Wednesday, April 15, 2020
Choosing The Best Scholarship For You
Choosing The Best Scholarship For YouA privately funded scholarship sample essay can be one of the best resources for choosing the right college scholarship. This will be the essay that is required to help you understand the requirements for each scholarship. While the task can seem difficult, there are certain steps you can take to ensure that you get the right information.It is important to note that an essay is only half of the process. Of course you need to apply for the scholarship. You also need to have a compelling essay that showcases why the recipient should award you with the money. With that in mind, here are a few steps you can take to choose the best scholarship for you.First of all, you should find a publicly available scholarship that suits your needs. If you can't find one locally, you may want to consider using the Internet. In this case, you can either go to a college's website or check on one of the many websites that offer scholarships. You can check out the top s cholarship opportunities on the web by choosing one that is appropriate for your budget. You may even want to search for a business or career based scholarship.Next, you need to choose the privately funded scholarship that will best meet your needs. This is not as easy as it sounds. You must be careful that you choose the best scholarship for your situation. Some will require high school transcripts, while others will require letters of recommendation.Furthermore, you need to choose between online and paper scholarship applications. There are some that require your responses to be electronically in order to be considered. You may want to choose the paper option if you are not able to commit to sending your letter in electronically. This would be the best way to ensure that you receive your award before applying.After you have chosen the privately funded scholarship you want, you need to make sure that you submit your application. If you do not send it in, you will probably be unable to receive your award. Take a moment to carefully review the guidelines for each scholarship that you are considering to make sure that you meet the requirements.After you have submitted your application, you can expect to hear back from the college that is sponsoring the scholarship. Make sure that you follow up on your scholarship, just as you would with any other college grant. These scholarship samples can be a great source of information, but if you don't follow up after you receive it, you won't know what other options you have available to you.Writing a privately funded scholarship sample essay can be a challenging process, but it can also be one of the most effective ways to receive money for college. The essay is often the most important part of your application, so make sure that you put all of your heart into it.
Saturday, March 21, 2020
What problems did Russia face Essay Example
What problems did Russia face Essay Example What problems did Russia face Essay What problems did Russia face Essay Russia was one of the Great Powers of Europe, but it was the one socially, economically and politically most underdeveloped. Even though the chances to be the strongest were many, because of the numerous resources that it had In Its disposal, there were too many weaknesses In the system to reach this greatness. At that time Russia was the worlds biggest country, covering over eight million square miles and so a quarter of the worlds land surface. Since it was extended in a large part of two continents, Europe and Asia, the population, of 65 million people, contained a wide variety of ethnic groups of different race, language, religion and culture. Controlling this large multi-ethnic empire over such a vast territory had long been a major problem to the Russian government, leading many times the tsars to adopt a policy of Rustication insisting on the spread of the Russian culture, especially the use of the Russian language. This type of repression was possible because of the political system of this Empire. Based on the autocracy of the Dastard. The tsar was an absolute ruler who had no restriction on is power, was anointed by God and had the total obedience of the people. Even if his rule was exercised through three official bodies (the Imperial Council, the Senate and the Cabinet of Ministers), he still had the last word and their role was merely to give advice. This kind of monarchy wasnt successful, because if the tsar hadnt a strong character and the skills of a leader, the system wouldnt work. Therefore, Russia had not advanced politically as the other European countries, and it still had a political system typical of the Middle Ages. Indeed, even If many tsars tried to dernier the country, they never Included In their achievements the extension of the political rights. Still, Russia did not have any form of democratic or representing government or a parliament. Political parties had no right to exist, press freedom was strictly restricted and the censorship on books and Journals was very rigorous, especially on the foreign ones, to prevent the spread of liberal and radical ideas. For the same reason universities lost their self-government and came under the government control and the fees to pay for attending it were very high, so to exclude anyone but the very wealthy. In fact the knowledge and the Ideas that spread there about the European political thought and lifestyle could have turned the people against the Russian system. However these restriction had not prevented people to embrace liberal ideas, but since they couldnt openly and legally expressed them, they had to go underground, giving life to a wide variety of secret societies of reform and revolution. As a result, the tsar established a secret private policy, whose special role was hunting down the challengers of the dastard. It was called the Shrank and ad unlimited powers of arrest and it answered only to the tsar. It had infiltrates in these rebel groups and also outside Russia, where they spied on the political exiles, and raids, arrests, Imprisonment and intern exile to Siberia became very popular. All these violence and prohibitions pushed the political activists towards extremism, and there was no moderate middle ground for debate. Even if the extremism took many 1 OFF Torts, as ten animals, ten antiphonals, etc. Etc. , teen all wanted ten political system to change and then the government answered with more repression and limitations. The reactionary and conservative character of the government affected also the development of the economy of the Empire. The majority of the people (the 82%) were in fact peasants, who, even after the emancipation of the serfs, were not completely free, in fact they had been tied to the land and were forced to live in emirs, where they were controlled by the elders. This system led to subsistence agriculture, who was still backward and allowed the famine to widespread in times of shortages of food and impeded to sell enough food at export to raise money for industrial expansion. Also the rise of entrepreneurial was discouraged by the absence of an effective banking system, capitals and by the negligence of the wealthiest. The great amount of peasants had always been a problem for Russia. On a hand, they were feared by the government, who believed that these dark masses could have turned against them and danger the wealthy and their privileges. For this reason they were allowed to attend Just the primary school, so that they were illiterate and uneducated, and not aware of how bad the situation was for them. The governing lass used to talk about the safe ignorance of the population and they believed that they could have been controlled only with violence and repression. On the other hand, such an abundance of illiterate people did not allow the working, professional and commercial classes to expand. The tsar and the government were fully supported by the Orthodox Church, a branch of Christianity independent of any outside authority. It had a strict Russian character and was conservative and deeply reactionary, because with the tsars in charge it would have maintained its powers and privileges. It teaches children and men that the tsar was guided by God and that they should have owed him total obedience. In a country were people had no voice, no right to complain or to speak their mind, it was not possible to reach a kind of society typical of the western Europe. The most important problem was that the only people who were able to change the pillars of a society so conservative were also the only ones who had no wish to do it. The problems in Russia at the beginning of the 20th century were many and concerned every area of interest, and this led to the end of a rebellion and the end of the dastard with Nicholas II.
Thursday, March 5, 2020
Should I Apply Early Decision Expert Guide
Should I Apply Early Decision Expert Guide SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Do you just want to be done with the application process and know where you're going to college? Do you have your heart set on one college, and you want to give yourself the best chance at getting in? If you answered yes to these questions, early decision may be a good option for you. In this article, I'll explain what it means to apply for early decision and explain everything you need to consider to answer the often stressful question, "should I apply early decision?" What Is Early Decision? Early decision is an early application policy used by a number of different colleges. If you apply to a college under early decision, youââ¬â¢ll usually apply earlier than the regular admission deadline and find out earlier if youââ¬â¢ve been accepted. For most colleges with early decision, the ED deadline is November 1, and youââ¬â¢ll be notified by mid-December, whereas youââ¬â¢d be notified in late March or early April under regular decision. Under early decision, you can be accepted, rejected, or deferred to the regular applicant pool. Unlike early action, if you apply and get accepted under early decision, youââ¬â¢re making a binding agreement to attend that school. You can only apply to one school under early decision, and if you get accepted, you have to withdraw your applications to any other colleges. If you break the agreement to attend, you won't have legal action taken against you, but it's likely that the other colleges you apply to will be notified that you broke your agreement, and your acceptances may be rescinded. Your high school will also be contacted, and future applicants from your school may be penalized. Generally, the only acceptable reason to turn down an early decision offer is if you don't get enough financial aid. There are a few colleges that offer two early decision application deadlines, known as Early Decision I and Early Decision II. Early Decision I has a typical early decision application deadline in November, and the application deadline under Early Decision II is in January. If you apply under Early Decision II, youââ¬â¢ll probably hear back in February. Some schools that offer early decision include Duke, Cornell, Brown, Northwestern, and Amherst. Colleges that offer Early Decision I and II include Pomona, Vanderbilt, Tufts, Syracuse, and Emory. Pete Jelliffe/Flickr The Benefits of Applying Early Decision One of the biggest potential benefits of early decision is being done with the college application and selection process as soon as possible. Applying to colleges, waiting to hear back about admissions decisions, and deciding which college to attend can cause tremendous stress for many students and their parents. If you apply early decision, you can know where youââ¬â¢re going to college before most of your peers are even done completing their applications. For the rest of your senior year, you can focus on school, your extracurriculars, and having fun. Also, you can potentially save time and money by not having to apply to more colleges. You should still prepare to apply to more colleges in the event you're not accepted or if you're considering applying to schools that have a regular application deadline before you're notified of admissions decisions under early decision. Additionally, for many colleges, you may increase your chances of gaining admission if you apply under early decision. Most colleges that offer early decision have a significantly higher acceptance rate for early decision applicants. In 2015, Brown admitted 20.6% of its early decision applicants and only 7.5% of its regular decision applicants. Cornell accepted 39% of its early decision applicants and 16.1% of its regular applicants. While early decision applicants tend to be more qualified, that doesnââ¬â¢t account for the entire difference in acceptance rates. Colleges like to admit a large percentage of their incoming classes via early decision to have more control over the composition of their freshman classes, and early decision admits increase a schoolââ¬â¢s yield, the percentage of admitted students who choose to attend. A better yield improves a school's image and ranking. The Disadvantages of Applying Early Decision The biggest disadvantage of applying early decision is that you have to commit to attending a college before you may be ready to make that commitment. Typically, students are still researching colleges in the fall of their senior year, and many of the students with whom Iââ¬â¢ve worked have changed their college preferences multiple times before eventually deciding in the spring. Even if you think you know where you want to go to college before the application process begins, if you apply early decision, you may not give yourself the opportunity to change your mind. Another substantial disadvantage of early decision is that it doesnââ¬â¢t allow you to compare financial aid packages and factor them into your college decision. For students who rely on financial aid to attend college, this can be a significant disadvantage. Even though you can get a general estimate of how much a school will cost you before you apply, you wonââ¬â¢t get your official financial aid offer until after youââ¬â¢re offered admission. However, colleges will let you out of your commitment to attend if they canââ¬â¢t meet your financial need. By that point, though, regular application deadlines may have passed or you may not have adequately researched your other college options. Finally, if you apply early at the end of November, you may have to apply before youââ¬â¢re able to sufficiently improve your test scores or GPA. If you apply early decision, colleges will review your standardized test scores and transcript before the end of the first semester of your senior year. Many students are able to strengthen their applications by raising their standardized test scores in December or getting exceptional first semester senior year grades. When Should IApply Early Decision? 3 Key Factors Early decision can be a good option for you, but only under the following circumstances: Youââ¬â¢ve done thorough college research and youââ¬â¢re certain about your number one choice. You can use college finders, search websites, guidebooks, ranking lists, and visits to learn more about your college options and solidify your choice. You should have done ample research and be confident in your choice by the start of your senior year. You're satisfied with your grades and test scores. If youââ¬â¢re applying early decision, you should have a good SAT or ACT score. It may be to your advantage to wait to apply if you need to improve your standardized test scores or if you have subpar grades for your dream school and would like to show youââ¬â¢re capable of getting better grades. However, if youââ¬â¢re in this situation, you can still apply under Early Decision II, if thatââ¬â¢s an option at your #1 choice. Youââ¬â¢re confident that the school youââ¬â¢re applying to can meet your financial need. Because you wonââ¬â¢t be able to compare financial aid packages if youââ¬â¢re accepted under early decision, you should feel secure that the school youââ¬â¢re applying to will offer you the financial aid you need to attend. You can contact the admissions or financial aid office to ease your concerns, and you can use a site like College Scorecard to get a solid estimate of how much youââ¬â¢ll have to pay. How Do You Apply Early Decision? If you've decided that you're definitely going to apply to a college via early decision, you may be wondering exactly how to do it. Is there a special application to fill out? What should you do about researching and applying to other colleges? The process for applying for early decision is relatively straightforward. You'll submit the same application, but you'll indicate on your application that you're applying for early decision. Before you apply, I recommend having a list of other schools to apply to. While you're waiting to hear back from the school, you should work on your other applications and submit any applications that have a deadline before you're notified about the status of your early decision application. If you're accepted under early decision, you'll withdraw any applications you submitted. If you're rejected or deferred, you can complete any applications that you haven't finished, and when you hear back from schools in the spring, you'll weigh your options and choose a college. What's Next? Is your goal to get into one of the most selective colleges? Learn how from a Harvard graduate. Are you working on making your list of colleges to apply to? Find out about reach schools, target schools, safety schools, and how many schools you should apply to. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:
Monday, February 17, 2020
Dealing with Reality Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words
Dealing with Reality - Essay Example She just arrives in New Orleans to stay with her elder sister Stella who is now pregnant and lives with her husband, Stanley whom Blanche finds to be a pain in her neck. From the investigations made by Stanley, he reveals that she is far from the chaste and respectable woman that she pretends to be because she has had affairs with several men she barely knows, especially with a 17-year old student that led to her dismissal from school. Her actions and dialogues also reveal other characteristics of Blanche. She is a middle-aged woman from the South who formerly taught in high school. Coming from the South, Blanche carries with her the old customs and attitude of her place including her idealistic treatment of women, which she tries to impose on the men she meets including her brother-in-law, Stanley and her suitor, Mitch. When Mitch wants to make love with her, she declares, ââ¬Å"I guess it is just that I have--old-fashioned ideas!â⬠but while she says this, she rolls her eyes, implying that she is doing lip-service. Blanche tries to cover up the ugly realities of her life. She declares, ââ¬Å"Yes, yes, magic! I try to give that to people. I misrepresent things to them. I don't tell truth, I tell what ought to be the truth.â⬠With this, Blanche confirms her tendency to deny reality. However, she prefers to submit herself to fantasy and denial. Instead of facing her problems squarely and trying to overcome loneliness by focusing on her career and getting married, she keeps on drinking liquor to cover up her feelings. This leads to her tragic ending when Stanley rapes her and she loses her sanity. Blanche tries to hide reality in order to fool people. She tells Mitch that if this act is ââ¬Å"sinful, then let me be damned for it! - Don't turn the light on!â⬠(Scene 9). Blanche always meets Mitch in the dark so that she could cover up the truth about her.
Monday, February 3, 2020
Literature Review about statistical process control (SPC) Term Paper
Literature Review about statistical process control (SPC) - Term Paper Example It can be employed in any production unit (which generates material or data as outputs) where the process can thus remain independent from constant supervision. Although there can be variety in products and the required steps necessary for the production process, the SPC analysis remains uniform. SPC is advantageous over other methods of control particularly since it ensures that the production is not affected to any significant degree due to interruptions since it requires no direct inspection. Only "Out of control" process can be covered by SPC. An ââ¬Å"in-control-processâ⬠does not always refer to an acceptable and desirable output. This conceptual misunderstanding often results in misleading applications of SPC. If not properly perceived, SPC can lead to loss of production. The Control chart is the fundamental tool for SPC. It is a graphical representation defined by the plot of measured data (at least 15 observations) on the chart. Using control charts the changes in the inherent process from the accumulated data can be identified. This, in turn determines the ââ¬Ëspecialââ¬â¢ cause that affects the results. In a control chart the ââ¬Ëcentral lineââ¬â¢, denoted by a solid line reflects the average of the accumulated data points and passes through the middle of the graph. Control limits are the lines (a specified distance is maintained from the central line) in the control chart which are calculated by using statistical tools and indicate the behavior of the process i.e whether the process is ââ¬Ëout of controlââ¬â¢ or ââ¬Ëin-controlââ¬â¢. There are two type of control limits- (i) the upper control limit (UCL) and (ii) the lower control limit (LCL). UCL and LCL are defined by the following rule: UCL = centre line + 3* SD â⬠¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦ equ.(1) Recall that a Percentile is given by the division of pointed data in hundred equally divided groups. The nth percentile Pn is defined as- n% of the data points are on or below this
Sunday, January 26, 2020
Education Studies Theories Of Learning Reflect Education Essay
Education Studies Theories Of Learning Reflect Education Essay It is widely understood that most of a childs learning and development takes place with an educational environment a school setting for example. But this does not mean to say a child learns approaches used in schools, which assist children to develop physically emotionally intellectually and develops by just listening to a teacher alone, there are a variety of different methods and sociably as well as to develop their language skills. Throughout my assignment i intend to reflect upon my own learning experiences, and discuss these in relation to different learning theories. In addition to this, i will then take into account what this may mean for my future learning and development and what different skills, qualities and abilities i feel are essential in order me to be an effective educational practitioner Before i am able to reflect on my own learning experiences, I must establish what learning actually is. I personally feel that learning is the way in which an individual has the ability to learn and develop in different ways for example cognitively emotionally and socially, we always need that guidance from a teacher, parent, peer. A leaner needs to recap over existing knowledge or behaviour in order for it to be improved or develop. What we learn at any time is influenced by our previous learning. An extension to this is defined by Nisbet (1986,p.11) who goes on to explain that we may certainly learns new ways of doing things and certain rules but we continue to rely on our previous habits that we have picked up from past experiences of learning. B.F. Skinner who was a behaviourist, his main contribution to behaviourism were the notions of positive and negative reinforcement. He also developed the idea of behaviour shaping, which is training humans to carry out new tasks through a s eries of increasingly complex activities leading to the desire goal. Where as Burns (1995, p99) talks about learning being relatively permanent changes in behavior as the result from experience, internal processes such as thinking, attitudes and emotions. Another definition of learning is defined by John Locke who was an English philosopher who believed, the learner starts off as a clean slate (Tabula rasa) onto which learning and experiences would be imprinted. Whether one agrees with the different learning theorists or theories, our personal development is largely facilitated by teachers or MKO (more knowledgeable other) who should have the motivation, understanding and knowledge to develop our full potential from an early age. Abraham Maslow believes the hierarchy needs to be met before and individual can start their learning process these are physiological needs, safety and security, belongingness and love, and self -esteem and Self-actualization. a learner whether it is a adult or child cannot learn unless they are warm, have shelter, fed and are loved. The learner has to feel safe and protected in the environment, we must also feel loved and belonging in order to achieve our full potential. Another important set of needs in the hierarchy is self-esteem, high level of confidence an individual- learner needs to have a positive view on themselves and finally self-actualization refers to the need for self-fulfilment a positive state of mind. I feel these hierarchy needs are crucial in order for an individual to learn because if we are homeless, cold, hungry, or unloved then in my opinion we would not be concerned about our intellectual development. This first experience of learning that I will discuss is learning to drive a car. Many of my friends and family had passed their driving test, and had the freedom to go wherever they wanted without asking for a lift or arranging a time that was best. I used to watch in envy as they drove past, but I was too scared to get behind the wheel myself, because I was involved in a serious car at the age of 10. I was planning to go to study away the following year at Preston University and my mum encouraged me to start taking driving lessons, so I could travel back on the weekends and be more independent, she had promised to buy me my first car and assist with the running of it. I eventually got the courage and started taking lessons. Throughout my learning I did struggle with certain manoeuvres, for example a 3 point turn in the road I used to hit the curb as I would reverse backwards, because my instructor had said he cannot give me guidance all the time because the examiner would not guide me on the day. My instructor had picked up on me finding it difficult and stopped teaching me other manoeuvres for the time being, and every lesson I had involved two turns in the road until i could do them. He made it challenging every time because he didnt take me to the same roads and some of the roads where narrower than others. So I spent 1 year working at getting to level of being a good safe dri ver then I was ready to take my test, and passed. Looking back at what it was that actually motivated me to get behind the wheel and put my fears behind me, was the fact that most of my friends my age could drive and in some sense u could say I felt left out, and was always the one sat as a passenger rather than the one actually driving. Since beginning this subject of study I have developed and understanding about different levels of motivation, a child or adult being able to be motivated themselves individually in order to learn effectively. I am going to use examples to explain what I exactly mean by this and how it is relevant to my learning experience. I was intrinsically motivated because I wanted to learn to drive, so I was more independent and didnt feel unaided, I was also extrinsically motivated because my mother said when I pass she will buy me my first car, so I was rewarded for my achievement at the end. Now I will go on to explain which theories or learning theorist are most relevant in my learning experience. REFRENCEFirstly the constructivism theory of which Piaget ideas were integrated into, he believed children using direct experience and then exploring and learning, in their own way at their own pace, whilst being involved in an activity. My learning to drive experience demonstrates that I learned at my own pace because it happened over a period of time. Banyard and Hayes (1994, p.259) explain how Albert Bandura believes that people can learn new information and behaviours by watching other people, known as observational learning where we model other behaviour and I knew roughly how to start because i used to watch my mother and friends when I was a passenger. Bruner (1960) explained how learning is an active process revisiting basic ideas over and over, building upon them and elaborating to the level of full understanding. This was possible through the concept of the spiral cu rriculum. Bruner believed information being structured so that the basics can be taught first, and then complex after, then re-visited at more complex levels later on. For example first I learned how to drive on local quite roads, then at a later stage once my confidence built up and I gained more knowledge I was taken on busier main roads during rush hour. My next learning experience I will discuss in my essay is learning my timetables. I recall back to when I was in first school about year three or four, my teacher gave me a set of time tables to learn and then take sheet home to practice . I remember I was finding it difficult to get to grips with the 6 times table, so I asked my mother to help me. She made me some flash cards and turned learning them into a game. We laid the cards out on the table and I had to match the cards together for example, the card 36 to 6 x 6. I really wanted to do well because my mother had said if i did well she would take me to toy shop. When my mother would come to pick me up from school the teacher would tell her how well i did, and when we used to go shopping into town my mother would buy a tamagotchi. So I was most defiantly motivated in learning them. When thinking about this learning experience since doing this topic, has made me come to realise that because my learning style is kinaesthetic, this was the reason why I found the flash cards helpful and easier for me to learn, because I was moving things around rather than just looking at the sheet reading them and trying to remember them. The theories that I found relevant to my learning experience here was Edward Thorndikes laws of effect theory, in addition and skinners positive reinforcement theory were the most important, both of the theories are very similar. Banyard and Hayes (1994, p.267), states that behaviour that has a positive and rewarding outcome is therefore more likely to reoccur in similar situations. The other theory i found relevant was the Social Constructivism theory, of which ideas Vygotsky ideas of learning were integrated into. Recalling back to my learning experience when I was receiving guidance and help from my mother, Vygosky would view it as scaffolding which was one of his most important concepts. He believed that without scaffolding from the More Knowledgeable other (MKO) we only have the ability to reach our zone of actual development (ZAD) meaning we would only achieve what we are cable of without help, on the other hand if our learning is scaffold then we have the ability to reach our zone of proximal development (ZPD).REFRENCE In terms of my future learning, it is important that I stay persistent so I can reach my goal in becoming a primary school teacher. I understand that every child is different with their own unique learning styles, every child learns in their own way and pace and it is important to meet their learning needs. I also believe that it is important for me to be able to view tasks how a child would receive it, as this is what will make me a effective practitioner because I will be able to adapt the teaching approach to that individual if needed Another vital part of this essay is to discuss the skills and qualities I feel are essential for any effective educational practitioner. Listening effectively to the children is an important skill a teacher needs, so they can cater for the different learning styles in order to give them the best possible opportunities to learn. I also feel it is crucial that a teacher is warming, kind and approachable so the children feel comfortable in talking about anything no matter the problem or situation. Another skill I feel is crucial is having excellent communication, having the ability to communicate with other teachers, students of all ages and parents. It is also vital that the educational practitioner has a positive attitude and is patient even in difficult situations. On reflection of my essay, I have realised how much knowledge I have achieved, which I can use in the classroom in the future. I have learnt that not everyone learns in the same way, was as the teachers need to make learning fun and efficient. Whilst doing this essay I realised why certain outcomes occurred in terms of my own learning experience i.e. motivation, positive reinforcement and support network around me.
Saturday, January 18, 2020
An Ecological Theory Applied to Aging Essay
Ecological theories of human development consider the complex interactions between humans and their changing social and physical environments. Every member of society experiences these interactions in a different manner, depending on factors such as the amount of resources available to them or the interconnectedness of their support system at birth. As people age and as the macrosystem itself changes in response to events, people within the system shift to occupy different positions in society. Peopleââ¬â¢s psychological reactions to their evolving statuses reflect the culmination of a lifetimeââ¬â¢s worth of experiences. At each juncture within peopleââ¬â¢s lives, their statuses are subject to norms and rules belonging to society. Understood from the vantage of Bronfenbrennerââ¬â¢s ecolological systems approach, initial transactions in a personââ¬â¢s life are the result of direct interrelationships between the infant and members of the microsystem (church, family, peers, school, neighborhood, play area, and health services). Microsystems, in turn, are shaped by a host of higher-up systems, which are also acting on each other at the same time. When the children in Bronfenbrennerââ¬â¢s model mature into adulthood, they are likely to occupy new roles within the macrosystem. These acquired roles may be transient because familial roles, career placement, financial status and other factors may vary throughout peopleââ¬â¢s lifetimes. Age, however, is one factor that invariably affects peopleââ¬â¢s lives, and society ââ¬â to a large part ââ¬â determines the extent of that effect. Deep-rooted in the mentality of members of a system are beliefs about which members are suited to which roles. If a society assigns a value to the knowledge gained through a lifetime of experience, then people in late adulthood and beyond will perceive themselves as vital. Alternatively, if a society chooses not to recognize that elders have an important contribution to make in society, then the elders of that society may internalize those beliefs and feel valueless. In the United States, common stereotypes of the elderly are that they are poorly able to meet the physical and mental demands of performing routine tasks. However, as medical science improves, people are living into theirà hundreds and remaining active. In addition, various forms of martial arts are practiced to enhance balance, coordination, and flexibility, and cardiovascular exercise strengthens the heart, body, and elevates mood levels. Because of a heightened awareness of the positive effects of keeping a healthy diet and exercising regularly, in many cases, people can continue to function physically and mentally at high levels. An ecological theory of human development would recognize recent changes, such as increased longevity and improved functionality, as the catalyst for the development of new late adulthood roles and altered definitions of late adulthood. Cognitive development throughout the lifespan, or fluid intelligence, is valued above accumulated stores of intelligence, or crystallized intelligence, in some ecological systems. In a system that seeks ways of applying the wisdom of age, mentors and apprentices benefit from the transference of knowledge and perspective. In agriculture-based communities, where apprenticeships are integral to the continuity of life, members view hastiness and rapid decision-making as immature qualities; whereas, forethought and the ability to absorb the totality of a situation are the attributes of old age. In certain Black African societies, elders in the community are regarded as founts of knowledge. In traditional Latin societies, it is believed that older members of society possess inner-strength and can pass that quality along to younger generations. Individuals in these societies depend on their elderly and base many of their personal, social, and job-related decisions on the utterances of elder s in the community. In technology-based societies, crystallized intelligence is undervalued because adaptation is seen as more important to the sustenance of economic development. Those who fall behind in terms of technological instrumentality and rapid response rate are perceived as slow instead of as thoughtful. Furthermore, the uniform sentence order and grammar of English restricts the range of expression available to many elderly people. In a macrosystem in which speed and the delivery are prized more than the content of the message, senior citizens and their contributions are marginalized. The effect is that societyââ¬â¢s message to seniors ââ¬â that they are slow andà ineffectual ââ¬â becomes an internalized belief of everyone in society. In many other cultures, such as Arab ones, the treatment of aged people in society seems to be the reverse of how older people are treated in the U.S. In these countries, the religion and culture serve as the rational basis for assigning seniors authority in deciding on household matters. It is expected in traditional societies that the young provide care for and honor their aging family members. In societies with Confucian based ideologies, such as Korea, the hierarchy of respect is based on age, with the eldest members of society receiving the most esteem. The exosystem in these societies is tipped in the direction of considering the importance of elders and their influence. All microsystems, mesosystems, and individuals tap into this human resource because the macrosystems endorse the idea that the elderly in society are indispensable. Microsystems in many countries are successful at integrating the services that seniors provide into the caregiving structure. In many Asian and African societies, grandparents live in the same house as parents and children. Whereas the commonly held belief in the U.S. is that grandparentsââ¬â¢ excessive indulging of their grandchildren may negatively affect childrenââ¬â¢s personalities and achievement in school, it has been found that in China educated grandparents have a positive effect on their grandchildrenââ¬â¢s academic performance. In the U.S., grandparents may play an important role in parenting children in single-parent headed homes. Additionally, parents look forward to becoming grandparents, and a study conducted by Brubaker showed that 80% of grandparents were happy with their grandparenting roles. Just as these eager parents delight in assuming new roles as grandparents in life, so are there many things to look forward to as one approaches late adulthood. Dependi ng on the macrosystem one is part of aging can be perceived as a positive or negative prospect. The extent to which a macrosystem views the importance and necessity of caring for aged ones can dictate the quality of life for seniors, particularly for those who are afflicted by poor physical health or forms dementia brought on and exacerbated by old age. In the US, middle-agedà adults find themselves ââ¬Å"sandwichedâ⬠between caring for their children and their parents. The financial and emotional burden put on these middle-aged adults further begs a solution to the need for a better system of caring for the elderly. The issues seem especially pressing in industrialized nations, where traditional ideas about caring for older family members are either nonexistent or eroding. In China, a nation in the midst of industrialization, as rural-to-urban shift increases, parents and grandparents are being left behind. In Latin cultures, filial bonds and intergenerational teaching are perpetuated by a macrosystem that espouses religious belief and traditional norms. In countries trying to balance industrialization and tradition, managing care for aging populations presents a problem, especially in countries such as Italy and Japan, where the declining birthrate presents a challenge for this generation of youths An individualââ¬â¢s microsystem system shapes the pattern of interactions to follow for the rest of that personââ¬â¢s life, Shifts in familial status, shifts in occupational status, issues related specifically to aging, external events, and the set of values and beliefs embodied by the macrosystem all contribute to the quality of peopleââ¬â¢s perceived well being. Senior citizensââ¬â¢ well-being is often related to the quality of their interactions within their microsystems. Depending on the structure of the macrosystem and sometimes on the individualââ¬â¢s accessibility to resources, social support systems may consist of children and grandchildren of the individual, other elderly members of the community, or community members of all ages who seek the guidance of elders. Ecological systems theories provide a framework for identifying the elements of the system and within the individual that account for reasons why individuals behave and think the way they do. Shortcomings in the systems, such as with the treatment of elders, are apparent when macrosystems are compared side by side. This societyââ¬â¢s values and beliefs will have to accommodate more positive associations with old age before the majority of elders can enjoy meaningful, productive, and satisfying lives.
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