Changes in Learning and Motivation with the Advent of Online Learning

Introduction In the past two decades, learning has evolved tremendously due to the introduction of new technologies that have made education more accessible. In olden days, students relied only on courses offered in colleges, universities, and other institutions of learning in order to obtain their education. However, the situation has changed. Students can now obtain their degrees through online learning.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on Changes in Learning and Motivation with the Advent of Online Learning specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Universities and colleges have been forced to change their learning modes in order to accommodate students who prefer online learning (Ward, 2012). This mode of learning has attracted many people because it is affordable and convenient. Institutions of learning have introduced online learning through improvement of infrastructure, incorporation of new technologies in learni ng, recruitment of professionals who are conversant with new technologies, and revision of curriculums in order to accommodate new models of learning. Online learning caters for students who cannot enroll for traditional learning due to busy schedules and lack of financing. E- Learning has changed education tremendously and increased students’ motivation with regard to earning degrees and pursuing careers. Changes in learning With the advent of online learning, learning activities and discussions took a new form. Unlike in traditional learning, online learning does not involve face-to-face interactions between instructors and students. Students develop schedules based on their availability to attend classes (Ward, 2012). On the other hand, learners have freedom to work through course material only when they are available. Online learning gives students an opportunity to learn at their own pace thus ensuring that they grasp the content fully (Siemens, 2013). In addition, stude nts do not sit for long hours listening to lectures. E-learning requires high levels of discipline and responsibility on the part of the student because instructors are not present to give directions. Without discipline, many students waste their time and end up performing poorly in examinations. There are no face-to-face discussions, students decide when to attend classes, absence from class is not punished, and exchange of ideas and opinions is encouraged (Ward, 2012). Online learning eliminated the need to commute to school every day to attend classes (Michels, 2013). Students go online and take classes at any time and from any part of the world. Focus shifted from discussions and teamwork to individual study (Siemens, 2013).Advertising Looking for assessment on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More However, students can opt to join online group discussions that enable them to share information and knowledge with other students. Online discussion forums are not very common because many students prefer to be autonomous (Michels, 2013). Elimination of face-to-face interactions between students and instructors changed how learning is conducted. However, focus is mainly on interactive lessons, discussion boards, games, and chats (Siemens, 2013). These platforms offer students an opportunity to interact with instructors. Students ask questions, get clarification on unclear matters, and submit their homework. Education materials are provided in different forms that include videos, audio files, e-mails, word documents, and PDF documents. Students with families and jobs, and people who did not complete their education opt for online education. In the United States, some states have developed programs that enable students to complete their degrees through online learning. States like Oregon and Wisconsin have programs that allow students to turn their job skills into college credits and thus reduce the nu mber of units required to attain their degrees (Michels, 2013). In addition, the programs also enable students to complete their degrees by offering free online courses and examinations from certified colleges. The internet has many distractions that affect the learning experiences and outcomes of students (Michels, 2013). Therefore, students need to be highly disciplined and focused in order to benefit fully from online learning. Changes in motivation Factors that motivate students to register for online learning include busy schedules, family responsibilities, unavailability of resources, and convenience (Cull, 2010). People who wish to advance their careers while working usually enroll for online learning because they attend classes when they are free. In today’s world, more job opportunities are available to people who have pursued higher education such as master’s and postgraduate degrees (Cull, 2010). The cost of higher learning has nearly doubled in the past two decades. High cost of education has played a grandiose role in denying many students an opportunity to get their education (Cull, 2010). Competing for job opportunities then becomes difficult because many employers prefer applicants who have pursued higher education. Education is one of the most important factors that facilitate the shift to middle class. Therefore, online learning helps students who cannot afford higher education to pursue their careers cheaply. Many universities and colleges have been criticized for increasing the cost of education, offering low quality education, and being unwilling to embrace technology in order to offer opportunities to more students (Koller, 2012).Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on Changes in Learning and Motivation with the Advent of Online Learning specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The declining quality of education has emanated from unavailability of sufficient instr uctors to handle the high number of students (Cull, 2010). The introduction of online learning enabled colleges to manage the sizes of their classes because many students opted for the new system. Traditional learning is very expensive compared to online learning. Differences in cost emanate from the need to pay tuition fees, purchase learning materials, and remunerate instructors (Koller, 2012). However, costs such as purchase of online materials and tuition fees are non-existent in online learning. Students only pay registration fees, examination fees, and a small amount of money to cater for learning materials and the remuneration of instructors. Another factor that motivates students to study online is the availability of information and the broad reach of online learning (McKnight, 2011). Universities and colleges are able to offer their services to people who are unable to attend classes at campuses. This has led to the elimination of boundaries for recruitment because the qua lity of education offered is of high quality. The internet is awash with information that can be used by students for learning purposes (Koller, 2012). The ease of retrieving information and the diversity of learning materials render online education beneficial and convenient. Students do not have to spend money buying books or printing learning material. In addition, there are different types of teaching aids such as videos and audio files that make learning more enjoyable. Students have different learning capabilities that are sufficiently addressed and accommodated in online learning (McKnight, 2011). Students create their own learning schedules and explore methods that ensure proper comprehension of learning material (Koller, 2012). In traditional learning, instructors do not tailor their teaching methods to accommodate the different learning needs of students. They use methods that they deem appropriate for all students. This results in poor performance and low quality degrees. For example, some students understand better using visual aids (McKnight, 2011). The availability of different learning methods has made online learning very popular. Students are motivated to pursue their education because they decide how, where, and what they learn (Koller, 2012). The independence created by online learning is a great motivating factor. Finally, e-learning facilitates sharing of knowledge and information by students around the world. Students can share learning materials such as videos, electronic books, journals, and PDF documents for learning purposes (McKnight, 2011).Advertising Looking for assessment on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More On the other hand, they can use discussion boards and chats to discuss pertinent issues with professionals from different parts of the world. The internet contains many platforms that students can use to retrieve information. For example, Khan Academy is a platform that is used by students to obtain information on different topics that include history, mathematics, physics, and chemistry (Koller, 2012). Conclusion New technologies have contributed largely to changes in ways through which different people get their degrees from institutions of learning. Many students have access to education because technology facilitates learning in many ways. Online learning has changed how people obtain degrees in many ways. It has motivated more people to pursue education by increasing independence, autonomy, and improving decision making. In addition, it has offered an opportunity to people who have families and jobs to pursue higher education. Many people prefer online education to traditional education because t is more convenient and cheaper. There are innumerable online sources of information that students can access freely. For example, search engines like Google and Yahoo provide a platform that students can use to retrieve information from the internet. The availability of visual aids such as videos, graphs, and pictures make the learning experience enjoyable. References Cull, S. (2010). Student Motivation and Engagement in Online Courses. Web. Koller, D. (Executive Producer). (2012). What we are Learning from Online Education  (Video File). Web. McKnight, K. (2011). Top 12 Ways Technology Changed Learning. Web. Michels, S. (Executive Producer). (2013). How Free Online Courses are Changing  Traditional Education (Video File). Web. Siemens, G. (Executive Producer). (2013). Connecting Learners: Technology, Change  and Higher Education (video file). Web. Ward, D. (2012). Why Online Education has Gained Revolutionary Momentum. Web. This assessment on Changes in Learning and Motivation with the Advent of Online Learning was written and submitted by user Ryann J. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Creative Writing Prompts for High School Students

Creative Writing Prompts for High School Students Whether youre a student or a teacher, these writing prompts for  high school students are going to come in handy if youre looking to inspire better writing. Often, kids get stuck – confused, exasperated, irritated – putting their thoughts on paper, because theyre bored with the same old book reports, essays and summaries. But one of the only ways to become a better writer is to keep at it whether the assignment is motivational or not. Youre never going to become a better 3-point shooter if you dont stand behind the line and make the shots. Writing is the same way. You have to get in there and give it a go. Here are some writing prompts for high school students that may just inspire you or your students to give those ideas rattling around in your brain some room to breathe. 4-Item 1-Paragraph Story Come up with four things: A specific source of light (a flashing neon light reading: 21 and Over, a flickering fluorescent bulb, moonlight filtering through drawn shades)A specific object (a pink hairbrush with blonde hair matted in the bristles, a discarded replica of a Dali painting, a baby robin poking its wobbly head from a rickety nest)A sound using onomatopoeia (the pinging of a glass bottle ricocheting across a cobblestone street, the ching of a handful of coins in a mans pocket, the wet splat of phlegm hitting the sidewalk from the old lady smoking near the laundromat)A specific place (the dingy alley between Brooks St. and 6th Ave., the empty science classroom filled with glass beakers, hot plates and frogs floating in formaldehyde, the darkened, smoky interior of Flannigans Pub) Once you create the list, write a one-paragraph story using each of the four items and a single protagonist of your choosing. The story has to briefly introduce the protagonist, put him or her through a struggle (large or mild) and resolve the struggle in one way or another. Its much more fun to write if you keep the list items as random as possible and to put them all together at the end. Dont plan your story prior to creating the list! Teacher Alternative Students must write one of each list item (light, object, sound and place) on a slip of paper, and then place each in separately marked boxes on your desk. To write the story, students must draw an item from each of the boxes and write their story after, ensuring they cant plan the story prior to selecting the items. Crazy Lyrical Dialogue Go to a lyrics website and select a song randomly, preferably one youve never heard or one to which you dont know the lyrics. For instance, Fergies A Little Party Never Killed Nobody (All We Got).Then, scroll through the song and select the craziest lyric you can find that would be appropriate for school. In Fergies song, it might be What do you think, GoonRock? because its the nuttiest phrase on there.Repeat this process twice more, selecting two more songs and two more crazy lyrics.Then, start a conversation with the first lyric you selected between two people very unlikely to use the phrase. For instance, you might write something like, What do you think, GoonRock? Aunt Ida asked Bernie, sitting two wheelchairs away in Serenity Meadows Assisted Living Center.Once you get the conversation going, insert the other two lyrics elsewhere, shifting the dialogue to make sure the conversation between the two characters makes sense. Continue until you can end the conversation definitively, with a resolution that meets the needs of one of the characters. Teacher Alternative Have the students complete the first part of the assignment themselves, then exchange lyrics with people next to them so they end up with a set of three theyve never seen. Assign a dialogue length or number of exchanges and grade the punctuation. 3 Voices Choose three popular characters. They can be cartoon characters (Ren from Ren and Stimpy, Michelangelo from TMNT), protagonists from plays or novels, (Bella from the Twilight series, Benvolio from Romeo and Juliet) or characters from movies or TV shows (William Wallace from Braveheart, Jess from New Girl). Choose a popular fairy tale. (Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Hansel and Gretel, etc.) Write three, one-paragraph summaries of your selected fairy tale using each of your chosen characters voices. How would William Wallaces version of Tom Thumb differ from Bella Swans? Think about the details each character would notice, the words he or she would use, and the tone in which he or she would relate the story. Bella might wonder about the safety of Tom Thumb, whereas William Wallace might commend him on his bravery, for example. Teacher Alternative After going through a novel or play with your students, assign one character from the unit to each of your students. Then, group your students in threes to write a summary of an act in the play or a chapter in the novel from each of the three  characters  perspectives.

Limit switches Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Limit switches - Research Paper Example The theoretical understanding on how the sensor operates and achieves it roles is also adequately highlighted considering the glaring points and lastly there is a conclusion that considers all the possible developments that should be embraces in the sensors if they have to be dependable. Introduction It is important to understand that limit switches are the type of sensor that are used for the recognition of absence or presence. In this doing, limit switches as a form of sensors do have the arm, lever, plunger and knob that is either physically of mechanical activated to make contact with adjusted objects, with the contact existing between the objects and the switch’s actuator and moves it to the ‘limit’. With this kind of operation, it is possible to mount a limit switch in a remote location to enable its actuation by another object and not necessarily a human being. A limit switch plays the following roles; detecting the presence and absence, speed detection, co unting, detection of movement range, breaking of circuits when required due to unsafe situations (Zhang 57a). As a sensor, limit switches have various advantages and disadvantages alike, some of the advantages includes; it can sustain switches with high level current of up to 10A, it can also with stand most of the environmental conditions, finally, it is more precise and accurate coupled with its being economical in sensing (Zhang 49a). The weaknesses of the same system are that there has to be a physical contact for the sensor to operate and again, the mechanical parts of the sensor can always wear out. History of Sensor With the initial invention being that of the micro switch, there has been remarkable improvement in the development of the limit switches to ensure some of the most complicated controls are managed. The picture below illustrates one of the limit switches currently used in Moving parts of abridge Who invented the Sensor? The invention of a limit switch dates back t o 1932 when Peter McGall came up with the micro switch when he was employed by one of the battery companies, Burgess (Zhang 67b). From then, there has been development of a limit switch to the contemporary usage with the same application. How and where  is it Currently used in Industry Many industries use the application that is provided by limit switches, in food and beverages industries, there is intense freezing of food. In the freezing process, there is the use of the automatic pallet staking system that uses a wobble stick limit-switch for detection of the loading of pellets in the right position. The switch then sends the signals to the conveyor for the transfer of the load through the vertical door to the freezer for quick freezing (Zhang 77b). In most of the manufacturing industries, there is need for closing the doors in the fastest way possible in cases of contamination or fire, the doors are at times designed to close at a speed of six feet per second. The speed can res ults into breakages and destruction of the doors, there is then need that the doors slow when about to completely open or close, this is a achieved with the help of the limit switches. There are many other places where limit switches are used for the control of further damages. Theory behind Sensor/ how it works Limit switches operates on the simple fact that they switch on and off depending on the activity, that takes place. In this regard, for the limit switch to initiate a response there is obviously a

The management challenges posed by the emergence of e-commerce Essay

The management challenges posed by the emergence of e-commerce - Essay Example Some of the most common examples are as follows: online buying, selling or investing; share business; electronic marketplaces like www.amazon.com or online auctions like www.ebay.com; e-bookstores and e-grocers; web-based reservation systems and ticket purchasing; electronic data interchange or marketing email and message postings on web-logs; music and video downloads; online discussion boards and learning facilities; open source projects; online banking or the electronic funds transfer, supply chain management, etc. Today, as each one of us knows technology is breaking through geographical barriers and distance, integrating the whole world into an interconnected village. The term global village is a commonly used metaphor to describe the mass media particularly the Internet and World Wide Web. This is only possible because of the inter-connectivity which is brought about by e-commerce. The Internet globalises communication by providing opportunity to people from around the world to connect with each other. Likewise, web-connected computers enable people to link their web sites together (Answers.com, 2008). An innovative medium of Internet has connected the whole world very closely. A person in America writes a mail and in less than a minute it reaches to someone in China. Similarly chats and web cam has made it possible to see people on the other side of the world and talk as if you were sitting next to each other (Sanchania, 2005). It took only a few years for these technological innovations spread across the world. Anyone having access to internet can communicate, shop, and even use internet banking system. The new world of internet provides information on anything to anyone who has access to a computer and a telephone. People can see each other, chat and talk as if they are physically present. As far as communication and the dissemination of information is

The Heart and Christian Bernard Essay Example for Free

The Heart and Christian Bernard Essay The Heart and Christian Barnard Christian Barnard, the man who performed the first human heart transplant. Christian Barnard was born in Beaufort West, South Africa on November 8, 1922. He was the fourth of five sons. His father was Adam Hedrick Barnard who was a reverend in the Dutch reformed church, he preached to a non-white congregation. His mother was Maria Elisabeth Deswart Barnard who had been a school teacher before marriage. Both parents were also Afrikaner missionaries. Christian Barnard grew up in a poor environment in Beaufort West, a town on South Africa’s semi-arid Great Karroo plateau. Christian Barnard attended a local high school he went on and received an M. D. degree from the University of Cape Town in 1953. He received a Ph. D degree from the University of Minnesota in 1958. He returned to the University of Cape Town in 1958 to teach surgery. He specialized in open-heart surgery and in designing artificial heart valves. The first human heart transplant was performed on December 3, 1967, transferring the heart of a 25 year old woman into the body of Louis Waskansky , a 55 year old grocer. He died 18 days later due to double pneumonia as a result of his suppressed immune system. The second transplant was on January 2, 1968 which was for Philip Blaiberg, who lived for 563 days after the operation. Christian Barnard spent the beginning of his adult life in the United States where he gained recognition for research in gastrointestinal pathology and later went back to South Africa and introduced open-heart surgery to that country and designed artificial valves for the human heart. Christian Barnard made a huge impact and contribution to healthcare when he attempted and accomplished the worlds first human heart transplant which was a huge success in the medical field. His accomplishment led to further investigation in heart transplants and which now is a normal surgery that is performed all around the world today. Christian Barnard had been bothered by rheumatoid arthritis since he was young, and advancing stiffness in his hands forced his retirement from surgery in 1983. He took up writing, however, and wrote a cardiology text, an autobiography, and several novels, including a thriller about organ transplants. He passed away on September 2, 2001. Christian Barnard has made a huge impact on healthcare and the study of medicine. Christian Barnard is a hero to me because he was brave enough to take a chance and put his reputation on the line to make a difference. Christian Barnard’s contribution to health care has changed the years to come in medicine and his contribution will always be remembered.

Fall of Constantinople :: World History

Fall of Constantinople By 350 A.D., Constantinople was one of the world's greatest capitals. The city was located between Asia and Europe, making it a very diverse and strategic place. The many bodies of water surrounding the peninsula gave Constantinople many trade routes as well as protection. The famous walls were also built to further strengthen security. Constantinople eventually rose to a beautiful city of strength and wealth. Its Greek heritage separated itself from the West with their religion of Eastern Orthodoxy. Despite the power of Constantinople, unending attacks and problems would eventually weaken the city. The first major catastrophe took place in 542, when a plague struck and killed massive amounts of people. The recovery was very slow, and it allowed for countless attacks. For Constantinople, however, it was just the beginning. Justinian ruled the Byzantine Empire during its height. His military faced strength from the East that greatly endangered his people. The Sassanian Empire of Persia was one threat that Byzantines needed to conquer. The Persians endangered eastern lands, so Justinian's military prevented any conquest. The Sassanians were defeated and security was briefly gained. After his success, Justinian wanted to regain lands the Roman Empire once lost to invaders. Byzantine armies began a reconquest of Spain, Italy, and North Africa. Battles against various Germanic groups took place, and western lands were conquered by the Byzantines. The wars were expensive, and resources were low. Defense became weak and territories were lost increasingly after Justinian's death. During the early 700s, the Byzantine Empire was in turmoil and chaos. As Leo III took power, Constantinople was being attacked by Avars, Bulgarians, and Arabs. The Arabs from the Middle East were a main concern for Leo III because of their large conquests in the Asia Minor. The Arabs advanced to spread their faith of Islam and control resources. The Arabs slowly acquired land until their siege on Constantinople itself. Leo III made brilliant defense moves to stop the invaders. His military forces attacked the Arabs from the rear successfully while naval forces were repelled with Greek Fire. Greek Fire was the empire's secret weapon that may have saved them from the Arab siege. Arab ships would burst into flames from contact with the "liquid fire." Fighting continued for a year until the Arabs retreated. Constantinople was defended successfully, but the empire suffered heavy losses and continued to loose land. The era from about 1025 to 1453 witnessed the Byzantine Empire in its ultimate destruction.

Paraphrase Sample

Unit II Assessment Question 2 Ramesh Punna Columbia Southern University Original Passage Large-Scale Complex IT Systems (Ian Sommerville, Dave Cliff, Radu Calinescu,Justin Keen, Tim Kelly , Marta Kwiatkowska,John McDermid, and Richard Paige): Complexity stems from the number and type of relationships between the system’s components and between the system and its environment. If a relatively small number of relationships exist between system components and they change relatively slowly over time, then engineers can develop deterministic models of the system and make predictions concerning its properties.However, when the elements in a system involve many dynamic relationships, complexity is inevitable. Complex systems are nondeterministic, and system characteristics cannot be predicted by analyzing the systems constituents. Such characteristics emerge when the whole system is put to use and changes over time, depending how it is used and on the state of its external environment . Dynamic relationships include those between system elements and the system’s environment that change.For example, a trust relationship is a dynamic relationship; initially, component A might not trust component B, so, following some interchange, A checks that B has performed as expected. Over time, these checks may be reduced in scope as A’s trust in B increases. However, some failure in B may profoundly influence that trust, and, after the failure, even more stringent checks might be introduced. Complexity stemming from the dynamic relationships between elements in a system depends on the existence and nature of these relationships.Engineers cannot analyze this inherent complexity during system development, as it depends on the systems dynamic operating environment. Coalitions of systems in which elements are large software systems are always inherently complex. The relationships between the elements of the coalition change because they are not independent of how th e systems are used or of the nature of their operating environments. Consequently, the nonfunctional (often even the functional) behavior of coalitions of systems is emergent and impossible to predict completely.Paraphrase for above passage: Minimizing the relationships among the entities in large scale system reduces the complexity. Complex systems are not very scalable and would be huge effort when we need to do any changes over time. Relationships should be changing depending on their performances over the life cycle of application to be more robust and granular. Dependency between the software systems must be identified in design phase to make a large scale system and failure to do this process would result in unstable and fragile software system.