Reflection of the Vision Module Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Reflection of the Vision Module - Essay Example However, I soon realized that creativity is a funny thing. What sounds wildly creative and imaginative to one person sounds like a mess of silliness to another. Our first mistake as a group was not sorting out our differences from the beginning as to the very nature of the project itself. One idea that was pitched was a creative use of technology that involved newspaper headlines that were projected on a screen. This was my idea. Others in the group wanted a more traditional presentation of ideas through a featured lecturer set-up. Another faction of the group wanted to create a fully realized dramatic presentation complete with singing, poetry and props. We spent much energy and time trying to accommodate everyone’s ideas. There was a lot of conflict at this stage of the project, but that is to be expected. I kept thinking after each meeting that we would soon find something to do that everyone would be happy with, but after a while, I gave up hope. One of the biggest problem s was the fact that several group members refused to do anything that was not part of their original idea. Anything dramatic or any sort of performance was out of the question for these group members. We could not resolve this rift in the group, so we did something that in the end would prove to be unwise. We moved on with a hybrid of ideas that excluded these members. Basically, through frustration, the majority of the group sent a â€Å"like it or lump it† message to the minority that objected to the performance. This caused considerable problems. One is the fact that the few members that were marginalized failed to keep commitments and did not contribute much work towards the final product. This is understandable, but it really harmed our final product. We decided to write a dramatic performance that included technology I was in charge of utilizing. Just before the performance, some members wanted to make last minute changes to the script. There was a falling out among mem bers. Two members of the group sabotaged the performance by drawing the curtain and hiding behind it. Needless to say, the message of our presentation was somewhat lost among the chaos. Reflecting on this group learning activity really has been a thought provoking exercise. It has been a great opportunity to try something new, reflect on the possible mistakes and note how they could be avoided in the future. Themes that came up continually when I was thinking about this experience include group dynamics, group decision making, leadership styles and styles of communication. Reading about how groups form and share ideas has really helped me to better understand how this group learning activity could have been improved. Actually, the learning activity was great, it was the final product that needed to be improved. The idea that groups go through phases such as storming, norming and performing is interesting. Understanding that there will be differences of opinions in a group is powerfu l information that I do not think all of the members of our group understood. Looking back on the experience, too many people took criticism and critique personally, causing the group to stall in the storming phase. We never really established the norms of how the group should work. As a result, the person or people with the stormiest personalities got their way while the soft-spoken members were pushed to the side. Better resolution of the first phase of team formation would have led to a better end

Why is the Walt Disney Company so successful Essay Example for Free

Why is the Walt Disney Company so successful Essay As the process of globalization develops continuously, multinational corporations are much more common nowadays which means intercultural communication has become an important part of daily work in thousands of millions of cross-cultural offices. This thesis will mainly concentrate on discussing and analyzing the Walt Disney Company’s experience of intercultural communication and the useful information we can learn from it so that some misunderstandings and problems can be avoided in some business activities. This thesis will discuss and answer the following questions: 1. What is the Walt Disney Company? 2. What is a cross-cultural working environment like in the Walt Disney World Resort, Orlando, Florida? How do the coordinators deal with different employers from different cultures? 3. What happened when Disney first entered French market? What happened when it first entered Japan? What are the cultural reasons behind these different phenomena? 4. Comparing to other multinational corporations like Starbucks and Ikea, what is the advantage of Disney and what can we use for reference from its experience? Some researches have already been done on related subjects such as intercultural communication management, the importance of cross-cultural communication in business, and the effectiveness of intercultural communication in Human Resource area, etc. Based on these researches, however, my view point as a cast member of the Walt Disney World Resort can be creative and objective. Chapter I What is the Walt Disney Company? In this session, a brief introduction of the Walt Disney Company will be given especially the history of its process of globalization when it tried to get into France, Japan and Hongkong China. Chapter â… ¡ College Exchange Program in the Walt Disney World Resort After providing some information of College Exchange Program, I will concentrate on analyzing Disney’s methods of dealing with foreign Cast Members’ culture shock, cultural conflicts, and coordinators’ different training ways according to their different cultural backgrounds. Besides, a survey will be made to collect CPs’ opinions on how to improve the program or how will their future application affect intercultural communication. Chapter â… ¢ How to Deal with the Frustration in France? In this part, I will introduce the history of Disney first entering France and the cultural crisis it came across there. I will illustrate both the efforts and mistakes made by Disney as well. Comparing to the process it first entering Japan, I will try to engage the different cultural backgrounds with these different phenomena. Chapter â… £ Useful References of Disney’s Experience Comparison will be made in this part between Disney and other multinational corporations and some useful references we can get so as to use them to avoid misunderstandings, sometimes even serious problems in business field.

The McDonaldization of Education Essay -- McDonaldization and Higher E

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Education remains a cornerstone for society as it has for decades. Technology advances, the economy fluctuates, and politics change, but education remains, not only important but imperative for personal and social growth. Yet, as important as it is touted to be, the quality and purpose of learning is often lost in the assembly-line, manufactured process of education that exists today.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In a highly structured and economics-driven world, the educational system may be viewed as a machine designed to churn out future workers and employees. Like the fast-food industry, education has been standardized in an attempt to provide the comforts of efficiency, calculability, predictability, and control. In our aptly named McDonaldized society, aspects as important as quality are sacrificed in lieu of speed and profit. As far as education is concerned, however, this attempt to systemize and order something as complex as learning proves futile and detrimental to the basic tenet of enlightenment.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The standardization of the learning process proposes a simplified, singular approach to providing education to those who can afford it. Limiting material provided and lessons taught, tests, grading, function to create an easily controlled system. â€Å"Education† has been transformed and has come to connote â€Å"the transmission from a central source of knowledge to passive recipients† (McClellan. Online). However, the question remains whether this definition can actually suffice. The futility of a packaged education is put into context when it is realized that â€Å"meaningful learning, deep knowledge, collective wisdom and innovative action do not come from slick, pre-packaged course materials and efficient one-way transmission of information† but rather through the more complex idea called learning (McClellan. Online).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Unfortunately, the purpose of the education system, as seen in most institutions of higher education, is in fact to instill in people the notion that they are incapable of learning. The standardization of education highlights the underlying assumption that people â€Å"cannot learn without a pre-determined set of institutionalized options forced upon them† (Kyhall. Online).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The view of education as a commodity, rather than a means for intellectual, spiritual, or interpersonal growth, results in most educators and teachers offering st... ...onal and social growth.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The cost of McDonaldization is clear. In terms of standardizing education, the model is â€Å"anti-diversity, anti-creativity, and anti-democratic† (Kyhall. Online). As a whole, the consumption of the simple solution called education will not solve the problems. The modern world is much too complex to be solved in a single approach. Furthermore, education creates danger in the world by devaluing learning and dehumanizing people. Learning cannot be confined to formal allotments such as school or colleges, and in our changing times, it becomes even more imperative that education be not a product to sell but a tool to enlighten, a means to promote growth rather than division. This is the true purpose of education. And it does not come pre-packaged. Works Cited Gidley, J. and S. Inayatullah. Youth Futures: Comparative Research and Transformative Visions. (2002): 34. Kyhall. "The McDonaldization of Education" 15 Nov. 2012. Web. 28 Oct. 2014.    http://fundamentalsofsoc.edublogs.org/2012/11/15/the-mcdonaldization-of-education/ McClellan, Jock. â€Å"Metaphors, Words, and Models of a Wiser World.† The Swaraj Foundation. Web. 28 Oct. 2014.

Crito Analysis Essay

Rhetorical Question: â€Å"But my dear Crito, why should we pay so much attention to what ‘most people’ think? The reasonable people, who have more claim to be considered, will believe that the facts are exactly as they are† (906). Personification: â€Å"’Consider then, Socrates,’ the Laws would probably continue, ‘whether it is also true for us to say that what you are trying to do to us is not right†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢Ã¢â‚¬  (913). Plato’s â€Å"Crito† is one of the many tremendously influential pieces of literature produced in ancient Greece. It is a thought-provoking, philosophical discussion regarding the role of the individual within society, and how to treat injustice. As part of a series of imaginary dialogues between Socrates and other characters, â€Å"Crito† deals with the conflict Socrates is presented with, as he awaits execution. Crito, one of Socrates’ close friends, urges Socrates to escape prison while he still can. Crito offers several arguments to justify his escape, including the shame he would endure from the public for letting his friend die, and the poor example it would set for the children of Athens. However, Socrates carefully analyzes each of Crito’s arguments for escaping, and proves them invalid through logic and deductive reasoning. The passage, â€Å"But my dear Crito, why should we pay so much attention to what ‘most people’ think? T he reasonable people, who have more claim to be considered, will believe that the facts are exactly as they are† (906), demonstrates the method that Socrates uses to persuade. Socrates asks a rhetorical question to expose the silliness of the Crito’s worries. It represents the wisdom and morals of Socrates. Crito’s strongest argument is that Socrates would be promoting injustice by accepting his unfair sentence. However, Socrates disproves this point as well, by reasoning that he would be harming the Law by escaping death. Socrates, who has tried to live his life as justly and peacefully as possible, would be breaking every moral he ever lived by if he chose to turn against the law. He regards the Law higher than his own life. He sees the Law as a father to him; it has raised him, educated him, and allowed him to live a comfortable life. No matter how much he disagrees with its ways, he cannot bring himself to disobey it. Throughout Socrates’ discussions, he often has conversations with himself and the â€Å"Law†. Plato personifies the â€Å"Law† by giving it human-like qualities and speech; it is suggested that the Law can be hurt, and angry. He does this to distinguish it as a character that has feelings. For example, â€Å"’†¦you will leave this place, when you do, as the victim of a wrong done not by us, the Laws, but by your fellow men. But if you leave in that dishonorable way, returning wrong from wrong, and evil for evil, breaking your agreements with us, and injuring those whom you least ought to injure – yourself, your country, and us ,- then you will face our anger†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (916), demonstrates the authority of the Law. Socrates suggests it is better to die a victim who has lived justly and killed unjustly, than to return the injustice and hurt the Laws. He states, â€Å"†¦it is never right to do a wrong or return a wrong or defend one†™s self against injury by retaliation† (911), which exemplifies the belief that injustice cannot be treated with injustice. Socrates mentions an agreement being broken in this passage; this alludes to the belief that there is a social contract between the individual and government. Socrates reasons that when a citizen lives in Athens, he is indirectly supporting the laws and abiding them. The individual has a moral obligation to the government. While it is beneficial to challenge the government under some circumstances, one threatens the foundation of a stable society by breaking its laws. Socrates, who has lived 70 years of Athenian life, is content by living in accordance with this contract. He feels a state simply cannot exist if laws have no power. He firmly believes in the importance of strict laws, as he calls them the most precious achievement of human history. Besides, he reasons that a man of his age, with little life left to live, would lose his reputation by †Å"clinging so greedily to life, at the price of violating the most stringent laws† (915). For all these reasons, â€Å"Crito† remains an influential piece that poses big questions and promotes critical thinking.

After the Sirens

As soon as the radio is switched on it is described as screaming and it startles the man. He also recognized the radio announcer’s voice but it this was the first time his voice did not sound upbeat and happy as it usually was during his morning show. The author also describes his voice as â€Å"Cracking with hysteria† (Hood, pg. 161) which clearly sets the mood in the story. The way his voice is described stresses the role that the announcer plays in this story.The radio announcer uses repetition right from the beginning of the story and creates suspense, when he repeats â€Å"This not an exercise†(Hood, pg. 160) three times. He also repeats â€Å"This is an air raid warning†(Hood, pg. 160) twice right after the radio is turned on. He continues with the count down right until ten seconds before the bomb hit. The radio announcer sets this man into action to save himself and his family.The man responds immediately by telling his wife not to ask questions an d to dress her self and the baby in many layers of heavy clothing. While she is doing that he gathers up food, water, canned goods and two can openers. The radio announcer also helps the man to decide where they should take cover in the house because he reported the target and the man knew where the blast would be coming from. The radio announcer helped them survive. I was captured immediately by his voice and was taken on a journey of anticipation and suspense.

mark and luke paper

mark and luke paper mark and luke paper Religion 200 9/23/2013 Mark and Luke Reflection Paper In the Access Bible there are many stories included in the New Testament. The stories of Mark and Luke are similar stories written about Jesus. Mark and Luke both talk about the birth and death of Jesus Christ. They also talk about the stories of Easter and Christmas. Although, the book Luke is based on Mark the stories are altered from one another in some way. In the book of Mark, it starts off talking about John the Baptizer. People from all over Jerusalem went to get baptized so their sins were forgiven. When he baptized Jesus he recognized him as him being the son of God. After Jesus was baptized, he went out to the wilderness where he was tested by Satan for forty days. Jesus then goes and performs miracles and heals people. Eventually Jesus and his ministry reach the ruler of Galilee, King Herod Antipas who was against the work that Jesus was performing. The priest also did not like his works and eventually arrested him. The Roman governor agre es that they can crucify him. After being killed Jesus appears to resurrect from the dead. I find this story interesting because Jesus was the son of God and performed many miracles however, still some people failed to see that he was the son of God. They instead thought he was a threat to the Christian religion. I also, think that it’s weird that Jesus can perform some miracles, but not others. I feel that since he was the son of God that God would have saved him from being crucified. Although the book of Mark and Luke are similar they start off in different ways. The book of Luke begins with the birth of John and Jesus. First, it explains how Zechariah and Elizabeth had been trying to conceive a child and were unable to do so. One day an angel named Gabriel came to Zechariah and told him his wife was going to conceive a baby. However, Zechariah did not have a lot of faith in the news that was given to him. Since he did not trust Gabriel’s word, the angel made it so h e could not speak until their child was born. The angel then visited the Virgin Mary and told her she was going to give birth to the son of God. After Jesus was born he was presented at the temple the Jewish prophets, Simeon and Anna knew he was sanctity of Christ. This book also included John baptizing Jesus and the unsuccessful test by Satan. After returning he begins his ministry by preaching about God and performing miracles. Some things emphasized in this book but not the other was Jesus’s forgiveness to sinners, the Passover and the explanation to the disciples that giving is better than receiving. Just like the book of Mark Jesus was crucified and resurrected. However, the story of resurrection is not the same in each book. I think it is interesting that people can tell

Nutrition and Mathew Ms. Fairweather Essay

Nutrition and Mathew Ms. Fairweather Essay Nutrition and Mathew Ms. Fairweather Essay Sanhueza, Mathew Ms. Fairweather ERWC/Period 2 25 September 2012 Consumer Fast food is what everyone is eating now in days. Customers to fast food places are getting obese eating their product. People are starting to blame fast food restaurants for getting the customers fat. When really people should start taking responsibility for what they choose and not choose to eat. It’s the consumers fault for eating fast food when they know it’s bad for them to begin with. I mean the nutrition facts are posted in the restaurant. Consumers should really look into what they are eating for their own good and also their children’s. They need to especially watch what their kids are eating because they are our future. Consumers are blaming fast food companies for their obesity when they are the ones eating fast food to begin with. It just don’t make sense how you are going to eat fast food and blame the companies. People need to stop being lazy and prepare themselves something more healthy to eat. It’s also not right to have fast food commercials to encourage kids to eat their unhealthy fast food product. They add toys to their kid’s meals and they also come out with a new toy every month. The fast food companies don’t care though all they care about is making that money and getting profit. Consumers instead should just accept the fact that fast food companies make you obese if you are unhealthy. If they really don’t want to get obese then don’t eat the fast food that simple. All