The statement of purpose Essay Example for Free

The statement of purpose Essay Being an international student is a major learning curve. Miles away from Hong Kong, I’m way out of my comfort zone, navigating a stormy sea of emotions unique to international students- the excitement of seeing new things and places, the pride of being an international student, the fear of dealing with home sicknesses, the frustration of not being able to fully understand everything in this country, the embarrassment of even the minute faux pas I do. Academic challenges are nothing compare to the emotional battles one must face. Â   While there is no harness that I can latch to, my experiences back home can steer my journey here. As a school prefect, I was in charge of keeping order and discipline in my school. I can use it to keep my perspective balance on everything that comes my way, to be able to open my eyes to the world in a new way. I am proud to say that I am an international orientation leader in my community college now. Being a leader has kept me sane, kept my feet on the ground. I know that I am responsible to my fellow international students and I’m doing my best to do so, by combining studying hard and being a good example to them. My current GPA is 3.9. I know having good grades are not everything to a student. Believe it or not, students also need to have a life that does now involve memorization and algebraic equations. Being a leader has expanded my network, exposed me to other students who I now call friends. In HK, I was in our ping-pong team, played saxophone and piano. I hope to continue my hobbies here, perhaps enlist in the school band. HK is a fast-paced environment. Everybody moves quickly, as if on a race. By studying here, I hope to do the opposite. Don’t get me wrong. Fast can be fabulous. Email and YM are a godsend solution to instant conversations. But there are some things that can’t be rushed, such as readying yourself for the future. Adapting to a new environment can be daunting but capitalizing on my personal experiences is something I can rely on to survive this journey.

Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity :: Book Review, David Allen

The book I chose to read is Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity by David Allen. David Allen is considered by Forbes Magazine to be in the top five executive coaches in the United States. He has over thirty years of experience in coaching some of the highest ranking executives in some of the biggest businesses in the United States. Time Magazine called this book, â€Å"the defining self-help business book of it’s time." The book is broken down into three main parts and thirteen chapters and sub-sections. The first part is titled The Art of Getting Things Done. It contains information on societal shifts in the workplace and ways to manage work. Among his tips, he believes everyone should physically write down every task they must accomplish on a daily basis, whether they write it on paper or electronically. They must then make decisions based on length and importance and decide which tasks to accomplish and when to accomplish them. His main point of emphasis in this first chapter is that the mind becomes too cluttered and that short-term memory should be used to focus not store things. In chapter two, the author introduces his five keys or stages to controlling/managing workflow. They are (1) to collect, (2) process, (3) organize, (4) review and (5) do. He points to these five steps as a way to organizing work that needs to be accomplished and successfully completing it. The last chapter in the firs t section is about vertically focusing on the thought process to complete projects. Allen outlines five more steps to accomplish any task. They are (1) defining purpose and principles, (2) outcome visioning, (3) brainstorming, (4) organizing, and (5) Identifying next actions. The second part of this book, which is well over  ½ of the entire book, is somewhat of a repeat of the first part but a much more detailed perspective of the methodology of David Allen. He recommends taking two days at the start of his process just to get organized. Within these two days, one should set up private workspace not only at work but at home also. In chapter five and six, Allen refers back to his five keys to control workflow, he points out to accomplish the collecting phase completely before moving onto the processing and organizing stages. This will eliminate distractions. During the processing phase, a person is not really completing any items but rather identifying what needs to be done with each one.

Different Learning Theories Of Human Resource Development

Knowing a individuals larning manner enables larning to be orientated harmonizing to the preferable method. That said, everyone responds to and needs the motive of all types of larning manners to one extent or another – it ‘s a affair of utilizing importance that fits best with the given state of affairs and a individual ‘s acquisition manner penchants. Kolb ‘s larning theory sets out four different larning manners, which are based on a four phase larning rhythm. In this regard Kolb ‘s theoretical account is peculiarly elegant, since it offers both a manner to understand single people ‘s different acquisition manners, and besides an account of a rhythm of experiential acquisition that applies to us all. Diverging ( experiencing and watching – CE/RO ) Assimilating ( watching and believing – AC/RO ) Converging ( making and believing – AC/AE ) Accommodating ( making and experiencing – CE/AE ) Diverging people are able to look at things from different positions. They are sensitive. They prefer to watch instead than make, be givening to garner information and usage imaginativeness to work out jobs. They are best at sing concrete state of affairss several different point of views. Kolb called this manner ‘Diverging ‘ because these people perform better in state of affairss that require ideas-generation, for illustration, brainstorming. Peoples with a Diverging acquisition manner have wide cultural involvements and like to roll up information. They are interested in people, be likely to be originative and emotional, and be given to be strong in the humanistic disciplines. Peoples with the Diverging manner prefer to work in groups, to listen with an unfastened head and to have personal feedback. The Assimilating acquisition penchant is for a summarizing, logical attack. Ideas and constructs are more of import than people. These people require good clear account instead than practical chance. They do highly good at understanding broad runing information and forming it a clear logical format. Peoples with an Absorbing acquisition manner are less focussed on people and more interested in thoughts and abstract constructs. Peoples with this manner are more attracted to logically sound theories than attacks based on practical value. These learning manner people are of import for effectivity in information and scientific discipline callings. In formal acquisition state of affairss, people with this manner prefer readings, talks, researching analytical theoretical accounts, and holding clip to believe things through. For an illustration people who prefer the ‘Assimilating ‘ learning manner will non be comfy being thrown in at the deep terminal without notes and instructions. Converging people with a Converging learning manner can work out jobs and will utilize their acquisition to happen solutions to utile issues. They prefer proficient undertakings, and are less concerned with people and interpersonal facets. Peoples with a Converging acquisition manner are best at happening practical utilizations for thoughts and theories. They can work out jobs and do determinations by happening solutions to inquiries and jobs. Peoples with a Converging acquisition manner are more attracted to proficient undertakings and jobs than societal or interpersonal issues. A Converging acquisition manner enables high-quality and engineering abilities. Peoples with a Converging manner like to prove with new thoughts, to imitate, and to work with practical applications. The Accommodating acquisition manner is ‘hands-on ‘ , and relies on perceptual experience instead than logic. These people use other people ‘s analysis, and prefer to take a practical, experiential attack. They are attracted to new challenges and experiences, and to transporting out programs. They normally act on ‘gut ‘ inherent aptitude instead than logical analysis. Peoples with an Suiting acquisition manner will be given to trust on others for information than carry out their ain analysis. This learning manner is common and utile in functions necessitating action and enterprise. Peoples with an Suiting acquisition manner prefer to work in squads to finish undertakings. They set marks and actively work in the field seeking different ways to accomplish an aim. Peoples who like prefer to utilize an ‘Accommodating ‘ learning manner are likely to go defeated if they are forced to read tonss of instructions and regulations, and are unable to acquire custodies on experience every bit shortly as possible. However most people clearly display clear strong penchants for a given acquisition manner. The ability to utilize or ‘switch between ‘ different manners is non one that we should presume comes easy or of course to many people. Basically, people who have a clear acquisition manner penchant, for whatever ground, will be given to larn more efficaciously if acquisition is orientated harmonizing to their penchant. Honey and Mumford acquisition manners Honey and Mumford ( 1982 ) have built a typology of Learning Styles around this rhythm, placing single penchants for each phase ( Activist, Reflector, Theorist, and Pragmatist severally ) ; Kolb besides has a trial instrument ( the Learning Style Inventory ) but has carried it farther by associating the procedure besides to signifiers of cognition. Anonymous, ( 2010 ) There are four features of larning manners, Militant Theorist Pragmatist Reflector Militants involve themselves wholly and without unfairness in new experiences. They enjoy the here and now, and are happy to be dominated by immediate experiences. They are open-minded, non discrediting, and this tends to do them excited about anything new. Their doctrine is: â€Å" I ‘ll seek anything one time † . They tend to move first and see the effects afterwards. Their yearss are filled with activity. They tackle jobs by brainstorming. Equally shortly as the stimulation from one activity has died down they are busy looking for the following. They tend to increase on the challenge of new experiences but are bored with execution and longer term consolidation. They are gregarious people invariably affecting themselves with others but, in making so ; they seek to center all activities on themselves. For an illustration, those people who learn by making. Militants need to acquire their custodies dirty, to plunge in with both pess foremost. Have an open-minded attack to acquisition, affecting themselves to the full and without prejudices in new experiences. Brainstorming job resolution, group treatment, competitions and function drama, these are the activities of Militants. Theorists adapt and combine observations into complex but logically sound theories. They think jobs through in a perpendicular, bit-by-bit logical manner. They learn disparate facts into logical theories. They tend to be perfectionists who wo n't rest easy until things are tidy and fit into a normal proposal. They like to analyze and unite. They are acute on basic premises, rules, theories theoretical accounts and systems believing. Their doctrine awards reason and logic. â€Å" If it ‘s logical it ‘s good. † Questions they often ask are: â€Å" Does it do sense? † â€Å" How does this tantrum with that? † â€Å" What are the basic premises? † They tend to be detached, analytical and dedicated to rational objectiveness instead than anything subjective or equivocal. Their attack to jobs is systematically logical. This is their ‘mental set ‘ and they stiffly reject anything that does n't suit with it. They prefer to maximise certainty and experience uncomfortable with subjective judgements, sidelong thought and anything light-minded. For an illustration, scholars like to understand the theory behind the actions. They need theoretical accounts, constructs and facts in order to prosecute in the acquisition procedure. Prefer to analyze and synthesise, pulling new information into a systematic and logical ‘theory ‘ . Pragmatists are acute on seeking out thoughts, theories and techniques to see if they work in pattern. They positively search out new thoughts and take the first chance to research with applications. They are the kind of people who return from classs full with new thoughts that they want to seek out in pattern. They like to acquire on with things and act rapidly and confidently on thoughts that attract them. They tend to be impatient with ruminating and open-ended treatments. They are basically practical, down to earth people who like doing practical determinations and work outing jobs. They respond to jobs and chances ‘as a challenge ‘ . Their doctrine is â€Å" There is ever a better manner † and â€Å" If it works its good † . For an illustration, people need to be able to see how to set the acquisition into pattern in the existent universe. Abstract constructs and games are of limited usage unless they can see a manner to set the thoughts into action in their lives. Experimenters, seeking out new thoughts, theories and techniques to see if they work Reflector like to stand back to chew over experiences and detect them from many different positions. They collect informations, both first manus and from others, and prefer to believe about it carefully before coming to a decision. The thorough aggregation and analysis of informations about experiences and events is what counts so they tend to reschedule making unequivocal decisions for every bit long as possible. Their doctrine is to be careful. They are thoughtful people who like to see all possible angles and deductions before doing a move. They prefer to take a back place in meetings and treatments. They enjoy detecting other people in action. They listen to others and acquire the impetus of the treatment before doing their ain points. They tend to follow a low profile and have a somewhat distant, tolerant relaxed air about them. When they act it is portion of a broad image which includes the yesteryear every bit good as the present and others ‘ observations every bit good as their ain. For an illustration, people learn by detecting and believing about what happened. They may avoid jumping in and prefer to watch from the out of boundss. Prefer to stand back and position experiences from a figure of different positions, roll uping informations and taking the clip to work towards an appropriate decision.Learning TheoriesThe Behaviorist Approach Some of our acquisition comes approximately as a response to a stimulation. We are larning from our detectors. We react to something outside ourselves. If the consequence is good for us, we learn to respond in similar manner in a similar state of affairs, while if the consequence is bad, we learn non to make that once more. This is the basic thought of the Behaviorist Approach which can be traced back to the work of Pavlov ( 1927 ) who taught Canis familiariss to salivate at the sound of a bell. Behaviorist dressed ores on modifying behaviour by support. Behavior that is seen as positive or good is reinforced by wagess. For an illustration auto insurance is reduced if you do non do a claim. Most people have experienced both positive and negative support. We can see that behaviourist larning theories have their strengths. However, this attack to acquisition has been critized as mechanistic and be givening to concentrate merely on certain behaviour. There is grounds to propose that support may necessitate changeless topping-up to stay effectual. Anonymous, ( 2010 ) The Cognitive Approach If some of our acquisition is reactive, some acquisition can besides be described as positive. That is we seek out information and attempt to do sense of it in order to understand better our universe and our topographic point in it. This is the footing of cognitive theories of acquisition, which make usage of the work of research workers such as Kohler ( 1925 ) and Piaget ( 1950 ) . Kohler worked with apes and Piaget concentrated on kid development, but their consequences have been applied more widely. For the cognitive, the cardinal characteristic of human existences for acquisition is that we are intelligent searchers. Harmonizing to cognitive attacks, we invariably find that our experience of the universe does non rather fit the manner we see the universe, and we try to make something about the misfit. We seek new information, we adjust our position of the universe, and we may make a new manner of seeing the universe. There are clear connexions here with some of the elements we noted earlier in the different phases of the acquisition procedure. The Social Learning Approach The societal acquisition theory proposed by Albert Bandura has become possibly the most of import theory of larning and development. While ingrained in many of the basic constructs of traditional acquisition theory, Bandura believed that direct support could non account for all types of acquisition. His theory added a societal component, reasoning that people can larn new information and behaviours by watching other people. Known as experimental acquisition ( or patterning ) , this type of acquisition can be used to explicate a broad assortment of behaviours. Psychology, ( 2010 ) Basic Social Learning Concepts 1. Peoples can larn through observation. Observational Learning In his celebrated â€Å" Bobo doll † surveies, Bandura established that kids learn and reproduce behaviours they have observed in other people. The kids in Bandura ‘s surveies observed an grownup moving sharply toward a Bobo doll. When the kids were subsequently allowed to play in a room with the Bobo doll, they began to reproduce the aggressive actions they had antecedently observed. Bandura identified three basic theoretical accounts of experimental acquisition: A unrecorded theoretical account, which involves an existent single representative or moving out a behaviour. A verbal instructional theoretical account, which involves descriptions and accounts of a behaviour. A symbolic theoretical account, which involves existent or fictional characters exposing behaviours in books, movies, telecasting plans, or on-line media. 2. Mental provinces are of import to larning. Intrinsic Support Bandura noted that external, environmental support was non the lone factor to act upon acquisition and behaviour. He described indispensable support as a signifier of internal wages, such as pride, satisfaction, and a sense of achievement. This accent on internal ideas and knowledges helps link larning theories to cognitive developmental theories. While many text editions place societal larning theory with behavioural theories, Bandura himself describes his attack as a ‘social cognitive theory. ‘ 3. Learning does non needfully take to a alteration in behaviour. While behaviourists believed that larning led to a lasting alteration in behaviour, experimental acquisition demonstrates that people can larn new information without showing new behaviours. The Modeling Procedure Not all observed behaviours are efficaciously learned. Factors affecting both the theoretical account and the scholar can play a function in whether societal acquisition is successful. Certain demands and stairss must besides be followed. The undermentioned stairss are involved in the experimental acquisition and patterning procedure:Attention:In order to larn, you need to be paying attending. Anything that detracts your attending is traveling to hold a negative consequence on experimental acquisition. If the theoretical account interesting or there is a fresh facet to the state of affairs, you are far more likely to give your full attending to acquisition.Retention:The ability to hive away information is besides an of import portion of the acquisition procedure. Retention can be affected by a figure of factors, but the ability to draw up information subsequently and move on it is critical to experimental acquisition.Reproduction:Once you have paid attending to the theoretical accoun t and retained the information, it is clip to really execute the behaviour you observed. Further pattern of the erudite behaviour leads to betterment and skill promotion.Motivation:Finally, in order for experimental acquisition to be successful, you have to be motivated to copy the behaviour that has been modeled. Support and penalty play an of import function in motive. While sing these incentives can be extremely effectual, so can detecting other experience some type of support or penalty. For illustration, if you see another pupil rewarded with excess recognition for being to category on clip, you might get down to demo up a few proceedingss early each twenty-four hours. Psychology, ( 2010 )Learning CurveA acquisition curve is a graphical representation of the altering rate of acquisition ( in the mean individual ) for a given activity or tool. Normally, the addition in keeping of information is sharpest after the primary efforts, and so on a regular basis evens out, intending th at less and less new information is retained after each duplicate. The larning curve can besides stand for at a glimpse the initial trouble of larning something and, to an extent, how much there is to larn after early cognition. For illustration, the Windows plan Notepad is highly simple to larn, but offers little after this. On the other extreme is the UNIX terminus editor VI, which is hard to larn, but offers a broad array of characteristics to get the hang after the user has figured out how to work it. It is possible for something to be easy to larn, but hard to get the hang or hard to larn with small beyond this. Wikipedia, ( 2010 )

Methods of Qualitative of Data Collection - 19658 Words

04-Marshall-4864.qxd 2/1/2006 3:16 PM Page 97 4 Data Collection Methods ⠝â€" ⠝â€" ⠝â€" Q ualitative researchers typically rely on four methods for gathering information: (a) participating in the setting, (b) observing directly, (c) interviewing in depth, and (d) analyzing documents and material culture. These form the core of their inquiry—the staples of the diet. Several secondary and specialized methods of data collection supplement them. This chapter provides a brief discussion of the primary and the secondary methods to be considered in designing a qualitative study. This discussion does not replace the many excellent, detailed references on data collection (we refer to several at the end of this chapter). Its purpose is to guide the†¦show more content†¦In this way, the researcher is able to discover the recurring patterns of behavior and relationships. After these patterns are identified and described through early analysis of field notes, checklists become more appropriate and context-sensitive. Focused observation then is used at later stages of the study, usually to see, for example, if analytic themes explain behavior and relationships over a long time or in a variety of settings. Observation is a fundamental and highly important method in all qualitative inquiry. It is used to discover complex interactions in natural social settings. Even in studies using in-depth interviews, observation plays an important role as the researcher notes the interviewee’s body language and affect in addition to her words. It is, however, a met hod that requires a great deal of the researcher. Discomfort, uncomfortable ethical dilemmas and even danger, the difficulty of managing a relatively unobtrusive role, and the challenge of identifying the big picture while finely observing huge amounts of fast-moving and complex behavior are just a few of the challenges. Whether a researcher is simply observing from afar or finding a participant-observer role in the setting, some contexts may present dangers. Street ethnography is a term that describes research settings which can be dangerous, either physically or emotionally, such as working with the police (as Manning did, described inShow MoreRelatedResearch Methodology: Qualitative Methods of Data Collection Essay1720 Words   |  7 Pagesmethodology I plan to use and the three different types of data collection I plan to employ to carry out my study. This study will use a qualitative approach to study and address the issue of the lack of healthy eating promotion in schools. 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