Developing educational leadership in study circle Essay Example for Free

Developing educational leadership in study circle Essay As previously mentioned, Study Circle leaders are highly look upon as respectable individuals in the program. Even though the leader is just a representative or could be consider as equal among others, it could not be deny that their role is crucial in the success of the Study Circle. According to Blid (2000), there are two main functions that can be used to identify a leader. One is the ability to secure that studies progress smoothly and two, the ability promote a positive social climate during meetings. The first characteristic of the leader implies that he is willing to set aside his personal time to ensure that the program would run smoothly and effectively. However, the Study Circle was created to work collectively and each member is expected to be responsible for their own progress so it doesn’t mean that the Study Circle leader should do everything. He is just their in order to guide the participants in accordance with the program. Most of his organizational functions could be consider as presidential or secretarial work (Bjerkaker, 2003). The second functions or commonly known as the social and emotional role of the leader is consider as an important tool in developing a positive atmosphere of cooperation and respect wherein everyone would feel at ease while learning (Blid, 1990)). A Study Circle leader may be the key to an inspiring first meeting or a failure leader would cause the Study Circle to lose some of its members or participants. In order to carry out those two functions, Kindstorm (2002) cited some tasks that would help them perform their task. They are the following: 1) Helping the participants in strengthening their self-confidence; 2) Developing team spirit so that participants would feel welcome and secure; 3) Putting the participants own development in focus and ask the right questions; 4) On the process of knowledge, applying common views from time to time will help the participants to apply what they have learn in different situations of their everyday life; 5) Preventing competition by promoting cooperation among the participants; 6) Encouraging the participants to discuss solutions and ask questions among other through dialogues; 7) Making different options very clear; The leader will always play a crucial role in the interplay of the group. He/she, for an instance, need to face problems that could inhibit the members from participating in activities or learning from the program. The course subject that the Study Circle will tackle will be in accordance to the leader’s general knowledge. On the other hand, Study Circle leaders are considered as unpaid work since it is look upon as part of their engagement in a voluntary organization (Persson, 2006). However there are some who get paid but most of them are either retired or were specifically hired for the job due to certain circumstances. Most Study Circle leaders do have ordinary employment and their only few who are consider as full time Study Circle leaders and most of them are teachers. Methodology Introduction A multiplicity of concepts and ideas may bring confusion in terms of meanings. Clarity of key concepts, ideas and how could they be applied after the study would be an important parts in determining whether they are qualitative or quantitative. The purpose is to generate information about the application of the research design and its method to the current study. Research Design By focusing on textual data and spoken word rather than relying in numerical data and statistical method, qualitative research is meant to describe human experiences in various subjects and topics. The multiple perspectives of each participant are the direct source of data for this research design. By analyzing frequent phrases, patterns or statements from the participants, the researchers are in the process of developing a theory or foundation needed for the study. Furthermore, this procedure may often produce additional information that could start further research. In order to carry out their goal, the researchers should observe and jot down notes during the process of the research (Patton, 2002). According to Patton (2002), qualitative design is very tedious and time consuming. Researchers are force to adapt to the participants conditions and situations in order to extract the information they needed without jeopardizing the content and value of the data. However, analysis of data could pose as a major threat to the success of the study. After being influence by the participant’s environment, interpretation of this data could be subject to biases and personal opinions of researchers (Myers, 2002). However, the risk of taking this design lies in its descriptive reports and explorations of human views that could offer the future readers of the study a better understanding of the problem. Research Method While the Study Circle shall be used as a method, the characteristics of Focus Group Discussion to capture multiple perspectives of different participants at the same time will be useful in this study. Similar to the Study Circle, by assembling group of people to discuss certain topic, focus group discussion could generate social interactions between these people that are not acquainted with each other (Heiskanen, 2008). By generating interactions among them and seeing it evolve, various ideas and concepts are generated at the same time. Ideas and concepts are being generated through a communal process wherein participants could share and elaborate their viewpoints about the subject and concern topics. Furthermore, researchers could understand how participants handle, react and approach the issue being presented to them by observing, recording and analyzing the interaction and discussion of the group (Heiskanen, 2008). Multiple ideas and concept necessary to form the foundation of the school-community framework could be supplied by focus group discussion while minimizing time and cost for the research. Furthermore, the concept of Study Circles and focus group discussion are parallel with each other, thus preventing overlaps of information.

Fly Away Peter and Heart of Darkness :: Essays Papers

Fly Away Peter and Heart of Darkness Fly Away Peter, written by David Malouf, is set in 1914-1915 during the period of World War One. The story of the main character, Jim, begins in his home in rural Queensland before embarking on a journey in France to fight in the war. Heart of Darkness, written by Joseph Conrad, is set in a similar period of time. The main character Marlow’s journey is to the Congo, which had recently become a part of the Belgium Empire. Both characters undertake a physical, intellectual and spiritual journey. They also learn about themselves individually as well as about humanity which brings them to question the meaning of life. At the beginning of the two novels, both Jim and Marlow are somewhat innocent to what lay ahead of them. Malouf describes Jim as being in a state of ‘dangerous innocence’ in the early chapters of Fly Away Peter. He is portrayed as being a person who is not well educated, has limited experience of the world and doesn’t like change. ‘New views of the things didn’t interest him†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ pg. 50. In Heart of Darkness, Conrad portrays Marlow as a man who loves adventure, which is quite unlike the character of Jim. He has seen and experienced much of the world. However, he is innocent because he has never been to a place like Africa where colonialism exists. He has always lived in a civilized world controlled by rules and regulations and so has never witnessed the effect lack of restraint can have on people. As Jim and Marlow undertake their physical journeys, both begin to lose their innocence and gain knowledge of the world. Jim begins to lose his innocence when he goes to Brisbane and sees how the news of war affects people. The change makes him realize he wants to experience more in his life and so enlists to fight in the war. On arrival in France Jim finds himself in a ‘world unlike anything he had ever known or imagined.’ p58 He experienced the horrors and living and fighting in the trenches and the way war transformed soldiers into different people that became unrecognizable. As he sees the people killed and replaced and killed again he becomes a veteran of war and feels himself growing older. Marlow begins to lose his innocence when he arrives in Africa and witnesses the effects of colonialism.

Studying Abroad or Studying At Home Essay

Studying abroad has become very fashionable for many residents. Many students seek the opportunities to study overseas to create a bright future and achieve childhood dreams. People who prefer to leave their home and study abroad seemed to be searching for educational satisfaction over their entire desire. Homesickness and culture shock besides unsafe environment are only a few problems of what an expat may face. It is believed that students shouldn’t leave their home to study abroad. The first reason why we should encourage students to pursue education locally is that a student studying locally doesn’t need to learn how to speak the local language of the foreign country that’s because they already known it. This will help avoid any communication problems between the students and their surroundings. Students can mix and blend with fellow classmates and teachers with ease. Moreover, students would be closer to home, being able to see and communicate with their loved people. Learning to live without a family is difficult and hard to cope with especially if someone was far alone from friends’ support and help. Another reason why a student shouldn’t leave their homeland to study abroad is the difficulties of moving. Studying locally is not as expensive compared to studying overseas. Students would not need to rent apartment as they can stay in the house they have been living in. Winter clothing, which also costs a lot of money, is not needed for those who are planning to study in western side. Local calls are also far cheaper than international calls for people who study outside of their country. More important, as a foreign student, students will experience distinct traditions and customs from that of their homeland and influence by their behaviors and norms. Students sometimes encounter with cultural shock. In different country things can be different than our habits. It is difficult  to get used to live in a foreign country. Traditions, habits and people are different and besides this it takes time to learn what their traditions and habits are. Culture shock also causes student not to be social and feel homesick. Students might miss their environment, family and friends. The opponents argue that studying abroad has many advantages, such as the advanced courses and developed approaches and facilities and the glory name of the western universities. They think that could expand student outlook and autonomy. However, local universities have encouraged students to study at home by opining international and famous worldwide university branches in its land. Furthermore, these universities branches are not less significance than the main branch in its original country. The counterarguments may think that speaking the language is better when someone lives between native people of the language. However, governments established many numbers of language institutes whose crew exclude native speakers. To conclude, studying locally is the best choice for students who are looking for satisfactory ad high level of education. People should be proud of pursuing education in homeland universities, where the difficulties of alienation can be avoided. By studying locally, there is no need to speak the language and moved on, only to enjoy studying among your loved people and to live dreams.

Coming of Age in Mississippi by Anne Moody - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 2 Words: 700 Downloads: 4 Date added: 2018/12/17 Category Literature Essay Type Book review Level High school Did you like this example? Coming of Age in Mississippi, was first published in 1968. It was later published in 2004 (Moody, 2011). The author of the book is Anne Moody. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Coming of Age in Mississippi by Anne Moody" essay for you Create order The book contains 424 pages. The setting of the story in the book is an American environment. The book is divided into four parts. The first part is childhood that starts from chapter one to ten (Moody, 2011). The second part is high school that starts from chapter eleven to chapter nineteen (Moody, 2011). The third part is college that starts from chapter twenty to chapter to chapter twenty two. The fourth part is the movement that starts from chapter twenty three to chapter to chapter twenty five (Moody, 2011). The cover page of the book contains an image of young African American woman that might be an imagery of the main character in the book. In accordance to Moody the book was her own autobiography thus she never considered herself as a writer but an activist. Characters The main character in the book is Essie Mae. The rest of the characters comprise of Toosweet Davis Annes mother, Adline Moody Annes young sister, James Moody Annes younger brother, Junior Moody Annes younger brother, Virginia Moody sister to Anne, Alberta Annes aunt, Darlene is the sister to Raymond, Mrs. Burke who employs Anne as a maid, The Carter Family are the owners of the plantation where Anne and her entire family leave, Reverend Carson is Annes teacher at Mt. Pleasant School, Doris a fellow activist with Anne in Canton, Florence, George Lee Annes uncle, Mr. Hicks the gym teacher and athletic coach, Linda Mae Jenkins the lady who employs Anne as a maid and babysitter, The Johnson Family is where Annes mother works as a maid, Ola Johnson the grandmother of the Johnson family, Keemp is a basketball player and the first boyfriend of Anne, Reverend Edward King is an activist who befriends Anne, Miss Pearl is Raymonds mother, Grandfather Moody is Annes grandfather, Mrs. Rice is Ann es teacher, Uncle Ed is the uncle of Anne, Mr. Willis is the principal of Annes high school, Mrs. Willis is a teacher of Anne and Winny who is Annes grandmother (SparkNotes: Coming of Age in Mississippi: Character List, 2017). Plot overview Essie Mae who is a direct reflection of Anne Moody is brought up in a poor African American family that lived on a plantation (Fox, 2015). Their house never had electricity nor indoor plumbing while Carters family house had both thus the only light in the plantation was from Carters house (Moody, 2011). Her parents used to work in the plantation while Mae and her siblings were tasked with duties in the house. Her mother switched from one job to another in order to meet the needs for her family. Mae is good in her academics. She does part-time tasks such as cleaning houses for the white families in order to aid in meeting the family needs. Mrs. Busk discriminates and looks down upon the African American individuals. Mae grows into a beautiful young woman where she is elected homecoming queen (Moody, 2011). When Anne receives news of a brutal murder of a young African American boy she gets informed of the racial inequality around her thus as she grows up she gains more understanding of this fact. She joins the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) where she begins the struggle for racial injustices (Moody, 2011). She later earns a basket scholarship to Natchez College and later transfers to Tougaloo College for her final academic years where she joins the NAACP despite being warned by her family and the sheriff. She becomes an active member of the civil rights movement (Moody, 2011). Mae later works as an activist in CORE (Coalition for the Organization of Racial Equality) (Moody, 2011). Her main focus was on economic issues that are aimed at improving the lives of African Americans. References Moody, A. (2011).? Coming of age in Mississippi. New York: Bantam Dell. SparkNotes: Coming of Age in Mississippi: Character List. (2017).? Sparknotes.com. Retrieved 21 November 2017, from https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/comingofage/characters.html Fox, M. (2015).? Anne Moody, Author of ?Coming of Age in Mississippi, Dies at 74.? Nytimes.com. Retrieved 21 November 2017, from https://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/18/books/anne-moody-author-of-coming-of-age-in-mississippi-dies-at-74.html