Project Management Review And Evaluation

Question: Demonstrate how you would apply project processes and procedures prepare project plans and establish the project organisation apply project scheduling, estimating and cost control techniques analyse the methods used to measure project performance explain project change control procedures evaluate the completed project Answer: Project Plan A project plan would be prepared as per PMBOK guide in which would include the following details: Executive summary giving brief about project objectives Project Scope definition highlighting major deliverables Feasibility Assessment evaluating feasibility of a project with respect to economic, operational, organizational and technical perspectives Constraints and assumptions of the project Human Resource management plan Project schedule and milestones would be presented using a Gantt chart Budget would be estimated considering expenses Risk management plan involving identification of project risks and development of response plan Change management plan Project deliverables would be listed Project Organisation The project organization is a day care nursery that accommodates 66 kids from toddlers to the children of age 4. The organization is a charitable one and is managed by some key staff members including trustees, nursery manager, deputy manager, admin, accountant, HR service, room leaders and practitioners(Hart, 2011). The children in day care are often taken out by the teachers so that they can have certain level of physical activities. However, due to extreme weather conditions like rains and heat in seasons, it becomes difficult for teachers to take students out. In such cases, the activities that students do get limited to indoor. However, active play is a very crucial part of the development process in child and thus, an alternative may be planned inside the premises to engage children in the active play. There is no active play facility inside for the students currently and thus, a project involving designing and development of an active play is suggested in this project(GDE, n.d.). These active play would be developed considering the age of children coming in the day care. Different activities that would be included for each age group in the active play would include: Age group Active Play 3 months Roll back from lying on one side; leaning in forearms; lying on stomach 6 months Arms cross over on body; mouth feeding; hands push up sitting 9 months Long time sitting; crawling; weight on hands and legs 1 Year Walking using furniture; sitting and lowering on furniture; stand alone; little walking 1.5 Years Backward walk; carrying toys while walking; pushes boxes; throwing ball; running 2 years Sliding; tiptoe standing; squats; jumps; running; walking down on stairs 2.5 years Jumping side and back ways; jump over trampoline; hop on one foot; use pedals on trikes 3 years Walking down the stairs; jungle gyms and ladders climbing; toe running; turns while running; leg balancing 3.5 years Tiptoe standing; cycle walk; kicking ball; tricycle ride 4 years Somersault; swinging; gallops; kicking ball; lame duck skips Project Plans Project Scheduling This project would involve assessment of the need of the play area for improvement through acquisition of play objects for active play, acquisition and placement of the same inside classroom for students. Milestone Name Start Date of Milestone End Date of Milestone Duration (days) Need assessment for Play Area 16-09-2016 21-09-2016 5 Identification of Play Materials to Acquire 22-09-2016 23-09-2016 1 Research on Active Play Objects 22-09-2016 28-09-2016 6 Calling Vendors 27-09-2016 29-09-2016 2 Selecting vendor 28-09-2016 04-10-2016 6 Procurement 05-10-2016 09-10-2016 4 Training Teachers on Active Play object usage 28-09-2016 05-10-2016 7 Placement and storage of Active play objects 04-10-2016 06-10-2016 2 Formal communication to parents about change 07-10-2016 10-10-2016 3 Marketing Materials with added play area details 09-10-2016 12-10-2016 3 Development of Schedules for Play Object usage 11-10-2016 14-10-2016 3 Responsibility assignment to teachers for play objects 15-10-2016 17-10-2016 2 Estimating And Cost Control Techniques Budgeting involves documentation of all the funds that would be utilized on the project throughout its lifecycle of development. The project should not exceed this budget at any point of time for which certain control measures have to be established to keep check on the expenditure. The total budget allocated on this project would be $ 34,000 which be utilized till 2 months starting from 28th August to 17th October 2016(Time is Ltd, 2015). For keeping a control, measures have to be taken for establishing a standard for performance, identifying ways to monitor performance, and plan for intervention procedures in case of deviations from planned performance. The performance baseline is determined by cost, scope and time a project has. Control limits may be established for maximum allowed variation in costs and schedule delays. In the current case, the budget variation limit can be set to 5% for expenses such that the project should not exceed over $35,700 any point in time. Variances allowed in the schedule can be set to 10% of maximum variation such that the overall project completion should not go beyond 20th November 2016 adding three days to the last date(City of Chandler , 2000). The benefit of this change through the development of play zone inside the school room could be understood when the monetary forecasts can be made for future income obtained after establishing play zone. Project Performance Measurement Various project performance can be used to understand and analyze the progress of project. These methods could be Project Status Reports, and Budget Reports. Project Status Reports: Project status reports would include project progress details such as what activities are completed, how they vary from the plan, what part of project schedule is met, what is the variation and causes of any variations fro budget cost or time would be recorded(Caltrans, 2007). Budget reports: Budget report would analyse expenses and highlight if there are variations from the budgeted amount. The same would be calculated and presented to top management for approval of additional funds in the case, additional budget is required(WSDOT, 2015). Change Control Procedures Change control procedures may include processes that identifies reasons for change requirement, investigate the impact of change and review the same to take decision on whether change has to be incorporated. In the current case, this change can be in the form of adding a new activity or acquiring a new play object for day care centre or any other required changes(Time is Ltd, 2015). In case any change is required to be made on the project, the same would be recorded in a Project Impact Report (PIR) containing following details for each of the project: Identification details: Project Name, Project Date, Project Manager and Project Sponsor Estimate Impact of change on scope, cost, schedule, risk and quality: The impact should be positive in order to approve change. These impacts are quantified to calculate figures of number of features changed, number of deliverables changed, days impacted by change on key milestones, impact on the dollar, changes in open defects and risk severity. Background: this would involve reasons on why change is required Impact descriptions: The impacts of change on each project variable could be described for understanding of decision makers(CPA Australia Ltd, 2009). When a project shows lease negative impacts and most positive impacts, it would cause the change to be selected(Hart, 2011). Project Review And Evaluation At the end of the project, a review can be conducted on how the project was carried out and the same would be evaluated against the set goals of the project in the beginning. Cost variances are evaluated on the basis of allotted budget targets for each activity or milestones(CPA Australia Ltd, 2009). The evaluation would be done when the project would be nearing completion and it would be done to assess the performance of project. It would follow a review structure in which project implementation would be reviewed against plan, lessons learned would be recorded, business benefits would be identified and recommendations would be made for improvement. This evaluation would be done in two weeks and after 9 months of completion, a final review would be conducted to investigate if the business case goals are being achieved. References Caltrans, 2007. Project Communication Handbook. s.l.:Caltrans. City of Chandler , 2000. Project Management Methodology Guidelines, s.l.: City of Chandler CPA Australia Ltd, 2009. Best practice in performance management, Australia: CPA. GDE, n.d. Project Management Methodology Guidelines. [Online] Available at: https://www.chandleraz.gov/content/pm000pmmethodologygde.pdf [Accessed 12 February 2015]. Hart, S., 2011. PM Foundations The Change Control Process, s.l.: PM Foudnatiosn. Pearson, 2000. Basic Skills for Project Managers, s.l.: Pearson Education. PMI, 2009. Project Management in India: Insights from Six Key Sectors, s.l.: FICCI. The Saylor Foundation , 2014. Project Management from Simple to Complex, s.l.: The Saylor Foundation . Time is Ltd, 2015. Evaluating a Project. [Online] Available at: https://www.time-is-ltd.co.uk/Management/Promise/PMManual/Evaluating%20a%20Project.htm WSDOT, 2015. Cost Estimating Manual for Projects , s.l.: Washington State Department of Transportation.

Patagonia Essays - Benefit Corporation, Patagonia, Yvon Chouinard

Patagonia Abstract Patagonia's mission statement is, ?To use business to inspire and implement solutions to environmental crisis?. Patagonia is a clothing company that's focus is on selling environmentally safe outdoor apparel. This papers focus is on the history of Patagonia their environmental marketing strategies and their competition. There has also been some outside research done to see what the public's perception of Patagonia is. Introduction Patagonia's History In 1957 a young climber named Yvon Chouinard could not find pitons (a form of climbing protection) that he liked. So he began to make his own climbing gear. Chouinard was a self-educated blacksmith. He took his knowledge and began to build his own pitons. Of the pitons he made, Chouinard would keep what he needed and started selling the rest to his friends. Shortly after, Chouinard began building carabiners in addition to his production of the pitons. Up until this point, he had been working out of his parents' back yard and selling equipment out of his car. He moved his business in 1959 to an industrial yard in Burbank California and again in 1966 to a tin shed behind an abandoned slaughterhouse in Ventura California. In 1966, Tom Frost was recruited to help make the transition from handmade to machine made products. Chouinard and Frost founded Chouinard Equipment, Ltd. Everything about the operations focused on building the best quality climbing gear in the world?The companies genu ine and relentless pursuit of quality was matched by its reputation for it (Defining Quality, 2). Chouinard and Frost remained partners until 1975. During this time the two managed to redesign, hence improve, almost every tool used on a climber's rack. Their production also tried to minimize the use of materials. By 1970 Chouinard Equipment was the largest supplier of climbing equipment in the United States. Although this seemed positive from a business standpoint, Chouinard and Frost realized that they were contributing to environmental deterioration. Pitons require repetitive hammering for placement and removal. Because rock climbing was becoming popular the amount of destruction increased. Chouinard and Frost took a stand and decided to discontinue their production of pitons. This decision initiated a blind devotion that ultimately led to Patagonia's Statement of Purpose: To use business to inspire and implement solutions to environmental crisis. An environmental safe alternative to pitons was found in aluminum chocks. As before Chouinard Equipment designed and produced their own version of the chocks. Sales were slow until their showing in the first Chouinard Equipment catalog in 1972. The first pages of the catalog featured A Word? from the owners on the environmental hazards of pitons. The ethical stand taken by Chouinard Equipment dramatically effected the climbing community. Things began to change for the better. Within just a few months of the release of their first catalog, piton sales were severely stunted. In 1973 Patagonia the company was incorporated. Around this same time, Chouinard became interested in the profit potential of soft goods. He pursued his interest by introducing rugby shirts into their line. Frost and others opposed this decision and left the partnership in 1975. In the mid-seventies clothing was introduced under the name 'Patagonia'. Shortly after, in 1979, Patagonia Clothing Corporation was established. Patagonia was incorporated in 1984. Patagonia followed Chouinard's original intentions of developing goods that could easily be described as ridiculously overbuilt (Defining Quality, 5). Chouinard began technical product development in 1973, which continued and intensified under the Patagonia name. Patagonia continually improved on the amount of environmental impact as well as the quality of their materials. Pile lead to Bunting, which lead to Synchilla, which eventually changed the industry. Patagonia also introduced polypropylene underwear, which was replaced by Capilene in 1985. Although competition became fierce, Patagonia's attention to the details and construction of their products kept them ahead of the others. Throughout the years there has always been one constant in Patagonia's design and philosophy- a sense that there is in the products, or should be, more than meets the eye. Quality. Superb functionality. Environmental concern. A Killer warranty and service to match? (Defining Quality, 9). Patagonia's Environmental History As you can see in the above text, Patagonia's founder Yvon Chouinard has always put the environment first in his business plans. But Patagonia has done more for

Missing SAT Scores How to Check SAT Scores

Missing SAT Scores How to Check SAT Scores SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips I don’t know what the number one most stressful college application dramais, but a list of the top three has got to include missing SAT scores. You’ve invested time, energy, and maybe even a little of your sanity into reaching your SAT goal, so it’s totally reasonable to be rattled by this kind of curveball. But before you panic, read this article to troubleshoot some of the most common reasons that SAT scores go missing. I will talk about what to do if you yourself can't find your scores, as well aswhat to do if the college you're applying to says your scores are missing. Either way, most likely, you’re looking at a pretty simple problem with a pretty painless solution. How to Check Your SAT Scores Before we get into figuring out what to do about missing SAT scores, let's go over where your scores can be found if everything is going according to plan. Although usuallySATscores are ready 3 weeks after your test date, because of the test update,scores for next fewtest dates will take longer than usual. For example, the March 2016 SAT scores will take about 10 weeks to score, while theMay and June 2016 SAT scores will each take about 6 weeks to score. You can find your scores in theMy Organizer section of the College Board’s SAT website. For a detailed, step-by-step guide to using these online tools to find your score, read our guide to looking up your SAT scores. If you've tried finding your scores this way buthaven't had much luck, let's go through the possible reasons why. Well, of course this blue panda doesn't know. Why did we even ask it? What to Do If You Can't Find Your Scores There are a number of reasons why your scores might not be showing up on the College Board website. Let's investigate together. Are You Looking in the Wrong Place? If you can you see only your most recent SAT score, and are missing scores from earlier test dates, you might be on the wrong section of the SAT site. To see all the SAT tests you’ve taken recently: Go toMy Organizer. Click SAT Scoreson the left side menu. Click Access My Scores in the middle of the screen. Enter your username and password for the security check. Scroll down past the "My Test Registration" box to get to the "My Test Scores" box. Are Your Scores Not Ready Yet? If you are checking less than 3 weeks after your test date, you will most likely not see your score listed because it takes 3 weeks for the College Board to score your SAT. Also remember: if you took the test in March, May, or June 2016, your scores will only be available after 6-10 weeks. If it's been 3 weeks since your test, you didn't take the test in March, May, or June 2016, and you still don't see your scores, your test could have been flagged for more attention.Scores may be released later for all sorts of reasons, usually to do with resolvable answer sheet problems. For instance, your answer sheet could have arrived late to the College Board. Or it could have had either missing information or you could have filled it out slightly differently than your registration. If your test falls into this small group offlagged tests, you will see a message tellingyou to check back later. Just headback to the site on the recommended date- usually about a week later- to check again for your scores and to see your full score report. Wouldn't it be sweet if the SAT website responded to passive-aggressive watch-tapping and eye-rolling? Did Something Unusual Happen at Your Testing Site? Think back to the day of your test: did anything weird occur? Scores can also be delayed if something out of the ordinary happened. For example, if inclement weather closed the test site or if you were sick or need to reschedule your test, your scores will be released after the test day scores. Or maybeyou or someone else reported a complaint about testing conditions or the test center itself. If the College Board got a complaint about something that went wrong on the day you took the test, your scores could be delayed while thecomplaint is investigated. Well, we did have to complain about the noise from that one kid's art-copter... does that count? Are Your Scores From a Long Time Ago? If you're out of high school and your test scores are more than a year old, they won't show up online any more. Instead, you have to request them from the College Board's archives for a fee. You can order scores by mailby sending anArchived Score Report Order FormtoSAT Program, P.O. Box 7503, London, KY 40742-7503. You can also call Customer Service at(866) 756-7346. What to Do If Your College Doesn't Have Your Scores Sometimes it's not you, but your college, that can't find your SAT scores. Soif you've gotten the alarmingletter, email, or phone call telling you that your application isn't complete, let's work through the possibilities. Did You OnlySend in Earlier SAT Scores? If you choose to use the 4 free score reports you get with SAT test registration, you have to re-select the colleges you want the reports sent to each time. Otherwise, they won't get the more recent scores. In other words, if you retake the SAT this fall, the 4colleges you named on last year's registration wouldn't automatically get your new results unless you listed them again. Are Your Scores Missing From Your Application? Imagine the immense amount of paperwork and electronic records that admissions offices deal with during application time. Because of this sort of chaotic atmosphere,colleges may have alreadyreceived your scores but just haven't processed and logged them yet. Filing your scores in with your application can take as long as a week! To see if this is the case, you should feel free tocall the college’s admissions office and calmly and respectfully ask them to double-check whether they've gotten your scores. Just remember that it's best to wait about three weeks after you send your scores before calling. Still, sometimes things doget lost in the mail, misfiled, or electronically derailed. If the admissions office really can't find your SAT score report, don't lose your head. Instead, order a new score report from the College Board website as soon as possible so that you getit in as close to the application deadline as possible. Pro tip: whatever you do, don't simply sendthe collegea copy of your score report. This is not official and will not count as a score submission. Is it weird that this is how I picture admissions offices after application season? Disasters Do Happen, but Don't Panic! Now that we've gone through the most common, most likely, and most solvable scenarios, we can move on to the highly improbable and darn near unbelievable.Sometimes tests go missing because of sheer ludicrousness.But if such a freak incidentdoes occur, a reasonable and equitable solution (sometimes helped along by some press coverage) is sure to follow. For example, your testing site could have simply boxed upyour answer sheets and forgotten about them. This iswhat happened in Loudoun County Schools in Virginia for the test administered May 2nd, 2015. Luckily, the tests were eventually found and the College Board scored them through an expedited process. Or, your test booklet could have had a timing misprint that totally messed up the scoring process. That's whathappened to everyone in the country that took the SAT on June 6th, 2015. The College Board is offering to waive fees on retests for anyone who didn't make it through the incorrectly labeled sections. Just imagine the story you'll get out of it, if this happens to you. You'll be dining out on that nonsense for weeks! What’s Next? Curious whether you should retake the SAT now that you’ve found your missing SAT scores? Learn all about what's a low score, what's a good score, and what's an excellent score. Then, you narrow down what your own target SAT score should be. Want to know how to improve your SAT scores? Check out our guide to boosting your scores on the Critical Reading, Writing, and Math sections. Disappointed with your scores? Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points?We've written a guide about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

The 4 Best AP Psychology Books Full Expert Reviews

The 4 Best AP Psychology Books Full Expert Reviews SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips There are many AP Psychology books that claim to be the best review tool for students; however, they aren't all telling the truth. Some review books might be better for you based on what type of student you are or the amount of guidance you need in your studying. In this article, I'll give you a list of the best AP Psychology textbooks and review books so you can find the one that will help you get your very best score on the AP Psychology exam. What's the Criteria for a Great AP Psychology Book? Before I list the best books for AP Psychology, here's a little information about what constitutes a good AP review book. First, you'll want to look at the organization of the book to see whether it's well-aligned with the AP curriculum. Content is extremely important, and an AP review book that has too much or too little information will put you at a big disadvantage. For the books on this list, I checked to see whether they included high-quality diagrams and whether their writing style made it easy for readers to understand complex concepts. I considered it a positive when a book had sections dealing with general test-taking strategies and instructions for creating a study plan, which are both great tools for students who need more guidance. Things such as diagnostic tests and instructions on how to use AP practice tests effectively were pluses, too. The quality of practice tests and questions is also very important. An AP review book can be well written and have all the content you need. But if its practice tests aren't challenging enough, you might be in for a nasty surprise on the real AP exam. Easy AP practice tests can cause you to overlook weak areas that would have been evident if the questions were more difficult. If you're unable to physically flip through these AP Psychology books before you buy them, looking at online reviews can be helpful. You'll get to see feedback from students who actually used the book and learn how successful (or unsuccessful) they were in meeting their score goals for the AP test. Although all the AP Psychology books listed in this article represent the latest editions, consulting reviews of past versions and feedback provided by teachers can give you a feel for the quality of a particular book. You've got the right idea, silhouette lady! Never settle for less! The Best AP Psychology Books Before we get to the list, I'll give you several types of AP Psychology books so that you can decide which one(s) to get based on your ability level and needs as a student. This guide mainly contains information on different review books because most students already have an AP Psychology textbook and are primarily looking for supplementary materials to help them prepare for the exam. Here's a list of each "best book" category I'll be covering: Best AP Psychology Textbook: This is a book many students can use as a basic reference for info on psychology topics. I've included it for the benefit of students who are self-studying for the AP Psychology test and who do not have a school-provided psychology textbook. Best AP Psychology Review Book for Any Student: This is a review book that will be useful for students at any skill level (high- or low-scoring). Best AP Psychology Review Book for High-Scoring Students: This is AP Psych prep book offers in-depth information, challenging practice materials, and a more hands-off approach to prep. Best AP Psychology Review Book for Low-Scoring Students: This is a prep book for students who might have had a bit of difficulty understanding the material in their AP Psychology class and need more guidance during the review process. The Best AP Psychology Textbook: Myers' Psychology for AP, Second Edition Cost: $150 for print, $110 for digital Myers is consistently the most popular AP Psychology textbook, mainly because it’s one of the only books that is written specifically for the AP class. It’s a well-organized book, and although it can be a little wordy at times, it has excellent diagrams and is overall a great resource for an in-depth review of the AP material. Pros The sections of the book correspond to topic areas that will show up on the AP Psychology test, so it’s easy to use for studying. It includes multiple-choice AP practice questions and questions that summarize the main concepts at the end of each unit so you can test your knowledge. There are lots of helpful diagrams and tables, and key terms are bolded and defined on the side of each page, so you don’t have to search through the text to pick out definitions. There's a timeline of psychology milestones in the back of the book to help you get a better grasp on when different discoveries happened. Cons The book is written at a high level (although it does have a bit of a conversational tone), so it might be difficult for less-prepared students to grasp some of the concepts right away. It's super expensive! However, you might be able to save a little money by renting it instead of buying it. Who Should Use This Book This book covers all the curriculum that will appear on the test, and it includes a wealth of helpful review materials. You might want to buy this AP Psychology textbook if you are studying for the test on your own (not taking an actual AP Psychology class) and want a more detailed source of information. You could also consider getting it if you hate the book you're using in class and feel that you would benefit from a different textbook. Best AP Psychology Review Book for Any Student: 5 Steps to a 5: AP Psychology 2019 Edition Cost: $12 for print, $10 for digital The titular five steps included in this AP Psychology book are helpful for planning out your prep responsibly. One big caveat, though, is that you should supplement the practice tests in this book with other official AP practice tests to ensure you’re on track. Pros This book includes a clear, helpful introduction that answers any questions you might have about the AP Psychology exam such as scoring, format, content, and what you’ll need to bring on test day. There's a useful guide that tells you how long you should prep for the exam based on your personality and study habits. It then maps out detailed study plans for three different types of students. It gives you helpful tips on how to approach each type of question on the AP Psych test. Each chapter includes key concepts at the beginning and a "rapid review" section at the end that has a list of key terms and definitions. Content chapters thoroughly cover all the material on the AP Psychology test. The writing style is easy to follow and is organized in a way that breaks things down into easily digestible parts. Two practice exams are included at the end, along with an initial diagnostic test to assess your strengths and weaknesses. You can also access three additional practice tests online. Cons The practice questions seem a bit easier than real AP Psychology questions. The guide on how to approach questions could be less wordy, and it doesn’t go into detail about using the process of elimination for multiple-choice questions, which is an important strategy to include. Ultimately, learning to effectively eliminate wrong answers is one of the best ways to improve your score! Who Should Use This Book If you think you might need more guidance in your studying or are self-studying the course, 5 Steps to a 5 is probably a good book for you. It’s written logically and simply, and it does a great job of answering many of the questions students have about how to review for AP Psychology and what the test is like in general. Best AP Psychology Review Book for High-Scoring Students: Barron’s AP Psychology, 8th Edition Cost: $15 for print, $13 for digital Barron’s AP Psychology is a thorough and helpful guide for students studying for the AP Psych test. However, this isn't the best choice if you’re looking for a way to review quickly. Avoid this resource if you’re easily bored by the dry textbook style of writing. Barron’s is not lacking in good content, but it could be more exciting, and you’ll have to do a lot of the legwork in review sessions. Pros This book includes a diagnostic test and a "Multiple Choice Error Analysis" sheet to help you understand your strengths and weaknesses. There are two full-length practice exams at the end of the book. You also get three more full-length tests, which are accessible online. The structure mirrors the format of the exam and follows the AP curriculum exactly (based on the percentages of questions in different topic areas that will show up on the test). There's a list of important terms and people at the beginning of every chapter (and in italics within the text so you can easily pick up on them). It includes a list of the most important psychologists you need to know (the â€Å"Fabulous 15†) so that you can focus on a few people more closely rather than trying to memorize a million different names. There are multiple-choice questions and answer explanations at the end of each chapter to quiz you on the material you've learned. Chapters 15 and 16 focus on test-taking tips for multiple-choice and free-response questions, so you’ll have strategies as well as content knowledge. Helpful tips in the margins of each chapter point out important things to remember and problems that students commonly have with certain terms and concepts. Cons This book is written essentially in textbook format; there are long paragraphs, there aren't that many diagrams, and the writing can be pretty scientific. There’s no glossary, so you have to pick out the definitions of terms yourself in each chapter. The style overall isn’t as fun as some other review books. Barron’s doesn’t try as hard to relate to you and just sticks to the information you need to know- which I respect, but it can be kind of boring. Who Should Use This Book This book is best for those who have a long time to dedicate to studying for the AP Psychology test. You'll need to use it over a longer period of time in order to be able to take full advantage of the diagnostic and practice tests and become familiar with each topic area. If you decide to use Barron's, get it well before the AP test and use it as a continuous review tool. You should also make sure that you’re motivated enough to take charge of your review time and study from a book that doesn’t try that hard to keep you engaged in the material. Best AP Psychology Review Book for Low-Scoring Students: Cracking the AP Psychology Exam, 2018 Edition Cost: $13 for print, $5 for digital This is the best book for learning test-taking strategies for the AP Psych test. The content is high quality as well, but it’s not as easy to study from if you don’t have much time on your hands. Pros It includes a step-by-step guide for how to organize your AP Psychology studying. There's a list of other resources you can use to supplement your review. It includes smart test-taking tips and strategies for multiple-choice and free-response questions. The book uses a conversational, relatable style of writing. Chapters that go over content are diagram-heavy, and they provide clear definitions of key terms throughout. Cons The instructions on designing a study plan are a little vague. It's hard to use this book as a quick study guide as it doesn’t have a centralized source for definitions of terms and concepts. You'd need to read it through completely to be able to get a handle on all the information. Who Should Use This Book This book is a smart choice if you have a fair amount of time before the AP Psychology test and would like some rough guidance on structuring your studying. It’s also great for students who get easily bored by textbooks and their dull writing style- it's definitely one of the more engaging review books I’ve seen! Which AP Psychology Books Are Best for You? Which Books Should You Avoid? If you think you’ll need a lot of guidance in your AP Psych studying (or if you’re working through the class independently), don’t choose a prep book that’s pure information and doesn't offer any planning or test-taking tips. I’d recommend using either 5 Steps to a 5 or Cracking the AP Psychology Exam, along with the Myers textbook (or whichever textbook your AP Psychology class is using). Barron’s is also a decent choice, but make sure that you’re willing to put a little more work into the review process. A book that provides more structure will be helpful even for the most driven students, especially if you’re not taking an actual AP Psychology class. If you choose to buy a book that’s not on this list, keep an eye out for any red flags. Compare the practice questions in the book with official AP Psychology questions to ensure they’re not unrealistically easy or hard. After taking and scoring a practice test from the review book, take an official AP practice test to check that your other score was realistic. I recommend the four AP Psychology books in this article because they’re all well organized and easy to follow. Even if another review book contains all the same info, the way it’s presented might make your studying less productive. Ultimately, if you feel you’re not getting anything out of an AP Psychology prep book and your AP Psych test scores don’t seem to be improving, you might need to try another one with a different format! Keep an eye out for red flags. You don't want to get stuck with a Canadian review book. Or maybe you do. Would it come with complimentary maple syrup? What's Next? Still shaky on a few AP Psych terms? Bolster your knowledge with articles like this one, which goes over what Stockholm Syndrome is and whether or not it's real. What does it really mean if you get a 5 on an AP exam? Find out how AP credit works for college classes. If you're still trying to plan your AP class schedule, use this guide to make an informed decision about which AP classes you should take. Also taking AP US History? Check out our reviews for the best AP US History textbooks. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points? We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Extra Credit Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 2

Extra Credit - Assignment Example From this I learnt that Cultural background are inherited and developed which in return forms a collective and individual behavior that are socially acceptable or not (Tierney & Stephen, 65). These issues that are developed may be based on values, traditions, dangerous mitigations such as threat of an individual or public health or even knowledge availability. From this, I learnt that the cultural background is the major determinant of variance in cultures in different communities. In addition, I realized that human activities are the major factors that influence and have high impact on the development of cultural capacities. This is based on the fact cultural drivers are education and learning, art and heritage activities, architecture, urban and land shaping, information and amusement, structured occasions for social interactions, regulations of social behaviors such as marriage (Tierney & Stephen, 57 ). Having understood this, I am now able to appreciate diverse backgrounds and value their cultures and norms. Commemoration, whether involving, only you or your family can be very good as it brings people together. Often these events are very important such that we take pictures or souvenirs that will remind us of these events. One of the events that I can recall is a visit to the some archeological monument in our landscape. From my studies, on these monuments I found that there representations that were commemorated events of people. Among the monuments visited include the Drombeg Stone Circle in West. From my findings this is associated with the winter season that manifest a major incident in the ancient winter calendar and more so a burial indicator (Caisse Nationale des Monuments Historiques, 87-91) This was interesting as it had two hut sites and cooking site. Besides it there were stone circles that could signified a ritual dining site where large number of people met to mark winter season and celebrate

The history of The High School Journal Research Paper

The history of The High School Journal - Research Paper Example This then led to the conventional schools that we currently known as public schools. It has also undergone a wave of racial and sexual mixes that has transformed the learning system. Originally, education suffered from segregation, racism and social class. Children from rich families were educated in some of the best private schools while those from poor families were left to toil in the public schools. Immigrants were also not allowed to freely engage in education and state funding rarely went to the development of schools in the predominant south. Women played an active role in advocating for reforms in the education system. The United States education system has developed from a place whereby there were few valuable skills imparted on adolescents as seen in progressivism. It has however undergone significant reforms over the years to cater for its multicultural population. These reforms have however been attributed to historical events that contributed to the present education system. I chose to analyze the History of the High School Journal which published in the first issue in 1910. The journal has been issued every year since then and is still being printed to date. This publication has been reviewed by several authors and continues to be the source of information on the advancements that are being made in the education sector. This period still had traces of the industrial revolution that had spilled over from the 19th century. It was a time of unprecedented economic growth at the height of industrial revolution. Many young people had engaged in jobs and very few were to be found in classrooms. Colleges and other institutions of higher learning had not yet been well established. Measures in secondary education were also still undergoing significant changes with school libraries still being advocated for to improve learning. This period was characterized by the great depression that started in 1929 and lasted the whole decade. There was limited

Psychology Research Essay Example for Free

Psychology Research Essay What are the main points of both articles? Anxiety Disorder: Panic Attacks. It can happen anytime, anywhere. Unexpectedly, out of the blue, your heart starts to speed up, your face goes red and you go through shortness of breath. One feels dizzy, nauseated and out of control. A number of people even think like theyre dying. Such may be a person experiencing a panic attack — a sudden occurrence of powerful fear that induces grave physical reactions in the body (Campbell, 2002). Several people, believing theyre having a heart attack, go to the emergency room. Others try to disregard the signs and symptoms, not comprehending that theyre experiencing a panic attack. A lot of women than men are disturbed by panic attacks. One-month prevalence estimates for women are 0.7% versus 0.3% for men (i.e., women are more likely to be affected than men by a 2- to 3-fold factor) (Daniels et al, 2006). And some people are experiencing frequent panic attacks, a condition known as panic disorder. Panic Anxiety Disorder starts most often when people are 20-30 years old. It activates less often in teenagers or persons in their forties. It is unusual for the disorder to emerge in the elderly for the initial time. Though panic attacks were once set aside as nerves or stress, theyre now documented as a potentially immobilizing, but treatable health condition. An assortment of approaches, together with medications, therapy and relaxation methods, can help one manage or prevent panic attacks (Wilson, 2005). Article #2: Children with Anxiety Disorder. Life is not easy for children these days. The fact that many adults suffer from mental illness of different kinds is enough to make people realize that children are even more susceptible to the same disease. It’s only good that a lot of breakthroughs are made especially in the area and study of mental illness. This study is even more significant in the light of the film Ordinary People, which has captured audiences worldwide decades ago. Precisely because the characters depict the â€Å"ordinariness† of each person and how representative they are to the masses, made this film a hit during its time. Ordinary People presents how malfunctioning individuals are as they go through each of their lives with the burden of mental illness. The role of the mother in the film shows someone who has personality disorder, specifically dissociative disorder, while the spouse and father as having generalized anxiety disorder; and their son Conrad, as suffering with PTSD or Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Mental health experts describe the illness through its signs and symptoms. It is typified by children experiencing severe fear – a powerful worry or the uneasiness that run or last for periods of time ((http://www.nimh.nih.gov). When children sufferers are not treated, symptoms like these will present themselves through poor performance in academics, inability to relate with other children, low self-esteem, the use and abuse of illegal drugs including alcohol, and even anxiety disorder in adulthood (http://www.nimh.nih.gov).   Mental health experts describe the illness through its signs and symptoms. It is typified by children experiencing severe fear – a powerful worry or the uneasiness that run or last for periods of time ((http://www.nimh.nih.gov). When children sufferers are not treated, symptoms like these will present themselves through poor performance in academics, inability to relate with other children, low self-esteem, the use and abuse of illegal drugs including alcohol, and even anxiety disorder in adulthood (http://www.nimh.nih.gov). This mental health problem usually runs in families. Oftentimes, the disorder appears alongside other physical and mental health problems; substance abuse, like alcohol, usually comes along (http://www.nimh.nih.gov) with it. Anxiety disorder manifests in different forms: 1.) Generalized Anxiety Disorder or GAD, 2.) Phobias, 3.) Separation Anxiety Disorder, 4.) Panic Disorder, 5.)OCD or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and 6.) Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) (Source: US Dept of Health, 1999 in http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/). 2. What are the similarities and/or differences? Similarities come in the form of the disorders’ signs and symptoms which include physical distress with Rapid heart rate , sweating, trembling , shortness of breath and hyperventilation, chills, hot flashes, nausea, abdominal cramping, chest pain, headache, dizziness, faintness, tightness in your throat, trouble swallowing, a sense of impending death . Other health problems — such as an impending heart attack, an overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism) or drug withdrawal — can cause similar signs and symptoms. Individuals who experience panic attacks often are affected by other mental health conditions, including depression, fear of public places (agoraphobia) and social phobia (http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic1725.htm). What experiences have you had that relate to the topic or what have you learned in prior courses? Researchers are not certain what bring about panic attacks. Heredity, stress and certain biochemical factors may play a part. A person’s chance of having panic attacks increases if she/he has a close family member who has had them. Numerous researchers think the bodys natural fight-or-flight reaction to danger is involved. For instance, if a snarling dog came after a child, his/her body would react automatically. The heart rate and breathing would race as the body readies itself for a life-threatening situation. A lot of the same responses take place in a panic attack. No noticeable stressor is nearby, but something trips the bodys alarm system. Persons having Panic attacks are no more likely than the average American to have suffered from emotional problems at the time the disorder begins (Wilson, 2005). How does your view point relate to the topics?) Definitely, I agree from personal observation that these panic attacks and /or anxiety disorder though present only in the mind, â€Å"effectively’ renders a person â€Å"paralyzed† no matter his intelligence, status and persuasion in life. Imagine this picture: after months or years of incessant panic attacks and the constrained lifestyle produced by the distinctive avoidance behavior, the sufferer may develop into a demoralized and psychologically or physically depressed person. In addition, some sufferers resort to alcohol in an effort to self medicate or to reduce the sign and symptoms of the disorder. This significantly causes difficulties to the individuals life and ability to seek suitable treatment. Unfortunately, one out of every five untreated sufferers attempts to end his or her life, not at all comprehending that there was chance for changes and treatment (Wilson, 2005). As in the film as mentioned, it is interesting to note that despite such a troubled family, Conrad emerged to be someone who has conquered the odds in his life. The loss of a brother and its effects on him, being around with parents who exhibit a variety of symptoms that they themselves are also suffering, these things could have been too much for him or for anybody for that matter. PTSD and other anxiety disorder sub-categories are very interesting types of mental health problems because of their prevalence – and in spite of that, still, many people most of the times, ignore the fact that they might be sufferers. Just as in the case of Conrad, ordinary people – the most common among the populace – are actually beset with extremely upsetting events and are left to themselves to cope as each day comes.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   To end, this study from researchers Craske et al shows the hope for sufferers: â€Å"With practice and encouragement or persuasion from the therapist the patient learns to reinterpret internal sensations from signals of loss of control and panic to cues that are intrinsically harmless and can be controlled with certain skills. The intentional creation of these signs by the client, coupled with success in coping with them, reduces their unpredictability and changes their meaning for the client† (Craske, Maidenbberg, Bystritsky, 1995). Reference: For Children with Anxiety Disorder: Campbell, Nancy M. Panic disorder. Mankato, MN: LifeMatters, [2002].  616.85 DYI VT Craske, MG; MAidenberg, E Bystritsky A (1995). Brief Cogntive-behavioral versus nondirective therapy for panic disorder. Journal of Behavior Therapy Experimental Psychiatry ; 26, 113-120. Giacobello, John. Everything you need to know about anxiety and panic attacks. New York: Rosen, [2000]. Daniels C., Yerkes S., Bureau of Naval Personnel emedicine.2006. Wilson, Reid D., Don’t Panic: Taking Control of Anxiety Attacks The Revised Edition Of: Harper Perennial ISBN# 0-06-095160-5. For panic Attacks Article: Davison, Gerald C., Neale, John 2001, Abnormal Psychology, Eighth Ed., John Wiley Sons, Inc. New York. National Institute for Mental Health (NIMH) accessed in the Internet February 20, 2007 http://www.nimh.nih.gov. Surgeon general accessed in the internet February 20, 2007 http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/mentalhealth/chapter3/sec6.html.