Saturday, August 31, 2019

Gilbert & Sullivan- the Mikado

Alex Ewanyk American Musical Theater History Writing Assignment 1 Gilbert & Sullivan: The Mikado 2/7/13 Most would agree to say that two is better than one. William Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan are by any means no exception to this. Gilbert, a playwright, and Sullivan, a composer, combined their talents to make the dream team of musical theatre. Together they have made some of the greatest and sophisticated musicals the world will ever see. The best of their shows are still being performed today, one of which is their famous musical, The Mikado.The Mikado is a comical musical which poked fun at a few aspects of England’s culture at the time. It quickly became popular among both the British and Americans. It eventually became popular in many other countries, which was an extraordinary feat at the time. Gilbert and Sullivan have an interesting history before coming together to make their great works such as The Mikado. Before William Gilbert started writing, he was an attorney. O n the side he would write poems which led to a series of his illustrated comical poems getting published by a few popular British magazines.This eventually opened the door to his career as a playwright. During the time Gilbert was starting his writing career, Arthur Sullivan was already making waves as a serious composer. He knew this was what he wanted to do with his life and for good reason. He was a great composer who could make a song to fit any mood. Sullivan was already making a great deal of money with his works and felt very comfortable, but both he and Gilbert could never have foreseen what was next to come. In the 1860’s John Hillingshead, the owner of the Gaiety Theatre hired Gilbert to write and Sullivan to compose their first work together titled Thepsis.In the crowd at the showing of Thepsis was aspiring producer Richard D'Oyly Carte and saw something in the work of Gilbert and Sullivan. He eventually contacts them to write a curtain raiser which turned out to b e very profitable. After the money started coming in, G;S were hooked. From then on, their career together officially started. The rest is history. One of Gilbert and Sullivan’s most famous work was a comedy called The Migato. The synopsis of this amusing musical is as follows. Before the story begins, Nanki-Poo, the Mikado’s son, fled from his father’s palace to escape being forced to marry Katisha, an elderly lady of the court.Nanki-Poo has become a traveling performer who falls in love with Yum-Yum, however he can’t marry her because Ko-Ko, her guardian, has decided to marry her himself. Nanki-Poo learns that Ko-Ko has been sentenced to death for violating the Mikado’s law against flirting. Nanki-Poo arrives in Titipu to determine if Ko-Ko has been executed, and therefore, if Yum-Yum is free to marry him. He encounters Pooh-Bah, a corrupt public official, and Pish-Tush, a noble, who informs him that Ko-Ko was saved at the last moment by a set of events, and then raised to the high rank of Lord High Executioner.Nanki-Poo loses hope when he learns that Ko-Ko plans to marry Yum-Yum immediately. There have been no executions in Titipu since Ko-Ko became Lord High Executioner. Ko-Ko receives a letter from The Mikado ordering him to execute someone or else lose his position as Lord High Executioner. As Ko-Ko ponders his dilemma of trying to find someone to execute, Nanki-Poo appears, saying that he’s going to commit suicide because he can’t marry Yum-Yum, the women he loves. Ko-Ko offers to allow Nanki-Poo to marry Yum-Yum for one month, after which, he will become his execution victim.Suddenly, Katisha appears and discovers Nanki-Poo, her lost love. After she is driven away, she rushes to inform the Mikado that his son has been found. As it goes into Act II, Yum-Yum is preparing for her one-month marriage to Nanki-Poo. Ko-Ko arrives with the shocking revelation that he has discovered a law decreeing that when a ma rried man is executed, his widow must be buried alive. Because of this the marriage between Yum-Yum and Nanki-Poo is canceled. Nevertheless, Ko-Ko must find a â€Å"substitute† for execution or he will be decapitated by The Mikado. Nanki-Poo contrives a solution to save Ko-Ko’s life.A false contract confirming his own execution, but in exchange, he must be allowed to marry Yum-Yum and leave the country forever. Ko-Ko agrees. The Mikado finally arrives in Titipu. Ko-Ko believes that the purpose of his visit is to confirm that an execution has taken place so he produces the contract and proceeds to describe the execution with gusto. However, The Mikado has actually come to Titipu in search of his lost son and learns from the contract that Ko-Ko and his ministers executed his son. He declares them guilty of â€Å"composing the death of the Heir Apparent†.Their only hope to avoid execution is to show Nanki-Poo’s alive. Nanki-Poo hesitates to reveal himself, f earing that if Katisha learns that he has married Yum-Yum she will have him executed. The dilemma is resolved by Ko-Ko, who, at Nanki-Poo’s suggestion, woos, wins, and weds Katisha. In the end, all conflicts are put to an end as they celebrate Nanki-Poo’s marriage to Yum-Yum and Ko-Ko’s marriage to Katisha. This show quickly became extremely popular in England due to how it related to them but was also popular in the U. S. because of how funny, amusing, and ingenious it was.During the time The Mikado was created, the British were going through an â€Å"all things Japanese† craze. They were in a sense obsessed with the Japanese culture and customs for some reason. So in a sense, Gilbert was poking fun at this obsession while writing this play which centers on Japan in a humorous fashion. Let it be understood that he wasn’t making fun of Japan, but playing with the fact that people were trying to mimic the Japanese ways. As The Mikado got introduced to the U. S. , Americans actually started to adopt this trend of all things Japanese. â€Å"Mikado-Mania† was the name given to the American craze.A funny fact about The Mikado is that it’s one of the few musicals that every caused a diplomatic argument. When the prince of Japan visited England in 1907, the work was temporarily banned from being performed. This ban in turn backfired because the prince actually was hoping to see the play during his visit. This fact alone shows how widespread talk of The Mikado was. Gilbert and Sullivan will go down in history as one of the greatest stage musical teams of all time, if not the greatest. With works like The Mikado, how could they not be one of the greatest?Their plays have even been performed in other languages such as French, German, and Yiddish. After 120 years The Mikado is still one of the most frequently produced musicals of all time and fully deserves to be. Bibliography Ainger, Michael. Gilbert and Sullivan: A Dual Biography. N. p. : Oxford UP, 2002. Print. Kenrick, John. â€Å"Gilbert & Sullivan 101. † Musicals101. com. N. p. , 2000. Web. 1 Feb. 2013. ;http://www. musicals101. com/g;s101. htm;. â€Å"Plot Summary. † Gilbert and Sullivan Archive. N. p. , n. d. Web. 06 Feb. 2013. ;http://math. boisestate. edu/gas/mikado/html/summary. html;.

Friday, August 30, 2019

Jane Loevinger’s stages of ego development Essay

I have done much research of theories on; stages of life, stages in life, how and why, we all got to be how we are. Of course, I have my own theory, which is because and in reference to; all the research I had done. However, I want to state that I most agree with; Jane Loevinger’s philosophy, that; â€Å"this sense of the ego or â€Å"I† as an active interpreter of experience—changes in significant ways over the course of human life. Loevinger’s model of ego development charts those changes over time.† Jane Loevinger had her own theory of stages that human beings go through in becoming who they are; hers begs to differ in the sense of; it is all how we categorize what we have learned in life; Loevinger tells us how we organize (in our mind) those contents I-2 Impulsive- Impulsive Egocentric, dependent Bodily feelings Delta Self-protective Opportunistic Manipulative, wary â€Å"Trouble,† control I-3 Conformist- Respect for rules Cooperative, loyal Appearances, behavior I-3/4 Conscientious- Exceptions allowable Helpful, self-aware Feelings, problems, adjustment Conformist. I-4 Conscientious- Self-evaluated Intense, responsible Motives, traits, achievement standards, self-critical. I-4/5 Individualistic- Tolerant Mutual Individuality, development, roles. I-5 Autonomous- Coping with conflict Interdependent Self-fulfillment, psychological causation. I-6 Integrated- Cherishing individuality Identity. In going over the table in layman’s terms, I think it is obvious that she is describing; growing up in general, and what would be helpful and healthy for a person to experience. The table does not list 1-1, which I believe that is because it would be what one views (optical) as a baby, before one can verbalize or think in any cognitive way. She starts with Impulse control, which is agreeable, because no one has morals/values, and/or any sense of right/wrong, at the beginning of his or her lives. She also mentions; manipulative in this category, which is also agreeable because a person will be manipulative at a young age in trying to gain control, which I think leads us into the second category of; conformist. I believe that is agreeable also, for one is learning to conform without manipulation, (because of the earlier manipulation), in learning their own  assertive control and what they have decided they like. Next, Conscientious – Individualistic, is people becoming aware of everything, especially other people around them and how they are different. They are learning to be patient and understand that each is different, at first they realize they must tolerate others, then, going into autonomous, they more than tolerate differences, they also accept them. The final stage is; Integrated, which to me is; self-satisfaction, in the knowing that one knows life and understands it. They accept all that they are, their purpose, and everyone else’s purpose. They understand each person has a role in this world and are now more than accepting of it; they are; grateful. It is feeling of understanding. Their mind, body and soul is satisfied.

Implications Limitations And Recommendations Education Essay

Chapter 5This chapter focuses on deductions, restrictions of this research plus recommendations for those who intend to utilize and develop farther research in the hereafter.5.1 DeductionsBased on the research and accomplishment of e-learning, and the findings presented in the preceding parts, this chapter offers deductions including literature reappraisal on e-learning every bit good as Moodle ‘s natures in online authorship that have late investigated at some colleges/universities as STU, HCMCOU.5.1.1 Deductions of literature reappraisalEconomy development, societal alterations and technological procedure revolutionise instruction and acquisition in educational organisations. E-learning, the signifier of web-based instruction and acquisition, is built with a system of networked computing machines that includes the waiter and workstations. Server is a computing machine plan that provides specific services to client package running on other computing machines. Teachers will mak e class content that consists of needed accomplishments and cognition in the signifier of text, image, life, streaming picture, sound, etc. that can convey to pupils in distance acquisition via the Internet, intranet/extranet. In world, the person or organisations can easy set up a free online school ( e-school ) , since constructing the web substructure does non necessitate a high disbursal as building existent school and complicated accredited formalities are non required, while pupils have non to pay a travel fee, save clip to travel to school for analyzing.5.1.2 Deductions of research findingsThe findings of this survey revealed assorted deductions of on-line instruction and online composing instruction and the web site.5.1.2.1 Deductions of on-line instructionMost of the picks about scenes of web site and class in during installation and configuring Moodle will impact the user experience. After holding been making the classs and classs, and choosing blocks to utilize, participa nts create a model for their site. Then they ‘re ready to make full their classs with larning stuff. Moodle ‘s classs contain anything that can look on the World Wide Web ( texts, images, sound, picture, games, etc. ) . Based on the relationship between participants, Moodle ‘s content is classified into â€Å" inactive class stuff † , â€Å" synergistic class stuff † and â€Å" societal class stuff † ( Rice, W. , 2010 ) . In Moodle, inactive class stuffs consist of resources that the pupil reads, but does n't interact with. They are added from the Add a resource†¦ drop-down bill of fare. Using this bill of fare, pupils can make text pages, web pages, links to anything on the Web, the class ‘s directories of files, a label screening any text or image, multimedia files utilizing sound, images and movie. Synergistic class stuffs are activities, which help pupils to pass on with spouses, teachers or the acquisition system, include Assignments, Lesson, Quizzes, SCORM/AICC, Survey, Choices, etc. They are created by snaping â€Å" turning the redaction on † , so â€Å" Add an activity†¦ † . SCORM ( Sharable Content Object Reference Model ) is a bundle of elaborate descriptions that permit handiness, reusability and interoperability of larning objects. Social class stuffs are 1s in which student-to-student or student-to-teacher interaction exists. They include Chat, Glossary, Wiki, Workshop, etc. that is chosen from the â€Å" Add an activity†¦ † bill of fare with the button â€Å" turning the redaction † on. Owing to voluminous signifiers, attractive visual aspect, manageable activities, bidirectional exchange and collaborative acquisition, Moodle has become a powerful tool which helps participants better and develop composing accomplishment beautifully and variedly. Therefore, in schools, Moodle is supported and recommended for usage to raise preparation quality. However, e-learning system with Moodle non implemented over a big country, and merely installed in outstanding universities or high quality centres due to expensive cost of proficient substructure and a deficiency of clever experts of information engineering. Furthermore, e-learning preparation classs in foreign linguistic communications sections are restricted in the sum of clip every bit good as course of study stuffs are excessively hard for participants to use and use in on-line composing instruction and acquisition. Their computer-literacy is non plenty high to cover with jobs and troubleshoot mistakes in a computing machi ne system.5.1.2.2 Deductions of online authorshipSince the Moodle ‘s characteristics satisfy status and construction of learning and larning activities based on educational theory, it is an ideal platform for larning direction system. Through on-line activities, pupils normally enjoy executing authorship activities. They non merely experience comfy and easy to add images, sound, picture, and a game component every bit good as to modify the colour, the font face, font size and layout of the text but besides diversify on-line authorship activities from simple to complex. Sing the angle of a text unit, they can carry on undertakings bit-by-bit from taking appropriate word degree, composing accurate sentence, doing paragraphs, and eventually, building whole text. When clever at authorship, pupils have adequate cognition and accomplishments to build and post the Hagiographas on the Internet so that other people can entree to and portion them. Producing texts at word degree implies much significance: ( 1 ) How to utilize words right, efficaciously, and imaginatively ; ( 2 ) How to separate sets of normally baffled words ; ( 3 ) How to associate words to definitions and illustrations, etc. All of undertakings help us to show what we think. In the web site, classs introduced some typical vocabulary pattern as a crossword, a fill-gap and duplicate words. In add-on, some other points are added to help pupils to finish their accomplishments. There are several agencies to bring forth texts at sentence degree. Student can pattern typical exercisings as swinging buildings and parallel construction. Teachers can make talks by utilizing the Quizzes faculty to show peculiar grammar point in an interesting manner. The texts are connected with images and pictures and sounds from web sites. Students can have enlightening feedback on attempts to consequently do them happier and better their acquisition. From responses of pupils, the instructor can wholly better the feedback and appropriately alter the inquiries. Through this, they can raise pupils ‘ consciousness of how certain types of the sentences are structured. Producing paragraphs and whole texts incorporates many procedures. Here, we emphasize the procedure of roll uping, sharing and developing thoughts, so be aftering, outlining, proofreading and revising texts. Writing can be organized in single activities or in a little group activity or a whole category activity. Feedback on authorship can be immediate ( as in Activities 1 and 2 ) or delayed ( as in Activities 4 to 12 ) . One of the attractive characteristics of Moodle is that it enables composing to be enhanced by images and striking layouts. After garnering informations, pupils will spread out, explore and form a set of thoughts for authorship by excess faculty as mindmap. The add-on faculty, Mindmap is a utile tool to portion and develop and brainstorm composing assignments. It is related to other activities as Journal, Assignment, Wiki to do composing originative. Personal profile is a Moodle ‘s faculty that helps pupils prosecute in composing personal profiles in production activities. After happening out the personal profiles of equals, they can notice on these personally in schoolroom, or could post the remark on a Moodle web page for a comment. Students ‘ authorship is showcased on Moodle site by making a Moodle Blog or put ining the add-on OUblog to let other pupils to notice on the web logs. If utilizing the Book faculty, pupils can non redact pages and instructors has to look into and import this composing into Book before it exists. In other options of learning composing an essay, the instructor finds a subject that is appropriate to the category and illustrates it in an highly attractive manner. The Glossary faculty allows pupils to show the collected information. After composing about the subject, pupils will add images to do the entry luring. Then, the instructor grades the pupils ‘ work. The concluding result is the signifier of a mini encyclopaedia that gives the information about subjects. The Chat faculty supplying models for pupils to rephrase what they ‘re stating to acquire their significance through authorship. The Assignment faculty to supply a stimulation, motivate pupils and to supply a more realistic background and do up a authorship undertaking. It allows pupils to take portion in procedure authorship in which they can subject a bill of exchange, acquire feedback, re-submit other bill of exchanges and acquire better feedback. To actuate pupils and provoke their response, the instructor normally use the images of existent life or a set of exposure of an event involved. A series of aggregation of copyright-free images can be searched for on the web, or private exposures are selected to function for composing. The Forum faculty is a topographic point where all pupils can add their slideshows by uploading exposures and captions and participants can read and notice on other pupils ‘ slideshows. The Wiki faculty helps pupils collaborate on a authorship undertaking and utilize different an d separate efforts to lend to the same undertaking. Alternatively, with the characteristics of Wiki, merely group members can see and modify its web pages involved.5.1.2.3 Deductions of the web siteOn-line instruction is extremely assessed by participants in the fact that â€Å" Modular Layout † is sensible and scientific, â€Å" Interface † is attractive, user-friendly and intuitive, â€Å" Management † of registration, clip, activity, and class is rigorous in exactitude but flexible in extent, â€Å" Appraisal Schemes † is broad in scope, varied in type, â€Å" Concerted Learning † is conducted in student-to-student and student-to-teacher interaction. However, the ratio of understanding of instructors is instead higher than the ratio of understanding of pupils. In instructors ‘ and pupils ‘ sentiments, online authorship classs are performed in the process-based attack and genre-based procedure, elements labelled by ( 1 ) and ( 2 ) are selected much more than others. In the teacher-to-student ratio of choice, the former is instead higher than the latter. The web site received the positive response from the respondents. Almost sentiments assumed that classs are enlightening and comprehensive. In footings of interaction, class stuffs allow participants to see, to read and mention to and class activities enable participants to interact with the spouses, the acquisition system, or others. In footings of authorship activities, class stuffs are recognized from composing order and text construction and learning activities encourage to show personal sentiments. The figure of instructors chooses picks labelled by ( 1 ) and ( 2 ) is instead higher than the figure of pupils.5.2 RestrictionsMoodle becomes Learning Management System popular and widespread and is indispensable larning environment in the educational system. Its activities are ever enhanced and promoted. However, this does non intend that Moodle has non its restrictions. From this research plus some other bing research, restrictions can be recognized.5.2.1 Restrictions of the litera ture reappraisalGenerating from critical literature reappraisal, e-learning restrictions can be considered in the corner of engineerings, methodological analysis, personal psychological science issues and other issues. With the statement in this portion, the things agree with e-learning besides accords with Moodle.Technologies:Necessary hardware and other ICT resources are core elements required for e-learning execution in schools and establishments. In order to hold entree to the Internet for online acquisition, authorities organisation and non-government organisation spent a big sum of money to purchase desktop, laptop computing machines, pressmans and ICT hardware for colleges, universities and bureaus that implemented e-learning. Persons that have demands of online acquisition can purchase or lease necessary computing machine equipment so as to larn. E-learners have entree to the Internet without clip limitation but the outstanding benefits are non executable for some people populating in farther and distant countries due to a deficiency of services for accessing the Internet. High-speed bandwidth is easy accessed in the cardinal universities while it has problem with the other schools with hapless Internet backgrounds. Uys ( 2003 ) stated that limited telecommunication substructure and installations are impeding the e-learning procedure. The limited Internet coverage can be hinderances to all educational constitutions nationwide that are able to near information services, digital educational information, and on-line preparation engineering. Technological barriers can severely impact Internet application as equipment failed, malfunctioned, or asynchronous, clip to larn a new engineering and trouble to schedule schoolrooms with engineering. Limited bandwidth due to a slow ADSL connexion and hapless transportation rate of a communications web may impede the acquisition procedure as the downloading of multimedia stuffs, sometimes interrupted or students'answers for their teacher during an on-line treatment session. In educational activities, picture conferencing as synergistic telecommunication engineerings which allow two or more pupils to pass on with bipartisan picture and audio transmittals at the same time. It might non be executable for scholars who use the slow DSL connexion from their places. Broadband service is overloaded and limited to certain locations where there are higher population denseness sharing Internet capacity. Consequently, it is easy recognized that most of the e-learning classs are merely text-based as the Internet bandwidth is limited.Personal psychological science issues:Newcomers get accustomed to believing that e-learning environment is the same as traditional acquisition environment. To derive effectual work, they need to psychologically fix for the online composing environment. Therefore, to hold accurate orientation and to avoid proceeding by test and mistake, they need enlightening direction from on-line classs every bit good as website Godheads. Besides, Dearnley ( 2003 ) stated that fledglings to untraditional acquisition may acquire lost because they do non cognize what to make as there is no elaborate counsel from the instructor. E-learning is the merchandise of the high engineering that requires e-learners to hold on new accomplishments and command associated with it. New e-learning pupil feel puzzled as exposing to the unconventional e-learning environment and separation from others. In add-on, the deficiency of ICT accomplishments is one of the obstructions in e-learning preparation that adheres to new procedure and use connected with the engineering. As a consequence, deriving new engineerings is a complication to the novice in e-learning. E-learning is a learning activity that requires several self-denials and independency. It encourages the independent and comfy manner of acquisition, but the scholars ‘ self-motivation and self-denial are the finding factors in keeping and finishing analyzing. Schott et Al. ( 2003 ) asserted that the e-learning success rate was really dependent on pupils ‘ abilities to be autonomous and internally motivated. Naturally, e-learning pupils have a higher dropout rate than their conventional opposite numbers ( Abouchedid & A ; Eid, 2004 ) . E-learners need extra encouragement and support, to counterbalance for the isolation ; motive is the key for them to successfully finish the class ( Lessons from the e-learning, 2002 ) .Specifications of on-line class:Harmonizing to a new attack to learner-centered instructional design, pupils can command and set their coursework. In an e-learning environment, scholars need to pull off their acquisition and schedule their assignments ( Gran t & A ; Spencer, 2003 ) . This is instead different from the traditional acquisition environment where scholars need to go to some classs in physical schoolrooms, and they need to make their assignments or take scrutinies within a certain clip frame ( Miller & A ; Corley, 2001 ) . As a consequence, e-learning scholars may take a longer clip to graduate, as compared to traditional pupils who need to finish their surveies within a clip frame ( Choy, 2002 ) .Requirement of online authorship accomplishmentWriting accomplishment is one of the indispensable accomplishments in e-learning environment and traditional environment. Learners with weak composing accomplishments can be at a obstruction to an e-learning environment ( Smith & A ; Rupp, 2004 ) . In on-line acquisition, it is a text-based environment that scholars need to frequently communicate in. Consequently, that exists on many defects in composing accomplishments severely impact on the acquisition procedure and ability to show p upils ‘ idea.MethodologyAnother restriction in e-learning is the deficiency of existent communicating. Schott et Al. ( 2003 ) expressed that the deficiency of physical interactions made e-learning pupils feel stray and discerning. In an online environment, it is excessively hard for pupils to have advice, when compared to face-to-face schoolroom. In unrecorded schoolrooms, interacting with the teachers or equals for information, scholars are cognizant of the job easy and larn more quickly. Body position, gestures, facial looks, and oculus motions do non be in e-learning. An illustration is when a pupil stated that he missed â€Å" facial and manus gestures † , from which of import cues can be derived ( Meyer,2003 ) . The deficiency of lively interactions will exclude pupils ‘ observation and can suppress their feelings and emotions, may forestall teachers from giving their feedbacks on pupil ‘s demands and consequently lead to restrictions of the acquisition procedure. E-learning non merely lacks physical interaction but besides blamed for non holding installations like traditional environment: internship, voluntary chances, entree to physical library, book shops, calling and development guidance ( McCraken, 2004 ) . Some acquisition establishments tried to supply these installations but they were excessively limited ( McCraken, 2004 ) . McCraken farther pointed out jobs such as budget, compatibility of package, and college policies, that hindered the development of incorporate back uping systems. In fact, pupils need to execute a batch of life world observations in nature every bit good as in society so as to develop their accomplishments and cognition, and this may be difficult to recognize through e-learning simulations. A set of method is based on engineerings and are developing and changing quickly along with e-learning. Traveling into e-learning is hard for teachers who are already familiar with the traditional instruction environment ( Angelina, 2002a, p.12 ; Strauss, 2003 ; Kearsley, 2000 ; Wang, 2003 ) . Strauss ( 2003 ) said that passage into e-learning is instead hard as it involves transition of physical instruction stuffs into e-learning stuffs and this takes clip to finish. Many teachers are non exposed to the necessary package, and do non desire to alter their instruction manners ( Levy, 2003 ) . In an online schoolroom, teachers are besides required holding many pedagogical accomplishments to pass on, usher and buttocks efficaciously. As a consequence, teachers need e-learning preparation before transitioning ( Levy, 2003 ; Strauss, 2003 ; Pachnowski, 2003 ) . A manner of learning in an online schoolroom is peculiar and different from a general manner of a traditional schoolroom. Due to underestimating e-learning, some teachers might compare it with face-to-face acquisition environments. All these complicates teachers ‘ passage towards e-learning.Interface designBad design of the e-course is a major affair for scholars and e-learning suppliers. It make users a stressed province and non good treated feeling ( Ivergard & A ; Hunt, 2005 ) . They farther mentioned this makes users to experience disgruntled and eventually give up larning. E-course design should be adapted for the demands of the scholars: it should be easy to utilize and pupils should hold easy entree to direction and information ( Howell, Williams & A ; Lindsay 2003 ; James-Gordon, Young & A ; Bal, 2003 ) . Svensson ( 2004 ) said that it is non easy to plan the e-learning e-course, as it should non be limited to merely content and should include other constituents to heighten acquisition. In brief, the hapless serviceability of the on-line class will forestall the scholar ‘s ability to get c ognition ( Smulders, 2003 ) . Since e-learning is normally designed fundamentally for practical cognition and apprehension of the ICT, it may be excessively proficient for ICT novitiates ( James-Gordon, Young & A ; Bal, 2003 ) . Therefore, to continue popularity and easy serviceability, e-course is redesigned for scholars from all backgrounds and categories to successfully entree and efficaciously usage. Although there are many e-courses available in the market, Sambrook ( 2003 ) mentioned that it is non easy for scholars to take a suited courseware that comes with relevant content and equal degrees. Before making or building an on-line class, the trainers and teachers need to see and measure package applications every bit good as the quality of the preparation stuffs and course of study. The rightness of the courseware may increase the scholar ‘s satisfaction ( Grooms, 2003 ) . Therefore, it is hard how to accommodate the quality of package execution and preparation class to reenforce cognition and accomplishment.Other issuesAlthough e-learning provides limitless entree anytime and anyplace, this may non be favorable to some persons. Dringus ( 2003 ) explained that scholars can post any inquiries in the forum or direct electronic mails whenever they are free ( even during weekends ) . This neverending acquisition and learning procedure will easy emphasize both the scholars and particularly the teachers ( Newton, 2003 ) . It is besides more time-consuming to steer on-line pupils, delegate a undertaking and give pupils a feedback on their Hagiographas. These e-learning teachers have heavy work loads and this may sabotage their public presentation and even cut down their opportunities to turn with the environment ( Dringus, 2003 ) . This will impact their work in learning or assist pupils, hence scholars may merely acquire an unacceptable scope of services. It is instead difficult to obtain academic honestness and justness in footings of on-line appraisal. because the e-learner can portion the username and the watchword with others during unsupervised online trials. Patalong ( 2003 ) provided another good illustration of rip offing when pupils shared or â€Å" cooperated † during an on-line scrutiny in Coventry University, United Kingdom. Submiting the online assignments, e-learners can be dishonest because they may trust on a spouse for aid to make the assignment. Schott et Al. ( 2003 ) referred to all these jobs as â€Å" digital cheating † , when scholars â€Å" utilised † computing machine engineering for rip offing or plagiarism. Many unlicensed schools have organized e-learning classs. Consequently, a figure of companies and bureaus do non acknowledge online grades and acknowledgment of e-learning classs is presently certain restriction. Therefore, achieving a making with accreditation position from e-learning is normally a job for pupils ( Collins, Buhalis & A ; Peters, 2003 ) . It is normal to admit that there be some on-line instruction institutes even selling grades for a certain sum of tuition fees and without any type of appraisal ( Khoo & A ; Azizan, 2004 ) . Due to the characteristic and map of e-learning, it must be examined further carefully and thoroughly scrutiny for accreditation and acknowledgment. Similarly, Eaton pointed out that accreditation is hard for distance acquisition establishments, as there are issues in the rating of instruction quality and the appraisal of the effectivity of the distance acquisition model ( Baker, 2003 ) . Taking portion in online acquisition, scholars from all over the universe will confront the troubles because of difference in clip zones. It is instead difficult for the teacher to schedule an on-line category to run into and fulfill the demands of different pupils from different clip zones. It is apparent to place that in an on-line class, pupils barely stipulate a clip period for group treatment due to the different clip zones in some subdivisions. Despite e-learning ‘s current popularity, does it hold any restrictions? Evan & A ; Hasse ( 2001 ) found out that scholars are reasonably missing in computing machine proficiency and, since e-learning is centered around computing machine engineerings, it is a barrier to those scholars without good computing machine accomplishments. In add-on, surveies of Evan & A ; Hasse ( 2001 ) , O'Regan ( 2003 ) and Rovai & A ; Jordan ( 2004 ) found out that scholars face limited physical interactions among themselves in e-learning.5.2.2. Restrictions of the web siteDue to the chief limitations on allocated clip and e-learning ‘s substructure, the empirical survey and its the consequences have the restrictions cited as follows. The empirical research is conducted on Moodle for 2nd linguistic communication learning with authorship activities. Therefore, it has yet non clarified the mutual relationship with other accomplishments that well contribute to success of on-line authorship. The survey was limited to merely two features – Moodle ‘s characteristics and procedure and genre-oriented authorship direction in the foreign linguistic communication section of schools. Simultaneous, the appraisal of the web site is based on these two cues. Therefore, the other issues as subjects on Moodle, excess plans, SCORM bundle, etc. are neglected. The information collected about respondents focused chiefly on students/teachers. Therefore, the probe does non execute on employees in vocational administrations and concern endeavors that are of import takers to pull general decisions of the installing and application of Moodle in the cognition economic system. Students ‘ on-line academic degree and instructors ‘ distant preparation criterion are still limited due to inadequate preparation course of study and a deficiency of ICT resources in institutes. Therefore, the consequences of research into on-line composing instruction will take to certain restraints on application of Moodle. Survey research and schoolroom state of affairs observation are chief research methods used in the thesis. The other research methods as instropection research, correlational research and experimental research are glanced up rapidly merely to back up some diminutive inside informations in research inquiries. Therefore, deep illations from an explorative probe are scarce to pull from.5.3 RecommendationsThe recommendations are drawn from the literature reappraisal and findings of the online composing study consequences achieved in this research are put frontward.5.3.1 Recommendation for farther research into Moodle ‘s systemThe followers is recommendations for farther research in the hereafter on the application and usage of the Moodle package in online composing instruction. In authorship, the subjects can be normally assigned for pupils and sometimes pupils can besides choose a subject on their ain and have a opportunity to transcribe anything they are cognizant of and cognize really good. Subjects are typical topics of developing paragraphs and essays and can be modified to suit about any sort of composing assignment. Teachers can farther mention to subjects through the web site reference or the book about authorship. Owing to restraints on clip and finance, the writer merely utilize the nucleus faculties and some add-on faculties to implement activities on Moodle. To similar surveies in the hereafter, it is suggested that research workers should use or develop authoring packages or bespoke package plans appropriately redesigned to their pupils. For illustration, an excess plan that helps pupils develop and form a set of thoughts to set up semantic maps for composing. This plan is intended to reenforce Moodle ‘s modular layout and attraction in online composing instruction by implanting sound, picture, and hyperlinks in it. In add-on to utilizing Moodle ‘s techniques in class activities, the writer besides suggests a farther survey of the interoperable theoretical account between on-line composing instruction and traditional authorship learning so as to make links harmonious and inheritable between regular method and technology-based method every bit good as between process-based composing direction and modular object-oriented authorship instruction. An experimental research is conducted among schools and concern endeavors in Vietnam by utilizing the same methodological analysis and measurement instrument to pull comparative decisions and to light positions on Moodle ‘s characteristics and activities It has been suggested that newest version of Moodle will be used because it integrates with connectivist, the emerging theory of larning for the digital bringing to explicate the technological impact on life doctrine: unrecorded, love and larn. A research is conducted to find whether Moodle ‘s resources, activities other characteristics, etc. are conditions necessary and sufficient for on-line activities in general and on-line authorship in peculiar. A farther study research is conducted to develop a package to make packaged on-line talks for usage in a distributed instruction environment, based on developing direction system as criterion of IMS Global Learning Consortium ( IMS GLC ) and Advanced Distributed Learning ( ADL )5.3.2 Recommendations for development research into e-learning in the hereafterDue to agencies and the topic of acquisition, the undermentioned recommendations for possible future research of e-learning are as follows:Mobile engineerings:Because of technological development and scholars who are without substructure or individuals whose occupations require them to continuously travel. Therefore, larning activities need to be transferred through nomadic engineerings as nomadic phones, PDAs ( personal digital helpers ) , digital pen and paper, etc.Simulations in e-learning procedure:Simulation engineering is used to analyse the possible result of a given state of affairs based on one or more known variables. The purpose of the simulation is to minimise an unwanted result, but to increase the opportunities for success. So, simulations may heighten talks, presentations, existent universe pattern, immersive environment and experiential acquisition.Learning personalizationOwing to the diverseness in individualised learning population, the diverseness in the entree media and modes, and diverseness in the context of usage of such engineerings. The most popular LMS like Moodle still does non back up larning personalization. Therefore, Researchers need to bridge the spread between the universes of Learning Management Systems ( LMSs ) and Adaptive Learning Environments ( ALEs ) . So, they map personalization functionality on different faculties of LMSs. Similarly, research workers of ALEs integrate their ALE within bing LMSs.Open beginning e-learning toolsFrom demands of extended developer communities and a certain e-learning package for instruction, unfastened beginning package applications are not iced due to be nest eggs, stableness, public presentation and entree to code. Users in the close hereafter will hold entree to outdo unfastened beginning package that should be built on unfastened criterions for the populace to analyze, alteration, better and administer the package in an collaborative mode.Standards developmentStandards development is aimed at linking involvement and concern of different groups in distributed acquisition community. It is conducted through the combination between current engineerings and public executions. The impression is to set up a mention theoretical account for the foundation of effectual Internet-based acquisition. These criterions are considered as the guidelines for the Godhead to plan, develop, and implement the acquisition content.

Thursday, August 29, 2019

Reflective Log Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Reflective Log - Essay Example What it takes to come up with rules and regulations to cater for the every dying environment. Moreover, this reflection log is my personal statement regarding the course material. Environmental management is very significant. By appreciating what is around us, we gain the understanding of nature and thus implement policies to protect the environment. Moreover, we are able to come up with environmental laws that are not only meant to govern one nation, but they are universal for the entire globe. However, environmental management and laws differ from one region to another. Furthermore, the difference is for the good of the surrounding. On the other hand, the course has enabled me to recognize that each and every one is responsible for taking care of the environment. The participants of environmental management are not only those who come up with the rules and regulations, but everyone because our future generation’s quality of life will be dependent upon the current measures implemented to protect the environment. In addition, the core values in environment based upon creating shared value, standards and monitoring is very essential for environmental sustainability and management. This implies that before coming up with these values, it is of importance to recognize and evaluate the issues affecting the environment. More so, appreciate the current issues for instance, how the transport sector can be improved to avoid endangering the environment. Furthermore, to assess the global environmental challenges towards sustainable environmental sustainability. Therefore, without doubts, environmental management is very essential for the progress of a nation and the entire globe. In conclusion, this course has enriched the level of my knowledge academically. I have gained critical thinking skills on how to analyze to view a problem and come up with the solutions. Additionally, I am more informed than ever on all that pertains

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Germany's challenges during post-unification period Essay

Germany's challenges during post-unification period - Essay Example ears after the unification, the country’s leaders faced the primary challenge of exercising a foreign policy founded upon long-term dedication to multilateral associations and avoidance of military force. German leaders also bore the responsibility of fostering the country’s global proclivity, in order to ensure that it cooperated with allied international affiliates in confronting emergent threats to security. Germany’s aversion to aggressive military tactics and adoption of multilateralism are the key attributes that characterize its post-unification foreign and security agenda, which continues to evolve, as the world’s political environment transforms continually. Following the 1990 unification, German leaders sought to fulfill two of the nation’s principal interests. One of these interests was to foster reconciliation of enemies made during the Second World and Cold Wars, as well as, in the aftermath of the division. The other primary interest was to ensure that the country gained legitimate acceptance on the international economic and political platform. Strong dedication to multilateral structures and integration into the same, coupled with avoidance of active military involvement, was perceived to be the best approach towards meeting the aforementioned interests. Consequently, Germany formulated a foreign policy based entirely on civilian power and multilateralism. This implies that following unification, Germany refrained from deploying its military forces to support allied forces in various conflicts, but instead sought to uphold its role as a neutral in-between. However, this foreign policy and security approach gradually evolve d, as Germany started deploying its forces to engage in various UN missions. In the year 1994, the German government issued a legal clarification that these deployments solely depended upon parliament’s approval, hence stressing the democratic process linked to such decision making (Green, Hough, and Miskimmon

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

Marketing your own arts event or project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Marketing your own arts event or project - Essay Example In an argument by Bose (2010) the product, promotion, place and price analysis is mandatory. From this information, the marketing plan develops insights on the exact approach to the market in regards to selling the strategy. In terms of marketing a musical event, the four Ps of marketing would provide the target market with the accurate information to the product, the place to which the concert would be held, promotional approaches to be used and the price of tickets. The product in this regard is the music concert. The product in this place is a norm in this market (Kerin, 2012). For this reason, the main act would be accompanied by opening acts from already established artist. The opening acts should have the maximum preference of the target market. The event target teenagers and young adults. For this reason, the opening acts should have at least a minimum of 3-Year dominance in the music industry. To increase the relevance of the product, the main act should provide an analysis on what the audience may expect during the concert. The event main product is selling to the industry a new artist. The music industry is highly trendy considering the numerous shifts in market preferences. For this reason, the use of online modes of promotional would be appropriate. The event would use mega social sites for the promotion of the event. Specifically, the main and opening acts would use their social networks handles to increase the quantity of information provided to the market. The use of the conventional media would also be appropriate. This is based on that the approach offers a wider market reach. Evenson (2011) asserts that the success of promotional strategies is based on how well it achieves the objective of the product. In this case, the objective of the product is to provide a sold out event. The price of the event is directly

Monday, August 26, 2019

The significant of 'GUANXI' towards contractors to endure in the Essay

The significant of 'GUANXI' towards contractors to endure in the construction industry - Essay Example There is one slight problem, however, which concerns business ethics and sense of fair play. When you work your way into the good graces of a client by establishing the personal connections of guanxi, you effectively shut out of this loop other contractors who are not into the practice, which is neither fair nor just. In addition, guanxi is often established by extending favors or giving gifts, which takes on the appearance of bribery and corruption. All the above postulates - the increasing interest of Western management scholars, the distinct significance of guanxi in the multi-faceted construction industry, the thin line that separates it from bribery and corruption - make guanxi an interesting study area for anyone seeking new management tools that could provide control and efficiency in an otherwise intractable industry. This is what Project Management in Construction is all about. Personal connections in guanxi are looked upon as a necessary condition for doing business successfully in China. The actors in the guanxi relationship may purposefully create or accidentally discover the affinity as they look for shared experiences to establish a common social identity. This then sets the stage for the guanxi interactions, which may be expressive or instrumental. Expressive interactions refer to socially oriented activities, while instrumental activities are pragmatic transactions and exchanges related to work and business. After the two persons become familiar through common bases, they proceed to engage in a wide variety of transactional activities to move from an outer to an inner circle. (3) 3. Relevance to the Course Guanxi has attracted the attention of Western management scholars who saw its rich potential as a business formula for success not only in China but elsewhere. This interest is evidenced by the frequent and copious mention of guanxi in popular and academic literature that no longer requires literal translations. There is a strong possibility that such fascination with the Chinese principle prompted the

Sunday, August 25, 2019

Service Management Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Service Management - Assignment Example rt charging their clients for the value of the "transformation" which the experience provides, for instance, as education offerings may do if they were capable of participating in the value, which is created through the educated person (Pine and Gilmore 2). This, it is argued in the article, is simply a natural evolution in the value imposed by the business in addition to its inputs. According to the article, even if the idea of the Experience Economy was given birth to in the business field, it has crossed over its frontiers to fields such as tourism, architecture, urban planners, nursing and many other fields in the economy. The article also considers the Experience Economy as the main foundation for client experience management. In the hospitality management academic programs, both in the United States and Europe, Experience Economy is frequently shortened to Exponomy plus is of rising focus (Pine and Gilmore 3). The article consider experience as the fourth economic offering, but one that until recently gone unacknowledged. Experiences have existed ever since, but businesses, their clients, together with economists, lumped them into the service field, as well as such uneventful events such as auto repair, dry cleaning, wholesale distribution together with telephone access. When an individual pays for a service, he or she pays for a set of intangible events done on his or her behalf (Pine and Gilmore 3). However, when they pay for experience, they pay to spend their time enjoying or benefiting from a string of memorable activities, which a business stages to engage them in a more personal way (Pine and Gilmore 3). As a customer, I have had two types of experiences in the economic world, good and bad, which have made me loyal to some businesses and never to return to others after experiencing what they had to offer. I have been loyal to the person who sells me Blue Ray DvDs because of the experience I get when visiting his store. Every time I visit his store, he

Saturday, August 24, 2019

Plato's Meno Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Plato's Meno - Research Paper Example One very significant part of the Meno is that which demonstrates the Theory of Recollection, or the idea that â€Å"what appears to be learning something new is really recollecting something already known† (Cohen, University of Washington), or what is known as the doctrine of anamnesis, which means that â€Å"all learning is [merely] recollection† (Samet, Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy). This theory is what Socrates exactly proves to Meno when the latter asks, â€Å"†¦on what lines will you look, Socrates, for a thing of whose nature you know nothing at all?† (Plato, Meno, 80d2). The â€Å"thing† that Meno is referring to in his question is actually virtue, for this is the concept upon which the dialogue is particularly focused. Virtue, in fact, is the whole point of the discourse. However, the discussion has temporarily shifted to the Theory of Recollection in the middle part of the dialogue. This begins when Socrates has concluded that â€Å"[ no one] can know a part of virtue when he does not know virtue itself† (79c1), which means that neither Meno nor anyone else knows virtue. Upon hearing this, Meno then begins to ask Socrates a rather common sense question: How can the latter know that this is not virtue the former has been talking about early on in the dialogue when the latter himself does not know what virtue is? Socrates’ reply to this rather sarcastic accusation is the Theory of Recollection. In demonstrating the theory, Socrates first attempts to explain to Meno the roots of the theory by stating that it came from priests and priestesses (81a8) and poets â€Å"of heavenly gifts† (81b1), and that these people all say that â€Å"the soul of man is immortal† (81b1). Socrates then concludes from this premise that the soul â€Å"has been born many times, and has [therefore] beheld all things both in this world and in the nether realms [and therefore] has acquired knowledge of all and every thing† (81b1). Socrates then adds that since the soul has already learned everything, then â€Å"there is no reason why we should not, by remembering but one single thing – an act which men call learning – discover everything else† (81d1). Now, if one goes back to Meno’s accusing question - How can you look for something whose nature you do not know? – Socrates’ answer is that one actually already knows everything but simply cannot remember anything. In short, everyone knows what virtue is, only that not everyone can remember. According to Socrates, aside from courage and determination in searching, â€Å"research and learning† are needed in order to remember. Moreover, Socrates even equates â€Å"research and learning† with â€Å"recollection† (81d1), which means that, for the philosopher, the learning and the remembering are the same, and that everything is simply all remembering. After Socrates calls on the boy, what follows is an elenchus, whose literal meaning is â€Å"refutation† but may actually mean a type of â€Å"cross examination† (Ionescu 10). One purpose of the elenchus is for Socrates â€Å"to help his listeners discover for themselves the inadequacy of what they hold as true† (Johnston). A second purpose, however, is, according to Socrates himself, is for an individual to â€Å"[find] out the truth of the matter [and to] push on in the search gladly, as lacking knowledge† (Plato, Meno, 84b7). In short, the first purpose of this elenctic discourse is for someone to discover his ignorance and for him to search for the

Friday, August 23, 2019

Negative Impacts of Undemocratic Development Essay

Negative Impacts of Undemocratic Development - Essay Example These financial institutions include the WTO, the IMF and the World Bank. The World Bank’s mandate originally incorporated provision of long term loans for reconstruction which has been enhanced since the 1970’s to financing and supporting multimillion dollar infrastructure projects in developing countries. Being exclusively largest source of development finance in the world, the World Bank intends to provide loans for wide changes in infrastructure and economy, long-term development and poverty reduction and many other projects such as constructing dams, roads, extracting natural resources etc. The World Bank has a leading impact on the livelihoods of millions of people living in most part of the world in a way that the bank finances commercial projects of really low income countries which are unable to acquire commercial loans from any other source. It is even criticized for imposing neoliberal policies that are highly undemocratic on developing countries. This paper analyses the negative impacts of undemocratic policies of the World Bank on sustainable development of developing countries and argues the development strategy of the World Bank should be democratic enough to meet their developmental objectives effectively and efficiently. The World Bank has been playing dual but contradictory roles; one is of a political organization and second is that of a practical organization. On one hand, the World Bank must satisfy the demands of lending and borrowing governments, other international organizations, and private capital markets as a political organization. On the other hand as an action-oriented organization, it must be neutral and specialized in loans, development aid, and technical assistance. The World Bank's responsibilities to donor countries and private capital markets have induced it to acquire policies which prescribe that poverty is best relieved by the implementation of free-market policies (Weaver 2008). Developing nations attempt to increase their economic output (GDP) by involving themselves in and simultaneously competing with the worldwide economy. Such countries are financially insecure and undeveloped industries are disabled to participate in global competition as the so-called competitive free-market is inherently unfair and biased. Since developing nations determine their inability to make investment in growth-promoting policies by having lack of sufficient foreign currency reserves due to their expenditure of the reserves on imports and debt repayments. In order to facilitate economic growth and development, the developing nations may chose to borrow money from the World Bank to finance large development projects as such projects may help gain their development goals. The World Bank has important associations with corporations especially in United States, to contract them for these remunerative projects. By undertaking the projects, these corporations gain immense profits, but the poor countries have t o bear an additional debt burden. The borrowing countries even lose control over their primal natural resources and a huge part of revenue from these resources because of repatriation of profits abroad. Before granting loans and debt relief, the World Bank imposes several conditions on the recipient governments for the reform of various aspects such as their lack of transparency, far-flung corruption and undemocratic authorities. Nevertheless the World Bank is confronted

Thursday, August 22, 2019

What is the Oxford English Dictionary Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

What is the Oxford English Dictionary - Essay Example It was first published approximately 150 years back. Since then it has been continuously revised at regular intervals (About). In 1857 the members of Philological Society of London determined that the dictionaries of English Language were incomplete and required a lot of re-examination starting from the Anglo-Saxon times. In 1879 the Philological Society made a contract with James A. H. Murray and the Oxford University to initiate the process of developing English Dictionary. Murray and his colleagues examined the words of English Language from the last seven centuries (History of the OED). The working team thought that it will take around ten years in completing the project. However, the English words kept on evolving and the process took more years than actually anticipated. Murray and his team published the first version of Oxford English Dictionary in 1884 but it was clearly evident that much more work was left to be done. Later on other editors joined the team including W.A. Craigie, Henry Bradley, and C.T. Onions. The new team worked steadily and published the final volume in April 1928 with more than 400,000 words (History of the OED). There were several reasons for the publication of Oxford English Dictionary. Early modern period changed the English language since the words used were immensely increased during 1500 to 1650. Words were also taken from Greek and Latin languages which necessitated the development of profound English Dictionary. Moreover, the world was undergoing serious demographic changes such as the shifts from rural to urban areas (Simpson). This subsequently increased the publication of books and other relevant material. Eventually the grammar schools were established which pushed the authorities to revise the English Dictionary. Apart from this the monolingual dictionaries were preceding around the globe while on the other hand the Latin-English Dictionaries were also

Afghan Paper Essay Example for Free

Afghan Paper Essay The United States faces many problems in the current war with terrorist forces. The increase of causalities, the increase of fanatical Taliban and al Qaeda troops, the lack of Afghan National Army forces to help with the fighting, and the ever looming threat of nuclear weapons falling into the hands of insurgents. The Obama administration’s new strategy includes efforts to increase the confidence of the local Afghan population by protecting it from insurgent violence and improving governance, security and economic development (Afghanistan, 672). In order to implement these plans, the U.S. has deployed new troop — a total of 21,000 additional soldiers to fight the insurgency in Afghanistan and train Afghan security forces. By the end of the year, the level of U. S. troops is expected to reach about 68,000. Other troops are also being supplied by NATO countries and other allies, currently about 32,000, though many are engaged in development and relief work and not combat operations (Afghanistan, 672). The top three NATO countries providing troops were the United King, Germany, and Canada, with many other smaller nations sending troops to contribute to war efforts. One of the most noteworthy features of the new strategic plan is to avoid civilian causalities throughout the war; the number of civilian causalities has gone done tremendously over the years, decreasing over a thousand between 2008 and 2009 (Afghanistan, 673). Another important part of the plan is to help develop the Afghan government by increasing the number of agricultural specialists, educators, engineers, and lawyers in the area. Now that the Obama administration has issued a new plan that has been under implementation for about two years, the topic of the administration announcing an exit plan has been under heavy debate. According to Ilan Berman, Vice-President for Policy of the American Foreign Policy Council, the United States should not set a date of exited from the war on Afghanistan. Berman states that announcing an exit plan would prove that the United States’ interest and investment in the stability of Afghanistan is temporary and limited (Afghanistan, 685). I am in agreement with the view Ilan Berman. The United States should gradually decrease the presence of troops within the country, while still working on providing a stable government and economy in Afghanistan. Reference page: Adapted from Kingsbury, A. 2011, February 11). Government secrecy. CQ Researcher, 21, 121-144. Retrieved from http://library. cqpress. com/cqresearcher/ Government Secrecy The discussion of government secrecy has been of great discussion over the last two years. The question, â€Å"Does great openness threaten national security? †, has been the topic at hand. The website WikiLeaks intensified the discussion with the released of thousands of classified government documents and military intelligence. Julian Assange, an Australian computer hacker, created the biggest United States security breach to ever hit the nation. Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, worked alongside a group of associates across several countries in releasing thousands of government documents. It is believed that his source may have been United States army private, Bradley Manning, who had access to these classified government documents and databases. Assange has yet to be prosecuted for the leaking of government information but the most likely approach to prosecuting him would be under the Espionage Act of 1917. The Act prohibits the â€Å"willful† disclosure of â€Å"information relating to the national defense. It has been interpreted to mean that the defendant must know the information will hurt national security and that disclosure violates the law (Government Secrecy, 127). The discussion of updating the Espionage Act of 1917 has been of discussion because of this leak as well as ones of a smaller magnitude. Abbe Lowell of the White-Collar Criminal Defense Group of McDermont Will amp; Emory is for the updating of the Espionage Act of 1917. According to Lowell, the document is not specific enough and as worded can be lead to the infringement of the first amendment. Documents released by WikiLeaks include sensitive diplomatic cables and combat field reports from Iraq and Afghanistan. A few notable disclosures included the push by King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia for the U. S. to strike against Iran, the suspected corruption in Afghan government, and the hacking of Google by the Chinese government (Government Secrecy, 129). Many of the documents were obtained from the government database, SPIRNet, which Manning had access to. The Secret Internet Protocol Router Network allows the United Sates military and government agencies to share information. Over 500,000 people have access to the network, from senior military and law-enforcement officials to low-level military analysts and government contractors. This release of information has fueled the already heated battle between advocates of government secrecy and those who oppose (Government Secrecy, 124). Advocates of an open-government argue that federal agencies withhold too much information from the public, discouraging the ability of citizens to keep check on the wrongdoing of the government. According to supporters of government secrecy, sensitive information that could threaten the nations welfare if released is too easily accessed due to modern technology. President Obama, on his first day of office, signed an executive order designed to reduce government secrecy and increase the transparency of information across federal agencies. Signed into law by Obama in October 2010, the Reducing Over-Classification Act directs the Department of Homeland Security and the intelligence community to standardize classification and declassification procedures and improve information haring across the government. The National Declassification Center was also created in order to speed and coordinate the release of government information that no longer needs to be kept from public view. Although steps to disclosure government information to the public have been taken, secrecy opponents believe that President Obama needs to do more.

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Green Architecture Design Elements

Green Architecture Design Elements Introduction Since the Industrial Revolution, the world has witnessed incalculable technological achievements, population growth, and corresponding increases in resource use. As we enter a new century, we are recognizing the side effects of our activities: pollution, landfills at capacity, toxic waste, global warming, resource and ozone depletion, and deforestation. These efforts are straining the limits of the Earths carrying capacity  Ã‚  its ability to provide the resources required to sustain life while retaining the capacity to regenerate and remain viable. As the worlds population continues to expand, implementation of resource-efficient measures in all areas of human activity is imperative. The built environment is one clear example of the impact of human activity on resources. Buildings have a significant impact on the environment, accounting for one-sixth of the worlds freshwater withdrawals, one-quarter of its wood harvest, and two-fifths of its material and energy flows. Structures also impact areas beyond their immediate location, affecting the watersheds, air quality, and transportation patterns of communities.[1] That recognition is leading to changes in the way the building industry and building owners approach the design, construction, and operation of structures. With the leadership of diverse groups in the public and private sectors, the building industry is moving toward a new value in its work: that of environmental performance. The industrys growing sustainability ethic is based on the principles of resource efficiency, health, and productivity. Realization of these principles involves an integrated, multidisciplinary approach one in which a building project and its components are viewed on a full life-cycle basis. This cradle-to-cradle approach, known as green or sustainable building, considers a buildings total economic and environmental impact and performance, from material extraction and product manufacture to product transportation building design and construction, operations and maintenance, and building reuse or disposal. Ultimately, adoption of sustainable building practices will lead to a shift in the building industry, with sustainability thoroughly embedded in its practice, products, standards, codes, and regulations. Understanding the specifics of sustainable building and determining effective sustainable practices can be confusing. Local governments and private industry often do not have the resources to perform the necessary research to assemble information on sustainable practices, assuming such information is readily available. This thesis, by its parts, presents a full vision about green architecture, green buildings, and the opportunity to apply this architecture in Lebanon. In Addition, it includes a full conceptual design for a proposed project related to such architecture. PART 1: Green Architecture / Green Buildings 1.1 Definition Sustainable development is the challenge of meeting growing human needs for natural resources, industrial products, energy, food, transportation, shelter, and effective waste management while conserving and protecting environmental quality and the natural resource base essential for future life and development. This concept recognizes that meeting long-term human needs will be impossible unless we also conserve the earths natural physical, chemical, and biological systems.[2] Sustainable development concepts, applied to the design, construction, and operation of buildings, can enhance both the economic well-being and environmental health of communities around the world. The Union Internationale des Architects/American Institute of Architects (UIA/AIA) World Congress of Architects recognized that in its 1993 Declaration of Interdependence, which acknowledges that buildings and the built environment play a major role in the human impact on the natural environment and on the quality of life. If sustainable design principles are incorporated into building projects, benefits can include resource and energy efficiency, healthy buildings and materials, ecologically and socially sensitive land use, transportation efficiency, and strengthened local economies and communities. Embracing sustainability concepts, the goals aim to reduce energy, operation, and maintenance costs; reduce building-related illnesses; increase the productivity and comfort of building occupants; reduce waste and pollution; and increase building and component durability and flexibility.[3] In the developed countries, public and private leaders have realized the economic and environmental benefits of green building practices and are instituting policies, developing building guidelines, and manufacturing products and systems that will achieve sustainable development goals. 1.2 Green buildings history 1.2.1 Historical Buildings According to David Gissen, curator of architecture and design and the National Building Museum in Washington DC, structures such as Londons Crystal Palace and Milans Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II used methods that decreased the impact of the structure on the environment. Systems such as roof ventilators and underground air cooling chambers were used to regulate indoor air temperature.[4] In the early twentieth century, several skyscrapers such as the Flatiron Building and the New York Times Building in New York utilized deep-set windows and the Carson Pirie Scott department store in Chicago had retractable awnings. Both of these techniques were effective in controlling interior temperature while lessoning the buildings impact on the environment.[5] From the 1930s through the 1960s, the forward thinking cooling methods mentioned above gave way to some new building technologies that would change inner-city building construction dramatically. The invention of air conditioning, reflective glass, and structural steel popularized the enclosed glass and steel buildings that litter the American city today. These buildings were able to be heated and cooled with massive HVAC systems that consumed huge amounts of cheap and readily available fossil fuels.[6] The massive consumption of energy required to inhabit these buildings made their viability tenable and entirely dependent upon energy availability and cost. 1.2.2 The Infancy Around the time that the glass box style high rise had become the icon of the American city (circa 1970), a forward thinking group of architects, environmentalists, and ecologists[7] were inspired by the growing environmental movement and the higher fuel costs that were prevalent during the 1970s.[8] The genesis of these two scenarios ultimately resulted in the modern build green movement. The first Earth Day, celebrated in April 1970, gave some credence to this new building concept, but the OPEC oil embargo of 1973 gave the burgeoning environmental movement, and subsequently the green build effort, the kick start it needed. With gas lines stretching for blocks, some Americans began to question the conventional wisdom that we should be so independently reliant upon fossil fuels for our energy.[9] As a result of the oil embargo, amongst other energy concerns, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) formed a Committee on Energy that was broken into two camps. One group looked toward passive, such as reflective roofing materials and environmentally beneficial sitting of buildings, to achieve energy savings, while the other concentrated more on technological solutions, such as the use of triple-glazed windows.'[10] As energy concerns subsided, momentum for green building and the environment, in general, slowed down, but a dedicated core-group of architects continued to push their green building concept forward. A couple of notable buildings constructed during the seventies which utilized concepts of green design are: The Willis Faber and Dumas Headquarters in England, which utilized a grass roof, day-lighted atrium, and mirrored windows; the Gregory Bateson Building in California, which used energy-sensitive photovoltaic (solar cells)[11], under-floor rock store cooling systems, and area climate control devices.[12] Through the late seventies, throughout the eighties, and into the early nineties, much research was commissioned on energy efficient processes. This research resulted in more effective solar panels, prefabricated efficient wall systems, water reclamations systems, modular construction units, and direct usage of light through windows in order to decrease day-time energy consumption.[13] 1.3 Green Organizations 1.4 Green effect on buildings cities 1.4.1 Energy Efficiency Approximately 50 percent of the energy use in buildings is devoted to producing an artificial indoor climate through heating, cooling, ventilation, and lighting.[14] A typical buildings energy bill constitutes approximately 25 percent of the buildings total operating costs. Estimates indicate that climate-sensitive design using available technologies could cut heating and cooling energy consumption by 60 percent and lighting energy requirements by at least 50 percent in U.S. buildings.[15] 1.4.2 Water Efficiency Water conservation and efficiency programs have begun to lead to substantial decreases in the use of water within buildings. Water-efficient appliances and fixtures, behavioral changes, and changes in irrigation methods can reduce consumption by up to 30 percent or more.[16] As demand on water increases with urban growth, the economic impact of water conservation and efficiency will increase proportionately. Water efficiency not only can lead to substantial water savings, it also can reduce the requirement for expansion of water treatment facilities. Non-residential water customers account for a small percentage of the total number of water customers, but use approximately 35 percent or more of the total water.[17] 1.4.3 Waste Reduction Green architecture also seeks to reduce waste of energy, water and materials used during construction. For example, in California nearly 60% of the states waste comes from commercial buildings.[18] During the construction phase, one goal should be to reduce the amount of material going to landfills. Well-designed buildings also help reduce the amount of waste generated by the occupants as well, by providing on-site solutions such as compost bins to reduce matter going to landfills. To reduce the impact on wells or water treatment plants, several options exist. Greywater, wastewater from sources such as dishwashing or washing machines, can be used for subsurface irrigation, or if treated, for non-potable purposes, e.g., to flush toilets and wash cars. Rainwater collectors are used for similar purposes. Centralized wastewater treatment systems can be costly and use a lot of energy. An alternative to this process is converting waste and wastewater into fertilizer, which avoids these costs and shows other benefits. By collecting human waste at the source and running it to a semi-centralized biogas plant with other biological waste, liquid fertilizer can be produced. This concept was demonstrated by a settlement in Lubeck Germany in the late 1990s. Practices like these provide soil with organic nutrients and create carbon sinks that remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, offsetting greenhouse gas emission. Producing artificial fertilizer is also more costly in energy than this process.[19] 1.4.4 Construction Cost Reduction Application of green building concepts can yield for savings during the construction process. Measures that are relatively easy to implement can result in savings to the contractor in the following areas: Lower energy costs, by monitoring usage, installing energy-efficient lamps and fixtures, and using occupancy sensors to control lighting fixtures; Lower water costs, by monitoring consumption and reusing storm water and/or construction wastewater where possible; Lower site-clearing costs, by minimizing site disruption and movement of earth and installation of artificial systems; Lower landfill dumping fees and associated hauling charges, through reuse and recycling of construction and demolition debris; Lower materials costs, with more careful purchase and reuse of resources and materials; Possible earnings from sales of reusable items removed during building demolition; and Fewer employee health problems resulting from poor indoor air quality. This listing suggests some possible areas for cost savings; the project team can identify other possibilities through a cooperative and integrated team approach. The contractor can also improve relations with the community and building owner by viewing them as part of the team effort to implement environmentally sound construction measures. 1.4.5 Building Operation and Maintenance The green building measures discussed in this manual can lead not only to lower building operating expenses through reduced utility and waste disposal costs, but also to lower on-going building maintenance costs, ranging from salaries to supplies. For example, in many buildings, maintenance staff collects recycled materials on each floor or even at every employees desk and carry the materials down to the basement for hand sorting. Recycling chutes, a viable green alternative, allow direct discarding of materials from any floor in the building to the basement. The chute system, which ideally is installed during initial construction or renovation, can sort materials automatically, saving labor costs by eliminating the need to collect, transport, and sort recyclables. Other savings come in the form of lower waste hauling fees; reduced workers compensation insurance premiums due to lower claims for accidents from sharp glass and cans; reduced elevator maintenance; less frequent cleanin g of spills on carpets and floors; and less need for pest control. Environmentally friendly housekeeping products can also have financial advantages. For example, cleaning products that are purchased as concentrates and use minimal packaging not only promote waste reduction, but also can reduce product usage by 30 to 60 percent with dispensers that more accurately measure and dilute the cleaning products for optimum effectiveness.[20] Building owners need to view the building manager and staff as vital participants in environmentally sound and cost-effective operations. Building managers, charged with the efficient operation and maintenance of multi-million-dollar assets, have experience in all areas of operations and maintenance over the life of a building. Once a building is operational, training of management and maintenance staff including education on effective green building measures such as building energy management systems, new cleaning products, and new building codes and standards can help them to maintain the building in a resource-efficient and economically favorable manner. 1.4.6 Insurance and Liability The past decades conventional office design, construction, and operational practices have decreased the quality of the indoor office environment, resulting in new health concerns and associated economic costs and liability. The introduction of a multitude of new contaminant pollution sources into the workplace, combined with tighter building construction, has intensified air-quality problems. For example, poor indoor air quality can result from such factors as faulty air-conditioning systems, occupant related pollutants, construction materials that emit high levels of volatile organic compounds, and poor maintenance practices. The U.S. EPA ranks indoor air pollution among the top five environmental risks to public health. Unhealthy indoor air is found in up to 30 percent of new and renovated buildings.[21] Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) and Building Related Illness (BRI) have become more common in the workplace, increasing building owner and employer costs due to sickness, absenteeism, and increased liability claims. It has been estimated that SBS and BRI cost roughly $60 billion each year in medical expenses and lost worker productivity in the United States.[22] Legal actions related to Sick Building Syndrome and other building-related problems have increased. These actions against building designers, owners, or employers may be initiated by occupants who have short- or long-term problems, ranging from headaches and burning eyes to more serious ailments. Initial economic impact may come in the forms of higher health insurance premiums, increased workers compensation claims, and decreased productivity. Expensive remediation projects and environmental cleanups may follow, and building owners may try to recover losses from the original project contractors and architects through litigation. By ensuring better indoor air quality, building owners, employers, and design professionals can lower their risk of future litigation by building occupants. Professional liability insurance companies have indicated a willingness to offer design professionals lower insurance premiums for higher operating-procedure standards that lead to improved indoor air quality. Some national architectural firms are attempting to rate building products according to the levels of volatile organic compounds they emit after installation, and to educate building owners and managers about healthier product choices. 1.4.7 Occupant Health and Productivity The purpose of a building is not only to provide shelter for its occupants, but also to provide an environment conducive to high performance of all intended occupant activities. Recent studies have shown that buildings with good overall environmental quality, including effective ventilation, natural or proper levels of lighting, indoor air quality, and good acoustics, can increase worker productivity by six to 16 percent.[23] An organizations most significant financial commitment is usually to its employees. Many employers spend at least as much on salary-related expenditures as they do on constructing an entire company building. In many organizations, salaries and associated benefits consume the majority of the annual operating budget.[24] For example; based on the sample calculations in 2, a typical employer could spend $233 per square foot annually for an employee. Building construction costs generally fall below this level, often by 50 percent. In addition, annual employee salary-related expenditures, using the numbers in 2, are approximately 130 times greater than energy costs. A productivity increase of six percent equates to savings to the employer of $14 per square foot eight times the cost of the buildings annual energy bill. Given this information, an employer can decide to maximize the performance and efficiency of personnel resources through assessment of, and improvement to, the indoor environmental quality of its building. The following account of a recent renovation project illustrates this approach. Both building owners and building tenant/employers can benefit in other ways by improving indoor environmental quality. For owners, these improvements can result in higher property values, longer tenant occupancy and lease renewals, reduced insurance and operating costs, reduced liability risks, extended equipment life, and good publicity. For tenants, benefits include reduced absenteeism and better employee morale, reduced insurance and operating costs, reduced liability risks, and community recognition. If the building owner is also the employer, an organization can offset initial construction design and systems costs with the reduction of long-term organizational and operational expenses over the buildings life cycle. 1.4.8 Building Value Green buildings high efficiency and performance can result in higher property values and potentially lower lenders credit risk. Lower operating costs associated with more efficient systems can lead to higher building net income. In addition to increasing a buildings net operating income or value, green building measures may allow building owners to charge higher rents or achieve higher rates of building occupancy, if tenants view green properties as more desirable. Currently, voluntary building rating programs are under development for commercial buildings in the United States. As these programs are introduced into the marketplace and gain the acceptance of building owners and tenants, they could impact the value of properties. Prospective tenants will be able to rate buildings based on such measurable features as natural daylight, better indoor air quality, and lower energy, water, and waste costs. If enough buildings are rated for environmental performance, those that perform better will start to realize market advantages. 1.4.9 Local Economic Development Opportunities Promotion and implementation of green building practices within a community can generate new economic development opportunities. These opportunities can take a variety of forms, including new business development to meet the demand for green products and services; resource-efficiency improvement programs that enable existing businesses to lower operating costs; development of environmentally oriented business districts; and job training related to new green businesses and products. 1.5 Appliance Ways of applying 1.5.1 Appliances 1.5.1.1 Selecting environmentally and economically balanced building materials. Buildings significantly alter the environment. According to Worldwatch Institute1, building construction consumes 40 percent of the raw stone, gravel, and sand used globally each year, and 25 percent of the virgin wood. Buildings also account for 40 percent of the energy and 16 percent of the water used annually worldwide. In the United States, about as much construction and demolition waste is produced as municipal garbage. Finally, unhealthy indoor air is found in 30 percent of new and renovated buildings worldwide. Negative environmental impacts flow from these activities. For example, raw materials extraction can lead to resource depletion and biological diversity losses. Building materials manufacture and transport consumes energy, which generates emissions linked to global warming and acid rain. Landfill problems, such as leaching of heavy metals, may arise from waste generation. All these activities can lead to air and water pollution. Unhealthy indoor air may cause increased morbidity and mortality. Selecting environmentally preferable building materials is one way to improve a buildings environmental performance. To be practical, however, environmental performance must be balanced against economic performance. Even the most environmentally conscious building designer or building materials manufacturer will ultimately want to weigh environmental benefits against economic costs. They want to identify building materials that improve environmental performance with little or no increase in cost. The building community is making decisions today that have environmental and economic consequences. Its decisions are plagued by incomplete and uncertain data as well as the lack of a standardized methodology for evaluating the data. The NIST/EPA team seeks to support these decisions by gathering environmental and economic performance data and by structuring and computerizing the decision-making process. The resulting BEES tool will be publicly available over the Internet. In the mean while, the USGBC has published a list of materials certified from LEED containing several green materials including: flooring, interior construction, paints film, fabrics, draperies, tack surfaces, ceiling systems, lighting, appliances, millwork, furniture and plumping fixtures. 1.6 Education of green architecture Since 1993, UIA released the Declaration of Interdependence for a Sustainable Future suggesting that the architectural profession should seek to achieve ecological sustainability within the limited time that is likely to be available. And its been 14 years after the release of UIA / UNESCO Charter For Architectural Education that registers among educational goals an ecologically balanced and sustainable development of the built environment. Since then, many architecture schools have introduced or upgraded courses on technical aspects of sustainability, like Energy Conscious Design, Sustainable Architecture, Beyond Green or Bioclimatic Architecture and others more. The integration of sustainability in design schools up to now has been reviewed by several surveys. Most of them share two conclusions: first, that not many schools have embraced the subject in a thorough manner, pointing at the low level at which sustainable design concepts have been incorporated into the regular curriculum and noticing that environmental education in architecture has been done on an ad-hoc basis, fragmented and insufficient'[25]; second, that sustainable design requires teaching methods quite different than the long-established ones[26]. Environmental crisis and its foreseeable effects are still a marginal issue in the academic discourse at schools supposedly dealing with the environment, perhaps because crises are not an attractive subject in our feel-good era. As a result, those who will have to tackle the looming crisis in the near future are not adequately prepared. Still, the need to implement sustainable design is widely recognized by the educational community, at least in principle. A telling example is a survey among architectural educators in more than 30 European countries in 2001[27], where nearly 90% of the respondents are voting for a rather dramatic shift from a currently rather low to a high consideration of Sustainable Development in future architectural education. According to the survey, only 19% of those said that this concept is currently receiving a very/quite high level of consideration, and 83% said it should receive a very/quite high level of consideration in architectural education, identifying as an aspect of leading importance the integration of sustainability-issues into all studio design. In spite of such consensus, there is still a long road until sustainable design is firmly rooted in architectural learning. There are a number of reasons for this, within and outside the academic perimeter: 1.6.1 Academic obstacles _____________________ In most schools that show environmental concern, related issues are usually confined in elective classes, detached from design studios. This creates a fringe reputation for sustainability, shunning its principles from the main design projects to the periphery of architectural learning. As a result, no practical experience is gained in how to introduce sustainable qualities in the core design agenda. ______________________ In many cases the emphasis is on quantitative rather than qualitative matters. As a result number crunching eclipses design, and students tend to associate sustainable concerns with numerical performance only, detached from issues like comfort, resources, or societal ethics. In that manner, sustainability-related courses are considered similar to those on technical fields like structural or mechanical design, but not real architecture. ______________________ Sustainable design is a rather recent theme, not very familiar to the old guard that administers schools. Most tutors have had limited or even nonexistent training in their past, and practical experience is even more rare. Consequently, a lack of importance placed on sustainable design by many architectural educators'[28] is no surprise. As a result, it is difficult to introduce obscure, uninteresting or useless new topics to the curriculum, especially in view of the fact that sustainable design challenges the predominantly artistic stance of architecture. ___________________ Sustainable design is a complex architectural approach, encompassing diverse fields of knowledge and requiring multi-discipline teamwork. Therefore its teaching cannot fit with the conventional linear approach where different technical skills are segregated in different departments, with rare opportunities to bring them all together through joint projects in a holistic manner. Furthermore, sustainable architecture is a complex subject that should be covered throughout the curriculum'[29], not just in sporadic projects. ____________________ Furthermore, design projects are frequently detached from earthly reality as if they refer to a space station, hardly interrelated with nature or society. Societal ethics or environmental awareness are not embedded in the agenda, confining training in merely technical skills with major focus on the aesthetic. An architectural student suddenly transported to many of our architecture schools from 1900 Paris would feel right at home.[30] _____________________ Environmental crisis is repeatedly under the limelight of the media but, remarkably, it is seldom included in the academic discourse. There is little systematic awareness of the relationship of building and urban design with vital environmental issues like energy water shortages, air ground pollution, urban heat island ecological footprint, or resources depletion. And certainly such topics are not included in project briefs or ordinary student work. _______________________ Furthermore, there is insufficient supplementary input through technical classes like building physics or environmental technology that could support sustainable design projects. When students do not understand the dynamic linkage between structures, environmental conditions and users, it is not easy to differentiate, say, between building in the landscape and building in interaction with the landscape.[31] 1.6.2 Outside the classroom The introduction of sustainability in architecture schools encounters further difficulties stemming from the outer side of the academic walls: ____________________ Sustainable design has yet to find a clear identity: Is it a building technique, a blend of architecture and engineering that can be applied on any architectural variety just like, say, fire safety or seismic proofing? Is it just one more architectural fashion, perhaps with extra consideration to the environment than the rest, with its own stylistic trademarks like solar collectors, conservatories, or green labels? Or is it a novel design mindset, where nature society, today tomorrow are equal partners in the design framework? _____________________ The sustainable design family includes variations like energy conscious, bioclimatic, solar, ecological, or green, any of which could be applied in a non-sustainable manner. For instance, an energy-saving scheme could employ non-ecological materials; bioclimatic skyscrapers use more resources than low rise, and the sustainability of a huge green mansion with just two occupants is questionable. It is clear that sustainable design in full scale is a complex endeavor that requires a holistic alertness on a broad array of subjects, technical as much as social: Although there is much interest and curiosity about the subject, no one would say its easy to learn or apply in practice.[32] ______________________ The architectural haut couture of our era markets themes rather far from sustainability. As a result prudence and ÃŽÂ ¼ÃƒÅ½Ã‚ µÃƒ Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ãƒ Ã‚ ÃƒÅ½Ã‚ ¿ÃƒÅ½Ã‚ ½ (metron = Greek for measure) are ostracized from the main architectural values[33]. Given that architecture is always learned by example, many students and many grownups too clone the glamorous paradigms of the grand maitres,