Electronic Communication In Society

electronic Communication In confederationSince the invention of the galvanizing telegraph in 1831 by Joseph Henry, electric colloquy has been a signifi jackpott piece of our hostelry. From a casual text to an principal(prenominal) fax electric communication has become crucial to human interaction. However, this mixed bag of communication that has been so customary to our e reallyday night club has also been very contr everyplacesial. Unfortunately, the usage of electronics to interact has eliminated much of the to a greater extent traditional anatomys of communication. N unitytheless, electronic is necessity to almost all of our communication today.Computer communication is extremely parking lot today. It involves two or to a greater extent computers and is a quick, usually internet ground way of communicating. There argon more different types of communication via a computer, however the most common ones areInstant messaging depiction ChatE-mailSocial NetworkingInstant Messaging. Instant Messaging (IM) is a direct and fast(a) form of communication that occurs over a lucre (usually the internet) between two or to a greater extent people. IM is non to be conglomerate with e-mail beca substance abuse it happens in real time, when people sling each some other messages using IM they are communicating much faster than they would with e-mail. In fact, they can communicate at about the same speed as they would if they were lecture to each other bodilyly.Instant Messaging also uses and has highly-developed its bear language in a way. A series of abbreviations and internet draw has revolutionized modern electronic communication. This slang has also come to prominent use in text messaging and on societal networking sites.There are thousands of Instant Messaging sites and programs, however a few of the more common ones areAIMGoogle TalkiChatVideo Chat. Other than text found internet communication, there is also video communication. This is when a soul speaks to a camera on their computer and the image is transmitted to a nonher computer. This facilitates a arrestmingly physical conversation since each person can see the other while they shed. Video chat is made possible be either a webcam that can be attached to ones computer or a built in camera that does not affect to be attached. Video chat has revolutionized both business and individualised computer communication. courier programs such as Skype and iChat allow users to communicate from different parts of the instauration as though they were only a few inches away.E-mail. E-mail is one of the oldest usages of electronic communication of the types we confine discussed so far. It is not as fast as IM or video chat, however it is more popular among the sure-enough(a) generation. E-mail seems to work the way a letter might, although it is sent over a network as opposed to through a mailing system. The recipient and mailer both have e-mail addresses and are able to s end messages, pictures, videos and files through e-mail. Each e-mail address is unique in a network such as gmail or hotmail and so mail does not get mixed up. Like IM and Video Chat an e-mail distinguish allows one to acquire a slant of friends or contacts- a list of ones acquaintances and their e-mail addresses. Unfortunately, among the younger community, e-mail has become seemingly outdated because of the more frequent use of IM, Video Chat and hearty networking.Social Networking. Currently, social networking is the most popular type of internet communication. Social Networking focuses on expression relationships between people, over the internet, who share similar interests or have things in common. Generally, it gives a user a profile or a pageboy dedicated to their interests, activities or information. Then, just like the other types of communication we have seen, allows them a list of contacts or friends with whom the can communicate. Usually communication or viewing of ones profile requires mutual consent on behalf of the viewer and the person whose page is being viewed. A few very popular social networking sites areFacebookMyspaceTwitterTele environ CommunicationThe tele environ seems to be a given when discussing electronic communication in modern day society. Although earlier utilise for simply dialing and receiving calls, the shouts uses have spread over a all-inclusive range of functions. Cell phones can not only be used for calling but also for texting and internet applications.Texting. Texting is an extremely popular form of electronic communication today. A text message is usually a brief message written to someone using a busy phone. A text can include an image, video or dependable along with the briefly written message. A sort of language has developed between texters of the modern world. This slang includeslol-laughing out loudg2g- got to gol8er-later somewhat worry that this slang is detracting from the usage of proper language. Also, many worry that texting harms human interaction. The prominence of texting over talking could potentially hurt our force to talk face-to-face hand have normal social interaction. Texting also does physical harm to our society. Texting and driving is a leading cause in puerile deaths in car accidents.Calling. Phone calls, of course, are a part of telephone sets and electric communication. Few, however, understand the mechanics and intense science behind the telephone and the ability to make phone calls. According to Wikipedia, a telephone uses a mike in the handset to convert the sound waves to electrical signals which are past sent through a telephone network to the other phone and are then converted back to sound waves that can be understood by the ear. Telephone calls are extremely crucial to society and calling is much more similar to actually talking than texting or instant messaging. Telephone calls also make fast communication more possible while keeping it at a m ore own(prenominal) and human level.Telephones and the Internet. As telephones became more and more high-tech and gained applications and more software, it is inherent that they should also have internet. Many phones these days have similar functions to computers draw off with fewer capabilities and the ability to make and receive phone calls. Unfortunately, however, the uses of media on mobile phones and the near constant availability of such media contributes to the media craze in our society and the problem many have with the over usage of media.Other Electronic Communication. Telephones and computers are not the only electronic devices used to communicate. There are many other devices (Often connected to telephones or computers) that also provide a means to interact electronically.Voicemail. When someone calls someone else, whether it is via a cell phone or telephone, and the receiver does not pick up, the caller has the option of expiration a message for the receiver. This is called a articulatiomail or answering machine. According to Wikipedia voice mail messages are stored on hard disk drives and messages left by the caller are recorded. When the owner of the voicemail wishes to retrieve that message, he or she essential simply call the voicemail. Although voicemail did help people leave messages in their personal lives, voicemail had its most significant impact on the business world. It reduced the need for secretaries because now an actual person was not needed to final payment messages and it allowed for more personalized and discreet messages to be left for the receiver.Faxing. A fax or facsimile is a document sent over a telephone line. According to Wikipedia, faxing was first very prominent in the mid eighties when they became affordable and more feasible for homeowners to purchase. Faxing works in many shipway the same as calling. Two people have fax come and one sends a document to the other over a telephone line. Although some people o wn private fax machines, they are principally used in the business world to transport sensitive documents that may not be safe to allow on the internet.Printers. Although printers by themselves do not seem to be electronic communication devices, they facilitate many communications that are very important to us. For example, scanning allows us to take a document and put it on our computer. We can then conduct to send the document out to people through the internet, which we would not be capable of doing without the assistance of the printer. Printing also allows us to communicate. Objects printed can be sent through mail, which allows us to communicate to other people. So, although printers are not in themselves electronic devices used to communicate, they are often used as a means to communicate.ConclusionThe importance of electronic communication in our society is incomparable to any other recent development. It has revolutionized communication in both the professional and perso nal spheres in human interaction. It is very important that people understand electronic communication and how to use it because of its significance to occasional life. Hopefully this paper has helped you to understand the details of electronic communication.

Merits and Demerits of Devaluation

Merits and Demerits of DevaluationBackground and HistoryPakistan has unusual history of successive devaluation. The rupee was first corrupted in 1950 in response to a flipable move by India. Later in 1972, Z.A. Bhuttos g oernment massively de abide byd the rupee by 133%. The rupee was further de take accountd in un sniply 1980s during General Zia regime. Moeen Qureshis c argontaker organisation in 1993 also devalued the rupee by 7%.After that it was Benazir Bhuttos judicature that further devalued the rupee and finally same measure atomic number 18 being taken by the present government of Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif.Pakistan has been on a st appraisegy of cookd float since January 8, 1982. For most of the past decade the rupee had been fixed in relation to the US sawbuck at the tramp of Rs 9.9= US$1. The advanced vary regime commenced with an arrive aticial nominal depreciation of 5 percentage in the month of January, and a cumulative 30 % for the year 1 982. This was come with by the abandonment of the fixed peg to the US dollar and its re refreshedal by a fictile basket peg whereby the authorities manage the nominal exchange put actively. The exchange rate system has remained ill-informed up to the present and the Government has periodically re-affirmed its commitment to this flexible solicitude in stabilization and adjustment programs negotiated with the IMF. Since the introduction of the new system at that place has been a continuous downward slide in our exchange rate. At present the rate of Pak RS in 2010. This represents a depreciation of 260 percent sinceDevaluation and its routineDepreciation or devaluation refers to the downward movement of the rate at which the legal residence nones exchanges against the foreign currency or an profit in the home(prenominal) scathe of one unit of the foreign currency. Depreciation is the name prone to this drop when it occurs in a free grocery devaluation is the same subjec t resolving military grouping from government actions in a market that is non free. Since 1973 most of the currencies ar on the drifting currency system, by closes of the system of dirty floating still al misfortunates government/ central banks to interfere to some extent. The question of devaluing the orthogonal value of the currency is one of the hotly debated issues in man policy discussions. On the one exceed, the IMF and the World Bank punts devaluation as an beta circumstances of their recommended policy package for less developed countries (LDCs). On the other(a) script m some(prenominal) economist and economic policy makers are strongly distant to devaluing currencies has become a dirty word in many countries.Technically, devaluation of a currency is the last resort when other fiscal and monetary measures exchangeable beseech care , financial incentive, trade restrictions hit readd to be less effective in solving problem of decentiser of payment, by come oning the rurals exportings and decreasing trades.In countries like Pakistan where major economic problem is overlook of growth, exports are low because of poor quality of goods rather than the value of the currency. The implement of the open market keeps on adjusting exchange rate automatically and has make devaluation obsolete.Balancing MechanismBasically devaluation is a measure to correct a fundamental disequilibrium in rustics ease of payments. Equilibrium in a realms balance is a result of restraint on imports and foreign payments of all sorts and an expanding upon of exports and foreign exchange earning of all sorts. The restraint on import dismissnot be achieved through appeals. It has to be make through direct restriction and/or through operation of the hurt apparatus, that is to say through making imports monetary valuelier by operating on import duties, and this in fact has been extensively done in many developing countries, including Pakistan. However , this is open to some objections and demarcations so a simple way of making imports costlier is not adjustment of the exchange rate. The spotless burden of making imports costlier is not generally placed on the exchange rate mechanism. It is shared by the device of import duties and also duodecimal regulations. The import duty mechanism can also be utilise to make transition to the new exchange rate and to give a certain(prenominal) amount of discretionary treatment to individual items of import.The Price componentThe other major objective of devaluation is to promote export. It should be noted that what is contemplated is an increase in exports in foreign exchange in experimental condition of municipal currency. Exports on the whole leave go through to increase by much than the percentage of devaluation. Expansion of exports depends upon a number of factors, the elasticity of fork over in devaluing kingdom and of demand for the products of that country abroad. Much de pends on the prices at which the devaluing country is able to offer its goods.Contractionary ImpactReluctance to adjust the exchange rate in downward direction is referable to its possible contractionary impact on return and employment, re-distribution of income from wages earner to property owners, cost-push ostentationary closet and the sign favourable effect on the balance of payment. All of the higher up go forth eventually reserved through a process of domestic inflation and larger imports. When quantitative controls on imports duties are reduced along with the devaluation, imports and exports are not particularly sensitive to price changes particularly in the ill-judged run. This is particularly applicable in the case of UDCs whose imports are often harp of essential cracking goods, intermediate inputs including fuel and fertilizer and somemultiplication grassroots consumer goods like food grains, edible oils etc. there is little stove for cutting down these impo rts. The exports of UDCs on the other hand mainly incorporate of primary commodities and processed materials whose supply elasticity are rather low in get around run. If devaluation has to improve the balance of trade in short run, it should come through a decrement in the aim of output and changes in the distribution of income towards high saver which would reduce the demand for imports and picture a bigger exportable surplus. Recession, unemployment and unequal distribution of income are the cost of a successful devaluation.Inflationary PressureThe ineffective of exchange rate adjustment in securing improvement in the international balance earlier comes from the fact that changes in costs arising from exchange rate movements feed through quickly and extensively into the economy and contribution to the accerlation of prevailing inflationary pressure associated with an improvement of the monetary conditions. The rigid climb in price over a long period has stimulated defensive inflationary responses amoung industrialists, agriculturalist, lineage mens, and wage earner and has nullified the impact of exchange rate adjustments on the internationalistic competitiveness of our exports. It should be taken into account that devaluation corrects the past inflationary and other economic development that led to adverse movement in the balance of payment. This does not protect the balance of payments against further inflationary and other adverse developments. Frequent devaluation of a currency is undesirable. It stimulates speculation and results in twirl in income, consumption, industrial growth and public finance. This also erodes the confidence in the currency.DEMAND ManagementUnfortunately, for keeping our external accounts disequilibrium within sustainable limits, we have relied rather heavily on exchange rate adjustment and not paid attention to the aptitude dimension of our economic system. Economic efficiency at the macro and micro levels requires hig h productivity, technological efficiency, high grade of saving and investment, and incomes policy that does not lead to cost-push inflation and fiscal-monetary policy that provides a perpetual environment for careful demand management. These are the simple and adamant economic laws that were recognized and grasped. Neither negative controls nor artificial stimuli like habitual depreciation of external value of the currency with do except a little and temporarily.International trade and DevaluationGlobalization is the strategy of todays world. The concept of breeding sharing has reinforced the process of globalization throughout the world. The consultant and analysts are, therefore, working(a) on the integration of the entire system to run smoothly without any hindrances. Looking at the economic activity in this scenario, there is cardinal major classifications, good and services. The globalization of goods can be seen in the potential of international trade. By internationa l trade we mean exchange of goods amid the nations. Looking at the economies of the world we find that the states are broadening their activities by offering investors to share their share of excellence and load-bearing(a) their local correct to explore the possibilities of selling their goods in the foreign markets. International trade is rattling all-important(a) in terms of increasing the foreign exchange of the country which finally prospers the quite a little.The Government of Pakistan has liberalized its trade policy with devaluation of Pak rupee and progressd the manufacturers to export their goods and invited foreign companies to compete in the local market.The key reason for international trade is provided by the theory of Comparative costs importance of comparative cost saving in the production of one item over the other. Obviously it would be better to buy a product from mainland China at the price of Rs 1/= sooner of producing it at the cost of Rs. 2/- that can be ultimately be sold for Rs 2.50 in the market.There are various other reasons which strongly support the trading among the countries, a few(prenominal) of which areDecreasing costConsumption of excess production divergency in tasteForeign Exchange rateFrom international trade, we mean buying and selling the goods among nations. The raft cannot, of-course, be taken place without approachability of currency to be veritable by the seller, on the other hand an exporter/importer would definitely like to know how the exchange rate of Pakistan rupee into dollar is being fixed, and how can her benefit from it?. At present in Pakistan we have managed float of currency to determine exchange rate as an separate policy instrument.We need some criteria to fix the exchange of currency amoung the countries. It is important to note that only a favourable exchange can rattling benefits the nation and by favourable exchange, we mean, getting to a greater extent foreign currency by paying les s local currency. Theoretically there are two type of exchange ratesStable Exchange rateAltough stable exchange rate has no pratical value now a days, yet it helps in understanding the determination of exchange theory. A stable exchange rate was set by the value of capital. However, with passage of time, the limitation and deficiencies of gold standard exited emerging. Few of these were carrying inconvencies, remelting of gold, shipment of gold, different valuation of gold by different countries, and unavailability of sufficient gold to meet with the unvoiced demand. That is why the gold system was found inadequate ans was replaced with the flexible exchange rate. pliable or floating exchange rateFlexible exchange rate is set by the interaction of demand and supply schedule for foreign exchange indepently. The optimum level in demand and supply teory is set at the point where supply equal to the demand. So if a person want to buy electric equipment from the States worth(predicat e) $ 100000/- and an American in contrast wants to buy cotton and the affinity between US$ and Pak rupee is 11, the equation testament be somehow similar to as follows make for US$ by Pakistan 100,000Demand for Rs. By America 50,000Pakistan is demanding more dollars than America wants to supply. The demand and supply are not in balance, consequently Pakistan shall have to refix the parity between $ and rupee at a level where our demand for $ will become equal to the supply of $. Now if we reduce the price of our goods by half of the lively priceDemand for US$ by Pakistan 100,000Demand of Rs by America 25,000This drop-off price will have dual effectsDollas will become more expensive, the American goods will become more costly.Pakistani Rupee will become more cheaper, our goods will become cheaper and as a result the demand for our goods will increase.From the above it can be included that demans for imports should be in line with supply of exports. Total value of imports and expo rts of a country can also help manufacturers to design their plans for future day expansion. With an expensive foreign currency, export may be increased with relatively low price supply of goods and quality production within the country. At the same time with a cheap currency investment can be made in foreign countries to utilize the cheap resources and ultimately increases the value of the firm.DEVALUATION its effects on ExportsAs the reason for the devaluation has been to strengthen the countrys balance of payment by stimulating exports, curtailing imports and by encouraging overseas Pakistanis to turn off their earning through banks by narrowing the wedge between the official exchange rate and the kerb rate in the open market. It is universally accepted concept that the exchange rate mechanism is apply to create a balance between the imports and exports but what is lesser known fact is that this mechanism need to be implemented at the reclaim time and for the right economic reasons to be fully effective in achieving the desired purpose.Advantages and Disadvantages of DevaluationAdvantages of DevaluationDevaluation helps in obtaining international market demand perfection in quality and reduction in price up to a competitive level. As both developed and underdeveloped countries function in one international market therefore, it is not easy for Pakistan to sell a product which is also produced by France, Germany or Holland if the prices are high. However, we are competing with the underdeveloped countries, it is, therefore, very necessary for us to adjust our prices with the prices of our competitors to serve in the market.Every new product has quaternion stages, out of which the first stage is introduction stage. An introduction stage demands clutch of efforts to promote the product and create awareness among the buyers. At this stage it is springy to sell it at even below the cost. That is why the government provides certain duty drawbacks for a sp ecified period, until that time when the product is self-sufficient.Each country maintains an account for its total imports exports schedule along with balance of payment chart. At times when its imports increase from its exports and the balance of payment deteriorates it becomes racy to increase its exports immediately. The reduction in prices is one of the quickest ways of increasing the exports.At times when people tend to buy imported goods and local industry start suffering, it is necessary to discourage the people so that they cut down their uptake towards foreign buying and direct towards local goods. Devaluation is one of the techniques to decrease imports and encourage the local industry.Reduction in price through devaluation has long term effects, which can be seen over a period of time.All the above conditions are ongoingly prevailing in Pakistan. However the question arises as to why all these conditions have comparatively more drastic affects on our economy. The answ er to this question relates to our policy of income projection and receipt from foreign donors and countries. In the past, we were used to manage our budgetary gaps with the help of aids and debts. But this time the situation is different we could not did any foreign source of income. The IMF was used to extend loans for our development programs in the past. However, during the current year the IMF had stopped its $ccc million trench of its ESAF credit. The result is quite obvious devaluation and imposition of new duties/taxesDisadvantages of DevaluationDevaluation with all its disadvantages has become an irregular policy. It is rater an ad-hoc ar runment for less demand. Instead imperfect planning is essential to forecast the future when the original price level will be maintained again.Devaluation involves high risk of inflation with the country for e.g if the exports do not increase as the result of decrease of price the country will suffer losses due to increase cost of all imp orts as well as local imports. Loss resulted due to decrease in prices in international market.Devaluation automatically increases the value of external debts and correspondingly the amount required for debt servicingDevaluation of a currency is considered as a last step to be taken after ill of all other fiscal and monetary measures.Before devaluing currency to boost economy through increasing exports, other factors need to be evaluated, for example, cut down exports may be because of poor quality of goods, trade barrier, lower value added goods, unavailability of export items e.t.cContinued depreciation of currency may result in unlawful import of goods within the country. Such unlawful import and export may creat unlawful parallel economy within the country, which will be completely out of the control of the government.Devaluation is always supported by special incentive package to reduce the internally produced items for export.By critically analyzing all the above referred fa ctors, it is proposed that the following necessary action should be taken to improve the situationTax Network should be enhanced bya) levying tax on agriculture,b) improving collection procedure,c) bringing small business community under tax nutshell etc.Imports should be discouraged by encouraging locally produced quality goods.Export of value added items should be increased instead of increase of low value exports to compete with the other developing countries. gratis(p) to say that government should reduce drastically its own expenditure. It is vital for government to build up its creditability through investing money in public projects very honestly.The proceed from privatization of public sectors should be utilized to pay off our external as well as internal debts. Rescheduling of the debt should also be requested from the lenders.In case of our low priced items in the international market, we should prove that the reason of our low price quality items is not government suppor t but cost efficiency. This can be done only with the help of very competent professional people i.e management accounts, engineers and managers.With the current devaluation, it is vital that necessary incentives must be given to industry and fixed income concourse for their survival and to reap the benefit of devaluation.The government should build capacity to the great unwashed with economics problems on both macro and micro level. It is generally believed that the government does not possess necessary capabilities, out of elected representative and bureaucrats to deal with it. That is why most of our key position holder is either current of Ex World Bank/IMF officials.It is also suggested that major businessmen and industrialist should be taken into confidence before any major decision.Effectiveness of price control committees very necessary. In countries like Pakistan where every individual has the power to determine the price of his own product, inflation is automatically mul tipliedConclusionsClearly, devaluation has not been the answer. It has rather contributed to a further increase in the trade gap. The important consequences of devaluation are the burden it is putting on the repayment of the foreign debts. The ensue depletion of reserves has such a negative effect that the positive impact, if any, is more than wiped out by the increased foreign exchange burden.Reviewing the policy of devaluation by successive governments in the last 50 years, one finds that devaluation has miserably failed to nail down any problems or improve the macro or micro economic conditions in the country. Rather, devaluation has been counterproductive. In the existing scenario of the forces of demand and supply, the rupee is expected to celebrate with its downward trend. If the counter measures through cost cutting and efficiency management are not taken to check the inflation, which is already running in double digit, the advantages of devaluation will be offset as in th e past, difference adverse impacts as our economy which mainly depends on imported raw-materials, fuels and capital goods. That will certainly bring more hardships for common Pakistani people because our industry has substantial imported inputs in a wide range of locally produced goods and will also retard the process of industrialization in the country. Similarly defense budget and debt servicing will cost more due to costlier dollar.Our main problem is still uncontrolled i.e. the rise in non-development expenditures, which has given rise to the culture of living beyond means. This can be countered by adoption of practical harsh measures by the government especially at the top level to set the example for the whole nation.

Impact On The Natural Environment Construction Essay

clashing On The Natural Environment Construction EssayThe grammatical spin welkin has a signifi hardlytt stir on the endcel environment. It consumes almost 33 of the worlds indispensable resources, including 40 of its capacity and up to 12% of its wet. These estimates do non consider embodied energy (i.e. the energy complaisant occasiond to obtain, manufacture, utilise and banish of build materials), which preempt represent a large proportion of a structures life season energy consumption. The make sector is also responsible for 40% of planetary young-ho uptake gas (GHG) emissions and 40% of the waste which ends up in the landfills (World common land Building Council, 2006). The consumption of natural resources, particularly n genius-renewable energy sources, is an definitive factor in in the economy of umpteen nations. Authorative reports prove such(prenominal) trends in m some(prenominal) parts of the world. In the United Kingdom, for instance, the ex pression sector consumes almost 50% of all the countrys energy. age in the United States, about 40% of the organic national energy toil and almost 70% of electricity production is mappingd in the create sector, as well as 28% in transportation a factor which is partly influenced by urban rule. The structure sector in China rate of flowly fliers for 19% of the countrys replete(p) energy consumption. This relatively small percentage is due to energy intense industrial production. The same scenario occurs in the rich oil-producing argonas of the Gulf Corporation Council Countries (GCCC). For example, the building sector in Kuwait neb for nearly 45% of the yearbook electric energy consumption, whilst in Saudi Arabia this sector consumes about 70% of the total electricity consumption. In Bahrain, the smallest country inwardly the GCCC, buildings account for 83% of the national consumption of electricity (EIA, 2010).Apart from its energy consumption, the building sector is also one of the largest contributors to changes in the environment and atmosphere graduation exercisely, building construction, lancinating material serve uping and product manufacturing general argon the largest sources of GHGs. They account for approximately 40% of the world GHGs emissions. The building sector creates the most waste, habitat terminal and is responsible for the most pollution. Second, GHGs, particularly carbon dioxide, be the primary(prenominal) by-product of dodo fuel energy consumption, and as buildings argon, in total, among the largest consumers of energy, they argon also the major contributor to the increase in CO2 emissions and hence world-wide warming. While most available data related to these contributions are for the develop world, reports deliver that, on the all in all, these contributions are worse in developing countries such as the GCCC. These countries turn out become major GHGs emitters. According to the International Panel of m ode Chang (2007), the GCCC are amongst the top countries in terms of CO2 emissions per capita. Recent statistics show an increase of CO2 emissions due to excessive energy consumption in opposite GCCC sectors, particularly the building sector. The increase in CO2 emissions had been within the range of 30-35% among 1997 and 2006. The GCCC are found to contribute ii and one-half per cent of the global GHG emissions (United Nations Statistic Division, 2007).One of the primary(prenominal) principles of the GCCC is to enhance the frugal and environmental actions related to the adoption of policies and unifying environmental laws as well as the conservation of natural resources (GCC, 2008). Within this context a two-fold policy aims at promoting energy regulations and sustainable developments has been adopted. A major subprogram has been given to the building sector, with a special focus on the important role that might regulations can play in reducing energy consumption and protect the environment.On the ground, some actions start been taken by the GCCC in tell to chance upon sustainability in buildings, such as the implementation of park building regulations. Most of these regulations are plated on the USAs kilobyte Building Councils (US GBC) leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) military rank corpse, with modifications do to account for the local environmental conditions. In terms of light-green construction, more attempts have been made in assorted parts of the GCCC. Examples can be seen in the Bahrain World Trade Centre in Manama, the large- scurf Masdar urban center in Abu Dhabi, the campus of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia and the Energy City in Qatar. These projects incorporate some(prenominal) cleverness techniques and green materials. A stipulation of these huge, wooly projects shows that three parties can benefit from such developments g everywherenments and owners can me assert e nergy and protect the environment, thereby gaining a well-disposed image contractors and suppliers can sell green products and developers can use the affirmative image as a positive marketing tool. However, in his article The chore of Green Elsheshtawy (2010) claims that some green and LEED certified buildings in the GCCC end up eat much more energy than the evaluators predicted due to poor energy practices. bring together with this is the sparings of energy efficiency and green buildings.Cost of building greenA great number of available projects, such as those mentioned above, shows that if building green is a repoint at the outset of the founding process and material bringion then the monetary value of the green building is competitive. In a commercial setting, such projects can result in decreased energy consumption, saved environment, improved occupant health and comfort and digest capital equals. Many rigorous assessments show that the overall address of these pro jects is no more than that of any equivalent conventional project. ontogenys in first bell are reported within the range from five-ten per cent. During the construction phase the use of the green strategies, such as downsizing of costly mechanical, electrical and geomorphologic schemes can increase the saving in sign cost, while during the first two decades the increases due to the use of green technologies will result in a savings of at to the lowest degree ten times the initial investment in operation cost for utilities such as electricity. In rental properties, owners are concerned only with the initial cost, especially in the cases where tenants are paying the bills. Governments and some owners, however, can realise the energy savings and so are willing to pay more for minimising the operation cost and reducing the environmental seismic disturbance. The trade-off between frugal costs and environmental benefits can stimulate people on the basis that adoption of green techn ologies will have environmental and social benefits remote the margin of cost consideration. Although the pattern of eco-efficiency, in many cases, does not take into account the social benefits, such an flak can balance environmental radiation pattern with cost- stiffness.To achieve eco-efficiency in the building sector, it is necessary to apply an amalgamated approach with the helper of a team of professionals across divergent areas. This is realised in what is called the whole building approach. This approach represents a key factor in the trope and construction of green buildings, especially with the foster of technology and increased complexity of constructional systems. The incorporation of the whole building approach at the projects conceptual design phase enables the evaluation of a buildings design, materials and systems from the perspectives of all the project team members as well as from the perspectives of owners and occupants. A principal advantage of this app roach is the coordination and vernacular dialogue between project team members, which represent a fundament for any successful projects. By applying the whole building approach initial and separate cost savings can be realised, energy efficiency evaluated and environmental bear on assessed.The role of veneer systems in making buildings greenGreen buildings are generally designed and built in an ecologic and resources-efficient manner. They lots respond to their local environment and, therefore, antithetical building designs are found in various regions. In any region, however, the ultimate target of green buildings is to try a comfortable environment in an economical way. The buildings skin, particularly building facade, represents the connection between the internal environment and the outside conditions, and hence a key function of the building facade is to reduce the need to modify the indoor environment as little as possible in response to the environmental load from the open-air(prenominal) climate. Sometimes, a building facade fails to meet its objective due to one or more reasons, such as the insufficient design of bulwark systems or the inappropriate selection of veneer materials that probably top it impossible for any specific level of comfortable environment to be achieved. Then, it is necessary to rely upon electrical and mechanical systems to achieve comfort. This reliance leads to higher cost which is translated into larger capacity requirements for lighting and mechanical equipment and higher capital costs for such equipment as well as larger amounts of energy consumption by the lighting system and changeing, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system. In contrast, efficient environmental design and appropriate selection of green lining materials can result in a comfortable inside environment, reduced project initial and footrace costs and a building that is energy and resource-efficient with debase operating costs than con ventional buildings. Practitioners have demonstrated that the implementation of green strategies contributes to a buildings comfort, economic and energy mathematical process. The use of green veneer systems, in particular, is able to make a significant encounter on the thermal and usable feat of green buildings. Reports show that when green veneer systems are taken into account at the conceptual design phase, significant improvements in the energy instruction execution can be achieved (Radhi and Sharples, 2008).Aside from their influence on building operational energy, the external break body of weewee systems and veneer materials are major contributors to changes in the natural environment. The production of construction materials such as precast and aluminium increases atmospheric concentrations of GHGs. The environmental impact starts with the chemical reactions during the production phase, where such materials represent one of the largest source of CO2 emissions and oth er GHGs. Then, the transportation of the materials to construction sites consumes considerable amounts of particular energy and generates high levels of GHG emissions. At the installation phase these materials generate diverse types of waste, whilst at the operation phase some of them influence the interior and out-of-door spaces by producing unhealthy components into the air. Some construction materials have relatively short-change useful lives and, therefore, the disposal and manufacture of replacement materials occurs, thereby generating more GHGs and waste. look into experts have shown that a careful selection of low environmental impact components and materials reduces the CO2 emissions by up to 30%. Some veneer materials are reported to have the capacity to reduce ozone emissions and other sources of pollutants such as CO2 (Radhi, 2010).How can the eco-efficiency of cladding systems be measured?The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD, 2000) terms eco -efficiency as the synthesis of economic and environmental efficiency in parallel. Within this context, eco-efficiency in the building sector can be determined by three broad objectives cut back natural resources consumption by minimising the use of embodied and operational energy, raw materials, water and land as well as enhancing recyclability and material durabilityReduce environmental impact by minimising GHGs emissions, waste disposal, water discharges and the dispersion of noxious substances, as well as encouraging the use of renewable resources.Increase the value of materials and systems by providing more benefits through material in operation(p)ity, flexibility and modularity.In the light of these objectives the important question is how the eco-efficiency of cladding systems can be measured. material scientific work has been addressing this issue by introducing suitable assessment methodologies and rating systems. This is best seen in the environmental life cycle assessm ent (LCA) and life-cycle cost (LCC) approaches developed by the international standards for LCA principles and framework ISO 14040 (ISO14040, 2006). Assessment is performed in quatern phases, including goal and scope definition, inventory analysis, impact assessment and interpretation. Two main approaches are available to classify and characterise environmental impacts. The first is the problem-oriented approach (mid-point). The second is the damage-oriented approach (end-point). A great number of methods have been developed under these two approaches such as the critical volumes (weighted load) and bionomic scarceness (eco-points) systems in Switzerland, environmental priorities system in Sweden, eco-indicator 99 in Netherlands and the environmental problems system in the United States. The use of such methods makes it possible to select building systems and materials that achieve the most appropriate balance between environmental and economic deed based on certain values of th e building team.Case study assessing eco-efficiency of cladding systems in BahrainThe current assessment, based on the LCA of residential buildings (Radhi and Sharples, 2012), is performed to characterise the eco-efficiency of cladding systems in Bahrain. Bahrain is chosen as many of its building construction approaches and techniques are common of those found in the GCCC. The production, construction, use and disposal of a 75 m2 front facade of a typical Bahraini house (Fig. 24.1), formed the basis of this assessment. Technically, the building facade consisted of two main components that included the wall system and cladding seams. The wall system is generally classified as cavity wall, barrier wall or plenty wall (National Institute of Building Sciences, 2012). The cavity wall (sometimes called the privacy wall system) is the preferred method of construction in many climatic regions due primarily to its ability to achieve pressure-equalisation. The barrier wall is an outside wall system of assembly. The principal difference of this system is its ability to integrate the surfaces of outermost exterior wall and construction joints, which can offer confrontation to bulk moisture ingress. The mass wall relies principally upon a compounding of wall thickness and storage capacity. Some fundamental differences exist among these systems such as the thermal public presentation, fire safety, moisture protection, acoustics, maintainability and material durability, and so consequently their impact on the environment.In terms of cladding, it is the exterior finish layer that is installed to cover wall systems and/or support structures. This finish layer serves several functions, including improving appearance, optimising thermal and environmental performance and keeping undesirable outdoor elements away. Today cladding systems are available in many forms and materials, which are often chosen based on economic and aesthetic factors. Structurally, the use of any al ternatives of cladding determines the type of wall system and sin versa. The mass wall system, for example, can form structural elements or finished cladding systems. This system is commonly associated with plaster and masonry cladding systems. On the other hand, the barrier wall is used with precast concrete spandrel panels and some types of admixture cladding systems such as composite and solid metal scale of measurement as well as with exterior insulation and finish systems (EIFS).With the advance in building technology and construction materials, many alternatives of cladding systems are now available in the market. Examples are analyze in the current work, namely, stucco, masonry veneer, marble, ceramic roofing tile and the EIFS. Stucco is a hard, dense, thick and non-insulating material, such as cement plaster, that can be used to cover exterior wall surfaces. Both Portland cement and masonry cement are used with sand for the base and finish coats of stucco exterior walls. Unlike the ordinary stucco system, the EIFS (also cognise as synthetic stucco) is a lightweight synthetic wall cladding that includes foam plastic insulation and thin synthetic coatings. The masonry veneer is made from a mixture of Portland cement and aggregates under controlled conditions. It provides cladding and resists transferring wind and heat loads to the building support structure. The marble cladding system is a natural stone, while the ceramic tile cladding system consists of a mixture of clay and other ceramic materials. To improve environmental and thermal performance, recycled windshield glass is often added to the ceramic mix (Brookes and Meijs, 2008). These five cladding systems are assessed under real construction and thermal scenarios with the same wall system (mass wall), as illustrated in Fig. 24.2. To provide each scenario with the basic systems quantities per functional unit, the existing facade parameters and wall materials of the typical house are considered as a reference scenario, in addition to the operational aspects that are influenced by the building facade.Data inventory of cladding systemsThe LCA method and LCC technique are integrated to deliver a complete and detailed assessment of the overall say-so impact of the typical house. An important point to note is that system and material selection based on a single impact could obscure other factors that might cause equal or great damage. Therefore, the adopted LCA methodology takes a multidimensional life-cycle approach, in which multiple environmental impacts are considered over the entire life of the assessed cladding systems. To balance the assessment, the LCC is performed over a 60 year life span, and is based on print data and methods describe in (Radhi 2010). Categories of expenditure typically include costs for purchase, installation, maintenance, repair and replacement. Measuring the economic performance is relatively straightforward by using real cost data collected t hrough a field study. The data in question are the real cost data that occur and the subsequent cost, which will occur in the future. standardisation is carried out in this work in do to present a more useful scale of measurement and to make comparisons of various systems simpler. normalization is an optional step in impact assessment and can be described as a form of benchmarking, where the flows of each environmental impact are first summed and then divided by fixed Bahraini scale impact values. This can yield measures that are placed in the context of Bahraini activity contributing to that impact. The placing of each measure in the context of its associated Bahraini impact measure makes it possible to reduce different values to the same scale and allows the comparison across impacts. The resulting performance measures are, thus, denotative in non-commensurate units. For credibility, the commercially available BEES homunculus (National Institute of Standards and Technology, 200 7) for building construction materials coupled with the international inventory data (Hammond Jones, 2011) were used to compare and check. The BEES model is generally used to measure the environmental and energy performance of building products and facade materials using the life cycle assessment approach outlined in ISO standard 14040.Environmental impact assessmentGiven the impulse to link environmental and economic performance through the concept of eco-efficiency, the pattern way is to base the eco-efficiency indicators on international agreement as farthest as possible. According to the framework of the United Nations (2006), the assessment of eco-efficiency includes various generic wine environmental issues such as energy use, global warming contribution, water use, ozone depletion substance and waste. From these indicators, energy consumption and CO2 emissions, water use and bionomic toxicity are of the greatest relevance for this study. Fig. 24.3 compares these indicato rs with respect to the five studied cladding systems. Some of these systems, such as the marble cladding, have significant impacts on water use but moderate impacts on global warming and embodied energy. Other systems, such as stucco, have a significant impact on twain the energy consumption and global warming but a minor impact on water use. The others, such as the EIFS, have a minor impact on different generic environmental issues. From the illustration, the EIFS system seems to be the best performer, followed by the ceramic tiles, marble and finally the brick. Stucco is found to be the least effective system in terms of energy consumption and ecological toxicity as well as in relation to CO2 emissions. This can be related to the large amounts of CO2 emissions during cement production, which is the main component of the plaster cladding system.Environmental versus economicWhen the overall environmental impact of the examined systems is considered, a different scenario occurs. The overall environmental performance is illustrated in Fig. 24.4. Two main observations can be highlighted firstly, the overall environmental performance ranking of the five systems is different from single measures such energy use and global warming. The EIFS cladding system is the best environmental performer, whilst the ceramic tile system is the worst performer. The difference is more than 24 points. As systems with lower draws are greener, the EIFS cladding system is greener because it contributes, on average, 0.1% of annual per capita Bahrain environmental impacts, whilst the marble contributes a larger share, 0.35%. Secondly, the environmental performance ranking is different from that of the economic performance. The illustration shows that the economic impacts of cladding systems are various and different from the environmental impacts. For example, the stucco cladding is illustrated as the best economic performer, but it is not in terms of the environmental performance. The difference in report is significant, being almost 11 points. This can be also seen in the case of the ceramic tile cladding. In contrast, the marble cladding achieves a high overall environmental performance and a low economic performance with a difference that reaches almost 21%. The EIFS cladding seems to have a balanced environmental and economic status. The same ranking occurs when both environmental and economic performance are estimated.By using the multi-attribute close analysis technique, environmental indicators and the economic performance are combined into an overall performance measure (National Institute of Standards and Technology, 2007). It is important to mention that the overall performance scores in this work are not indications of absolute performance. Rather, they are reflecting proportional differences in performance and representing relative performance among system alternatives. By following this procedure, these scores can be changed when the number of sys tem alternatives are increased or reduced. The potential overall performance of the studied systems shows different scenarios when compared with the environmental and economic performances. The stucco cladding seems to be the most eco-efficient systems in smart of its poor environmental performance, followed by the EFIS system with a score of 29%, with the masonry veneer coming next. In contrast, the ceramic tile cladding is found to be the worst with almost 50%, in spite of its moderate economic performance.Overall, different cladding systems have different environmental and economic performances. Some cladding materials improve the environmental performance, but provide a moderate influence in terms of economic performance, and vice versa. Others positively improve the environmental performance and can optimise the economic performance. Therefore, a careful eco-efficiency assessment should be undertaken in selecting wall cladding systems. Such an assessment can benefit the apprai sal of green cladding systems and hence into the design decisions made in developing various scale of green buildings.ConclusionTodays modern buildings systems, particularly cladding system, are often selected and assessed based on aesthetics and cost rather than their environmental performance or their overall potential impact. The concept of eco-efficiency introduced in this book balances the environmental performance with economic aspects. This chapter presented a systematic eco-efficiency assessment of cladding systems and explored its role progressing a green future in the building sector. The interrelation between environmental indicators and economic performance was examined by comparing various cladding systems, considering both overall environmental impact indicators and life cycle cost. The differences in environmental indicators of various cladding systems, namely, stucco, masonry veneer, marble, ceramic tile and the EIFS systems, are generally significant. The ranking of these systems in terms of environmental and economic performance are different. Some of the cladding systems, such as the marble cladding, reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions, but provide a minor reducing in terms of the life cycle cost, and vice versa. Others, such as the EFIS system, impact positively upon the environmental indicators and can optimise the overall potential impact. This system has the ability to reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions however, other aspects, such as maintenance and life expectancy, should be considered at the time of system selection.The scope of the current study focused on the eco-efficiency of spokesperson residential cladding system in a developing country. Consequently, the resolution of this assessment may not be applied to buildings in countries with different economic and environmental situation. In spite of this shortcoming, this assessment approach may provide useful quantitative and qualitative information for cladding de sign decisions. Therefore, it is important to highlight some general notesNew green building technologies, such as the exterior insulation and finish systems (EIFS), are effective cladding systems in promoting a green future in the residential building sector.To improve the overall potential impact, wall cladding systems in desert climate regions, such as Bahrain, can be designed as exterior insulation and finish systems.Every building is rum in both design and operation. Academic experts and practitioners benefiting from this work should consider the impact of related variables, and therefore a careful assessment must be performed during the selection process in order to achieve eco-efficiency in the building sector.In addition to its ability to assess building cladding systems, the eco-efficiency concept can be used with various other systems, materials and innovative applications. It can yield a precise assessment in the case of multifunctional problems in relatively short times and at relatively low cost. In the near future the concept of eco-efficiency will become more important in the context of the green built environment in order to show which design process, building systems and renewable technologies are more favourable than other alternatives.

The Effects Of Farming On The Environment Environmental Sciences Essay

The Effects Of Farming On The milieu Environmental Sciences evidenceBy 5000 BC the Sumerians had developed core agricultural techniques including tumid-scale intensive cultivation of land,mono-cropping, organizedirrigation, and the use of a specialized labour force.intensive estate orintensive agricultureis an agricultural dodging that aims to evoke maximum yield from available land. Besides, its in like manner anagriculturalproduction trunk characterized by the proud inputs ofcapital,labour or heavy usage of technologies much(prenominal) aspesticidesand chemicalfertilizersrelative to land area. You could say food is produced in large quantities with the help of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. The products much(prenominal) as eggs, meat and umpteen agricultural products available in many an(prenominal) supermarkets are produced victimisation new(a) intensive farming. Intensive farming is practiced widely by many of the developed economies of the world. Sustainab le intensive farming, intensive aquaculture, intensive live stock up farming and managed intensive grazing fall under intensive farming.Environment issues of Intensive FarmingIntensive farming may bring approximately issues to the environment. For instance-Intensive farming includes the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, fungicides and insecticides.It is also associated with overpopulated wolf farms, which are often associated with pollution and carnal sickness. And even more distressful is the fact that the majority of working farms use intensive farming. This means more chemicals on our plate at each meal.The use of such vast amounts of nitrogen based fertilizers contaminates the area lakes and rivers.Forests are destroyed to create large open fields and this could lead to soil erosion and affects natural habits in the forest.The pesticides sprayed on crops destroy pests, contaminate the crops and kill good insects. Eventually, these chemicals are passed o n to the human beings. The fruits and vegetables bought from farms that promote intensive farming are covered with infrared pesticide. These are not easily washed off. The resi overdue of the pesticide affect the wellness of human beings.Use of pesticides has numerous negative health effects on workers who applied those, people that live nearby the area of application or downstream from it and consumers who eat the pesticides which remain on their food.INTENSIVE FARMING IN MALAYSIALivestock farming in Sabah once seen as backyard farming and send no threat to the environment, but with the rapid development in the breed industry, particularly in monogastric subsector, coupled with rapid expansion of urban and peri-urban area, gunstock farming has befit the critical issue. Excessive origin fluff as a result of intensive farming constitution need to be addressed. Although animal hook can be utilized as a manure to improve the physical and chemical properties of soil, it can als o bugger off environmental hazard if not managed properly. It can fountaind mal feeling or feeling nuisance to environment, surface water contamination, secondary pollution and also spectral sensitivity.Table 1. Estimated Livestock Population of Sabah, 1999SpeciesNumber (Head)Cattle44,837 cow50,741 flunky37,285Sheep1,900Pig100,000Chicken3,400,000Duck113,000Source (Anon.1999b)Livestock SpeciesPopulation extravagance Produce (m.t.) per YearPoultry2.4 millions178,000Duck0.5 millions55,000Pig85,000248,000Cattle/Buffalo97,0001,416,000Goat/Sheep38,00070,000Total1,967,000Source (Mokhtar and Chia, 2000)Table 2. Total blood cosmos and the tempestuouss produced per yearThe rapid growth of the livestock industry nonplusd on environmental problem-related to the livestock waste generated from the intensive farming system. Livestock waste generated from an capacious or semi extensive farming system does not look to cause any major environmental problem as shown in table 2, cattle or bu ffalo wastes amount to 1.4 million metric unit ton compare to pig wastes about 248,000 metric ton. The problem is kick upstairs aggravated with the rapid development of the urban and peri-urban area where most of the livestock farms are situated. The total livestock population and the waste produced per year for selected animal is illustrated in Table 2.Environmental problems cause by livestock farmingWater PollutionMain environmental problem cause by livestock farming is water pollution, according to The Malaysian Environmental feel Report, 12 rivers in the state were polluted with ammoniac nitrogen (NH3-N) due to livestock farming and domestic wastes in 1997. Water pollution cause by livestock farming occurred due to malfunction of waste lagune or accidentally spill over from flooded lagoon or deliberate flushing of wastes directly into river system. Water may turn reddish embrown and may destroy the fragile ecosystem. Pollution from nutrients contained in animal manure, name ly phosphorous and nitrogen is one of the most serious problems, leading to excess algae growth, robbing water of oxygen which may lead to mass close of fish. advertise pollutionThe anaerobic decomposition of stored animal wastes generates various evaporable metabolic compounds of which a dozen contributes to odour, in particular hydrogen sulphide (H2S) and ammonia. These can cause continuous source of strong, persistent and unreasonably worthless hog/poultry odours. The resulting of air pollution is interfering with surrounding areas. Air pollution in the form of ammonia nitrogen can cause respiratory illness in the neighborhood up to two miles international from the site.Potential source of diseasesBeside serious environmental problem, animal waste also may become a source of various diseases such as infectious worm larvae hatched from the worm eggs passed out with the stool contamination encrusted with organic matter is an ideal breeding undercoat of harmful bacteria. Arthr opods such as flies, lice, fleas that are attracted by animal waste may trigger outbreak of infectious diseases, because they are the vectors to transmit diseases such as viruses, rickettsiae, protozoa and helminthes.WAYS TO PREVENTThere are several(prenominal) ways to prevent Environmental problems cause by livestock farming, fr instance-To minimize environment problem caused by pig waste there should be proper animal waste management system such as improving the housing adopting by the Pit recharge System and Concrete Floor unit.The adoption of the Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBBR) with an Automation, which is waste water treatment system with the function of stirring, aeration and settling.To reduce the odour emitted from farm, a close housing system with regulated ventilation is used. Thats mean, by using high efficiency fans at one end of the building unfermented air is sucked ion from outside environment passing through the cooling keep ones nose to the grindstone to reduce t he temperature before being delivered into the building.Livestock Farming Rules, 2001. In the lag the Department of Veterinary Services and living creature Industry is well awake of the need to control and rectify irregularities in the livestock farming practices. secondary on this, Livestock Farming Rules, 2000 (Draft) was introduced. This regulation was created under the existing Animal Ordinance 1962 (Amended 1998). Under this legislation, all livestock farms shall be operated under the have of Department of Veterinary Services and Animal Industry, Sabah (DOVSAI).CONCLUSIONIntensive farming orintensive agricultureis an agricultural system characterized by the high inputs ofcapital,labour or heavy usage of technologies such aspesticidesand chemicalfertilizersrelative to land area. Intensive farming is practiced widely by many of the developed economies of the world. However, it may bring disadvantages to our environment.Livestock farming has become the critical issue. The rap id growth of the livestock industry in Sabah caused on environmental problem-related to the livestock waste generated from the intensive farming system. Excessive livestock waste as a result of intensive farming system need to be addressed. If not managed properly, it can caused malodour or odour nuisance to environment, surface water contamination, secondary pollution and also religious sensitivity.RERERENCEShttp//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intensive_farminghttp//www.buzzle.com/articles/advantages-and-disadvantages-for-intensive-farming.htmlhttp//www.buzzle.com/articles/advantages-and-disadvantages-for-intensive-farming.htmlhttp//www.fao.org/docrep/007/y5019e/y5019e0l.htmhttp//kb.rspca.org.au/RSPCA-Policy-B2-Intensive-farming-practices_165.htmlhttp//www.sabah.gov.my/jpas/news/SITE/SITEppr12.pdfWater pollution in a country stream due to farming activity APPENDIXCUsersEnd_UserPicturesuntitled.bmpphoto06.jpgPesticides driftThe use of pesticides in agricultureCUsersEnd_UserDesktopimage.jpg

Theories Of Implicit And Explicit Knowledge English Language Essay

Theories Of understood And graphic Knowledge slope Language EssayThe feature mingled with in expressed and verbalised noesis is of great signifi backsidece for pronounceology teaching. The theoretical deterrent examples emerging from SLA question slang crapn up differing stances on the user interface between unuttered and express familiarity in the L2 larn puzzle out. With reference to these stances, deuce speckles of special(prenominal) amour to L2 schoolroom pedagogy be which type of cognition contri savees more efficaciously to breeding and which type of teaching, obvious or underlying, provides more assistance to the L2 encyclopedism process.This base discusses whatever of the influential theories of implicit and obvious bopledge how the two types of association contribute to acquisition and the impact of possible action on classroom tensenesssingsingal methodologies. Although both types of intimacy arsehole refer to different aspect s of wrangle, this paper foc physical exercises particularly on grammar for two reasons firstly due to space limitations, and second beca expenditure of its importance to voice intercourse pedagogy.The paper starts by defining the two types of companionship and providing an overview of what the corresponding teaching and teaching aspects of this acquaintance entail. The theories that ar indeed discussed go been grouped according to their stance on how the two types of knowledge interface. on with a brief ex stake of the theories I will also image at their implications on classroom management. The paper concludes by reviewing dust centre cultivation, which is a good example of how ideas emanating from theory flummox influenced teaching risees by integrating the artificiality of learning into a more peckcel process.2. Defining the implicit/explict dichotomy2.1 Implicit knowledge, learning and pedagogyImplicit knowledge is ordinarily associated with a students lingual competence (Ellis, 2005a). Literature on psychology and SLA research customs several co-occur terms to refer to this knowledge, for example, un sensible knowledge, intuitive knowledge/ sensory faculty, epi lingual behaviour, spontaneous/ automated knowledge, or procedural knowledge/ eclipses/ depot.Bialystok (1981) offers the following description of implicit knowledgeThe general number in which information is stand for allows us to know things intuitively without being awargon of the formal properties of that knowledge. For example, we know a great deal about terminology that defies mental examination, but the knowledge is demonstrated by our powerfulness to produce lay, coherent utterances.Implicit knowledge underlies the fluent style skills usually associated with native speakers (Hulstijn, 2007), who stool an energy to notice grammatic errors without necessarily being able to explain the detects cause them. Ellis (1994) suggests that this knowledge hindqua rters be broken down into two sub-categories formulaic knowledge consisting of pre-fabricated chunks of wording and rule-based which consists of general and abstract structures which have been internalised. Both these sub-categories are stored unconsciously and only become apparent when the words is produced in dialogue (ibid). Within the brain, implicit knowledge is not restricted to one unique(predicate) area, but is spread over different regions of the neopallium (Paradis, 1994).Implicit learning is the forming of implicit knowledge, and is a natural process of acquiring new knowledge unknowingly, and in such style that the knowledge is difficult to verbalise (Ellis, 1994). For example, a learner may unwittingly learn a grammatical rule spell working on a meaning tapered activity, or notice a structural pattern during a short reposition task. This learning takes place automatically whenever information is processed receptively, and once the process is initiated, the learn er cannot choose not to encode the input (Hulstijn, 2007).Classroom instruction is considered implicit if rules are not presented and learners are not required to date to forms (Norris and Ortega, 2000). Examples of implicit instruction include highschool frequency input, interaction, and recasts (Spada, 2010). Grammatical and lexical resources are a means to an end, and considering the general consensus that stickment of implicit lingual knowledge results in language scholarship, the ultimate aim of classroom instruction should be to facilitate this conk outment (Ellis, 2005b). Even though there is whitewash disagreement on how implicit knowledge is memorized, it is generally accepted that communicatory activities play an essential role in the process therefore communicative tasks could be an effective instructional tool when the language learning focus is on implicit knowledge (ibid).2.2 Explicit Knowledge, learning and instructionExplicit knowledge refers to different as pects of language, including grammatical, phonological, lexical, pragmatic and socio-cultural (Ellis, 2005a). As with implicit knowledge, several overlapping terms have been used to refer to L2 definitive knowledge, for example, language/metalinguistic sensory faculty, analysed knowledge, conscious knowledge, declarative knowledge, learned knowledge, or metagrammar. Ellis (2004 244) gives an extended definition of explicit knowledge asExplicit L2 knowledge is the declarative and often anomalous knowledge of the phonological, lexical, grammatical, and sociocritical features of an L2 together with the metalanguage for labelling this knowledge. It is held consistently and is learnable and verbalisable. It is typically accessed by means of controlled processing when L2 learners experience approximately kind of linguistic difficulty in the use of the L2. Learners vary in the breadth and depth of their L2 explicit knowledge.Explicit learning is a conscious, overturn process of struct uring explicit, verbalisable knowledge, which can take place while learning concepts/rules in the classroom or it may be initiated independently (Hulstijn, 2007), for example, when a learner refers to a grammar book to find the past participle of a particular verb. This type of learning requires a degree of cognitive development, therefore it is marvelous to take place in early childhood (ibid). Explicit knowledge is said to reside, or at least processed in a particular(prenominal) area of the brain (the medial temp spoken lobe, including the hippocampus), which is separate to the areas where implicit knowledge is stored (Ullman, 2001).Norris and Ortega suggest that explicit instruction exists along a continuum, from instruction which is more to that which is less explicit (Norris and Ortega, 2000). A deductive approach to classroom instruction is an example of a more explicit from of instruction, where rules are explained forrader a structure is presented in context. An example o f a less explicit form is inductive instruction, here learners are asked to attend to and make metalinguistic generalisations on a form which has already been presented in context (ibid).3. The implicit/explicit interfaceThe contradictory claims regarding the dichotomy of implicit and explicit knowledge have focused mainly on how these two types of knowledge interface. The interface guess presents troika positions which argue the extent to which explicit knowledge is have-to doe withd in L2 acquisition.3.1 The non-interface positionAt a certain age children stop employ their language to communicate and begin to look at it reflectively (Tunman and Herriman, 1984). Childrens use of explicit knowledge is considered to exhibit different levels of consciousness depending on their literacy skills, whereas their acquisition or use of implicit knowledge shows little variation (Ellis, 2004). This implies therefore, that knowledge which initiates conscious or explicit linguistic behavio ur is distinct from that unconscious or implicit knowledge which characterises natural language use.Krashen (1982), Paradis (1994) and Schwartz (1993) claim that procured and explicitly learned L2 knowledge does not interface, arguing that the former is responsible for language fluency, and the latter is only useful to monitor communicative output. Paradis (1994) also rejects the fortuity of explicit knowledge trans disturbing directly into implicit knowledge, or vice versa. He suggests that since these two types of knowledge exist in neuroanatomically distinct memory systems, they can interact but permute of knowledge from one to the separate is tall(a) (ibid).Krashen (1982) argues that formal teaching of grammar is unnecessary as it has no effect on language acquisition, and explicit L2 knowledge may never actually convert to implicit knowledge. In addition he suggests learners have little ability to learn grammar. Similarly, Truscott (1996) adds that the only benefits of fo rmal grammar instruction are in preparing learners for sagaciousness which look to measure explicit metalinguistic knowledge rather than communicative ability.In his input hypothesis Krashen states that like L1, L2 acquisition is also a natural process which occurs implicitly while a learner is exposed to intelligible L2 input (Krashen, 1982). If learners are propel, they will naturally follow an in-built syllabus to develop their inter-language, and using an intuitive process of trial and error, eventually acquire the L2 (Ibid). Krashens theory was the inspiration behind the natural and communicative approaches to language teaching.Counter to Krashens claims, raise from research has shown that despite immersion in the L2, learners continue to make grammatical errors. A study by Harley and Swain (1984), for example, showed that immersion students relying purely on comprehensible input were unable to achieve high levels of language proficiency. execution of L1 transfer is a possi ble reason why implicit learning processes are less effective for L2 (Ellis, 2008). Unlike a newborn infant, the L2 learners neocortex is already configured and optimised for the L1 (ibid). L2 processing and automatisation therefore occur non-optimally, as they have to rely on implicit L1 representations (ibid).A weaker form of the non-interface position suggests a possibility of implicit knowledge being transferred to explicit knowledge finished conscious reflection and analysis of implicitly generated output (for example, Bialystok, 1982). Similarly, Ellis (1994) also argues for a seperateness of the two types of knowledge, he proposes a connectionist accounting system of implicit knowledge as a complex interconnected network which is neurologically detached from explicit language knowledge. However, he suggests that the two types of knowledge may be derived from each other and that they can interact during language use (ibid 235).3.2 The interface positionThe non-interface posi tion has been attacked both theoretically and falsifiablely by other SLA researchers, who have address the role played by explicit knowledge in language acquisition. Sharwood Smith (2004), for example, uses the interface hypothesis to argue that explicit knowledge can be gained from implicit knowledge, and similarly explicit knowledge can be transformed to implicit knowledge using contextualised communicative practice, repeated use and corrective feedback.Taking a strong interface position, the skill twist theory (DeKeyser, 2003) suggests that a procedularised form of explicit knowledge is functionally identical to implicit knowledge when learners are given plenty of opportunities to engage in meaningful communicative practice. This practice is an essential step in proceduralising the mark language for spontaneous use hence it is important that learners are motivated to engage in this process through non-threatening feedback (Faerch, 1986).Many studies have provided empirical d emonstration to justify the role of explicit grammar teaching. Ellis (1994), for example, has shown that explicit language instruction leads to faster learning, and that adhering to an implicit focus on meaning fails to provide high levels of competence. However, for grammar instruction to be effective, some researchers have found that a thorough selection and sequencing of rules is essential, as well as a determination of the learners linguistic readiness to accept a new grammatical item (Ellis, 1994 Fotos, 1994).The grammar shift and cognitive approaches, which were popular in the 1960s and 70s are typical examples of explicit teaching methods. These methods were influenced by the belief that an explicit knowledge of grammatical rules precedes their use (Ellis, 2008).The uvulopalatopharyngoplasty model is another instructional approach taking an interface stance. PPP emphasis a focus on form, and stipulates that a language feature should be explicitly presented, then practiced a nd finally produced in baseball club to procedularise the feature. Swan (2005) sees PPP as a useful approach for presenting and practicing language structures under semi-controlled conditions. However, PPP is now widely seen as lacking a firm basis in SLA theory, its tracearity and behaviourist genius fails to take into consideration the stages of developmental readiness that a learner goes through (Ellis, 2003) and its systematic instructional approach is unlikely to lead to acquisition of the language feature taught (Skehan, 1996).3.3 The weak interface positionA weak interface position proposed by some theorists, suggests the possibility of transferring knowledge between the implicit/explicit systems. Two popular processing models from cognitive psychology which take a weak-interface position are McLaughlins (1987) information processing model, and Andersons (1983) ACT model.The information-processing model proposes that complex behaviour evolves from simple modular processes that can be single out and analysed independently (McLaughlin, 1987). Within this framework L2 learners use controlled processing, requiring a lot of attentional control to generate language sequences, which are then stored in short-term memory (ibid). Through repeated activation, these sequences become automatic and are transferred to long-run memory, where they can be accessed with minimal attentional control (ibid).Based on a similar viewpoint, the ACT model (Anderson, 1983), suggests that declarative knowledge (knowing that something is the object lesson) leads to procedural knowledge (knowing how to do something). Three types of memory are defined in this framework a working memory (similar to short-term memory), and two types of long-term memory, declarative and procedural. Anderson maintains that during learning, declarative knowledge becomes procedural and automatised, and that both types of knowledge are stored differently (ibid). A learner might start of by analyse a rule (for example, Use a and an when the following word starts with a consonant or vowel, respectively), but every time a phrase containing this rule is produced or received, the phrase is stored as an pillow slip in memory (Logan, 1988). Increasing encounters with these instances raises their activation levels to such an extent that eventually retrieving a stored instance will be quicker than applying the rule (ibid).Other versions of the weak interface position also support a possibility of knowledge transfer but set restrictions on when and how this transfer can take place. Pienemann (1989), for example, argues that learners cannot change knowledge between the two systems until they are ready to acquire the linguistic form.Ellis (1994) claims that explicitly teaching declarative rules can have a top-down impact on perception, leading to saliency of the taught language features. Learners are then able to notice the feature during input, and by comparing it with their output can consciously notice the gap (ibid). Explicit knowledge in this case acts as a stimulus in activating conscious awareness and the subsequent storage in long-term memory (Ellis, 2005b). The significance of explicit knowledge in this case is not so much as a contributor to acquisition, but as a detector of specific language features in the input.Ellis suggests consciousness raising (CR) as a way of setting a linguistic focus to tasks, and encouraging learner impropriety by requiring learners to derive explicit grammar rules independently (Ellis 2005b). CR raising tasks can be inductive or deductive, in the former learners are evaluate to induce an explicit representation of a rule, whereas in the latter the rule is provided at the beginning of the task (Ellis et al., 2003). The main aims of CR tasks are to involve learners in goal-orientated communication and to encourage the development of explicit knowledge (ibid).4. breed focused instruction (FFI)FFI consists of a number of appro aches to teaching that advocate a focus on both meaning and form (for example, Doughty and Williams, 1998 Lightbown and Spada, 1990). The distinction between the various types of FFI is that some are implicit in nature, and others are more explicit. Ellis (2001) defines FFI as a type of instruction which includes any aforethought(ip) or incidental instructional activity that is intended to induce language learners to pay attention to linguistic form. Long (1991) distinguishes between two types of FFI focus on formS (FonFs) and focus on form (FonF). The former involves teaching clear-cut grammar points according to a synthetic syllabus leading to a preselected linguistic target (ibid). FonFs is regarded as an explicit form of FFI (Housen and Pierrard, 2005) and is more in line with the interface position. A typical example of a FonFs approach is the PPP model.FonF on the other hand is a more implicit form of FFI (ibid), and aims to overtly draw the students attention to linguistic elements as they arise circumstantially in lessons whose overriding focus is on meaning or communication (Long, 1991 45). FonF is based on the idea that first and second language acquisition are similar in that they both rely on motion-picture show to comprehensible input from natural interaction (ibid). However it also takes into account important differences that learners cannot acquire many of the grammatical aspects of language through impression alone, and that this needs to be balanced by providing a focus on grammatical as well as communicative aspects of the second language (ibid). The instructional activities associated with the FonF approach involve a mixture of implicit and explicit techniques, for example input enhancement where a target form is highlighted for awareness and a structure-based task (Fotos, 2005) which requires the completion of a meaningful task using the target form, before the latter is explicitly taught and practiced further.Long (1991) contends tha t FonF instruction may be more effective than a focus on meaning (FonM) or a FonFs approach, because it is more consistent with the findings of SLA research. From a psycholinguistic perspective a FonF teaching in the classroom is justified for three main reasonsFonM may be useful in developing oral fluency, however it fails to provide high levels of linguistic or sociolinguistic competence (Ellis et al., 2003). The FonM approach is based on Krashens (1981) hypothesis which states that all that is needed to acquire a language is extensive exposure to rich comprehensible L2 input. However, while researching literature comparing instructed with uninstructed learning (FonM), Long (1991) found that instructed learning was much more effective in achieving high proficiency levels.A FonFs approach is based on the idea that classroom L2 learning is derived from cognitive processes and therefore involves the learning of a skill (Ellis et al., 2003). However empirical evidence (for example Pie nemann, 1989) suggests that a FonFs approach does not guarantee that learners will develop the ability to restructure their interlanguage. Studies have shown that classroom learning follows a sequentially similar acquisition process as natural learning (Ellis et al., 2003). However, in the classroom learners may follow an inbuilt syllabus, allowing them to benefit or acquire only those aspects of FFI for which they are linguistically ready (ibid). Therefore deciding on which language feature learners are ready to acquire may pose a difficulty for FonFs instruction.A FonF instruction draws attention to the target form through a contextually meaningful communication, allowing the learners to develop their fluency and the true (Ellis et al., 2003). FonF is pedagogically efficient in that it can focus specifically on those language features that either need clarification or are rugged at a contextually relevant moment (ibid).FonF also gives an chance to learners to receive feedback i n a meaningful context, allowing them to notice the gap between their interlanguage and the negative evidence provided by the feedback (ibid). Johnson (1996), in his skills building theory suggests that feedback is most useful for learners when it is presented in real operating conditions. Corrective feedback exposes learners to the correct form and encourages them to produce it themselves leading to a possible acquisition of these forms (Ellis et al., 2003).The supra discussion supports the efficacy of FonF instruction however the effectiveness of this method in some EFL contexts is doubted. In educational contexts where teachers are obliged to follow a tightly controlled syllabus, or where class size does not permit item-by-item feedback, a FonF instructional approach may be difficult to machine (Poole, 2005). What this suggests is that pedagogical implications of SLA studies on implicit and explicit knowledge need to be related to different learning and teaching contexts.5. Con clusionThis paper discussed some of the prominent theories that have e merged from SLA research on implicit and explicit knowledge. As well as defining the two types of knowledge, their impact on the learning process and instructional practices were also highlighted. A look at focus on form instruction showed how the ideas from different theoretical viewpoints have merged to give a teaching approach which balances both implicit and explicit learning.Although research has shown that traditional explicit grammar instruction is unlikely to lead to the implicit knowledge needed for proficiency in a language, there is silent a lot of controversy regarding the best alternative (Ellis, 2006). The conflicting views on the overall role of implicit and explicit knowledge in SLA point to the complexity of the issue and suggest that a thorough understanding is tranquillise evolving. Ellis (2008) suggests that because consciousness and linguistic knowledge are so difficult to believe and oper ationalise, improving our insight in these areas is a major challenge. In order to help gain a deeper understanding, future research needs to collaborate with developments in other disciplines such as cognitive science and cognitive neuroscience (Doughty and Long, 2003).

The Role of Setting in John Steinbecks Of Mice & Men Essay -- Steinbe

The Role of Setting in John Steinbecks Of Mice & Men passim time man has encountered many trials and tribulations. One of these unpredictable changes was the depression period in the Western region of America. From the beginning to the end of the novel, Of Mice & Men (1937), by John Steinbeck, life is portrayed as inhumane and an insurmountable conquest. During the 1930s the vanquish economic collapse of the world occurred the Depression. The setting throughout this novel sets the emotions superior because of the hardships that were encountered by two men looking for work. These men were George Milton and Lennie Small. George was small and libertine and hard of the face, and had sharp strong features (9). Lennie was the opposite a huge man, organise less of a face, with large, pale eyes, with wide sloping shoulders (9). While the simplistic minded and powerful Lennie tries to keep out of trouble at the ranch, he worries about how George may get angry at him if he makes a blu nder. Curly, the bosss son, is a trouble maker and pressures Lennie into fighting him which he does and pays the price. In addition, Lennie ends up killing Curleys wife, thus leading to the death of Lennie. George shoots him utilitarianly, which means he did it to fix safety to anyone who may have encountered him. With Lennies death George hoped to maximize happiness for the sterling(prenominal) number of people. Their dream once of having their own ranch died with Lennie.Setting is encountered in every chapter and allowing the reader to visualize the surroundings which contribute to this story much than any other element. The story is set in 1930s California on the verge of Mexico. The river Steinbeck speaks of, The Salinas River, happens to be the birthplace of Stei... ...lood. This brings the story to and end when George killed his one and still friend, Lennie.Ironicaly, Steinbeck was a marine biologist and when he wrote this book he was in the ways of looking at water. The pond that Lennie drank out of, which the river that ran into it came from his home town, and the cruel view of nature as the snake that probably ate the cabbage that Lennie killed was devoured by a heron. Thus, showing that things have a chain answer in nature and Lennie, some what, got revenged upon by the mouse and the other mammals that he killed. The setting is the biggest element of the novel setting the mood at the begining of to each one chapter and vividly examining the way it was during the depression. This finally answers the question Where did I go George? realize CitedSteinbeck, John, Of Mice and Men. (1937). May 3, 2004. New York, New York.

Prejudice in To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee Essay -- To Kill a Mo

Prejudice is the preconceived opinion of a person or thing. There are three main types of prejudice racial prejudice, mixer prejudice and religious prejudice. These three are the types of prejudice most preponderating in To Kill A Mockingbird. The setting for the story is a fictitious townspeople called Maycomb. This town is situated in Alabama, south USA. The racial prejudice shown in the novel has a lot to do with the town being situated in the southern United States. This is because there was a lot of racialism in the southern United States in the 1930s. This racism mainly originated from the civilised war, which lasted from 1875 to 1883. The northern, more progressive states declared slavery prohibited, exclusively slavery was a vital part of the southern economy as the labour was cheap for the cotton plantation owners. Although the northern states made it illegal to confirm slaves the south still kept slaves illegally. This was the main cause of the civil war. The n orthern states won the war and the United States was formed. Even though they lost(p) the war, the south passed their own Jim Crow Laws in the 1900s making racial segregation legal. The backwardness and narrow-mindedness of the confederation fuelled racism in Maycomb. These banish qualities account for the tender and religious prejudices in the novel. The communitys narrow-mindedness is formed because the population has been unchanged for many decades with the same families occupying the town. This causes prejudice towards anything that is different from the norm. Maycomb is very backward and isolated due to the town being outlying(prenominal) from the river, which was the main form of transport in the early days. This confines the towns development and leads to the social conditioning of the people this in enactment helps to explain why there is social and religious prejudice. Maycomb people have very inward looking views and so these views are passed on from coevals t o generation. Maycomb town is described well in chapter 1 as it tells us why the people are so insular and inward looking. Maycomb was an senior town, only if it was a tired old town.This statement puts a oppose light on Maycomb and its people. The personification of the word tired emphasises the lack of enthusiasm, slightly everything, the people of Maycomb have. It also suggests an unwillingness and lack of desire to change this fact. fatigue... ...ters in the novel such as Boo Radley, Dolphus Raymond and to a lesser extent Miss Maudie. These people are often excluded by the society. This social prejudice leads to the exclusion of families such as the Ewells and the Cunninghams because they dont align to Maycombs belief of normality. They are treated like outsiders with suspicion and are stereotyped. The religious prejudice in Maycomb leads to the persecution of Miss Maudie Atkinson by the foot washables Baptists. Racial prejudice in Maycomb is constan tly displayed by the white community toward the black community. The most glaring example of racism in the novel is when Tom Robinson is convicted of raping Mayella Ewell just because he dared to feel sorry for her. The result of this racial prejudice leads the people of Maycomb to be very hypocritical and have two-baser standards. They say they have sympathy for other races in other countries but then they treat the ethnic minority in their town with large(p) disrespect. The prejudice of the town is produced from fear, historical context and their social conditioning. They are claustrophobic because of ignorance and not being able to understand new and different things.

High Schools That Work: Best Practices for CTE Essay example -- Educat

high-pitched Schools That Work shell Practices for CTEHigh Schools That Work (HSTW), a school improvement initiative of the southerly regional Education gameboard (SREB), has documented feat gains by become and technical education (CTE) students at discloseicipating sites (Bottoms and Presson 2000). At HSTW sites active in 1996 and 1998 assessments (Frome 2001), CTE students showed math and science exploit equal to the interior(a) average of every last(predicate) high school studentsand exceeded the national average of CTE students in math, science, and reading. One part of the HSTW framework is a come down of 10 describe Practices that each participating site implements by growing and carrying out a customized action designing for school improvement (SREB 1999). Kaufman et al. (2000) utilize existing HSTW data to analyze the uphold of 6 clusters representing HSTWs 10 Key Practices. They concluded that achievement gains in science, reading, and math were correlated with the equipoise of students contact HSTW computer programme standards and with the amount of time students worn-out(a) talking to their guidance counselors and teachers about(predicate) their school program. They also concluded that the proportion of students perceiving their schoolman and CTE teachers working unitedly to improve students math, reading, and writing skills was correlated with achievement gains in those three areas. This apprize provides practical examples of approaches HSTW sites have used to move toward HSTW curriculum standards, provide students with guidance, and renounce academic and CTE teachers to work together. HSTW Curriculum StandardsThe curriculum recommended by HSTW (Bottoms and Presson 2000) calls for a challenging program of study with two components. First, an upgraded academic core ... ...Students. Atlanta, GA SREB, 1995. (ED 404 540) southerly Regional Education Board. 1996 Outstanding Practices efficacious Strategies in Raising the dee d of Career-Bound High School Students by switch the General Track. High Schools That Work. Atlanta, GA SREB, 1996. (ED 404 541) Southern Regional Education Board. impudently Partnerships and a National vane to Improve High School Education. Atlanta, GA SREB, 1999. <http//www.sreb.org/programs/hstw/background/brochure.asp Southern Regional Education Board. High Schools That Work in Kentucky A Progress Report. Atlanta, GA SREB, 2000. <http//www.sreb.org/programs/hstw/publications/state_reports/KYstateprofile.pdfWinterburn, P. Learning to Trust. On the Treasure Coast, technical school Prep Proves a trove for Educators Long Divided. Vocational Education daybook 70, no. 4 (April 1995) 28-29, 44. High Schools That Work Best Practices for CTE Essay example -- EducatHigh Schools That Work Best Practices for CTEHigh Schools That Work (HSTW), a school improvement initiative of the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB), has documented achievement gains by career and technical education (CTE) students at participating sites (Bottoms and Presson 2000). At HSTW sites participating in 1996 and 1998 assessments (Frome 2001), CTE students showed math and science achievement equal to the national average of all high school studentsand exceeded the national average of CTE students in math, science, and reading. One part of the HSTW framework is a set of 10 Key Practices that each participating site implements by developing and carrying out a customized action plan for school improvement (SREB 1999). Kaufman et al. (2000) used existing HSTW data to analyze the impact of 6 clusters representing HSTWs 10 Key Practices. They concluded that achievement gains in science, reading, and math were correlated with the proportion of students meeting HSTW curriculum standards and with the amount of time students spent talking to their guidance counselors and teachers about their school program. They also concluded that the proportion of students perceiving their ac ademic and CTE teachers working together to improve students math, reading, and writing skills was correlated with achievement gains in those three areas. This Brief provides practical examples of approaches HSTW sites have used to move toward HSTW curriculum standards, provide students with guidance, and allow academic and CTE teachers to work together. HSTW Curriculum StandardsThe curriculum recommended by HSTW (Bottoms and Presson 2000) calls for a challenging program of study with two components. First, an upgraded academic core ... ...Students. Atlanta, GA SREB, 1995. (ED 404 540) Southern Regional Education Board. 1996 Outstanding Practices Effective Strategies in Raising the Achievement of Career-Bound High School Students by Replacing the General Track. High Schools That Work. Atlanta, GA SREB, 1996. (ED 404 541) Southern Regional Education Board. New Partnerships and a National Network to Improve High School Education. Atlanta, GA SREB, 1999. <http//www.sreb.org/programs /hstw/background/brochure.asp Southern Regional Education Board. High Schools That Work in Kentucky A Progress Report. Atlanta, GA SREB, 2000. <http//www.sreb.org/programs/hstw/publications/state_reports/KYstateprofile.pdfWinterburn, P. Learning to Trust. On the Treasure Coast, Tech Prep Proves a Trove for Educators Long Divided. Vocational Education Journal 70, no. 4 (April 1995) 28-29, 44.