ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
Introduction Educational evaluation is the methodical measurement of educational activities in order to determine the outcome. The starting point of evaluation is based on the instruction program adopted, the goals of education and the initiative of the school towards education. Educational evaluation aims at assessing the merits of educational programs as well as the impacts of the initiatives. One way through which evaluation of skills can be achieved is through test administration. There are various types of assessment both formal and informal which can be used by educators to gauge the outcome of educational activities such as reading. Formative Assessment This is a type of assessment where the results of evaluation are used for revision purposes with the aim of improving the performance of learners. This process of assessment is diagnostic in that it provides feedback to teachers as well as learners in the course of instruction . As a result, the skills tested in reading are improved with time (Center for Educational Research and Innovation, 2005, p. 251). Purpose of formative assessment in reading A teacher will often want to know the progress of the students during a reading session. Formative assessment offers grounds for identification of the learning outcome of the students in time. Therefore it is possible to determine their performance. When the teachers are aware of the students’ progress and the problems arising from comprehension, they can use this information in making essential instructional improvements such as remedial teaching, change of instructional methods or reviewing instructional objectives (Boston, 2002, p. 3). Formative assessment is also significant in identifying and helping students who are low achievers as well as those with learning disabilities. This is successful when the teacher adopts different methods which facilitate effective learning for such students. In administering formative assessment, teachers are interested in getting feedback of the learning activities. This feedback helps the learners to be aware of the existing loop holes in relation to the set goals and their current position in terms of skills, knowledge and comprehension. As a result, the student is motivated to take the necessary action directed towards achieving the set goal. In administering formative assessment, there are specific considerations to be observed. These include the level of students to be assessed, the content to be assessed and the resources available for assessment. All these determine the strategies to be used in an assessment (Boston, 2002, p. 4). In reading, the basic skill measured is on the student’s understanding of the read text. A teacher can use brainstorming prior to reading a text for the students to have a picture in mind related to the text. After reading, well ordered questions can be asked concerning the text to gauge the understanding of learners. For instance, in Pollock’s story, ‘B
Introduction Leadership development is a process that involves assessing an organization’s needs, its capability, and the requirements for development (London, 2002). An evaluation is done to establish the support programs required and the expected level of outcome on implementation. For effective leadership, the reaction from others should be understood. This includes the expectations required of them, as well as finding out whether others believe in them. This is important because it helps leaders to decide what they can do in order to improve (Hughes, 2000). This paper is based on leadership and management plan of a regional Transport Authority company (Connections). This company monitors and regulates the provision of light rail ferry services. It also regulates the bus and regional rail, which are controlled by other organizations. It is responsible to five local councils and the national transport regulator. The company has a plan to invest and continue supporting the growing number of passengers with quality customer service. This paper will provide a proposal on how leadership can be introduced and the reward strategy that can be used to improve performance for Connections. It will further outline the various methods of measuring this proposal’s performance and provide an action plan. This strategy will involve two phases. In the first place, the managers will be let to come up with a plan on the way to handle the situation from their own perspective. The second one will be done after the leadership development strategy. Both results will be compared to establish the effect of leadership development on the managers. Performance Improvement Strategies Before the formulation of the working strategy, the available resources should be established in terms of funds, time, and man power (Hannum, Leviton, Martineau & Reinelt, 2007). In the case of Connections, the team that is working is a group of ninety senior and junior managers working on thirty million dollars within a maximum of one year. The task to be completed involves coming up with a good plan in which the organization will meet and exceed the customers’ expectations. This will be done through the improvement of the infrastructure in respect to the service stations and the tracks, as well as technological advancements such as smart ticketing. Such operations require good allocation of funds and a system to monitor the use of these funds to ensure accountability. Connections and the Light rail service are well established organizations that are successful based on the fact that the business has been growing, and their customers have increased. Previously, they have had a joint working relationship, and this gives them an added advantage in working together at the present. The first step shall involve the establishment of a good working envi
Introduction Many people do not understand whether political stability leads to economic growth or it is the vice versa. Either way, the two elements have a close relationship. This essay will discuss the relationship between political stability and economic growth. In addition, it will also identify the theoretical foundations that justify the existing relationship between the two elements. The relationship between political stability and economic growth is undeniable. Economic growth in a country depends on the development strategies created and implemented by its political system (Vahabi, 2004). A country’s political system is very important in determining its fate. Various types of political systems used in the world provide different results, in terms of economic empowerment to citizens and overall economic performance. When there are positive economic results, people will approve the political system in place and continue to give it the necessary support (Vahabi, 2004). Thus, economic growth can lead to political stability. On the other hand, poor economic results lead to destabilized growth and societal changes. The result is that people will condemn the political system in place. Thus, political structures can influence economic growth in a country. Political stability is an essential ingredient for economic growth because it enhances productivity, as well as development of human and physical resources necessary for development (Ricardo, 2010). Discussion Two theories explain the relationship between political stability and economic growth. First, the good growth hypothesis theory argues that good economic growth can trigger stability in a country because people will be ok with the political leaders guiding them (Vahabi, 2004). A country with this kind of atmosphere is unlikely to experience any form of political instability because people will not oppose government programs and the policies developed. The second one is the destabilizing growth hypothesis theory, which argues that poor political systems can easily cause low economic development in a country. Poor economic development is characterized by changes in the general welfare of the people and the quality of life (Ricardo, 2010). These theories show the interdependence between political stability and economic development in a country. Levels of economic development are different in countries that have dictatorial and democratic systems of governance (Ricardo, 2010). For example, dictation systems of governance are used in some parts of Africa and Latin America. This system promotes an exclusive commercial environment where people have to do things in a similar fashion. This has resulted in poor economic growth in those countries. In the case of a democratic system of governance, the economic results are mixed. For example, countries such as India had a democracy in the 1980s, but they experienced a prolonged spell of an economy with retarded growth (McCartney, 2009). The United States of America is one of the oldest democracies. The country has achieved high levels of economic development over a couple of decades. The good thing about a democracy is the abi
Introduction Anaplastic astrocytoma (AA) is an astrocytic glioma which is characterized by high infiltration and shows increased cellularity. Other characteristic features of the WHO grade III glioma is pronounced mitotic activity as well as cytologic atypia. The composition of anaplastic astrocytoma among all astrocytic gliomas is roughly 10-25 percent and peak years for the condition are between 40 and 45 years (Tonn et al., 2006). The anaplastic astrocytoma is a tumor that develops in the brain whereby the nerve supportive cell (astrocytes) develops the glioma. These brain tumors have the capacity to invade peripheral cells and therefore they have a potential to affect the brain hemispheres (white matter) adversely. Being high –grade gliomas, the anaplastic astrocytoma are said to develop from the low-grade gliomas and they differentiate over a given period of time (usually an interval of between less than one year to more than 10 years) to become the anaplastic astrocytoma (Drevelegas, 2010). Due to their diffusive nature, anaplastic astrocytomas tend to recur more frequently and their surgical removal is often difficult. Moreover, surgery is accompanied by the risk of causing disability, depending on the location of the tumor in the brain. Some of the affected areas of the brain are areas that control speech, vision and motor actions and therefore anaplastic astrocytoma can be accompanied by mental problems (Bradle, 2004). From the presentation of anaplastic astrocytoma and its accompanying symptoms such as seizures and epilepsy, the patient often undergoes a life altering experience that may leave the individual devastated. This paper discusses the structural and functional changes that come with anaplastic astrocytoma. Moreover, personality and mental problems that accompany the condition are incorporated in this paper. The diagnostic and therapeutic steps that can be taken to address anaplastic astrocytoma as well as the prognosis of the condition are also discussed in this paper. Development and Presentation of Anaplastic Astrocytoma The WHO III tumors, anaplastic astrocytomas, are known to appear in a later age compared to low-grade astrocytomas, with the incidence peaking during the 40s and 50s. In a retrospective study involving 383 AA patients, Afra et al. (1999) identified the mean age for AA patients as 40.6 years. Anaplastic astrocytoma is more common in males than in females with Afra et al. (1999) reporting a male to female ratio of 106: 82 in a retrospective study involving 383 anaplastic astrocytomas. Tonn and colleagues (2006) describe that AA are primarily found in the cerebral hemispheres. It is identified that most AAs are located both in the frontal and temporal lobes. However, it is also possible to find anaplastic astrocytomas on the brain stem as well as the thalamus of young adults and children. Perifocal edema is seen to accompany the expanding lesions that represent anaplastic astrocytomas. It has also been reported that fron
Hard rock cafe has competent managers who ensure that their customers leave the doors with smiles. This satisfaction makes customers long to come back to the cafe either for refreshment or entertainment. The operations department makes sure that every aspect of operations is in place and just in time. This cafe follows the ten critical decisions of operation management in its operations hence retaining their ability to serve customers better. The critical decision of Service and product design gets into use in hard rock cafe hence making it remain the most preferred joint (Vonderembse and White, 2003). They achieve this by adjusting its menu to offer the latest delicacies. The waiters retain a high level of hospitality, and customers never wait for dishes. They deliver ordered dishes quickly and offer the required assistance to customers as requested. Quality management decision can be evident in the manner in which managers carry out surveys in the restaurant to check the quality of services rendered by workers to customers. This helps keep the quality of services at watch hence ensuring that customers get quality services from hard rock cafe. Process and capacity design decisions take effect in Hard rock cafe, whereby the provision of services involves several processes to ensure achievement of quality in service provision. For example, the chefs make sure all dishes and drinks are ready for customer service. Then the waiters serve meals as ordered by customers, and the finance people take charge to bill the dishes. Then, customers pay their bills to cashiers as they walk out of the cafe. These processes ensure that jobs remain delegated to promote efficiency among workers. On location decision, the hard rock cafes are situated in areas rich in potential customers. For example, in Orlando the hard rock café is at the center of tourist destination, as a result, it serves more than 3500 meals in a day. This means that this location is ideal for its business activities. The layout design decision also creates a scenario viable for customers who look for entertainment. There is space for music lovers where they can dance and listen to music. There is enough space for every activity of the Hard rock café. The decision of human resources and job design get effected in this organization. This is evident where the hard rock cafe staff gets scheduled down to fifteen minutes intervals to promote efficiency. This helps curve situations of understaffing with changes in tourism environment. Supply chain management decision takes place in the hard rock cafe whereby the management ensures that their suppliers are reliable. This assures them of full-time quality provision to customers as there are enough materials and equipment required in the preparation of meals in store (Sutherland and Canwell, 2004). Managers of the cafe practice Inventory management by ensuring replenishment of inventory at the right time. This caution
Introduction Socrates and Plato have left a formidable decisive impression of the relationships of the Western mind. The alleged Dark Ages shone extra luminously credit to the Platonic sun. Nevertheless, in spite of their influence on philosophy in general and Neo-Platonism specifically, their influence on Christianity and the structure of society in the middle ages was enormous (Lane, 16). Main body Plato’s analysis about the world and people in it shows an exact development throughout his life. At the start he adhered to Objectivism, and thought, with Socrates, that the forms are things in the cosmos that decide the way humans are to think and live (Brace, & Kessinger, 121). Although later in his life he twisted to Realism where the forms as customs for living obtain their own means of being and fit into another world outside, past or behind the world we know. However, he was not as raw as Socrates who supposed that since the World motivation was fundamentally good, all people had to do to obtain virtue triumph over evil was to reflect on this Reason. Plato recognized that the job of creating order was not achieved without a struggle. Therefore, he had the earthly Soul as mediator between the two worlds, too participates in the disarray and instability of the fore world. One element of the Soul, the Nous, or reason, he maintained that has to try to order the irrational part of it by getting it to contribute in the Good (Torchia, 86). Plato is in this way reckoning with the reliant in the world. In support of Plato, human beings as well exist in a foreground world in addition to a background world. They have a soul and a body. The body has all the uniqueness of the foreground world and nothing of the background world (Brace, & Kessinger 148). The body is liable to decay and it consists of matter. It comes into life when we are born and passes out of life when we die. Plato’s conception of the human soul is a great deal more complicated than his outlook of the human body (Torchia, 76). Plato pledges to a tripartite soul. Being born in a material body hazes the nous so that it only has indistinct recollections of these forms. But, by consciously focusing one’s brains on these forms in the background world, it is possible for human beings to salvage ac
RidesWithFriends began as a cost sharing strategy that would save individuals travelling in the same direction. The idea to turn into a business similar to a taxi company came later. Nevertheless, it has quite a broad range of target market at hand. To begin with, families and individuals are the largest target market for RidesWithFriends. These comprise of people who are out for holidays and pleasurable rides. In some instances, it might be small, medium, or large groups as well as family members (Zhou 2013, p. 133). Such a target market is obviously profitable for this type of a subsidized car hire services since most of them prefer being driven to specific destinations. Individuals who are working class headed towards the same direction may opt to hire taxi services to distant destinations while limousine services can be the best alternative for luxury car hire services (Fearne, Garcia & Dent 2012). It is crucial to mention that RidesWithFriends has positioned itself in the market as a cheaper alternative to the ordinary car hire business. Therefore, by targeting the above segment of the market, it will be able to reap the desired returns. In any case, the above target market comprises of the largest segment of travelers who would like to cut down on travelling costs (Zhou 2013, p. 132). This target market is also made up of travelers mostly located in urban and suburban areas. The second most likely target market is the usual high-end business traveler who is keen on not just being dropped to a destination, but also excellence in service provision. Business travelers value both cost and comfort in the course of discharging their duties. This implies that the company will have to set itself in strategic locations such as airports and hotels. Activities taking place in step one are very important in the value chain of RidesWithFriends. The core business goal of RidesWithFriends is to make profit. However, this objective cannot be easily achieved unless the management team at RidesWithFriends peruse and analyze activities and/or services being offered to clients. In other words, the activities of the car rental firm should aim to improve customer satisfaction and experience on a daily basis. Therefore, it is crucial for the company to brainstorm the state of its current activities and whether customers get value for their moneys (Zhou 2013, p. 133). Analysis of activities at the RidesWithFriends firm should entail step-by-step
A global brand is a brand, used by a product or service, that retains the same or similar name, image, and marketing strategies, in different countries. This means using the same imagery, messaging, celebrity endorsements and other elements of advertising in multiple countries. Although local firms can be attracted to translate the messaging into each country’s language, the broad marketing strategy remains the same regardless of location. The primary advantage of global branding is the ability to save costs that developing a separate marketing strategy for every country or region would entail. A marketing strategy needs to be developed once with relatively low funding required to translate into local languages. Another critical advantage of global branding is the increased efficiency when rolling out new products or services. They can also be developed once, then, if necessary, adapted to local markets. When the necessity arises, the products or services can be updated or changed in response to changes in resources, market trends, or customer demands, quickly and efficiently. Consistency across regions is a third key advantage of using a global brand as customers can recognize the good or service regardless of where they are. Furthermore, a global brand creates an image of dependability for the product, making it more attractive to consumers. Such a brand is also easier for customers to recognize. Therefore, global branding is beneficial both to the company that offers the good or service and the consumers who buy it. Operating in markets across country borders and cultures using the same imagery can be challenging. For instance, a product’s English name can read as something offensive in a different language. Less obviously, different markets can have different demands, meaning that a company’s offer can be adapted to that market in ways that exceed a simple translation of its marketing materials. Thus, regional preferences, expectations, tastes, economic conditions, culture, and other local factors must be considered wh