Year Round Schooling Could be a Positive Change Essay

Summer vacation. For most children and teens, the phrase conjures up images of hot, sunny days and vacations with the whole family to far-off places. We all envision lazy afternoons relaxing on the beach, playing in water parks, and going on picnics. But what happens when summer ends and the reality of another year of school sinks in? A large portion of the knowledge gained during the last school year is lost over the long idle months and must be retaught for weeks, which wastes a lot of time that could be spent learning new material. This puts students behind in that year’s curriculum, and over many summers, can add up to students being months or years behind where they would be if no learning was lost. There is a solution to this†¦show more content†¦This shows that year-round school is at least as good as the traditional schedule in helping students learn. Year-round school also allows more time for remedial classes during the breaks, which can help students who are falling behind during the school year catch back up. This is in contrast with summer school, which only occurs after school is over and students are finished with the curriculum, making students have to start a totally new class just to catch up. Remedial classes reinforce material that is fresh in students’ minds instead of f orcing them to recall something they may have learned half a year ago and probably forgotten. This once again cuts down on the time it takes to bring students up to speed with their classes. Another important advantage for many school districts is that year-round school can enable multi-track schedules. A multi-track schedule is one in which teachers and students are divided into equally sized groups called tracks (Gerard 1). Each track attends school and has vacation at the same time, but there is always at least one track on vacation at any time (1). This is somewhat analogous to our P.E. system at Johnston High. Imagine if everyone had P.E. on the same day; we’d never be able to manage students or fit them into the gyms. This is comparable to ourShow MoreRelated Abstract Essay1683 Words   |  7 PagesAbstract The topic of year round schooling is quite controversial and greatly misconceived by the public. Most school systems tend to steer clear of the idea due to lack of support and academic success. Year-round schooling is not for everyone. Benefits however, include downsizing of schools, the reduction of building construction, and the ability to effectively meet the demands of the community. Students and teachers are typically placed on a multi-track schedule instead of the general nineRead MoreGraduation Speech : Year Round Schooling1478 Words   |  6 PagesYear-Round Schooling Why were schools traditionally set up to give students the summer off? When schools started, most of the students came from a farming family and they needed to be out of school to help on the farm. Many people know that there are not as many students coming from farming families today, so why do most schools still operate on this schedule? While some parents believe that year-round schooling decreases family time and causes student burn out, in reality, frequent breaks providedRead MoreGraduation Speech : Year Round Schooling1635 Words   |  7 PagesYear-Round Schooling The average school period is one hundred and eighty days with small breaks in between and a three-month break during summer to ease students’ minds and let them relax. The Board of Education should make all schools in the United States year-round to increase educational time and decrease the loss of knowledge over the breaks. It gives students the same time to relax and plan family vacations periodically throughout the year, but never creates the stress of changing sleep schedulesRead MoreEssay on Improving the Quality of Education1256 Words   |  6 Pagesand thirty years, it may be time for a change. We have heard how the United States ranks in comparison to other post-industrial countries in regards to education. One idea that has proven to be successful in improving the education level of students is â€Å"year round schooling†. Year round schooling would improve the quality of education and the overall school environment. Making this type of change would b e a start in increasing the value of our school systems. The term â€Å"year round school† doesRead MoreShould Year Round School Be A Positive Impact On The Lives Of Students?997 Words   |  4 PagesDoes year round school truly have a positive impact in the lives of students? Various studies do suggest that year round school is helpful. There are some disadvantages to this type of schooling that are preventing all schools from switching to this type of scheduling. In earlier times schools were only teaching throughout half of the year so that school would be out of session when it was time to work in the fields. This type of scheduling is still common today even though only a small portionRead MoreDisadvantages Of Homeschooling1426 Words   |  6 Pagesfor educating children K-12 along with public schooling and private schooling. Homeschooling can be chosen for negative reasons, such as sheltering children or providing an easier opportunity for parental abuse. It is somewhat controversial both legally and socially with stigmas attached to it that are not always true. However, homeschooling is a form of education that has many benefits. It can provide a safe environment and be a worthwhile positive option for parents and students. With this, homeschoolingRead MoreYear-Round Schools . Think About What It Is Like To Not1854 Words   |  8 PagesYear-Round Schools Think about what it is like to not have a summer. One could not do fun summer camps, go on once in a life time summer vacations, or get a fun summer job. If year-round schools were put into place everywhere, one would only have a thirty-day summer, or less, instead of a three- month summer. They would be hitting the books at school instead of lying out at the pool and relaxing from all the stress that year of school brought. Imagine never truly getting a break from school, toRead More History of the Traditional School Calendar Essay3013 Words   |  13 Pagesthere was no need for schooling (McLain, 1973). However, as people branched out into neighboring areas, they needed to learn new skills, such as basic arithmetic to price items, measure land, and more (McLain, 1973). As a result, it became the responsibility of those who were less needed on the farm or in the factory to acquire knowledge for the family (McLain, 1973). Accordingly, children went to school to learn the skills they needed for life. In rural areas, the school year lasted for five to sixRead MoreEssay about Year Round Education: A New Perspective2525 Words   |  11 PagesYear Round Education: A New Perspective Introduction Over the years we have gained aspect to all the new technologies and advancements that have improved the educational system. Each innovation has helped in some way or another to develop better academic programs in schools around the United States. Recently, a proposal has been made to change the traditional school year of nine-months to a year-round program that has sparked controversy all over. Despite controversy though, there areRead MoreIs Year Round Schooling More Effective?2086 Words   |  9 Pages8663641 1-4 English III 9 December 2016 Is Year-Round Schooling More Effective? The world is constantly progressing without a break. Why should we take one? â€Å"Knowledge is power. Information is liberating. Education is the premise of progress, in every society, in every family†. We as people on Earth make progress all the time. We have to, the only way to do this is thorough Knowledge and Comprehension. It also takes consistency working at getting smarter not being distracted by knowledge. â€Å"A good

Our Identity Changes According to Where We Are and Who We...

Our identity changes according to where we are and who we are with. Outside influences have a strong capability to influence and alter our personal identity. Both directly and indirectly, the social contexts in which we live can change the way we think and feel, and by extension how we interact with other people and places. Immediate family, friendship groups and the physical environment are all factors which contribute to our ever changing perceptions of ourselves. Sometimes personal identity can be subtly reshaped over a gradual time frame, as our sense of who we are is modified without personal recognition that we are changing. At other times we may be able to notice our personal identity changing, through important life decisions.†¦show more content†¦It is primarily our own decision to associate with a desired group of people. The way others see us, as well as the way we see ourselves can change as a result. In the movie Witness, it is evident that Rachel is quite fond of John Book. In the scene where she is dancing with him, a change i n her identity becomes apparent. She steers away from all past influences from her family and religion, and is driven to act like John. She feels a need to relate to him, and is envious of his behaviour. Her behaviour then reflects a woman who is not of Amish belief, much to the dismay of her father. Where we are, in a general sense, refers to where we live. The aspects of where we are which relate to personal identity involve how the society is run, and its physical features. Different societies have a vast difference in laws, governments, religions, cultures and general ethics. These will then translate to how the people who live there choose to behave. A strict society with harsh regulations and punishments will cause people to be more reserved and controlled. A society with a high level of violence and unethical behaviour will usually cause future generations to act similarly. The physical features of a location can also influence behaviour and identity. For example, the residents of a society on the beach will have certain typical and expected behaviour, which then translates to a particular lifestyle. Identity is able to be influenced and altered by where weShow MoreRelatedThere Comes A Time In Life Where We Finally Reach A Point1683 Words   |  7 PagesThere comes a time in life where we finally reach a point where we begin to settle down with someone, fall in love, get married, and eventually try for a baby. People wait nine-months of long and hard obstacles to finally meet their baby boy or baby girl. One cannot help but have a certain mindset already placed for each gender that they are expecting. A feminine floral pink baby shower for a girl or a blue, masculine one for a boy. As much as we want to say that things are better now and the rolesRead MoreIdentity and Belonging Essay1111 Words   |  5 PagesIDENTITY AND BELONGING ‘Knowing where you belong is essential to our sense of identity’ The quest for personal discovery is a journey which every individual must undergo. The development of a sense of self is one of the greatest achievements one can derive from life. Identity is made up of a constellation of characteristics, none more essential than the sense of belonging we feel with others. Humans by nature are social creatures and as such, we all have an instinctual desire for acceptanceRead MoreHow Is Gender Identity Influenced by Social Structures? Essay1292 Words   |  6 PagesWhat is meant by identity? Firstly this essay is going to explore what is meant by identity. Identity is made up of individual characteristics by which a person is known. Internal factors such as physical appearance, personality, mental ability and sex would have an affect on a persons identity. Then there are the external factors such as family, class, religion, culture, occupation and nationality which would influence ones identity. Then, even beyond all these personal and social structu res,Read More Gender Identity and Social Structures Essay examples1293 Words   |  6 PagesGender Identity and Social Structures What is meant by identity? Firstly this essay is going to explore what is meant by identity. Identity is made up of individual characteristics by which a person is known. Internal factors such as physical appearance, personality, mental ability and sex would have an effect on a person’s identity. Then there are the external factors such as family, class, religion, culture, occupation and nationality which would influence one’s identity. Then, even beyondRead MoreHume s Identity Of A Man Is A Fiction888 Words   |  4 PagesHume believes that personal identity is not the feeling of existence of what is called the self as many philosophers believe. He proposes that every idea is the product of one impression. The self is not one impression, but is all of our impressions that combined Impressions could be pain, pleasure, grief, or joy, but they do not happen at the same time, they follow each other. Hume uses the theater analogy to explain this (Hume). The mind is the stage where perceptions make their appearance. TheyRead MoreSociety s Effect On Society1419 Words   |  6 PagesSociety has a set way of perceiving everyone in the world. There are set things and places in which we all â€Å"belong† to and if we do not fit that then we somehow find ourselves isolated from the normal population. People dream and long for the day where they can fulfill the â€Å"American† dream where they settle down with someone of the opposite gender, fall in love, get married, and eventually try for a baby. People wait for nine-months of long and hard obstacles to finally meet their baby boy or babyRead MoreCommunication through Fashion1777 Words   |  7 Pages1. Identity is peoples concepts of who they are, of what sort of people they are, and how they relate to others (Hogg and Abrams: 1988: 2) To gain knowledge of how we communicate to others through the way we dress, we have to first understand what identity is. Identity is what we choose to represent ourselves as, be that a gender identity, a sexual identity; it is completely up to the individual as a person to make that choice. Identity forms the basis of one’s pride and being accepted sociallyRead MoreControversy Of Sex Changes And The Rights Of Transgenders1335 Words   |  6 PagesControversy of Sex Changes and the Rights of Transgenders What defines our gender? Is it the fact that we were born with certain genitals? Or that our parents dressed us in pink or blue? Is our gender defined by the toys we played with as children and the interests we had as young adults? While most of us identify as the gender we were born as, over one million people in the US alone admit to being transgender. Transgender is ‘an umbrella term that refers to those with identities that cross over, moveRead MoreHuman Development And Identity Development1741 Words   |  7 PagesIn the following essay I will be discussing two particular aspects of human development and behavior; personality and identity. I will then demonstrate an understanding of two psychological theories which can help understand influences on personality and identity development. Finally, I will look into further detail at Holmes and Rahe and identity two life events which I can relate to the case study and the impact it’s had on the individual. There has been an ongoing debate within society for aRead MoreThe Concept Of A Personal Identity1366 Words   |  6 Pagesconcept of a personal identity develops as we grow. In this way, our identity shifts and changes because as we grow, we change. This evolution brings up the question of what makes up our personal identity. Is our identity qualitative in the sense that if we look the same as we did yesterday, we are the same? That theory has some overt problems in that twins, for example, may look identical, but they are not in fact the same person. Personal identity can be considered numerical in that we are actually the

Techniques for Building Strong Customer Relationships Free Essays

Your first strategy to building a strong customer relationship could be to make every customer interaction count. Don’t take a single customer for granted. Each and every interaction with a customer is a gift and should be valued. We will write a custom essay sample on Techniques for Building Strong Customer Relationships or any similar topic only for you Order Now You can achieve that by setting up a focus group made up of loyal customers. A focus group can be a vital tool to getting into the mind of your customers and knowing their needs. Another strategy is to really listen to customers. Even complaints can be a gift if handled properly and quickly. Be available and accessible when customers have questions, concerns, or comments. Humans always look for someone to talk to or share their problems with, and if you can listen more to your customers, you will end up knotting the bond between the customer and your business. I think one of the strongest strategies that are important would be to build a strong brand identity. Make it easy for your customers to identify your business or products in the midst of the crowd. Create a winning slogan, tagged with a catchy logo and a unique theme. Most importantly, make a specific promise and deliver on that promise. One of my favorites is to reward loyal customers as a strategy. This is a point that can never be over emphasized, because most businesses go after new customers while forgetting that the existing customers need to be taken care of. Introducing a loyalty program is a very effective relationship marketing strategy. Creating long lasting relationships helps to ensure long-lasting customers and repeat sales. Nothing strengthens a bond more than appreciation, and thanking customers for sticking to your brand will go a long way to make them know they are important. A simple thank you package might be all your business needs to connect personally with your existing customers. Customers want to know that they are valued and appreciated as an individual. Showing existing customers that value and appreciation encourages them to refer their colleagues, friends, and others to your business. How to cite Techniques for Building Strong Customer Relationships, Papers

Mastering Strategic Management

Question: Discuss about the Mastering Strategic Management. Answer: Introduction Human resource management deals with the management of human resources in a business organisation by performing functions, such as training and development, recruitment and selection, workforce planning, performance management, career development, etc. One of the most important functions that a human resource management of a business organisation performs is workforce planning and recruitment of candidates in order to the workforce demands identified in the workforce planning phase (Mondy and Mondy, 2014). In order to carry a recruitment process and to achieve good results, it is important that the human resource management of business organisations prepare job descriptions and job specifications (collectively known as job analysis) of all those openings that are required to be filled in an organisation. Job description is a written document that contains all the important information that is required to advertise for job openings and attract a sufficient pool of talent. Information, such as job title, job location, reporting to and of employees, summary of the job, nature of the job, tasks and duties to be performed by the recruited candidates, etc. all is mentioned under the job description section. On the other hand, job specification (also known as employee specification) is a written document that contains all the necessary information about the educational qualifications, qualities, experience, technical skills, etc. required to perform the job opening that is being advertised (Managementstudyguide.com, n.d.). Job Analysis for a Car Mechanic A car mechanic, or an automobile technician, is a person who is expert in dealing with automobile related issues. Efficient automobile technicians are in a great demand when it comes to the automobile industry as the automobile industry is on a constant lookout for technicians that are completely aware about the machinery used in different types of automobiles and those who have a complete knowledge of what they are doing. The job analysis for an automobile technician will comprise of preparing job description and job specification for the job opening. In order to conduct a job analysis or to prepare job description job specification, there are a number of techniques that a human resource manager can use. Some of these techniques are discussed below: Direct observation in this method, a human resource manager directly observes the employees who are already working on the same job post. Interview method in this method, a human resource manager can conduct an interview where the respondents are the employees who are working on the same job post Questionnaire method in this method, a human resource manager can prepare a questionnaire and can get it filled up from multiple employees working on the same job post Research in this method, a human resource manager can use various online and offline resources or existing data to conduct a job analysis (Managementstudyguide.com, n.d.). The job analysis for a car mechanic or an automobile technician has been conducted by using the interview and the research method, the details of which are mentioned in the human resource and non-human resource appendix. Job Description The job description for an automobile mechanic is given below: Requirement of a permanent automobile mechanic in the XYZ Motor Companys Virginia outlet The salary will range from $16/hour to $25/hour depending upon the capabilities of the candidates The working hours will be from 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. while a lunch break of 30 minutes will be provided in the afternoon (the lunch will be provided to the employees by the company itself). Will be required to report directly to the head technician or the service manager of the workshop Communicate with the customers and gather feedback about the problems that they are facing with their vehicles Inspection of engines of vehicles and any other parts with which the customer reports an issue Diagnoses of the issues identified and resolve them in the best possible manner Conducting day-to-day maintenance of incoming vehicles, such as replacement of worn out spare parts, refilling of engine oil, engine coolant, washer fluids, lubrication, etc. Repair or replacement of broken or dysfunctional or damaged spare parts Providing estimates and costs to the customers, which will be inclusive of all the labour cost and the cost of the spare parts Testing vehicles for any major or minor faults and reporting about them to the customer Scheduling future services Maintenance of all machinery and equipment that will be required for carrying out the job operations Ensure delivery of vehicles within the time period specified before the commencement of service of the vehicle Ensure proper functioning of the vehicles (Monster Hiring Resource Center, n.d.) Maintain a record of all the spare parts repaired or replaced in a vehicle and also of all the operations that are carried out to ensure proper functioning of vehicles. Job Specifications The job specifications for an automobile mechanic are discussed below: Should have a minimum experience of 5 years while working as a mechanic in any automobile company or a workshop The candidate must be able to relocate to the facility where there is an opening in case he or she belongs to a different region Should possess a driving licence Should have fluency in the local language that the customers will use while communicating Should be able to fulfil the attendance requirements of the company and must not take unnecessarily leaves Should be willing to work in a complex environment and dealing with complex situations Should have a thorough knowledge about the key terms that are used in the profession Should have a detailed knowledge about the spare parts, fluids, nut bolts, networking, wiring, etc. that is used in a vehicle Should have an intellectual mind so that he or she can analyse the information that a vehicle owner shares with him or her Should possess excellent knowledge about the tools, equipment, machinery and the material that is used for the repair and maintenance of vehicles Should have complete knowledge of the working of vehicle machinery and should be able to identify the faults that a machinery is experiencing Should be aware of all the safety measures and precautions that an automobile mechanic must adhere to while working in a workshop Should have an excellent physical condition and should be active while at work Should be holder of a diploma, certificate from a vocational school or should have successfully completed an apprenticeship under an expert. Candidates with valid certification will be given awarded an extra weightage (Recruiting and Hiring Resources for Employers, n.d.) Recrutiment The organisational strategy to which the company adheres is a Focus Cost Leadership Strategy. An organisation that adheres to a focus cost leadership strategy basically competes with its competitors on the basis of price when it targets a narrow market. Meanwhile, it is not obvious that such an organisation charges the lowest prices (Open.lib.umn.edu, n.d.). It is important that the organisation carriers out its recruitment process in accordance with its overall strategy. Thus, it would have to hire some of the best candidates who can ensure high quality of services to the clients even though the charges of the company are comparatively lower than its competitors. In general, there are two ways to carry out a recruitment process i.e. internal recruitment and external recruitment. In internal recruitment, human resource managers fulfil the human resource demands of their companies by hiring employees from within the organisation. Some common techniques in internal recruitment are prom otions, internal advertisements, temporary job rotations, hiring retired employees as freelancers, etc. On the other hand, an external recruitment process involves recruiting candidates from outside the organisation. Some common methods or techniques used in external recruitment are job portals, social media recruitment, websites, campus recruitments, employee referrals, etc. Some recruitment methods that can be used by the company to hire automobile technicians or car mechanic are discussed below: Job portals, an external recruitment method, can prove to be one of the best ways to recruit candidates for any kind of jobs. Thus, it is obvious that job portals will prove to be a good option for carrying out the process of recruitment. Job portals are online websites that enables candidates to create their respective accounts, upload resumes and share all their skills and techniques that an employer can review whenever there is an opening in an organisation. Using job portals, the company can make the recruitment process more efficient and fast as the human resource management of the company will be able to filter through the candidates on the job portal itself. The human resource management can filter the candidates on the basis of work experience, expected salary, etc. Recruitment through job portals would also allow the company to fulfil its strategy of focused cost leadership by selecting those candidates who are ready to work at comparatively lower prices but also have highe r technical capabilities. Further, the process of recruiting car mechanics using online job portals can have a number of additional benefits for the company, such as selecting the candidates who have the skills, techniques or qualifications that the company desires and reaching out to quickly. (Ali, 2013). One of the best ways to carry out recruitment for such job openings is through employee referrals. Employee referrals is one of the internal recruitment methods and has a number of advantages for business organisations. Using employee referrals, the company will be able to identify deserving candidates from the social network of their existing employees. To motivate the employees for putting up referrals, organisations can also offer them some kind of rewards or additional benefits. With a reward system is attached with the referral program, the existing employees will their best to bring in higher quality candidates so that they can meet the demands of the company and can also ensure a reward or an appreciation for themselves from the management. As a result, the company will have to make less efforts and at the same time will be able to vouch for high quality candidates. Recruiting car mechanics through employee referrals will also help the company in adhering to its organisationa l strategy as it would bring down the cost of the recruitment process. The process of recruitment carried out by considering employee referrals is faster than most of the other methods and is also helpful in making the recruitment process more efficient. Further, there are slight chances that the management might not find a right fit for a job opening using the conventional recruitment methods. In such cases, using employee referrals as a technique to recruit automobile technicians can help the management in making the recruitment process much easier (Rondini, 2015). Social media advertisement is costlier but is also one of the most effective ways of carrying out a recruitment process as it allows human resource management of any company to increase the potential pool of candidates. As a recruitment officer, it is important that one has complete knowledge of the place where he or she can find the most qualified, talented and largest pool of applicants and in order to achieve this, using social media for recruitment is the best possible way. Social media advertisement basically involves advertising a job opening through different media channels, such as social websites (Facebook, Twitter, etc.), television advertisements, announcement on radio channels, employment columns of newspapers, pamphlets, etc. The greatest advantage of using social media as a recruitment tool is that it allows recruitment officers to reach out to a larger number of applicants and are able to increase the pool of applicants from which they have to make a choice. Further, depending upon the target audience, the recruitment team can also shortlist the media platforms that are viewed by the applicants that the company wishes to get in touch with. Using social media, the company can share the job description and job specifications with the applicants through well prepared advertisements and receive response from only those candidates who would be willing to accept the conditions mentioned by the company. Thus, it would also ensure that only those candidates are targeted for whom the company is on a lookout. (Black, 2010). Recruitment through job centres can also prove to be effective for job openings, such as a car mechanic. A job centre is an organisation that provides recruitment assistance to the employers as well as the unemployed. Job centres in different states allow the unemployed educated youth to register themselves for the jobs which they desire (according to their qualifications) by uploading their resumes and all other necessary employment information. Further, it also allows employers to register job openings and to choose from the registered candidates for the best suited ones (Archive.india.gov.in, n.d.). A major advantage of recruiting through job centres is that it is a faster and cheaper recruitment process. Further, with the involvement of the employment experts, it would become easier for the company to carry out the entire recruitment process and recruit the desired candidates. The company can also look for certain employment agencies that deal with some particular types of jobs for which the company has a vacancy. Such scenario can further bring added advantages to the company (Careerride.com, 2015). recruitment agency can also be considered in order to recruit car mechanics. Also known as head hunters, recruitment agencies provide employers with the details of suitable candidates for a fixed amount of fees. In general, recruitment agencies specialize in certain areas of employment, such as nursing, teachers, financial services, etc. Recruiting through recruitment agencies will prove to be beneficial as it would be cheaper, faster and would help the company in selecting high quality candidates through expert assistance. The company can search for recruitment agencies, register themselves and can get in touch with these recruitment agencies whenever there is a job opening required to be fulfilled. Inducement The first inducement that would be helpful in catching the interest of the applicants right away would be the permanent job position. As we all know, job security is an important need of the candidates these days and they are better motivated when they know that their job is a secure one. Thus, the permanent nature of the job will catch their interest, would also help in fulfilment of organisational strategy as the employees will perform better and ultimately provide best customer services. The next inducement that would be beneficial in catching the interest of the applicants and in fulfilling the organisational strategy will be to provide them some relaxations, such as a lunch break and on duty meals along with a competitive wage. References Focused Cost Leadership and Focused Differentiation | Mastering Strategic Management.Open.lib.umn.edu. Retrieved 14 March 2017, from https://open.lib.umn.edu/strategicmanagement/chapter/5-5-focused-cost-leadership-and-focused-differentiation/ Advantages and Disadvantages of Recruitment agencies. (2015).Careerride.com. Retrieved 15 March 2017, from https://www.careerride.com/view/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-recruitment-agencies-25570.aspx Ali, E. (2013).Five Benefits of Online Recruitment.Recruitingblogs.com. Retrieved 14 March 2017, from https://www.recruitingblogs.com/profiles/blogs/five-benefits-of-online-recruitment Auto Mechanic job description template | Workable.Recruiting and Hiring Resources for Employers. Retrieved 14 March 2017, from https://resources.workable.com/auto-mechanic-job-description Automobile Technician/ Mechanic Job Description Sample | Monster.com.Monster Hiring Resource Center. Retrieved 14 March 2017, from https://hiring.monster.com/hr/hr-best-practices/recruiting-hiring-advice/job-descriptions/automobile-technician-mechanic-job-description-sample.aspx Black, T. (2010).How to Use Social Media as a Recruiting Tool.Inc.com. Retrieved 15 March 2017, from https://www.inc.com/guides/2010/04/social-media-recruiting.html Job Analysis Methods.Managementstudyguide.com. Retrieved 14 March 2017, from https://www.managementstudyguide.com/job-analysis-methods.htm Job Description Job Specification - Definition, Purpose, PPT.Managementstudyguide.com. Retrieved 14 March 2017, from https://www.managementstudyguide.com/job-description-specification.htm Mondy, R. Mondy, J. (2014).Human resource management(1st ed.). Harlow Essex: Pearson. Reddy, K. (2015).10 Advantages and Disadvantages of Employee Referrals - WiseStep.WiseStep. Retrieved 15 March 2017, from https://content.wisestep.com/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-employee-referrals/ Register with State Employment Exchange - How do I: National Portal of India.Archive.india.gov.in. Retrieved 15 March 2017, from https://www.archive.india.gov.in/howdo/howdoi.php?service=12 Rondini, D. (2015).9 Best Practices for Recruiting and Retaining Technicians - Article - TruckingInfo.com.Truckinginfo.com. Retrieved 15 March 2017, from https://www.truckinginfo.com/article/story/2015/05/9-best-practices-for-recruiting-and-retaining-technicians.aspx

Stuttering and Speech free essay sample

Stuttering Stuttering is a speech pattern that contains an abnormally high frequency or duration of disruptions in the forward flow of speech affecting its continuity, rhythm, rate, and effortfulness. A disruption in speech is called a disfluency. We all have disfluencies in our speech, such as â€Å"uh†, â€Å"um†, pausing, or rewording, but it is only considered stuttering when we are disfluent more than ten percent of the time. The Essentials of Stuttering Fluency is the effortless flow of speech. There are four parts to fluency: continuity, rate, rhythm, and effort. Stuttering affects all four parts. Continuity is the smoothness of speech.It is decreased by how often and where pauses happen in speech and by how many extra sounds are added. Rate is how fast or slow speech is, and is measured by words or syllables spoken per minute. The rate of information and sound flow is too slow for people who stutter. That is why it can be harder to listen to them. Rhythm is the pattern of speech and it depends on intonation, stress pattern, timing, and duration. People who stutter have disruptions that are louder, longer, and slightly higher pitched. This is what makes disfluencies more noticeable. Lastly, effort is how much mental or physical work it takes to talk. Normal speech is not effortful. It takes people who stutter more effort to talk. It takes mental effort to think ahead of time about what words won’t make you stutter and it takes physical effort to stop or escape from a stutter. Stuttering affects many children as they learn to speak. This is called developmental stuttering. Young children may stutter when their speech and language abilities aren’t developed enough to keep up with what they want to say. Most children outgrow developmental stuttering, often within four years. About three quarters or more of very young children who stutter are prone to recover without any form of treatment.Stuttering usually begins at a time when the child is integrating speech and language skills within a changing physical and neurological makeup during a dynamic expansion of communication demands, personal interactions, and situational experiences. Some children begin stuttering as soon as they begin combining words, but this is not very common. Most do not start until approximately one year later, around the age of two or three. About ninety percent of children who stutter begin to do so before the age of six. Stuttering can begin either suddenly, intermediately, or gradually.The progression of stuttering severity is often episodic, containing oscillations that range from no stuttering to mild to severe across time. Influences: Factors that may Contribute to the Development of Stuttering Family dynamics can have an influence. Some examples of these factors include parental attitudes and expectations, the child’s speech and language environment, and stressful life events. This does not mean that the parents are doing anything wrong. Often these things are not harmful to a child that doesn’t stutter, but can aggravate stuttering in a child that has a tendency to stutter.Other’s reactions to stuttering are a big problem. Often people don’t know how to react. They are awkwardly caught off guard, or they can’t wait for the person who stutters to finish what they are saying. There are good reasons to believe that those who stutter have expectancies of social harm. Research suggests that those who stutter differ from control subjects in their expectation of negative social evaluation. While these peer reactions do have an impact on stuttering, it is unknown whether social anxiety mediates stuttering or is a simple by-product of stuttering.Developmental factors are believed to be a contributing factor. During the preschool years, a child’s physical, cognitive, social/emotional, and speech/language skills are developing at a very rapid rate. This rapid development can lead to stuttering in children who are predisposed to it. This is why stuttering often begins during the preschool years. For a long period, information on the genetic aspect of stuttering was primarily based on data concerning the percept of people who stutter having relatives with histories of stuttering. This figure has varied in the past from 20% to 74%.The most recent research shows that approximately 60% of children who stutter have a family member who does also, or who used to stutter as a child. Although it is apparent that stuttering runs in families, this fact, in-and-by itself, is insufficient to conclude genetic underlining (Yairi). Professionals know that there is a disruption of speech fluency associated with stuttering that is reflected by actual differences in the structure and function of the brain. It is not known, however, if these neurological differences are the cause of the result of stuttering (or both).Research done shows physical differences in several brain areas associated with speech and language skills. Such results may indicate that theses physical differences create competing commands that may interfere with fluent speech. However, and alternate view is that these neurological differences may develop in stutterers during early childhood due to the child’s attempts to voluntarily control or monitor disfluencies (Ramig Dodge). Theories About Stuttering First is the diagnosogenic theory.This says that stuttering happens when a child becomes overly sensitive to typical disfluencies, which every child has, because of someone’s reactions. As a result, he tries hard to avoid being disfluent or â€Å"messing up† again. According to this theory, stuttering is in the listener’s ear, not the child’s mouth. The communicative failure and anticipatory struggle theory says that stuttering happens because of early experiences, such as the reactions of listeners and the environment, which made the child thing that speech is hard, and they trigger the child to s tutter. For example, if the child has a hard time talking, he may become tense, and break up his speech. Then the core stuttering behaviors soon become a part of the speech pattern that the child learns to dread. This theory says that stuttering is learned, and both internal and external influences play a part. The capacities and demands theory says that children who stutter are not able to handle the normal speech, language, and situational demands so fluency is lost and the child stutters. Motor skills, language skills, emotional maturity, and cognitive development are all needed to talk smoothly.If a child has to compete with others for a turn to talk, the child feels he has to talk fast so that you will listen to everything he has to say. This is an example of a motor demand. An example of a language demand is if a child has a high vocabulary or is trying to use big words while he talks. An emotional demand would be trying to talk while excited or upset. An example of a cognitive demand is if the child is talking with a lot of anxiety that he is going to stutter and be ashamed is he does. Last is the two-factor learning theory. This theory operates on classical conditioning.The speaker learns to associate speaking with a negative emotional response. According to this theory, stuttering is an automatic reaction to a learned stimulus. Somehow and easy, normal disfluency becomes paired with an event that makes the child become tense. From then on, a disfluency is tense (a stutter) even without the event. Some examples of what might trigger this are the child’s location during a stutter, sounds that occurred during a stutter, people or gender of persons listening to the stutter, talking on the phone during a stutter, and words or sounds said during a stutter.These things can all accidentally happen during a stutter, which gives these things the power to make a person stutter tensely when they happen again. Then, when the person who stutters does something on purpose to get out of the stutter, such as jerking their head or blinking their eyes, and the stutter stops, that behavior is now conditioned to stop a stutter in the person’s head. For example a child might think, â€Å"The phone rang while I was trying to talk to my friend this morning and I stuttered. The next time the phone rings while I am t alking, I will stutter† (Ducworth). The best way to understand stuttering is to talk all the theories and views of stuttering and combine them together into one perspective. What causes stuttering can be considered a complex interaction of five factors (CALMS): Cognitive, Affective, Linguistic, Motor, and Social. Genetic and physical factors are necessary, but they may not be sufficient to cause stuttering. The CALMS factors are needed as well (Mayo Clinic Staff). Difficulties for Children who Stutter Many people have functional lives and successful careers despite stuttering. Some famous people who stutter are Marilyn Monroe, Julia Roberts, Bruce Willis, and Tiger Woods.So, if that’s not enough proof that you can stutter and still be successful, then I don’t know what else is. There is no cure for stuttering, but speech therapy can help children learn techniques to help control their speech. Stuttering can, however, have a huge impact on a person’s self-esteem and confidence. Children who stutter often have anxiety, or nervousness, about talking, guilt, shame, fear, embarrassment, frustration, and negative attitudes towards speaking. These feelings can range from very mild and hardly impacting a person’s life to very severe and preventing the person who stutters from functioning socially at all.The negative feelings and attitudes can prevent a person who stutters from doing everyday things such as ordering food at a restaurant, speaking on the phone, or even speaking at all. These negative attitudes and feelings can stem from feeling out of control, concern and anxiety of parents, and teasing and rejection from other children, which can make stuttering worse and more often, cause avoidance behaviors, and make a person not willing to risk cha nge. It can also make it harder for improvements made in therapy to stick. Treating negative feelings and attitudes that accompany a stuttering disorder is a very important focus in therapy.These negative feelings can either make stuttering therapy harder because it requires the person to face and overcome them, or they can make it more successful because they empower and motivate the person to overcome stuttering. The bottom line is that they need to be treated and handled carefully. Time pressure is also one of the worst things from people who stutter and it is getting worse. Today’s world is very fast-paced and people are always trying to do things as quickly as possible. This time pressure is very common in our communication. When we talk to others and they don’t answer fast enough, we get impatient. We will start talking again or we assume the other person didn’t understand us. People who stutter feel this pressure to respond, plus they are stressed because they know that if they pause, the might have trouble getting started again. Advice for Teachers Stuttering is unique among the various disabilities because its severity may actually be aggravated and negative effects may increase as a result of participation in school. Because confirmed stuttering is developmental in nature, school experience may be a key ingredient in the development of severe stuttering.It is the child’s first, significant participation within organized social activity, in which the genetic predisposition to stutter is combined with environmental stressors. There are many warning signs to watch out for. First are multiple part-word repetitions. This refers to repeating the first or last sounds of a word, more than one or two times, faster than normal, or with irregular tempo. Second are prolongations. Prolongation refers to stretching out a sound at the beginning of or particularly within a word, such as â€Å"rrrrrrrrabit† or â€Å"raaaaaabit. It is important to distinguish easy stretches from prolongations associated with tension of struggle. Third is use of the reduced â€Å"schwa† vowel. Instead of saying â€Å"re-re-re-read† the child says â€Å"ruh-ruh-ruh-read. † This behavior indicates that the speech difficulty has become uncoupled from language and communication and is being felt as a performance struggle. It also indicates that the child has lost a measure of awareness due to the severity of the blocking experience. Fourth is blocking. Blocking refers to stopping or getting stuck before or during the production of a sound or word.Blocks may be anticipated as the person approaches a word, or blocking may be used to close down the system so as to draw less attention to the stuttering movement. Fifth is struggle and tension. Increased muscular tension of the articulators accompanies stuttering that has developed to the point where intervention is indicated. To overcome this tension, the child recruits additional surrounding muscles and muscle groups in an attempt to overcome the feeling of blockage. Struggle and tension may be seen in the nose, jaw, neck, cheeks, lips, forehead, and upper chest.Sixth is pitch, rate, and loudness increase. These phenomena often occur on prolongation of sounds, when the child is struggling to break out of a block and proceed to the next sound. The child may anticipate or feel that he is going to have difficulty on the sound and uses the pitch or loudness rise as a way to force his way through the block. Seventh is disturbed of irregular breathing. Upon anticipating stuttering, the child may hold his breath, take several breaths, or display other types of erratic or irregular breathing patterns, such as trying to rapidly say lots of words per breath group.Eighth is movement of other body parts. When experiencing one or more of the other warning signs, the child may jerk his head forward or back, move his arm, leg, or hand, or attempt other unusual behavior as he expects to stutter or actually experiences the moment of stuttering. Tenth is avoidance of talking. Stuttering is usually hard for teachers to notice because kids who stutter tend to avoid talking as much as possible. All preschool children are busily learning to talk. As such, they make speech mistakes.Some children have more than others, and this is normal. There might be certain children who have many disfluencies-most commonly repeating words and prolongation of sounds. These are quite noticeable to listeners. If you are concerned that there may be a problem of stuttering developing with one of these children, don’t pay any special attention to the child at this point. Rather, talk to a speech pathologist for suggestions. Also, talk to the parents about their opinion of the problem so that you know whether this is typical speech behavior for him.In most instances, if parents, teachers, and others listen to and answer the child in a patient, calm, and unemotional way, the child’s speech returns to normal as his language abilities and his adjustments to school improve. If the child continues to have disfluencies, however, you may want to ask a speech pathologist to observe him. There are children in elementary school who not only repeat and prolong sounds markedly, but also struggle and become tense and frustrated in their efforts to talk. They need help. Without it, their stuttering problem will probably adversely affect their classroom performance.As suggested with the preschool child, consult with a speech pathologist as well as with the parents and discuss your observations with them. If you, the parents, and the speech pathologist agree that this child’s disfluencies are different from other children in your classroom, you may decide as a team to evaluate the child for stuttering. Usually it is advisable for you to talk with the child privately. Explain to him that when talking—just like when learning other skills—we sometimes make mistakes. We bobble sounds or repeat or get tangled up on words. With practice we improve.Explain that you are his teacher and that his stuttering is okay with you. By talking to the child in this way, you help him learn that you are aware of his stuttering and that you accept it—and him. As you are asking questions in the classroom, you can do certain things to make it easier for a child who stutters. Initially, until he adjusts to the class, ask him questions that can be answered with relatively few words. If every child is going to be asked a question, call on the child who stutters fairly early. Tension and worry can build up the longer he has to wait his turn. Assure the whole class that they will have as much time as they need to answer questions, and that you are interested in having them take time and think through their answers, not just answer quickly. Many children who stutter are able to handle oral reading tasks in the classroom satisfactorily, particularly if they are encouraged to practice at home. There will be some, however, who will stutter severely while reading aloud in class. Most children who stutter are fluent when reading in unison with someone else. Rather than not calling on the child who stutters, let him have his turn with of the other children.Let the whole class read in pairs sometimes so that the child who stutters doesn’t feel special. Gradually he may become more confident and be able to manage reading out loud on his own. Teasing can be very painful for the student who stutters, and it should be eliminated as far as possible. If the child has obviously been upset by teasing, talk with him or her one-on-one. Help the child to understand why others tease, and brainstorm ideas for how to respond. If there are any certain children picking on him, talk to them alone and explain that teasing is unacceptable.

Le Corbusiers Five Points Of A New Architecture Essays -

Le Corbusier's Five Points Of A New Architecture This is the most famous application of Le Corbusier's five points of a new architecture. All five points are clearly present in this house: pilotis, a roof garden, a free floor plan, ribbon windows, and a free fa?ade. The first impression you get when approaching the house is of a horizontal white box placed on pilotis, set off against the natural surroundings. The plan of the building is square, one of the ideal shapes which the architects so admired. Within this strict geometry, dynamic curved forms are added, like the staircase and the solarium on the roof. The curved ground floor contains the entrance, servants' quarters, and garages. The ramp leading to the first floor is the very spine of the plan. The private rooms behind the ribbon windows on the first floor stand around the roof terrace, which is accessible through sliding doors. The final sloop of the ramp leads to the roof with a solarium screened by curved walls. History

History of Women Inventors Who Filed Patents

History of Women Inventors Who Filed Patents Before the 1970s, the topic of women in history was largely missing from general public consciousness. To address this situation, the Education Task Force on the Status of Women initiated a Womens History Week celebration in 1978 and chose the week of March 8 to coincide with International Womens Day. In 1987, the National Womens History Project petitioned Congress to expand the celebration to the entire month of March. Since then, the National Womens History Month Resolution has been approved every year with bipartisan support in both the House and Senate. The First Woman to File an American Patent In 1809, Mary Dixon Kies received the first U. S. patent issued to a woman. Kies, a Connecticut native, invented a process for weaving straw with silk or thread. First Lady Dolley Madison praised her for boosting the nations hat industry. Unfortunately, the patent file was destroyed in the great Patent Office fire in 1836. Until about 1840, only 20 other patents were issued to women. The inventions related to apparel, tools, cook stoves, and fireplaces. Naval Inventions In 1845, Sarah Mather received a patent for the invention of a submarine telescope and lamp. This was a remarkable device that permitted sea-going vessels to survey the depths of the ocean. Martha Coston perfected then patented her deceased husbands idea for a pyrotechnic flare. Costons husband, a former naval scientist, died leaving behind only a rough sketch in a diary of plans for the flares. Martha developed the idea into an elaborate system of flares called Night Signals that allowed ships to communicate messages nocturnally. The U. S. Navy bought the patent rights to the flares. Costons flares served as the basis of a system of communication that helped to save lives and to win battles. Martha credited her late husband with the first patent for the flares, but in 1871 she received a patent for an improvement exclusively her own. Paper Bags Margaret Knight was born in 1838. She received her first patent at the age of 30, but inventing was always part of her life. Margaret or Mattie as she was called in her childhood, made sleds and kites for her brothers while growing up in Maine. When she was just 12 years old, she had an idea for a stop-motion device that could be used in textile mills to shut down machinery, preventing workers from being injured. Knight eventually received some 26 patents. Her machine that made flat-bottomed paper bags is still used to this very day! 1876 Philadelphia Centennial Exposition The 1876 Philadelphia Centennial Exposition was a World Fair-like event held to celebrate the amazing progress of the century-old United States of America. The leaders of early feminist and womens suffrage movements had to aggressively lobby for the inclusion of a womans department in the exposition. After some firm pressing, the Centennial Womens Executive Committee was established, and a separate Womans Pavilion erected. Scores of women inventors either with patents or with patents pending displayed their inventions. Among them was Mary Potts and her invention Mrs. Potts Cold Handle Sad Iron patented in 1870. Chicagos Columbian Exposition in 1893 also included a Womans Building. A unique safety elevator invented by multi-patent holder Harriet Tracy and a device for lifting and transporting invalids invented by Sarah Sands were among the many items featured at this event. Traditionally womens undergarments consisted of brutally tight corsets meant to shape womens waists into unnaturally small forms. Some suggested that the reason women seemed so fragile, expected to faint at any time, was because their corsets prohibited proper breathing. Enlightened womens groups throughout the nation resoundingly agreed that less restrictive underclothing was in order. Susan Taylor Converses one-piece flannel Emancipation Suit, patented August 3, 1875, eliminated the need for a suffocating corset and became an immediate success. A number of womens groups lobbied for Converse to give up the 25-cent royalty she received on each Emancipation Suit sold, an effort that she rejected. Linking the emancipation of women from constrictive undergarments to her own freedom to profit from her intellectual property, Converse responded: With all your zeal for womens rights, how could you even suggest that one woman like myself should give of her head and hand labor without fair compensation? Perhaps its a no-brainer that women inventors should turn their minds to making better the things that often concern women the most. The Ultimate Home The ultimate convenience invention must certainly be woman inventor Frances Gabe’s self-cleaning house. The house, a combination of some 68 time-, labor-, and space-saving mechanisms, makes the concept of housework obsolete. Each of the rooms in the termite-proof, cinder block constructed, the self-cleaning house is fitted with a 10-inch, ceiling-mounted cleaning/drying/heating/cooling device. The walls, ceilings, and floors of the house are covered with resin, a liquid that becomes water-proof when hardened. The furniture is made of a water-proof composition, and there are no dust-collecting carpets anywhere in the house. At the push of a sequence of buttons, jets of soapy water wash the entire room. Then, after a rinse, the blower dries up any remaining water that hasn’t run down the sloping floors into a waiting drain. The sink, shower, toilet, and bathtub all clean themselves. The bookshelves dust themselves while a drain in the fireplace carries away ashes. The clothes closet is also a washer/drier combination. The kitchen cabinet is also a dishwasher; simply pile in soiled dishes, and don’t bother taking them out until they are needed again. Not only is the house of practical appeal to overworked homeowners, but also to physically handicapped people and the elderly. Frances Gabe (or Frances G. Bateson) was born in 1915 and now resides comfortably in Newberg, Oregon in the prototype of her self-cleaning house. Gabe gained experience in housing design and construction at an early age from working with her architect father. She entered the Girl’s Polytechnic College in Portland, Oregon at age 14 finishing a four-year program in just two years. After World War II, Gabe with her electrical engineer husband started a building repairs business that she ran for more than 45 years. In addition to her building/inventing credits, Frances Gabe is also an accomplished artist, musician, and mother. Fashion Forward Fashion designer Gabriele Knecht realized something that clothes makers were neglecting in their clothing designs- that our arms come out of our sides in a slightly forward direction, and we work them in front of our bodies. Knecht’s patented Forward Sleeve design is based on this observation. It lets the arms move freely without shifting the whole garment and allows clothes to drape gracefully on the body. Knecht was born in Germany in 1938 and came to America when she was 10 years old. She studied fashion design, and in 1960, received a bachelor of fine arts degree from Washington University in St. Louis. Knecht also took courses in physics, cosmology, and other areas of science that may seem unrelated to the fashion industry. Her broadened knowledge, however, helped her understand shapes and methods of pattern design. In 10 years she filled 20 notebooks with sketches, analyzed all the angles that sleeves can take, and made 300 experimental patterns and garments. Although Knecht had been a successful designer for several New York companies, she felt she had more creative potential. Struggling to start her own business, Knecht met a buyer from Saks Fifth Avenue department store who liked Knecht’s designs. Soon she was creating them exclusively for the store, and they sold well. In 1984 Knecht received the first annual More Award for the best new designer of women’s fashions. Carol Wior is the woman inventor of the Slimsuit, a swimsuit guaranteed to take an inch or more off the waist or tummy and to look natural. The secret to a slimmer look in the inner lining that shapes the body in specific areas, hiding bulges and giving a smooth, firm appearance. The Slimsuit comes with a tape measure to prove the claim. Wior was already a successful designer when she envisioned the new swimsuit. While on vacation in Hawaii, she always seemed to be pulling and tugging on her swimsuit to try to get it to cover properly, all the while trying to hold in her stomach. She realized other women were just as uncomfortable and began to think of ways to make a better swimsuit. Two years and a hundred trail patterns later, Wior achieved the design she wanted. Wior began her designing career at only 22 years old in her parents garage in Arcadia, California. With $77 and three sewing machines bought at auction, she made classic, elegant but affordable dresses and delivered them to her customers in an old milk truck. Soon she was selling to major retail stores and was quickly building a multi-million dollar business. At age 23, she was one of the youngest fashion entrepreneurs in Los Angeles. Protecting the Children When Ann Moore was a Peace Corps volunteer, she observed mothers in French West Africa carrying their babies securely on their backs. She admired the bonding between the African mother and child and wanted the same closeness when she returned home and had her own baby. Moore and her mother designed a carrier for Moores daughter similar to those she saw in Togo. Ann Moore and her husband formed a company to make and market the carrier, called the Snugli (patented in 1969). Today babies all over the world are being carried close to their mothers and fathers. In 1912, the beautiful soprano opera singer and actress of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Lillian Russell, patented a combination dresser-trunk built solidly enough to remain intact during travel and doubled as a portable dressing room. Silver Screen superstar Hedy Lamarr (Hedwig Kiesler Markey) with the help of composer George Antheil invented a secret communication system in an effort to help the allies defeat the Germans in World War II. The invention, patented in 1941, manipulated radio frequencies between transmission and reception to develop an unbreakable code so that top-secret messages could not be intercepted. Julie Newmar, a living Hollywood film and television legend, is a women inventor. The former Catwoman patented ultra-sheer, ultra-snug pantyhose. Known for her work in films such as Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and Slaves of Babylon, Newmar has also appeared recently in Fox Televisions Melrose Place and the hit feature-film To Wong Fu, Thanks for Everything, Love Julie Newmar. Ruffles, fluted collars, and pleats were very popular in Victorian-era clothing. Susan Knoxs fluting iron made pressing the embellishments easier. The trademark featured the inventors picture and appeared on each iron. Women have made many contributions to advance the fields of science and engineering. Nobel Prize Winner Katherine Blodgett (1898-1979) was a woman of many firsts. She was the first female scientist hired by General Electric’s Research Laboratory in Schenectady, New York (1917) as well as the first woman to earn a Ph.D. in Physics from Cambridge University (1926). Blodgett’s research on monomolecular coatings with Nobel Prize-winning Dr. Irving Langmuir led her to a revolutionary discovery. She discovered a way to apply the coatings layer by layer to glass and metal. The thin films, which naturally reduced glare on reflective surfaces, when layered to a certain thickness, would completely cancel out the reflection from the surface underneath. This resulted in the world’s first 100% transparent or invisible glass. Blodgett’s patented film and process (1938) has been used for many purposes including limiting distortion in eyeglasses, microscopes, telescopes, camera, and projector lenses. Programming Computers Grace Hopper (1906-1992) was one of the first programmers to transform large digital computers from oversized calculators into relatively intelligent machines capable of understanding human instructions. Hopper developed a common language with which computers could communicate called Common Business-Oriented Language or COBOL, now the most widely used computer business language in the world. In addition to many other firsts, Hopper was the first woman to graduate from Yale University with a Ph.D. in Mathematics, and in 1985, was the first woman ever to reach the rank of admiral in the US Navy. Hopper’s work was never patented; her contributions were made before computer software technology was even considered a patentable field. Invention of Kevlar Stephanie Louise Kwolek’s research with high-performance chemical compounds for the DuPont Company led to the development of a synthetic material called Kevlar which is five times stronger than the same weight of steel. Kevlar, patented by Kwolek in 1966, does not rust nor corrode and is extremely lightweight. Many police officers owe their lives to Stephanie Kwolek, for Kevlar is the material used in bulletproof vests. Other applications of the compound include underwater cables, brake linings, space vehicles, boats, parachutes, skis, and building materials. Kwolek was born in New Kensington, Pennsylvania in 1923. Upon graduating in 1946 from the Carnegie Institute of Technology (now Carnegie-Mellon University) with a bachelor’s degree, Kwolek went to work as a chemist at the DuPont Company. She would ultimately obtain 28 patents during her 40-year tenure as a research scientist. In 1995, Kwolek was inducted into the Hall of Fame. Inventors NASA Valerie Thomas received a patent in 1980 for inventing an illusion transmitter. This futuristic invention extends the idea of television, with its images located flatly behind a screen, to having three-dimensional projections appear as though they were right in your living room. Perhaps in the not-so-distant future, the illusion transmitter will be as popular as the TV is today. Thomas worked as a mathematical data analyst for NASA after receiving a degree in physics. She later served as project manager for the development of NASA’s image-processing system on Landsat, the first satellite to send images from outer space. In addition to having worked on several other high-profile NASA projects, Thomas continues to be an outspoken advocate for minority rights. Barbara Askins, a former teacher, and mother, who waited until after her two children entered school to complete her B. S. in chemistry followed by a Master’s degree in the same field, developed a totally new way of processing film. Askins was hired in 1975 by NASA to find a better way to develop astronomical and geological pictures taken by researchers. Until Askins’ discovery, these images, while containing valuable information, were hardly visible. In 1978 Askins patented a method of enhancing the pictures using radioactive materials. The process was so successful that its uses were expanded beyond NASA research to improvements in X-ray technology and in the restoration of old pictures. Barbara Askins was named National Inventor of the Year in 1978. Ellen Ochoa’s pre-doctoral work at Stanford University in electrical engineering led to the development of an optical system designed to detect imperfections in repeating patterns. This invention, patented in 1987, can be used for quality control in the manufacturing of various intricate parts. Dr. Ochoa later patented an optical system which can be used to robotically manufacture goods or in robotic guiding systems. In all Ellen Ochoa has received three patents, most recently in 1990. In addition to being a woman inventor, Dr. Ochoa is also a research scientist and astronaut for NASA who has logged hundreds of hours in space. Inventing Geobond Patricia Billings received a patent in 1997 for a fire resistant building material called Geobond. Billings’ work as a sculpture artist put her on a journey to find or develop a durable additive to prevent her painstaking plaster works from accidentally falling and shattering. After nearly two decades of basement experiments, the result of her efforts was a solution which when added to a mixture of gypsum and concrete, creates an amazingly fire resistant, indestructible plaster. Not only can Geobond add longevity to artistic works of plastic, but also it is steadily being embraced by the construction industry as an almost universal building material. Geobond is made with non-toxic ingredients which make it the ideal replacement for asbestos. Currently, Geobond is being sold in more than 20 markets worldwide, and Patricia Billings, great grandmother, artist, and woman inventor remains at the helm of her carefully constructed Kansas City-based empire. Women care and women care as inventors. Many female inventors have turned their skills on finding ways to save lives. Invention of Nystatin As researchers for the New York Department of Health, Elizabeth Lee Hazen and Rachel Brown combined their efforts to develop the anti-fungal antibiotic drug Nystatin. The drug, patented in 1957 was used to cure many disfiguring, disabling fungal infections as well as to balance the effect of many antibacterial drugs. In addition to human ailments, the drug has been used to treat such problems as Dutch Elms disease and to restore water-damaged artwork from the effects of mold. The two scientists donated the royalties from their invention, over $13 million dollars, to the nonprofit Research Corporation for the advancement of academic scientific study. Hazen and Brown were inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 1994. Fighting Disease Gertrude Elion patented the leukemia-fighting drug 6-mercaptopurine in 1954 and has made a number of significant contributions to the medical field. Dr. Elions research led to the development of Imuran, a drug that aids the body in accepting transplanted organs, and Zovirax, a drug used to fight herpes. Including 6-mercaptopurine, Elions name is attached to some 45 patents. In 1988 she was awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine with George Hitchings and Sir James Black. In retirement, Dr. Elion, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1991, continues to be an advocate for medical and scientific advancement. Stem Cell Research Ann Tsukamoto is co-patenter of a process to isolate the human stem cell; the patent for this process was awarded in 1991. Stem cells are located in bone marrow and serve as the foundation for the growth of red and white blood cells. Understanding how stem cells grow or how they might be artificially reproduced is vital to cancer research. Tsukamotos work has led to great advancements in comprehending the blood systems of cancer patients and may one day lead to a cure for the disease. She is currently directing further research in the areas of stem cell growth and cellular biology. Patient Comfort Betty Rozier and Lisa Vallino, a mother and daughter team, invented an intravenous catheter shield to make the use of IVs in hospitals safer and easier. The computer-mouse shaped, polyethylene shield covers the site on a patient where an intravenous needle has been inserted. The IV House prevents the needle from being accidentally dislodged and minimizes its exposure to patient tampering. Rozier and Vallino received their patent in 1993. After fighting breast cancer and undergoing a mastectomy in 1970, Ruth Handler, one of the creators of the Barbie Doll, surveyed the market for a suitable prosthetic breast. Disappointed in the options available, she set about designing a replacement breast that was more similar to a natural one. In 1975, Handler received a patent for Nearly Me, a prosthesis made of material close in weight and density to natural breasts.