively easy to establish an online business selling books there is enough opportunities to make it a worthwhile endeavor. Target Market and Competition This business anticipates serving the needs of all potential customers in the United States. The majority is composed of Caucasians around 80% of the population followed by African Americans, around 14% of the population. The rest of the target market is composed of Hispanics and Asians. The specific target market however is the group of consumers with income that are in the range of $50,000 to $100,000. The average age of the potential consumer is 33 years old.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The biggest competitor are established onlin e sellers such as Amazon with a market share of 22.6% (Minzesheimer, 2011). The second largest is Barnes Noble with a market share of 17.3% (Minzesheimer , 2011). This is followed by independent book sellers with a 6% share of the market and then Books-A-Million with a market share of 3% (Minzesheimer, 2011). Borders used to be a dominant competitor but it has filed bankruptcy and all stores are closed. Based on these figures it is easy to ascertain that there is still a huge market for used books. Even if online businesses will sprout up overnight, there is still a market that demands for the availability of used books online. Integrated Marketing Plan There are several ways to look for and collect used book that can in turn be sold online. Procurement teams must look into the following: 1) library sales; 2) estate sales; 3) used bookstore; 4) remainder distributors; 5) postal service auctions; 6) Treasury Department auctions; book fairs; 7) bargain tables; 8) classified ads; 9) t hrift shops and 10) garage or yard sales. After collecting the books the next thing to do is to sort and classify using a system that enables easy presentation online. This business can create a competitive advantage by developing a website with a search-engine optimized content therefore it is easier for consumers to locate hard-to-find books. This strategy is a response to the dominant position of Amazon and Barnes Noble. These superstores with a significant online presence has one major disadvantage and it is the numerous selection of books with a listing that may prove difficult to go through without the ability to properly use the search feature of the website. The proposed online store on the other hand has a website designed for easy use. It begins with a search-engine optimized content and therefore when a consumer types the name of the book, author, or ISBN number, the site can provide relevant results. A key advantage is none other than low prices and speed of delivery. T he improved response time is due to the size of the operation and the fact that it is easier to respond to e-mail and other customer inquiries because it is still a small operation. Nevertheless, as the company grows it is imperative to maintain these features in order to sustain high customer satisfaction. Aside from an online presence there is a need to have a physical store that can be the starting point of aggressive marketing and advertising. The store must have prominent signs that can attract the attention of potential customers. There is also the need to pay for billboards and radio advertisements. Online presence can be intensified by developing blogs that has links to the online store. Therefore, the main strategy is to grow the business slowly with minimal exposure.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Used Books Business specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The brick and mortar operation is simply a foothold into the used books market. It jumpstarts the process but the focus should always be on the online store. A significant part of the resources must be used to improve the website and develop better online tools that make it easier for consumers to locate what they need. The company must also invest in developing a more cost-efficient way of locating and buying used books. It has been mentioned earlier that one of the main sources are remainder distributors because of the huge volume of books available through this mechanism of dealing with used books. However, it can also be a trap because the store can acquire a great number of books that are difficult to sell. The goal of the procurement team is not only to establish a cost-efficient protocol to locate and purchase books but also to determine if these books can still be sold for a profit (Ellis, 2006). The ultimate goal is to minimize the number of books in the inventory because storage space costs money. Therefore, the procurement tea m must develop the ability to determine if a particular book is still in demand. There is no use buying books that only end up in storage facilities. The procurement team must focus on the following genres: a) fiction books; b) sci-fi books; c) childrenââ¬â¢s books; d) biography books; and e) business books. It is relatively easy to determine if a particular fiction novel is still in demand. There are certain websites that can be used to determine the popularity of a particular title. It is also relatively easy to determine the popularity of a certain author. Sci-fi books on the other hand require an in-depth study in order to understand the needs of the target market when it comes to this genre. Biography books must be purchased based on the date it was published. A biography book that was published five years ago is difficult to sell because of the condition of the book and the relevance of the content. For example a book about George W. Bush written five years ago has little a ppeal as compared to books written after he stepped down from the presidency. On the other hand there are biography books that continue to be in demand and therefore procurement teams must take note of best sellers and other titles that are sought after by book collectors and enthusiasts.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Business books must be judged based on the relevance of the content. There are so many business concepts that have become popular in a span of a year and then become obsolete a few months later. Therefore, the best sellerââ¬â¢s list is not a reliable indicator that a particular business book continues to be in demand a few years later. The procurement team must therefore have knowledge about recent trends in the business world and determine not only the popularity of the authors but also the business ideas and leadership strategies that has captured the attention of the general public. This business requires the participation of dedicated employees. It is therefore imperative to develop a hiring process that will determine the kind of workers that can thrive in this type of business. The procurement team is a key component of the business for they must have the ability to locate quality books at a low price. They must maintain a collection that can generate sustained growth. The second most important component of the workforce is the workers that are in-charge of the online business. They must possess the necessary IT skills to develop the website and troubleshoot the system 24 hours a day and seven days a week. The third most important component of the workforce is the employees that are in-charge of maintaining the brick and mortar store. Conclusion The used books industry is a growing industry. Although there are dominant competitors in the market, statistics show that they can only cover half the share of the market. There are still many people who are new to the concept of buying used books online. There is therefore room for a company that makes it easier for customers to search the books that they need online. Aside from low prices this company will develop tools that make online shopping for used books easy and fulfilling. References Ellis, I. (2006). Book finds: how to find, buy, and sell used and rare books. New York: Penguin Books. Leo, P. (2009) . Selling online. CA: P L Publications. Minzesheimer, B. (2011). Is there hope for small bookstores in a digital age? Retrieved from https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/books/news/2011-02-10-1Abookstores10_CV_N.htm Weber, S. (2006). The home-based bookstore. New York: WeberBooks. Windwalker, S. (2002). Selling used books online. MA: Harvard Perspective Press.
Wednesday, February 26, 2020
Violence in Mass Media Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words
Violence in Mass Media - Essay Example Currently, the media has become a central element of the social environment. Through the television, radio, movies, video games and the internet, a significant number of the population, particularly children are exposed to high levels of violent content. Resultantly, the frequent consumption of violent content facilitates imitative learning thus leading to increase in aggressive and violent behavior in children. The prevalent in real-world aggression and violent acts creates a need to effectively mitigate the violent content by the media so as to ensure societal well-being. An ideal intervention strategy in mitigating media violence is parental/adult intervention. Parents can play a detrimental role in restricting childrenââ¬â¢s access to media violence. The violent media content can be substituted with non-violent media content so as to promote behavioral change thus reducing the violent culture (Humphrey & Palmer 45). Parents can also play a key role in promoting media literacy. Parents/adults can educate the youth regarding the effects of violence and the mechanisms used by the media to portray violence as acceptable, useful and detached from negative consequences (Humphrey & Palmer 44). Ideally, the parents can educate the youths on the impact of too much media violence and the difference between reality and fantasy. Considering the detrimental role played by parents in child development, parental intervention is an ideal way of mitigating the impacts of media violence in the society.
Monday, February 10, 2020
Application Paper # 2 Corporate Values & Social Responsibility Essay
Application Paper # 2 Corporate Values & Social Responsibility - Essay Example The mission statement of Wal-Mart is we save people money so they can live better (About, 2012). The initiatives of the company are aligned with its mission because Wal-Mart has helped feed millions of people around the world. Wal-Mart has a complete social responsibility program that covers many aspects of social responsibility. As a firm that has billions of dollars in inventory, the company provides relief to people in need during natural disasters. The company responded immediately when the Katrina earthquake hit by donating $5 million. The firm has also help the victims of the Japan earthquake, floods in Mexico and Texas. To become more effective in its disaster relief efforts the company often partners with agencies such as FEMA and the Red Cross. The company demonstrates compassion and that they care about people in need. Wal-Mart is a company that believes in the value of philanthropy. The firm in 2011 donated money and merchandise worth $954 million. The goal of the company by 2015 is to donate 1.1 billion pounds of food and $250 million in cash. The organization has an environmentally friendly program to reduce the emissions and pollution produced by its operations. For instance Wal-Mart has installed 100 solar energy units at different locations. These solar power stores eliminate the dependency of the company on the electricity grid. Another technology that Wal-Mart stores are using to save energy is the installation of LED lights. The company has 180 renewable energy projects in operation that generate one billion kilowatts of renewable electricity. The company is the second largest buyer of renewable energy among U.S. retailers. The implementation of a solid corporate social responsibility program is a good strategic move that can help a business. Companies that act socially responsible attract the support and business of many consumers. Environmentally friendly initiatives are perceived by
Thursday, January 30, 2020
A play which explores the effect of relationships Essay Example for Free
A play which explores the effect of relationships Essay Task: Choose a play which explores relationships in a family/community. What strengths and/or weaknesses are apparent in these relationships and what is the overall effect on the family/community. A play which explores the effect of relationships in a family and community is ââ¬Å"Romeo and Julietâ⬠by William Shakespeare. The relationship between Romeo and Juliet, themselves, is key to the play and this relationship also embodies the family feud discussed in the play. Shakespeare conveys the loversââ¬â¢ relationship as one built upon utter trust and devotion. Yet it is ill-fated due to the ancient feud between their families, the Montagues and the Capulets. The family grudge holds great importance and affects the lives of every citizen in the town of Verona. In the beginning of the play we are introduced to both the lovers. Romeo is portrayed as a depressed and melancholic person as the girl he loves does not love him back and Juliet as a girl who is unwilling to be married to a suitor of her parentââ¬â¢s choice. Romeo is in love with a Capulet girl called Rosaline and in order to see her he goes, uninvited, to a Capulet ball. He catches sight of Juliet at the ball and immediately falls in love with her. Much to his disappointment he finds out she is a Capulet: ââ¬Å"Is she a Capulet? O dear account! My life is my foeââ¬â¢s debt. â⬠Although Romeo has fallen in love with Juliet he knows it is not that simple in Verona. He realises that because they are from rival families their relationship would never be permitted. From the very beginning their relationships is said to be ââ¬Å"star-crossââ¬â¢dâ⬠as their families have been mortal enemies. There is a major difference shown between Romeos love for Rosaline and his love for Juliet. When he is in love with Rosaline, Romeo is depressed. But, when he sees Juliet, it is a whole different story. He suddenly experiences true love as he had never felt with Rosaline. From the moment Romeo first sees Juliet their bond is very intense. When describing the love between Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare often uses poetic and romantic language: ââ¬Å"O she doth teach the torches to burn bright! â⬠Romeo compares Juliet to a candleââ¬â¢s light and says that she is incredibly beautiful. Shakespeareââ¬â¢s use of this ââ¬Å"love at first sightâ⬠scenario emphasises that the young lovers have and instant and deep connection. This emphasises the strength of their devotion to each other. In the balcony scene, although Romeo and Juliet have only known each other for a short while, their love is very intense. Shakespeare uses various images to convey this: ââ¬Å"Two of the fairest stars do entreat her eyesâ⬠Julietââ¬â¢s eyes are being compared to twinkling stars which shows how much Romeo loves her. Romeo believes Juliet to be the most beautiful woman he has ever seen and this image conveys this. This symbolises their strong love for each other. Later on we see that Romeo is overcome by his love for Juliet and he even risks his life to see her. When a fight starts to form in the street Romeo makes it clear that he is not interested in fighting: ââ¬Å"Tybalt, the reason I have to love thee Doth much excuse the appertaining rageâ⬠Even though the idea of being loyal to your own family is prominent throughout the play, Romeo is willing to forget the family feud and ââ¬Å"loveâ⬠his enemies for Julietââ¬â¢s sake. This is important as is shows their commitment to each other. They are both willing to forget a centuries old family feud that shapes their whole life in order to be committed to each other and this is clearly a strength. Even when Juliet finds out that Romeo has killed her cousin, although she is upset and distraught, she is willing to forgive him as her devotion to him is so strong. Another aspect which shapes Romeo and Juliets relationship is the feud. The feud is the main weakness throughout the play and it has great impact on the community in Verona. When a fight breaks out in the street it is clear where the citizens loyalties are: ââ¬Å"The quarrel is between our masters and us their menâ⬠In Verona, everyone is forced to take sides even the employees. It is clear from this why Romeo and Julietââ¬â¢s relationship would be a problem as the feud has such a strong grip on society that there is no way of them being together other than in secret. Another scene in which the power of the feud comes through is when everyone is discussing what must be the consequence of Romeoââ¬â¢s actions: ââ¬Å"Romeo slew Tybalt. Romeo must not liveâ⬠Lady Capuletââ¬â¢s harsh words are conveying how the feud makes everyone stand their ground and the idea of forgive and forget is not even considered. The feud is the reason for Romeo and Julietââ¬â¢s poor relationship as their families are so hostile towards each other. The feud causes the division in their community and the separation of the two families. In the end, it is only after the death of both Romeo and Juliet, a huge sacrifice, that their families reconcile and agree to live in peace. Romeo and Julietââ¬â¢s relationship is one that is powerful yet it is always plagued by the feud of their families. Shakespeareââ¬â¢s use of imagery and symbolism to convey their relationship is highly powerful and only intensifies the bond between them.
Wednesday, January 22, 2020
Only Parents Can Stop the Violence Essay -- Media Television TV Essays
Only Parents Can Stop the Violence In todayââ¬â¢s society there is a debate going on about whether or not violence has an effect on young children and teenagers. On one hand there are people saying that violence on television has no effect on children. On the other hand it is very easy to prove that television violence has a direct effect on children. There are many studies that show how obvious the impact of television is on the way children act. Children and teens watch a lot of television from their young years until they graduate high school. One study shows that kids will watch 18,000 hours of television by the time they graduate high school(Kalin). This is 5,000 more hours than they spend at school. So the impact that television has is very great, considering how much time kids spend watching it. It is easy to see how kids are influenced by violent television shows because even at an early age they are mimicking violence. Carla Kalin observed her kindergartners acting out violence on each other in her first year of teaching. One kid from another class shot his younger brother in the stomach three times. The next year a first grader was suspended for bringing a knife to school and using it to threaten children on the playground(Kalin). After researching what was causing these youngsters to act so violently, Ms. Kalin came to the conclusion that television programs served as a springboard for violent and aggres sive behavior(Kalin). This is very understandable considering how many violent television shows are airing during the times that children watch TV. ââ¬Å"Approximately ninety percent of the time, children watch programs which are not specifically designed for them at allâ⬠(Kalin). Ms. Kalin decided... ... and more intense, but it is up to the parent to monitor what their child is watching. I do agree that violent television shows promote violence in kids, but I also think that parents are responsible for their childrenââ¬â¢s actions. Parents can take advantage of things like the V-chip to control what their kids are watching. If parents would step up and simply take responsibility for their kids, then I believe that the violence that is happening today would decrease dramatically. Works Cited Children and TV Violence. 23, February 2000. Kalin, Carla. Television, Violence, and Children. 15, February 2000. Banta, Mary Ann. The V-Chip Story. 17, February 2000.
Tuesday, January 14, 2020
Examine the Key Factors Influencing
Examine the key factors influencing inclusive teaching and learning Inclusive teaching means recognising, accommodating and meeting the learning needs of all students, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, religion, disability or sexual orientation. This starts with acknowledging that students are members of diverse communities, have a range of individual learning needs, and deserve equal opportunity to access the learning experience. Applying inclusive learning is increasingly important in our diverse society and education should reflect, promote and facilitate this. For example, there are more and more disabled people entering education nowadays than there used to be: an inclusive environment must ensure that they are equally valued and accepted and that their efforts to learn are recognised and judged without bias. Traditional teaching holds that students with diverse needs be placed in the general education setting only once they can meet traditional academic expectations.Inclusive education, on the other hand, celebrate peopleââ¬â¢s diversity and brings all students together in one classroom, regardless of their strengths or weaknesses in any area, and seeks to maximize the potential of all of them by encouraging and using their different backgrounds and knowledge to broaden the learning experience. In order to create an effective inclusive learning environment we must overcome barriers that might stop lea rners getting the best from their learning experience. Barriers to learning are problems or situations thatà prevent learners from accessing programs,à going to class, concentrating and learning. Intrinsic barriers of learning are located within the learner, hence of an intrinsic nature, and can be physical, sensory, physiological or intellectual. For example not knowing, or not being comfortable with, the rest of the class could constitute a barrier. Icebreakers could be used in this instance to encourage learners to talk to us, to each other and to the group as a whole. Similarly climate setters can be used to promote learning related to session objectives; this is particularly important as people can be intimidated in a situation where they are asked to come up with ideas. Intrinsic barriers of learning are located within the learner, hence of an intrinsic nature, and can be physical, sensory, physiological or intellectual. For example not knowing, or not being comfortable with, the rest of the class could constitute a barrier. Icebreakers could be used in this instance to encourage learners to talk to us, to each other and to the group as a whole. Similarly climate setters can be used to promote learning related to session objectives; this is particularly important as people can be intimidated in a situation where they are asked to come up with ideas.Hence the tutor needs to create an environment where students feel comfortable to express themselves. Learners may also face extrinsic barriers, related to the environment they live, work and study in. Issues with family relationships, social support, employment and financial matters provide some such examples. Itââ¬â¢s very important to motivate learners in order for them to get the most out of their classes. To motivate a learner we must first understand what motivates them and teach to their particular strengths and weaknesses.Sometimes we may have to match teaching approaches to their learning styles and provide support to those who need it. Other times we may have to use energizers to challenge the class or refocus learnersââ¬â¢ attention, e. g. after a long period of concentration or after a break. Also, encouraging friendly competition could provide motivational challenges for all of them. Most of all, we need to give them constructive feedback to encourage personal improvement. One theory we can be refer to for motivational purposes is Maslowââ¬â¢s pyramid of needs.According to his pyramid we must feel that we are satisfied with our physiological needs before we can think of getting a roof. Having the feeling of being secure motivates us to seek love. Once we have accomplished the need for belongingness then we seek a better future which motivates us to set goals an d achieve something honourable in life. Once we have accomplished a settled life with love and respect, we might then look to reach our full potential. To ensure all students gain the most from their learning, consideration must be based on the particular learning style and objectives for each individual.An initial assessment of the students can be carried out for this purpose and then use a mixture of two or more styles and a range of different approaches to meet the needs of individuals and groups. Typical teaching methods fall into three categories: * Teacher-led: this is where the tutor transmits ideas, information and skills via lectures or presentations; * Participative: this involves interaction which allows knowledge and experience to be shared between the teacher and the learners; * Learner centred: this is where learners explore and discover by themselves, either on their own or in small collaborative groups.Benjamin Bloom provided the theory of Taxonomy to help tutors cho ose the appropriate teaching method. He made a classification of learning objectives that educators set for students in order to create a more holistic form of education. Bloomââ¬â¢s Taxonomy divides educational objectives into Cognitive, Affective and Psycho Motor domains. Skills in the cognitive domain revolve around knowledge, comprehension and critical thinking on a particular topic; traditional education tends to emphasize the skills in this domain and uses methods like lectures, small group work and problem solving tasks.Skills in the affective domain describe the way people react emotionally and their awareness to other peopleââ¬â¢s joy or pain; teaching methods in this domain might include discussion, case studies, role play and simulation. Finally, skills in the psychomotor domain describe the ability to physically manipulate a tool or instrument; typical teaching methods in this domain will include demonstration, individual practice and coaching. A tutor must also de vise a programme of strategies to cater for the specific needs of their own specialism. This relates to the arrangements we make to get the class discuss particular aspects of the subject.Depending on specialism we can have discussions in pairs or in small groups. If the class is not too big we can also get the whole group work together and bounce ideas off each other. We could also take this one step further and consider if the class could benefit from group project work rather than individual project work. In that respect, Bruce Tuckman's theory on stages of group development comes to our aid in understanding and assessing students in a group effort. This theory has gained a great deal of popularity and suggested that for a group to achieve maximum effectiveness it needs to move through four stages.These are: * Forming: at this first stage the team is new and the members are unfamiliar with each other. Each seeks group acceptance with caution, and conflict is avoided. * Storming: à at this stage different ideas compete for consideration and the he team addresses issues such as what problems they are really supposed to solve. Team members open up to each other and confront each other's ideas and perspectives. * Norming: here the team manages to agree on common goals and comes to a mutual plan for achieving them.Some may have to give up their own ideas and agree with others in order to make the team function. * Performing: by this stage members are motivated and knowledgeable and the team functions as a unit in order to achieve agreed goals. Many long-standing teams go through these cycles many times as they react to changing circumstances. For example, a change in leadership may cause the team to revert toà stormingà as the new people challenge the existing norms and dynamics of the team. Another important aspect of inclusive learning is the resources we use.Itââ¬â¢s vital that these are carefully selected so as to reflect and meet the needs of all l earners. If resources fail to do this they will create barriers to learning and disadvantage some individuals in the group. There is a wide range of resources that can be used but here is a selection that may meet learnersââ¬â¢ needs: * Powerpoint: this is a vital resource when delivering information and, if used in the correct manner, can appeal to all learning styles. For example they can provide the basis for teaching other activities and can be left up at all time to remind students of their aims and objectives. Picture Cards: these are good visual resource and can support the topic being taught. They are particularly useful in multicultural environments and can be adapted easily in order to make them inclusive. * Films: appeal to all learning styles and abilities as they create a relaxed environment and can offer real life situations that can't be created in the classroom setting. Films also have a way of explaining different points of view in an alternative way. Moreover, t hey can act as an assessment method to check the learners have understood what has been shown. Case Studies: this is a powerful resource that stimulates learners to understand and critique how a subject is applied in the real world. * Quiz: this is a fun and interactive resource that can be tailored to different learning styles and ability levels. Other examples of resources include handouts and books to study and discuss theoretical aspects of the subject; computers, software and hi-tech equipment for hands-on experience of ICT subjects; and of course writing boards and flip charts to create on-the-spot diagrams and workflows and to have the whole class participate and interact.We also need to provide opportunities for learners to practice their literacy, language, numeracy and ICT skills. This can be achieved by embedding functional skills. Functional skills are practical skills in English, information ; communication technology, and mathematics. Allowing for these transferable sk ills to be included in our teaching will enable individuals to work confidently, effectively and independently in life. For example, facilitating contribution to discussions and working in groups will enable learners to develop literacy skills which they will then be able to use in their everyday lives.Also, coursework assessments and reflective learning logs constitute effective method of encouraging learners to use written skills. Also, we can encourage Maths skills by using for example number games, and ICT skills by including computer-led teaching and assessments. In organizing a class itââ¬â¢s increasingly important to establish ground rules with learners in order to adhere to minimum necessary conditions for getting learning work done in the class and promote respect for each other.The setting down of ground rules at the start of the course gives structure and guidance to the group ensuring that the peopleââ¬â¢s beliefs and wants are taken into account and the course can run productively within the set rules. Though there is no definitive list for all classes it is an essential exercise to think through what we want on the list. Typical ground rules mayà include items like arriving on time, respecting health and safety regulations, switching off mobile phones, respecting other people's contributions and not interrupting fellow-students.Usually, ground rules are teacher imposed but learners can make valuable contributions and sometimes there can be room for negotiation. Obviously, the majority of the ground rules cannot be negotiated but getting the learners to aid in the setting of the rules puts the ounce on them to adhere to them more. Moreover, it will make them aware of what will happen should the rules be broken. We also need to create assessment opportunities that meet the needs of learners. Assessment is the process of appraising the learnerââ¬â¢s understanding of the subject and also of recording their knowledge, skills and attitudes.I t can focus on individual learners or a group of learners as a whole. It is always best to start any course with an assessment of the studentsââ¬â¢ prior knowledge so that the tutor can start their teaching at the correct level and can ensure an inclusive teaching method where every learnerââ¬â¢s needs are met. There are many methods of assessment depending on specialism. For example in assessing foreign language learning we can use multiple choice exercises, written answers, essay writing, class test, listening and speaking activities, to name but a few.When assessing learners we need to give constructive feedback in order to spur and motivate them to hone their skills. Itââ¬â¢s important to tell them when they are doing something well and why, as this will serve as encouragement. However, constructive feedback doesnââ¬â¢t just mean positive feedback. We can give negative feedback too as long as we clearly state what could be improved and why. This means talking first a bout what a learner has done well, then going on to discussing points for improvement and then ending on another positive note.Using this strategy students are motivated by their achievements and evaluate the negative aspect of their feedback in a constructive way to better themselves. ââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬â [ 1 ]. Maslow, A. H. (1943). A theory of human motivation [ 2 ]. Bloom, B. S. , Engelhart, M. D. , Furst, E. J. , Hill, W. H. , & Krathwohl, D. R. (1956) Taxonomy of educational objectives: the classification of educational goals; Handbook I: Cognitive Domain New York, Longmans, Green [ 3 ]. Tuckman, Bruce (1965). ââ¬Å"Developmental sequence in small groupsâ⬠.
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