Confucianism in Journey to the West - 31834 Words

University: University of Leiden 14 June 2012 Department: Language and Culture of China Course: Visual Political Communication (BA3) Semester: Summer Semester 2011/2012 Lecturer: Florian Schneider Journey to the West A Textual-Visual Discourse Analysis Name: Stefan Ruijsch (Student No. 0620203) Major: Chinese Studies, BA 3 E-mail: s.ruijsch@umail.leidenuniv.nl Phone: 06-48369645 Address: Vrijheidslaan 256, 2321 DP Leiden Word Count: 9,387 Table of Contents page 1. Introduction†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ . 1 2. Theory†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 4 2.1. Discourse theory – A Short Explanation†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 4 2.2. Confucianism†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 6 2.2.1. The Principles of Confucianism†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 6 2.2.2. The Confucian†¦show more content†¦Ever since, I wondered whether this impression was correct. The goal of this thesis is to satisfy this curiosity and to determine, through textual and visual analyses, if the 1986 television series also carries a Confucian message, or whether it was solely produced for entertainment purposes. This leads to the following research question: How does the 1986 television series Journey to the West convey the novel’s original Confucian message, and what does this suggest for its production purposes? I argue that authors and producers often attempt to impose their own set of cultural and political ideologies on its audience through a certain depiction of right and wrong. In this manner, works of fiction might influence, perhaps even alter, the ideologies of the audience.[3] Accordingly, analyzing the depiction of ideologies in media content can serve as a basis for further research on if and how producers intend to influence their audience. This particular case of Confucianism in the 1986 Journey to the West television series is especially interesting, due to China’s socio-political setting of that time. The influence of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) on media content[4] combined with its usage of Confucianism to secure its own right to rule[5] make the Journey to the West television series the perfect medium to promote Confucianism to the masses. The enormous popularity of Journey to the WestShow MoreRelatedMonkey: Journey to the west Essay689 Words   |  3 PagesMonkey: Journey to the West is a story of an adventure for enlightenment to India in order to find ancient Buddhist scriptures. The story consists of Chinese legends, tales, and superstitions. Daoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism play a huge role throughout this story. Monkey: Journey to the West is a story that discusses religion, and moral issues. The monkey acts the way he does due to underlying religious themes played throughout the story. At fir st understanding why the Monkey acts the way he doesRead MoreJourney Of The West Is A Chinese Novel By China And Taiwan s Education System1574 Words   |  7 Pages Journey to the West is a Chinese novel published in the 16th century that tells a story of Xuanzang or Tripitaka’s journey to retrieve original Buddhist sutras for China. The influence of Journey to the West has become insurmountable in Asian cultures and has managed to help both Taoism and Buddhism to surge in popularity and stay relevant today. Being one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature, Journey to the West has been successfully adapted into various forms of media and isRead MoreThe Influence of Accessibility: A Comparison of the Views of Lao-Tzu and Confucius1610 Words   |  6 PagesMoore and Kenneth Bruder. Confucius sought to become an advisor to a ruler and directly to change society for the better, using heroes of the past as model (503). To that extent, it is no surprise that dur ing various periods of Chinese history, Confucianism has played an integral role in the in the political systems of the country, such as during the Han dynasty (which lasted from 206 bce-220 bce) (Adshead 103). Confucian political thought sought to bring a social order based upon justice that wasRead MoreBiography Of Monk Xuanzang s Journey Essay1508 Words   |  7 PagesJourney to the West has been a major influence in Chinese culture. 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This new patriotism also led to xenophobia in the country which leads to irrational decisions in the future. As timeRead MoreThe Influence of Silk and the Silk Road in China808 Words   |  3 Pagesfrequently, but the Southern route was also dangerous because it required traveling through desolated areas such as the Taklamakan Desert. Because of the harsh conditions, travelers would often venture the route in caravans led by camels. Nonetheless, the journey was still quite treacherous so people rarely traveled the entire route. Out of these many travelers, missionaries introduced their Buddhist beliefs that eventually overtook Chinas indigenous religion. As the new religion spread through China duringRead MoreBuddhism And Its Impact On The World Essay2122 Words   |  9 PagesSilk Road provided. With B uddhism ideas connected, to get to China, it would have taken some time and distance. The Silk Road allowed many things to be traded back and forth between the East and the West, including, but not limited to, culture, religions, technology, and material goods. From East to West, and vice versa, this great Trade really connected their â€Å"ideas and goods†. The â€Å"Silk Road† was originally described to route silk merchants took from Han China to Rome, civilizations considered greatRead MoreWhen Asia Was the World Book Analysis Essay1110 Words   |  5 Pagessearch of a monastery. He left his brother and took a long journey to Chang’an to learn more about Buddhism. He stopped at many different monasteries across China. He felt like all the teachings were the same from his own monastery but their doctrines were different. Xuanzang felt confused by some of the things he had learned. This caused him to travel west to bring back books from the center of Buddhism, which is India. Throughout his journey he faced many hardships that would try to p revent him fromRead MoreBeijing, People s Republic Of China Essay1670 Words   |  7 Pagesto the mythical Yellow Emperor (Huang di), this is the reason it was known as Huang-Lao school. Originally a mixture of soothsayers, archivists and men of techniques known as Fangshi who devoted themselves to divination, meditation, ecstatic journeys and the pursuit of longevity and immortality through physiological techniques and body exercises. This Daoism reappeared with force several times later in the first and second centuries. It should be noted that immortality does not refer to an immortalRead MoreReview of Xinzhong Yaos Book Introduction to Confucianism Essay1828 Words   |  8 Pagesto Confucianism, Xinzhong Yao strives to convey a balanced understanding of the Chinese / East Asian tradition of Confucius as it has evolved over the last 2500 years from ancient times to contemporary relevance, from the classics into practice and all within a single book.   Yao aims to distinguish his presentation of the subject matter from previous introductions that have taken a more historical approach.   He writes for a western audience and for students who are assumed new to Confucianism while

American Culture Of People From Japan And Arab Countries

Final Essay In the United States many different nationalities and culture have come to reside by immigrating to this country. Although in the past being an immigrant in this country was often faced with hardship and discrimination the dream of a better and more promising future in America has always enticed people from places far and wide. Such has been the case with people from Japan and Arab countries. The differences in policies and treatment in the US varied, but their reasoning behind why their migrated is almost always for a more prosperous life. This paper aims to make a comparison at the two groups by providing information on why they migrated and examples of interaction between the two. It will further examine past and present policies and its effects on unsuccessful and successful adaptations to American culture of people. And I will finally formulate my personal prediction for each group s future in the United States. The first Japanese to migrate to the United States in significant numbers did so following changes to the 1868 Meiji Restoration (Lee, L. P. 1989). They had to endure much hostility since their beginning in the US; many attributed this mentality with competitive reasons for wanting to get rid of the Japanese Americans who grew vegetables at low cost and own millions worth of California land. Following the Pearl Harbor attacks on February 19, 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066. According to the Washington journal,Show MoreRelatedOrientalism And Orientalism1616 Words   |  7 PagesThe constant obsession with the marvels of the East and the prevalent dismissal of its people has not only promoted the aesthetic fantasy of the Orient, but has subjected it to a system of inconsistent misjudgments and representations. Through the mechanisms of cultural hegemony, Orientalism has been given the durability to persist and exist within the minds of Westerners and the Orient itself. The orientalist discourse exists in response to Western modernity, acting as an aberration that reliesRead MoreEssay on Nonverbal Communication and Cultural Differences1649 Words   |  7 Pagesinfluenced by cultural differences as the context of the culture defines how the message is interpreted. This essay will analyse several types of nonverbal communication such as proxemics, haptics, kinesics, semiotics and paralinguistic. It will also analyse the messages conveyed by these nonverbal communication types in different cultures and their impact on the non-verbal communication process in relative cultural contexts. Culture has always been a driving force in understanding nonverbalRead MoreEssay on Nonverbal Communication: A Notion to Motion1393 Words   |  6 Pagesforms of communication. While it is essential to the coexistence of the human race, communication is the one thing that is common amongst people of all cultures. Crapo (2013) explained that communication is transference of a philosophies and information from one person to another by ones actions, gestures, and words (Human communication, para.1). Although people use different avenues to express their thoughts and ideas, intercultural communication can be misconstrued when learning to understand differentRead More Body Language: Cultural or Universal? Essay1714 Words   |  7 Pagesexpression. Other channels of nonverbal communication are also of great importance in many cultures. However which channels are emphasized, what cues are considered acceptable and the symbolic meaning of the cues may vary from culture to culture. 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By the 1st Century AD, the Kenyan coast was frequented by Arab traders, who due to Kenya s proximity to the Arabian Peninsula, established Arab and Persian colonies there. The Nilotic and Bantu people also moved into the region during the first millennium AD. and settled inland Kenya straddles the Equator, and is located on the eastern coast of Africa. Roughly one and half times the size of Japan, it coversRead MoreRace As A Social Construction1679 Words   |  7 Pagesarbitrary distinctions of groups of people that genetically have no significance. Race is a relatively new concept. Coined by Johann Friedrich Blumenbach during the age of enlightenment around the late 18th century. The idea was expounded upon by Arthur de Gobineau in the mid-1800s. Gobineau theorized that there were three primary races (black, white, and yellow) and that certain races where purer than others. This type of rhetoric and thinking would lead people to justify their actions in the nameRead MoreThe Attack On Pearl Harbor1667 Words   |  7 PagesFor many people, the defining â€Å"turning point† of the United States in the 21st century so far has been September 11th, 2001. The phrase â€Å"Post 9/11 World† has been synonymous with growing fears of terrorism at hom e and abroad and changes in our popular culture and way of life. 9/11 however is not unique in the way it has transformed American society. The attack on Pearl Harbor, â€Å"a date which will live in infamy,† also brought the United States into a war focused on eliminating a new adversary. BothRead More Self Esteem in Our Culture Essay1567 Words   |  7 PagesSelf Esteem and Culture Self esteem is all about how much people value them self, the pride they feel in themselves, and how worthwhile they feel. Self esteem is important because feeling good about yourself can affect how you act. A person who has high self esteem will make friends easily, is more in control of his or her behavior and will enjoy life more (Heine). To begin you must understand that there is a difference between high self esteem, arrogance, and pride. Arrogance is a negative traitRead MoreImportance Of Cultural Differences Between Business994 Words   |  4 PagesMandarin Chinese, French, Arabic, and Spanish are all commonly spoken amongst countries in global business. Even when the same language is spoken, there can be differences. In places like America most people are more blunt and to the point when talking about business, but in places like Japan they are usually more polite and emotional. Americans may appear to some foreigners as rude and only caring about business, and the American businessperson will see them as if they are stalling and not as serious

Observation of social situation Essay Example For Students

Observation of social situation Essay While systematically observing a social situation for approximatly one week, I have observed some common patterns of interaction and have rendered some possible explanations for these patterns of behavior. While there were some irregular observations, most of the behavior was consistent with that of my hypotheses. My research question involves the behavior of males versus females in the setting of a workout room or gym. I hyptohesized that males are more likely to interact with each other than females are, and males are more likely to use weights than females, while females are more likely to utilize aerobic activity machines more than males. All of these hypothesis will be further supported within the basis of my My basic observation technique included using qualitative research methods and concentrating on how people interacted with each other, how they themselves acted , and how other people reacted to them. This included using the participant observation technique where the researcher participates in the activities of the unit under study. All of my observations took place in both the Bream Wright Hauser weight room and the ________________ workout room. I chose to observe both of these locations because of the varitey of people who could be observed and the type of people who used both of these facilities. In the Bream Wright Hauser weight room, there are three step machines, and a bike located along the left wall, and the whold right side of the room includes weight machines to work various parts of the body. In the middle of the room and to the back are the free weights and weight benches. This room includes mostly weights and very few aerobic machines. In the______________ weight room, however, there are very few weight and an abundance of aerobic machines. One small corner contains weights and the rest of the room includes several step machines, bikes, and other aerobic machines. One observation which I noticed was that while the Bream Wright Hauser room included predominatly males with a few females, including myself, the ____________room comtained all women and no men. I think this is owed to the contents of the room. Even in Bream Wright Hauser, the small number of women tended to use the aerobic machines. This leads me to one observation that the women are much more likely to use the aerobic machines than men. Also, because there was not a single man in the ___________room, I also concluded that men tend to utilize the weights much more frequently than the aerobic machines. The situation which I observed is located on the Gettysburg College campus in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The participants include men and women in the age range of approximatly 18 23 who constitute a social aggregate. The number of participants vary from night to night and depending on the time of the day in which the observation is taken. The characteristics of the participants also vary but include both men and women from mostly middle class, white backgrounds who come together for the common goal of physical fitness. The patterns of interaction which I observed basically coinsided with the statements in Bibliography: .

Uniforms free essay sample

Where do uniforms come from? Uniforms originally came from England in the 16th century. uniforms in England symbolizes the lower class and the orphans, its basically they separated children in groups (Viadero 61). A lot of school enforces dress codes instead of uniforms. There are many opinions about requiring school uniforms or not. Many people believe that school uniform have a negative effect. uniforms are more expensive than regular clothes (Larkin 29). A student needs at least two sets of uniforms (Riak 71 Some students cant afford two sets of uniforms since they are ard to find, this is why some people doesnt want any part of having to have their child wearing uniforms. Uniforms doesnt make students any smarter, it doesnt have an effect on their education. It doesnt motivate them to do better in school just because they are wearing a uniform (Vladero 54). A uniform makes students look more professional (Rlak 65). It makes them look so much nicer if they wore uniforms and clean. It also prepares them for their future career. Some jobs require employees to be in uniforms. When wearing uniforms you basically know what to expect, unlike people who didnt wear uniforms in their past ives. Wearing uniforms definitely prepares you in your future life. Some parents or debaters view school uniforms as a positive improvement in school. A uniform allows students to focus on school rather than worrying about what theyre going to wear to school the next day or what other students are going to think about their clothes that theVre wearing (Amerding 38). Some students gets distracted by what their wearing and what other students are wearing. Wearing uniforms force students to find other ways to express themselves. For example they can express themselves y what they Ilke to do during school; they can Join a club that they really like or getting Involved In a sport that they really like. There are a lot of things students that can express themselves without getting mad; because theyre forced to wear uniforms and that they think they cant express themselves when wearing uniforms. It also makes the students equal (Riak 68). Students that are poor are usually the target to be make fun of because the way they dress, like wearing old used clothes that they bought from the second hand store. Having uniforms eliminates bullying ther students based on what theyre wearing. It also eliminates students hiding weapons In their street clothes (Larkin 33). some students wear baggy clothes that can hide weapons in it and bring to school. This is why schools want students to wear uniforms to protect other students from getting hurt. Wearing unforms also prevents students from wearing their gang colors and signs (Larkin 33). It prevents them from fighting against each other. Students are calm and chill if theyre wearing the same thing It reduces violence, and they can worry about school work rather than fighting (Madero 55). The positive things about unitorms are that it the students are on a tield trip they are easy to spot because everyone is wearing the same uniforms (Larkin 31). If for instance a student gets lost a teacher can describe them to the police of what they are wearing, and they can easily track them down since not everyone are wearing the same uniforms as their school (Larkin 31). When a stranger comes to school they can easily spot them, because they are not wearing uniforms (Wilde 13). It also prevents students from skipping classes, because if someone sees them walking or if they are t the mall, people can identify what uniform they are wearing and they can easily call the school and tell them that a student is skipping school and that student gets in trouble. Wearing uniforms improved, 28 percent drop in suspension rates at the elementary level, a 36 percent decrease in fghts in grade k-8 and a 34 percent drop in assault and battery in elementary and middle schools (Madero 57). Some schools are allowing students to wear other colors of pods and pants, also other brands. Students can wear different brands of clothes but it has to follow the rules of their niforms. Girls can now wear skirts but it has to be in a certain length (Long Beach Unified School District: A Uniform Success Story? 9). For the parents who are worried about the cost of the uniforms the school board are trying to help people that needs help by giving them the uniforms for free or they can cut the price down a little for those who needed help and that cant afford to pay uniforms for their children (Long Beach Unified School District: A uniform Success Story? 7). For some school that doesnt have to wear uniforms, they have a dress code. Dress codes are basically rules of what not to wear to school. Some students are always finding ways to wear clothes that they are not supposed to wear, and they sometimes get away with it. If students do get caught with not following with the dress code they get in trouble or they let students call their parent to bring them a set of clothes that are appropriate for them to wear. Students are always trying to find ways to express their unique identities. They dont want anyone stop them from wearing the clothes that they like, that expresses themselves. Thats the biggest ssue, students wants freedom from wearing what they want to wear. Since they are already have to go to school and kids are not a fan of going to school and now they want them to wear uniforms, it make them even more upset having to wear uniforms in school and getting make fun of by other school because they are wearing uniforms. This is why school officials are enforcing uniforms, because students always find ways to get around the dress code (Modenbach 24). It really doesnt matter if kids are wearing uniforms or having to have dress codes they will always ind a way to get around the rules because they are kids and theyll do whatever they can to not follow the rules.

Essay Topics in Cinema

Essay Topics in CinemaIn the past, cinema essay topics have consisted of reading selections from a movie-theaters program. Now, the essays are no longer limited to the selection, but can be an entire essay. In fact, this format has become so popular that a number of essay-writing experts have been trying to figure out what the future holds for this genre. There are some trends that seem to be emerging.The first trend is that the essay should be designed for a specific audience. This is similar to choosing a writing topic for a magazine or a small book. The essay should only be written for a certain audience, and therefore there should be some sort of feedback for the essay.The next trend is that the essay should have a deadline. A deadline is important for two reasons. First, it gives the essay the outline necessary to get done before the deadline.Second, it gives the essay the structure required to make it as a standard essay. A deadline will also allow the reader to see how much ti me remains to complete the assignment.The final trend is that the essay should contain points that challenge the views held by the author. The essay should be completely original and a critique of the works of others should be contained within the essay. These challenges should be the key to success.It is vital that the essay writers and the essay supervisors receive feedback on their selections, especially when it comes to critiques. These feedbacks will allow the writers to determine the greatest movie essays in a given genre.If you think you might be interested in essay topics in cinema, you will want to find the best essay assignment programs online. These programs are all over the internet and they are designed to help you write your thesis. Essays in cinema topics have taken on a new meaning since they have been made available to the public. Now, the focus is on taking them seriously and making them count. Writing a movie essay is difficult, but if you put your mind to it, the essays in cinema can be the best essays you have ever written.

Best Practices For Successful and Effective Learning

Best Practices For Successful And Effective Learning We're all different, and each one of us has our own unique way of taking on information and learning new things. There are a number of different learning styles, and most people will use a mixture of these styles in different situations, often noticing one or two techniques that are more dominant than others. Identifying the learning style that you use most often, and familiarising yourself with the other learning styles, can assist you in exam revision and help you to get more from your lectures and seminars. It can also help you post graduation as your learning doesn't end when your degree does; learning styles can help you to train effectively in a new job or get more from your hobbies. Contents Visual/Spatial Learning Aural/Auditory-Musical Learning Verbal/Linguistic Learning Physical/Kinaesthetic Learning Logical/Mathematical Learning Social/Interpersonal Learning Solitary/Intrapersonal Learning Digital Learning Tools vs Physical Learning Tools How To Stay Motivated And Avoid Procrastination    1 Visual/Spatial Learning Those who favour the visual method of learning will typically prefer to use images, pictures, maps, and diagrams to take on new information. Visual learners are able to easily visualise things like objects, plans, and the outcome of a situation within their mind's eye. Visual learners also tend to have good spatial awareness and a good sense of direction; they are good at finding their way around using a map and rarely get lost. Visual and spatial learning techniques If you are a visual learner you should try to incorporate lots of imagery into your studying to aid in your visualisation of the subject. Here are some methods and tools that can help to boost your visual learning: Mind maps: A mind map is a great way to visualise your ideas. Try to use lots of colours and use pictures and images in place of words where possible. Highlighters: Even visual learners will need to make notes at some point, but using colour-coded pens to highlight and categorise different types of information can help it to be better absorbed. Systems diagrams: These can help you to visualise the different aspects of a system and how they link together. Using pictures and lots of colour further helps with the learning process. Visual storytelling: Putting written information into a visual story format, such as a comic book-style layout, can help visual learners to memorise information better. Videos: Watching a tutorial video is much more effective for a visual learner than reading pages and pages of text. Peg system: This is a form of word association, in which the ‘peg' is a mental hook on which to hang information. Numbers are often used as pegs, and visual learners are adept at pegging information for quick and easy recall. Create an effective learning environment for yourself by ensuring that you have a selection of coloured pens and highlighters, as well as paper to draw and doodle on as you study. A whiteboard can also be useful for a visual learner as you can use it to draw out your ideas and wipe things away when needed. Back To Contents 2 Aural/Auditory-Musical Learning Those who tend towards an aural and auditory-musical learning style typically absorb information better when listening to spoken word or music. Aural learners will usually have the ability to play an instrument or sing well, and they'll often find themselves humming or tapping along to a song, or a jingle will pop into their head spontaneously. Aural and auditory-musical learning techniques If you are an aural learner you should try to incorporate sound, music, rhythm, and rhyme into your studies in order to better absorb information. Here are some techniques that can help you: Use recordings: Record your lectures where possible, and play them back when studying to help you take in the information. You could also use sound recording of background sounds; for example if you're learning to tune a car engine, use a recording of an engine running to help you visualise the procedure. Create jingles: Mnemonics and acrostics can aid your learning, and forming them into a jingle that rhymes can help you to remember the information better. Anchoring: The anchoring technique helps you to associate music with certain things; therefore when you hear that music it helps you to recall information. Anchor your emotions and memories to music in order to remember them easily. Group study: Working with a study group can benefit aural learners as you'll pick up information from talking and discussing things with your peers. Things such as word-association games and debates can help with your absorption of the study materials. Text to speech: Take notes in lectures and transfer them to your laptop, then use a text to speech programme to hear them aurally. Create an effective learning environment for yourself by ensuring you have text to speech software on your laptop, and by using a recording device to record lectures. You should also invest in some decent headphones so that you can listen to study podcasts and watch videos on the go via a mobile device. Back To Contents 3 Verbal/Linguistic Learning Those who find that they learn best by using both the written and spoken word find it easy to express themselves verbally and in writing. They enjoy reading, writing, and word play including tongue twisters, limericks, rhymes, and playing on the meaning of words. Verbal and linguistic learning techniques Linguistic learners regularly make the effort to seek out the meaning of new words and phrases, and use them in conversation and written work. Here are some verbal learning techniques that may help you: Mnemonics: Using acronym mnemonics can help you to make up another word or a memorable sequence to help you remember a piece of information. Speaking and writing: Verbal learners should try to find ways to incorporate more speaking and writing into their studies. For example, you could talk yourself through a procedure before and during performing an activity. Assertions: Try to use rhythm and rhyme in your assertions to make things memorable, and read important pieces of information aloud or set them to familiar songs or jingles to aid the absorption of the information. Scripting: Write your study notes down in a script format; you could even record them to play back to yourself too. Read aloud: Reading content aloud helps verbal learners to retain things more easily. A top tip is to read things in a dramatic and animated way rather than using a monotone voice, this will help you to recall things better. Role plays: Work with a study group or friends to role-play the course material. Verbal exchanges such as phone calls, sales call, radio shows, or negotiations can help you to remember and recall information more easily. Create an effective learning environment for yourself by ensuring that you take thorough notes in lectures and rewrite them afterwards to help them sink in. Regularly group up with your course mates to discuss and role play the course material to aid your recall. Back To Contents 4 Physical/Kinaesthetic Learning Those who favour a more physical learning style tend to be very hands-on and tuned in to the world around them. They typically enjoy exercising and playing sports, as well as physical hobbies like gardening. Physical activity is often used as a way of thinking through any problems and issues, with kinaesthetic learners favouring a walk or a run over sitting at home. Physical and kinaesthetic learning techniques Physical learners prefer to jump in and get their hands dirty, as opposed to reading about something or looking at diagrams. If this is your learning style, here are some techniques that may help you: Focus on sensations: If you learn by being physical try to use a visualisation process that focuses on sensations. Visualise the action, for example baking a cake, and think about the sensations associated with it – the vibrations of the electric mixer as you prepare the cake mix, and the smell of the cake as it bakes in the oven. Physical objects: use these as much as possible in your learning process. Touch an object physically as you learn and explore what it can do. Flashcards of information can also help you to recall things as you're touching and manipulating them. Write and draw: These are also physical activities, so use writing and drawing to create mind maps and diagrams that will help you to be active, hands-on, and aid your recall of information. Role playing: You can either do it alone or with others; role playing is a physical activity that enables you to practice skills, behaviours, and processes in order to better absorb information. Breathing and relaxation: Using breathing and relaxation techniques can help you to stay focused, calm, and centred whilst you are studying. Create an effective learning environment for yourself by ensuring that you use physical objects as part of your learning process. Ask your course tutors for hands-on demonstrations, and get involved with study groups for the chance to practice and role play scenarios. It will also help your studies if you schedule in time for exercise to help clear and refocus your mind. Back To Contents 5 Logical/Mathematical Learning Those who typically adopt a logical or mathematical style of learning tend to be able to easily recognise patterns and form connections between pieces of content or information. These learners work well with numbers and calculations and enjoy working through problems in a systematic and logical way. Logical and mathematical learning techniques People who learn in a logical and mathematical way tend to have a scientific approach to thinking, often supporting their points with statistics and logical examples. They also like to do brainteasers and play strategic games like chess and backgammon. If you are a logical learner, these tips may help you: Lists: Take notes in lectures and then spend time afterwards extracting the key points and forming them into lists to aid your absorption and recall of information. Infer meaning: Rather than just learning information by rote, try to infer meaning from content instead. Learning and understanding more detail about things helps you identify links and patterns between things. Illogical association: Your brain will fight against it at first, but illogical and irrational associations are remembered better than logical ones! Scripting: Highlight any logical behaviours and thoughts in your notes and scripts; this will allow you to identify systems and procedures so you can easily change things when you need to. Breathe and relax: Don't forget that your physical body is as much a part of the system as any hardware or software that you may be using in your studies, so be sure to regularly relax and focus on your breathing when you need to re-centre your thinking. Systems thinking: This helps you to understand the links between the individual parts of a system, which helps you to understand and appreciate the bigger picture. Systems diagrams can help you to gain a better understanding of the way in which the components of a system work together to form a whole process. Create an effective learning environment for yourself by ensuring that you find ways to stay focused and on topic. Avoid procrastinating by adopting a ‘do it now' attitude and getting tasks done, or at least adding to a to-do list, as soon as you think of them. Back To Contents 6 Social/Interpersonal Learning People who favour a social and interpersonal learning approach tend to have strong communication skills, both verbally and non-verbally, which draws others to them for advice, mentoring, and counselling. Social learners typically understand others' views, listen well, and are sensitive and empathetic to other people's feelings. Social and interpersonal learning techniques Those with an interpersonal learning style tend to have strong social skills and like to interact and work with others on projects. They work through problems by bouncing ideas off others and listening to their input. If you are a social learner you may benefit from these study tips: Group work: Social learners should aim to work with others as much as possible. Try forming a study group with peers of a similar level and bounce ideas off each other, offering instant and constructive feedback to one another. Role play: Working with others, role play can help you to visualise things better, which aids your recall of information. Obviously it's best to do this with other social learners to avoid making people feel uncomfortable or awkward. Assertions: Reciting assertions and working on your visualisations is a good way of absorbing information, and reciting them with others will help to strengthen them further. Mind maps: These are great to work on as a group; one person is nominated as the writer/drawer, while the rest of the group contribute and share ideas. Afterwards, the mind map can be photocopied for you to add things to on your own and refer back to. Share and listen: Share your own views and reviews with others, and listen to their views and how they solve problems. This may give you more ideas on how to solve your own issues and study more effectively. Create an effective learning environment by surrounding yourself with people you can study with, learn from, and bounce ideas off. Other social learners will be open to group work, but other types of learners will further enhance your learning too as they all have something different to bring to the table. Back To Contents 7 Solitary/Intrapersonal Learning Solitary learners are very independent, private, and introspective. They tend to be able to focus their thoughts and feelings on their current topic, allowing them to concentrate effectively. Those with an intrapersonal learning style spend a lot of time on self-analysis, reflecting on past events, and assessing their own challenges or accomplishments. Solitary and intrapersonal learning techniques Intrapersonal learners typically enjoy spending time alone; they are independent thinkers that have a deep understanding of their own needs and behaviours. If you prefer studying alone in places where it is quiet and uncrowded, here are some tips that might help you: Set personal goals: Set objectives for yourself and make plans to help you achieve them. It helps to understand your own reasons for your goals, and to visualise what things will be like once you've achieved them. Create personal interest in topics: In other words, study what you're interested in and you'll have better success at maintaining your motivation and achieving your goals. Keep a journal: Intrapersonal learners can benefit from keeping a log of their thoughts and feelings; this can help to outline any challenges you are facing and work on ideas for overcoming them. Write down things that have worked well, and things that have not worked so well, and any thoughts that arise as you are studying. You can then come back to this or use your notes to start a discussion with others. Associate your feelings: When you are visualising something it can help to think about the feelings that you associate with the situation or scenario. You'll likely want to do most of your visualising in private, but it can also help to talk to others on occasion too. Role play: You don't necessarily need others to role play with! You can visualise your peers and colleagues with you in order to practice a procedure or process alone. One advantage of role playing alone is that you can control the behaviour of whomever you have visualised! Create an effective learning environment by ensuring you have a comfortable and quiet place in which to study alone. Build up a network of peers that you can study with when you need interpersonal input, and ensure that you give yourself the time and space to log and analyse your study behaviours and feelings. Back To Contents 8 Digital Learning Tools vs. Physical Learning Tools Learning has traditionally taken place within a bricks and mortar institution, i.e. a school, college, or university, using physical tools like textbooks, chalk boards, whiteboards, and pen and paper. However, the rapid expansion of the digital age has seen a shift begin to occur in education. An increasing number of teachers and students are supplementing traditional teaching and learning methods with digital tools. What are the benefits of digital learning tools? We have a strong belief that today's students should be well-prepared for the future, and digital tools can help ensure that they are prepared." Julie Evans, CEO - Julie Evans, CEO at Project Tomorrow Many students now feel that their learning experience should be personalised, and this can be achieved using digital tools that allow education to be untethered from physical constraints. A digitally-rich learning experience can enhance the classroom experience, as well as enabling students to carry on learning outside of the classroom. Digital tools include everything from the use of the internet for research purposes, to watching online tutorial videos, and online-based learning forums. All of these things allow students to expand on what they have learned in class, and further develop their own knowledge and understanding of a subject in a way that is much more accessible and digestible for them. What digital learning tools are available? There are hundreds and thousands of different digital tools that can aid learning, but some are more popular and effective than others. Here are a few that are certainly worth looking into further: Kahoot! – A tool that allows users to create quizzes and questionnaires to test knowledge and aid learning in a game-like format. Skype – Video calling that enables remote learning; for example, students could have meetings with their dissertation tutor remotely. Google Knowledge Graph – An enhanced way of searching; it consists of short and accurate answers that save you from digging through search results. instaGrok – A search engine that generates videos, articles, imagery, and terms, helping students to conduct research effectively. Wolfram Alpha – Part encyclopaedia, part calculator; this tool allows students to access systemised knowledge in an easy-to-use way. Duolingo – A language-learning app that is useful for first time learners and those who want to brush up on their language skills. iTunes University – A free library of educational resources, including books, videos, lectures etc, that can be used on an iPhone/iPad running iOS 7 or higher. Plotly – Create and share graphs and charts in a user-friendly, web-based format. Prezi – Create interactive presentations and collaborate with peers on projects in real time. Quizlet – Create study tools like flashcards, quizzes, and games that can be accessed on desktop or mobile devices and shared with others. Cold Turkey – A tool that blocks out applications ad websites that can cause a sdistraction, helping you to remain focused. Focus Booster – Helps you to focus your time effectively by reminding you to take breaks regularly and monitoring how long you've been working for. RescueTime – Helps you to monitor what you spend your time on when you are using your computer, thus helping to analyse your productivity. SlugBooks – Compares prices of textbooks from different retailers to help you find the best prices for buying and renting textbooks. Back To Contents 9 How to Stay Motivated And Avoid Procrastination How many times have you found yourself with an important deadline looming, yet instead of writing your essay you keep checking your emails and social media accounts, watching videos, or taking a BuzzFeed quiz to find out which Disney Princess you are? Procrastination can come in several forms: Productive procrastination: All the small tasks on your to-do list suddenly become really important to you. You start ticking off all those little tasks, which makes you feel like you're being really productive, but you're still avoiding the one thing that you should be doing. Waiting for the perfect time: You keep putting off your essay because you've convinced yourself you can't possibly start it until you've tidied your room, updated your laptop, been to the shops for the perfect essay snacks etc. Waiting for the pressure: Many people feel that they work best under pressure, so they leave things until the last minute as it's the way they're used to doing things. Whatever type of procrastinator you are, let's not procrastinate any longer, shall we? Without further ado, here are our top tips to help you stay motivated and get sh*t done! Break it down: People often procrastinate because the task seems too overwhelming. Aim to break it down into smaller, more manageable parts, and tackle them one at a time. If you still find that you're procrastinating after breaking the task down, simply break it down even further, perhaps into 20 or 30 minute sections, which will seem much more doable. Make a timeline of deadlines: If you only have one deadline for the final project you're more likely to procrastinate and put it off as long as possible. Instead, after breaking your work down set a deadline for each individual stage of the project. If you know you need to finish each part by a certain date you'll be more likely to get it done. Change your environment: If you always do your work in the same environment and find yourself easily distracted, try changing things up a bit. Rather than trying to work in your room where it's all too easy to lie down and watch TV etc, try going to the library to do your essay instead. The change of scenery will likely help you to focus on the task at hand. Get rid of distractions: Start by identifying what it is that distracts you and causes you to procrastinate, then do something about it. If you check your emails and social media too often try turning off push notifications, and put your phone on silent whilst you're working. Clarify your goals: Often we procrastinate because we have lost sight of what we want our end goal to be. Re-clarify your goals and you should notice if there are any misalignments between what you're aiming for and what you're currently doing. This enables you to make the necessary changes to get back on track. Take regular breaks: People can often become distracted and begin to procrastinate if they're not taking enough breaks away from their work. Take a break at least once an hour to step away from your computer, check your emails, grab a drink, get some fresh air for ten minutes. Regular breaks help you to maintain your energy and focus in the long run. Back To Contents

Professional Development Plan Essay Example

Professional Development Plan Essay Example Professional Development Plan Essay Professional Development Plan Essay Professional Development Plan The group members of Learning Team A took a DISC assessment to determine their personality types, strengths and weaknesses, and areas needing improvement. The members of the group are (your name). The Professional Development Plan will describe the strengths and weaknesses of each personality type, characteristics each type share and characteristics that could cause conflict, and how each type can work together. Along with showing how I the manager can better my ability to lead the team. The DISC assessment generated three personality types within the group: Interactive, Cautious, and Dominance. Three members of the group that include myself are labeled as Interactive. The Interactive strengths include enthusiasm, good people skills, optimists, persuasive, and charming. They do have some weaknesses that are Just wanting to have fun, would rather have lunch with the client than be in the office, disorganized, and have poor-follow through. The member who was labeled Cautious their strengths are independent, dependable, good at follow-through, good isteners, but ask many questions, over critical, want perfection, uncomfortable around Interactive personalities, and work at a slow pace, which are all weaknesses. Last is the Dominance personality type they are goal-oriented, take authority, fast- paced, and willing to challenge outdated thinking and ideas. Their weaknesses are what make them different from the other two personality types. They are not afraid to bend the rules, become annoyed with delays, and they fgure it is easier to beg for forgiveness than ask for permission. Of the three types the Interactive personality is someone that is more of a people person and not so much business-oriented that is quite different from the Dominance and Cautious type. For each group member to work together as a team. They will first have to understand their strengths and weaknesses and use them as a tool for the group to achieve their goal. The Dominance and Cautious types have more in common than not. They are both productive, problem solving, efficient, independent, and have the same irritations. The only issue between these two types is the pace. The Cautious type prefers a slow pace where the Dominance type prefers a face pace Just like the Interactive type, but they tend to be more spontaneous, unlike Dominance and Cautious types were they are more decisive and want perfection. Dominance and Interactive types have only one thing in common, high energy. What they do not have in common is pace, goals, fears, motivators and irritations. There are no common characteristics between Interactive and Cautious types only Cautious types are uncomfortable with Interactive types. There are many characteristics that could cause issues between the two types that are organization, focus, and motivators. After understanding each personality type, the characteristics of each and what each have in common. The group members now need to utilize each of their own characteristics and use them as a tool to accomplish their goals. For example, if this group was working for a car dealership. I would suggest the Interactive types to be salesmen. They are good with people, and enthusiastic that is definitely needed for selling a car. They enjoy opportunities to talk and a major goal for them is to be recognized. For the Cautious types I would put them in a Human Resources position or maybe in the Accounting department. Those positions need people that posses the following traits: detail oriented, independent workers, and follow-through with their work. For the Dominance type I would see a manager position. They are comfortable in charge, fast paced, and are willing to take challenges head on. All these positions need one another for the dealership to thrive. The DISC assessment labeled me with an Interactive personality and I actually disagree. I tend to have more of a Dominance personality. I want to be in charge, keep things at a fast pace, and tend to get irritated when there is a delay in my projects. I feel a good leader is usually passionate about the organization and his or her work, exudes confidence in his or her abilities, can organizes and makes sense of complex situations, maintains high standards and inspires others to do the same, can motivate and inspire employees, and is generally looked up to as a person of ision (Hill, 2009). This is a quote that I want base my leadership on. I agree with everything it expresses. I feel that I could inspire greatly the members of my group and motivate him or her to accomplish their goals. I look forward to learning more skills about becoming a leader. The DISC assessment has show all the different characteristics of each personality type. There are many traits that each type share and some that could cause some conflict, but without those certain people would not get that push needed to succeed in life. The group members will need to understand ow to rely on one another even if he or she is uncomfortable with that type of personality. My ability to lead the team will be based on my willingness to learn from the team and understand it is a team not an independent project. References Alessandra, Tony, Ph. D. , and Michael J. OConnor, Ph. D. 1996. The Platinum [emailprotected] New York, NY: Warner Books. Hill, C. (2009). NY Daily News. Retrieved from nydailynews. com/2. 1353/ effective-leader-article-I . 372028 Robbins, S. P. , Judge, T. A. (2013). Organizational Behavior (1 5th ed. ). : Pearson.