Hedge Funds Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Hedge Funds - Essay Example Most of the hedge funds are devised in such a manner that they are able to generate return for the investors with the rate of return that is generally more than the market return and even in times when the market is not performing well due to recession or some other reason. However, a retail investor cannot invest in the hedge fund the same way as he would have done it for stocks or mutual funds. The operations of these funds fall beyond the control of any government regulation and hence it is mainly at the fund manager’s discretion that the investment portfolio would be designed, what strategies would be employed and which stocks are to be included. The main motive behind devising such a fund was to secure the funds from the market risk and to earn more return. Hedge Fund Management and Skill The management of this kind of investment product requires a lot of skill. The fund managers need to have an insight about the market and the various risk management strategies that can help the managers to cover the fund against probable losses and gain profits out of those risky situations. The managers and the investors of these kinds of funds need to be aware of the types of investment risks that they may come across. Since higher the risk taken higher is the possibility of return, the hedge funds often attempt at taking risks that may not be beneficial for the investors. The capabilities and expertise of management of the hedge funds cannot be determined from their past performances because there are a lot of fluctuations in the way the hedge funds tend to perform. If an investor tries to invest in a fund looking at the past performance he might face a lot of challenges because the fund may not perform as before. Hedge Funds and Luck Often the investors of a hedge fund are confused between luck and skill. The common people think that a particular fund performed well because of the efficiency of the manager. But it is not always the case. It might happen becaus e of good luck as well. Most of the hedge funds do not encounter any kind of restrictions and hence their portfolios are not very diversified. For any risk averse individual it is highly risky to invest because the direction in which the market moves may not favour that particular fund. These kinds of funds often result in a mixed performance which may not be favourable for the investors in the long run. Hence, though the skill level of the managers is extremely important for prediction of the market and for choosing the correct investment avenue, the investors cannot rely on the intuition of the fund managers or their past performance solely. There is a luck factor and there should be a certain level of control of expectations on part of the investors because the markets may change its colour due to any kind of unprecedented event and hence may expose them to a risky situation. Hedge Funds and Insider Trading The agency theory is often applicable in case of hedge funds where the fu nd managers act as the agents of the investors. In most cases there exists an information asymmetry between the investors and the managers and the latter take this advantage for deriving undue profit from the market. Since Hedge Funds, are privately owned, they do not fall under the jurisdiction of any rigid regulatory framework. Thus the disclosure requirements of this fund are also less. Thus there may be problems of insider trading in case of hedge funds. The phenomenon of insider trading takes place when a fund manager makes use of any price

Compensation Plan Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Compensation Plan - Research Paper Example For example, the ‘All-Employee Option Plans’ which are currently being regulated in sixteen of the nations where Unilever maintains its presence, the workforce has been granted with an incentive to enhance performance levels and meet targets and objectives so as to become eligible for financial rewards (Unilever Group Annual Report and Accounts, 2003). Accordingly, the company has also designed a plan to cater to the classification of senior and top executives who have maintained their presence in the company for significant periods and thus, have greater tenure. Thus, the plan declares what is defined as a the platform that awards senior officials â€Å"’between 0% and 20% of the original conditional award† after the completion of a specified period (Unilever Group Annual Report and Accounts, 2003). The rationale behind the establishment of an ‘equity based compensation plan’ that is further subcategorized into six classifications can be explained by associating the concept with Unilever’s policy of fair compensation. In accordance with this agenda the company aims to continually assess workforce issues, internal mechanisms and labor practices to improve and enhance the transparency of the compensation system on a concurrent basis in 180 nations of operations (Unilever, 2014a). Consequently, the data retrieved with respect to these matters would be compiled the following year so that the formulation of solutions can be conducted to cope with current issues. 2. According to the research presented by Balken and Gomez-Mejia (1990), the decision-making process regarding internal consistency of compensation system is reliant upon several factors, one of which is characterized by the identification of the organizational strategies that must be maintained to guide the company towards the achievement of objectives. Consequently, from the perspective of employees a fair, just or

Effect of luxury cars on the uk market Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Effect of luxury cars on the uk market - Essay Example In other markets, especially those in the South Eastern Asia region make significant sales of other types of luxury cars too (TATT, 2010). However, these markets are always limited to the sum total volume of sales by the overall size either of the industry or by the local conditions of the market and other preferences (Shende, 2014). Consequently, the market for luxury cars generally is presently undertaking some sort of social change with some of the luxury car brands seeming to be less remote. The brands are also seen to be less varied and at the same time less exclusive with the quality, that they have in improving lives (TATT, 2010). As a result, the increment in the competition between different car makes has intensified the relevance of brand identity (Shende, 2014). As the standards of the product continue to go up, the customer’s perceived image of the car brand plays a major role in making the buying decision. Some of the luxury cars such as the BMW, Lexus and the Mercedes- Benz are bound to develop some values and characteristics that are seen to reflect the ever-changing social values (TATT, 2010). The values then influence the buyer’s emotions, so that the brands maintain their positions in various world regions of the global market (Shende, 2014). In the past several years, the research into the customers’ perception and their behaviors in the luxury car industry has been driven by a couple of researchers all over the world (Shende, 2014). There is very little literature both in writing and in softcopy means that document any research done concerning customer perception of luxury cars. Most of the work is focused on the loyalty of the consumers and that of brand switching (ANURIT, NEWMAN & CHANSARKAR, n.d.). The key research that has been made has focused on the low priced segment ranges of cars rather than the luxury car segment in which any choices between the choice of individual potential buyers and brand image concept play a big

Throughout his novel Essay Example for Free

Throughout his novel Essay Reread the begging of section one of the novel. Write about the ways the writer uses details in this passage to make the reader think about the changes, events and ideas in the novel; in the way the writer uses detail in his passage to prepare the reader for the ending. Throughout his novel, Of mice and Men John Steinbeck presents many ideas about the bias system that prevents working class people from amounting to anything, and how the fates of ranch hands and particularly the character of Lennie are inevitable. His use of language and literary techniques in order to develop his character and setting are used to prompt the reader to consider these ideas. The vocabulary that Steinbeck choices to describe the brush in both sections one and six of the novel mirror each other. Steinbeck has Lennie repeating the actions from section one to make us think back to the beginning of the novella, and consider the characters that he has created. Steinbecks meticulous use of detail throughout the novel makes it more memorable to the reader and so when in section 6 Lennie appear[s] out of the brush they are instantly reminded of the opening, as though the novel has come full circle. Steinbeck chose to set the ending to Of Mice and Men in the same setting as he chose to set the first to show the monotony and routine of the ranch hands and despite the dreams they may have, the reality of the situation makes hopes impossible. We, as the readers are aware from the start that the text is likely to end where it began as Steinbeck has the character, Lennie repeating what George said about the brush so [he doesnt] forget it, consequently the repetition also had the phrase stick in the minds of the novels audience. So when Lennie remembers his instructions from George in section Six, so do the audience. Steinbeck sets section six of the novel after the sun had left the valley which mirrors the first section which was also set in the evening. However the night also serves another purpose of suggesting that at the end of the day also comes the end of Lennies life, making the reader consider what has happened in the novel between sections one and six to lead to this moment and the comments Steinbeck was trying to communicate. The language choices Steinbeck makes to describe Lennie are throughout often quite animalistic. Although to demonstrate his size when Lennie is described as a bear, these terms serve a secondary purpose of making Lennie seem more animal than human. The very end of the novel and Lennies death are foreshadowed by the events in section 3 when Candys dog is led away to be shot. Later on Candy reveals that he feels that he should have shot him myself, which is what George does in the way Carlson describes in the bunkhouse. These similarities make Lennie seem like an animal however the metaphor goes further, suggesting that people at the time were all treated badly or like animals as Lennie is in this novel. In conclusion, the details that Steinbeck presents the final section of the novel Of Mice and Men make the reader think about other sections of the novel, particularly the begging as much of the imagery used in the final section is either the same or similar.

The Tools Of A Writer Essay Example for Free

The Tools Of A Writer Essay Compare the importance of the tools of a writer (description, narration, and example) to those of a carpenter. The textbook is Wordsmith a guide to college writing by Pamela Arlov 3rd edition. He either imagines the plans in his head, and make a sketch of the end he sees; it make time to complete this arduous task but he devotes time and energy into arriving at the right design for the work/furniture he plans. Until he finds the appropriate connection and decides the correct material to combine, he never starts. Once he is finished on the vision he sees, the idea to portray through the design and the necessities for the work, he runs straight to his workbench and work begins. He is a carpenter ready to ‘fashion’ an edifice from mere wood from the Amazon forest; poised to bring the vision to sight and the dream to reality. He cuts into strands and planks, cleans the inconsistent edge into defines shapes. He smoothens the surface of the wood with the smoothing machine, and clears the plank of dirt and unreasonable edges. He chisels in and out until the right bend is achieved and every part is well nit to the other. Then he sprays the finished work with the paint of ‘gold’ and the aroma of a ‘Paris’ perfume for the dream is here and the reality now a neighbor; that’s the way of the excellent carpenter. In similar fashion, the writer ruminates over the idea he is building, over the issue to espouse and the story to tell. In his mind, he does have a target: a topic to discuss. At his disposals are tools to work with: description, narration and example. He begins to espouse his idea with the definition, and process the data into useful information. In his description, he employs the use of words and not woods to make a statement or tell his story. He ‘saws’ out the right own that are compatible with his lines, leaving out irrelevance that may mar his work. To express his mind, he must describe and/or narrate. His words are constructed into sentences and meaningful paragraphs. His thoughts are clarified in this process, as he fashions out each unit for a definite purpose. He knits everything together with strong coherence and sentence unity. He ‘chisels’ the irrelevances out of each unit. He relies to a reasonable extent on the works and experiences of the past just as the carpenter derives strength from the victory of former days. With examples, he expands the model he proposes until all parts converge into an edifice. His narration appears like a divergence but in essence, all units consummate on the idea: a beautiful castle to behold made of wooden words.

Slow Learners In Malaysia Education Essay

Slow Learners In Malaysia Education Essay Abstract- Current trend indicate that learning through the use of application and courseware had become important teaching method. However, it is different case for slow learners. As most schools slowly adapting the more effective teaching method, they cannot keep up with the flow. Even though there are courseware developed for the slow learners, the courseware is far from fulfilling their specific needs. Statistic shows that in a US typical classroom there will be 3 or 4 slow learners. In areas of poverty and many low-income urban areas, the children per classroom who could be characterized as slow learners might be twice that number. The characteristic of the slow learners are often described as immature in relations, find it difficult to solve complex problem, work very slowly, can easily lose track of time, unable to perform long-term goals, and have poor concentration skills. However, they are very good with hands-on materials. This paper will present the development of coursewa re made to teach English for the slow learners. Keywords-component: courseware; slow learners; English; Introduction Background Slow learners are no longer rare cases in Malaysia. However, they are not categorized as people with special needs. Some might confuse the slow learners with dyslexia. However, both terms are different. Dyslexic will have difficulties in learning to read and write despite having same learning process and effort with others. For slow learners, they do not do well at schools or task that require extensive reading, writing, and mathematic but they perform great outside class especially in hands-on tasks. They will need extra time in completing the tasks given. Because of their characteristics, slow learners are always left behind as they cannot catch up with the learning process gone through by other kids. Even though new technology has been developed to enhance learning process, they are left out because it is not suited for their learning needs. This project is intend to enhance the English courseware specifically for the slow learners in way that will serve their learning needs which is different from other kids. The courseware will be focus on non-linear techniques to make it flexible and more conducive for the slow learners. As there is not much of courseware developed for slow learners, the product of the project will significantly bring the learning process for the slow learners into new level and brighten the hope for them to learn like normal kids. Problem Statement Teaching slow learners isnt same like teaching normal kids. Teaching them require different methods and approaches because of their characteristics. As learning process moving on taking advantage of computers and internet, slow learners are left behind because there are no specific learning applications for them that will suit their needs especially in critical subjects such as Science and Mathematic. There are lots of courseware in the market out there but it is too little in numbers and it is far from perfect. This new courseware to be developed will be a great tool for teacher to teach English to the slow learners because it will enhance whats already in the courseware and make it better. Objectives and Scope of Studies Objectives The objective of this project is to enhance the current English courseware from Mohd Izzat Helmi Bin Yahyas English Courseware for Slow Learners project and will be specifically designed for the slow learners so that the learning process will suit their needs. Because of their characteristics, the courseware will need careful designation.. The courseware will enrich English learning process which already in the current courseware and make it more interactive and flexible. Scope of Studies The project will involve the study of slow learner behavior and courseware development. The result of the study then will be analyzed to develop and enhancing cognitive skills training that will be integrated with the courseware so that the target to teach slow learners can be achieved. Target group of the courseware will be primary school student in Standard 4 to Standard 6 (10-12 years old). The courseware will be developed as a game to teach General English. Literature Review Game-Based Learning Marc Prensky (2003) says that since Pong is introduced in 1974, the unique expertise that game designers have honed to a superfine edge is player engagement: the ability to keep people in their seats for hour after hour, day after day, at rapt attention, actively trying to reach new goals, shouting with glee at their successes, determined to overcome their failures, all the while begging for more. Along with the new technology that had been developed in recent years, games had become more than just entertainment, it had evolve to become the medium of learning. In Digital Game-Based Learning (Prensky, 2001), explain that children nowadays are different from previous generation where they grow up with digital technology and their minds are changing to accommodate the technologies with which they spend more time. From there, it is clear that most children nowadays from different gender, ages and social groups spends most of the time with video games. Many experts see the values in video games as a medium of learning. Its true that this children love games more than schools but their attitudes toward games is the attitude of the learners; passionate, cooperative, and actively involve in problem-solving. Research by Zyda (2007) argue that computer games are an engaging medium for learning, since games can stimulate cognitive processes such as reading explicit and implicit information, deductive and inductive reasoning, problem-solving, and making inferences from information displayed across a number of screens To define game based learning will be quite complicated because there are several different opinion on the matter. Kirjavainen(2009) define game-based learning as field of research and game design based on observations that play, structured or unstructured, conditions the human brain for transformation and learning. Wee Hoe Tan(2008) defines game-based learning as form of learner-centered learning that uses electronic games for educational purposes. However, the concept of game-based learning is still the same; the use of game with the defined learning outcomes for the purpose of learning. Kasvi (2000) lists the seven requirements for effective learning environment as: Provide a high intensity of interaction and feedback; Have specific goals and established procedures; Be motivational; Provide a continual feeling of challenge, not too difficult to be frustrating nor too easy to create boredom; Provide a sense of direct engagement on the task involved; Provide the appropriate tools that fit the task; and Avoid distractions and disruptions that destroy the subjective experience. Kasvi (2000) suggests that computer games fulfill all of these requirements and believes that they satisfy them better than most other learning mediums. By looking at how the Western world had utilized game as learning module in classroom, it proves that the statement is true. R.V. Eck(2006) explain that games like Civilization, SimCity 4, Cruise Ship Tycoon, and Roller Coaster Tycoon had already been implemented in classroom. People might be skeptical at first glance. All these games have prove them wrong. For example, in Roller Coaster Tycoon students build roller-coasters to different specifications, which is what engineers should do. By extending the gameplay with basic learning process like calculus physic knowledge, it will make a valuable learning experience. Slow Learners in Malaysia In Malaysia, dyslexic children had begin to receive attention when MyLexics, a courseware to help the dyslexic learn basic Malay language is introduced (Haziq, 2009). However, its a different story for the slow learners. In fact, there are cases reported where slow learners are left behind in the classes (NST, 2008). Cases like this shouldnt happen because even though they are weak in study they are definitely very good in other aspects. Even worse, One in every three juvenile delinquent in integrity school in prison or detention centers displays learning difficulties including being slow learners. (The Star, 2008) Many believe that if these youth not identified and helped will cause them to end up as criminals. Most of them tend to drop out of schools and vulnerable to negative influence because of the problem they facing. Overcoming the Weaknesses Research by LearningRX(2006) argue that weak cognitive skills are the cause of learning disabilities such as dyslexia and slow learning. Important skills such as concentration, perception, memories and logical thinking are not as good as other normal people which make reading, writing, and thinking more difficult. However, this weakness can be improved through specific training and testing. Mel Levine (2008) explain that how Kitty Hawk Elementary School in North Carolina America had implied School Attuned Program using the Neurodevelopmental Profiles where all students with different cognitive skills can learn. Lisa Galleli, a teacher at Kitty Hawk describes her management plan for one such students as He had significant graphomotor weaknesses with spelling and writing. But he really shined in his social skills and that made all the difference in the world. He was also good at math and problem solving. We use his strength who keep him motivated with success while tackling his writing problem. The result had proved that it is not impossible to overcome the weakness. Neurodevelopmental Profile is researched and synthesized by Mel Levine and his colleagues consist of 8 constructs that are: Table 1: 8 constructs of Neurodevelopmental Profiles Attention This includes the ability to concentrate, focus on one thing rather than another, finish tasks, and control what one says and does Temporal-sequential ordering Whether its being able to recite the alphabet or pushing a response button on Jeopardy, being able to understand the time and sequence of pieces of information is a key component of learning. Spatial ordering The ability, for instance to distinguish between a circle and square or to use images to remember related information Memory Even if people are able to understand, organize, and interpret complex information at the moment, their inability to store and later recall can dramatically affect their performance. Language Developing language functions involves elaborate interaction between various parts of the brain that control such abilities as pronouncing words, understanding different sounds and comprehending written symbols Neuromotor functions The brains ability to coordinate motor or muscle function is key to many area of learning, including writing and keyboarding. Social cognition One of the most overlooked components of learning is the ability to succeed in social relationship with peer pressure. Higher-order cognition This involve the ability to understand and implement the steps necessary to solve problems, attack new areas of learning and think creatively. By realizing that every human have some strong functions and some weak ones, Mel Levine found that it is possible to describe each individuals unique mix of strength and weaknesses. Using the right method in developing the courseware and the right approach for the slow learners, it is not impossible that this courseware will be definitely help them. Formative VS Summative Evaluation In order to gather data for the enhancement of the courseware, an assessment need to be done. There are two methods to be used; formative evaluation and summative evaluation. According to H.L Roberts(2009), formative evaluations also known as developmental or implementation evaluation assess what works and what does not work about a particular activity or project as it is happening. It is used to assess the value of a project as it is taking place to determine how it can be improved. The method use in formative evaluation is the same like other assessment which include survey, interview or data collection. This type of evaluation relies on qualitative data that is how participants felt about the process as well as quantitative data, such as charts or test scores. Formative evaluation typically involves a small group of users and participants in the project being evaluated. Participants in formative evaluations look not just at the goals of the process and whether those goals are achieved but also at the process itself and where that process is a successful one or not. Even though this type of assessment is quite complex, there are benefit in it. It allow early identification of potential problem in the subject of assessment. Moreover, it can be a good way of gauge the user perception on the subject because it rely on user feedback. As for summative evaluation, Fox Valley Technical College(2007) describe it as process that concerns final evaluation to ask if the project or program met its goals. It is cumulative in nature. It concentrates on learner outcomes rather than only the program of instruction where the aim is to determine the users mastery and understanding of information, concept, skill or process. Ongoing summative assessment represents important tools for monitoring the progress across time. There are various method of summative assessment such as demonstration, licensing, internship, portfolio or clinical. Summative evaluation is typically quantitative, using numeric scores or letter grades to assess learner achievement. In a sense, it lets the learner know how they did and how good they are However, theres more to it. By looking at how the learners did, it helps to know whether the product teaches what it is supposed to teach and how efficient it is. Here the courseware will be using formative evaluation method. By using formative evaluation, the current English courseware functionality can be assessed to find out whether its working to perfectly or not.. Even if the courseware is working properly, it wont fulfill its objectives if the user (in this case student) dont like it or having problem in using it. By using formative evaluation method, user feedback can be recorded and area of improvement can be found. In conclusion, formative evaluation method will assess the courseware from two perspectives; the courseware functionality and user feedback. Both will greatly help in the enhancement process of the current courseware. Methodology Throw-Away Prototyping The methodology chosen for the project would be Throw-Away Prototyping. Dummy prototype, which is presentational only will be developed. Thorough analysis will be done before first dummy prototype is developed to ensure the prototype have enough details representing real working system. From there, the dummy prototype will be shown and tested with the user to get feedback and identify additional requirement. The next prototype will be developed until it really visualize real working system. When it is ready and all issues are resolved, it will be implemented as fully-functional system. Figure 1: Throw-Away Prototyping Planning The planning phase is the crucial one in developing the project. First thing to be considered is how the project will be developed. For that, the Gantt Chart for the project is build so that each project milestone during the one year of the project can be tracked. Other than that, research is made to find suitable tool to be used for the development of the project. As the project intended to enhance the current courseware, research also made to identify suitable test subject to try the current courseware. Initial Analysis During this phase, the test scenario is developed and interview as well as questionnaire is build to get data from the target school. Data is gathered as much as possible which also include slow learner syllabus in school and from there thorough analysis is done. The purpose is to identify strengths, weaknesses, area of improvement and what to be done for the enhancement process. Prototype Building After all analysis has been done, the design of the courseware begins. A sketch is done to get the overview of new courseware to be developed. The sketch will gone through refinement to integrate the content and multimedia elements (animations, flow of information, etc). The details of the design will be recorded. After all details completed, the development of the prototype begin. When the dummy prototype is complete with all required features, it will then tested at the school to find whether it visualize all the issue that should be addressed. If further refinement is required, the dummy prototype will continuously be build until all requirements is complete. Implementation After all requirements had been fulfilled and the dummy prototype is really visualizing the courseware, it will be declared to be complete and real working courseware will be implemented. Research Methodologies To get all the information required, two research methodologies will be chosen that are: Interview: An interview is conducted with the respective teacher of the school. A test scenario will be deployed to the student using the current courseware along with the interview. This is part of formative evaluation that will test the functionality of the courseware and gauge the user on how they use the courseware. The objective is to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the current courseware and find the area of improvement. Questionnaire: The interview and questionnaire will be done with the respective teacher to gain in depth details of how slow learners learn and gain all relevant data which will be reference in developing the new courseware. Result Discussion Requirement Gathering Interview In the way of gathering data required for the enhancement of the English courseware, an interview is conducted with Pn Khadijah, Coordinator of Special Education for Sekolah Kebangsaan Sultan Yusuf who is also the English teacher for Special Education Department. Using the current courseware made by Mohd Izzat Helmi B Yahya, a test scenario is deployed where the goal is to identify the strengths and the weaknesses of the courseware so that the result found can be implemented during the development of new English courseware. The test scenario will verify the conditions and steps taken in using the courseware sample to get the result for further analysis. Three slow learner students from Sekolah Kebangsaan Sultan Yusuf take part in the test scenario. Below are the details of the three students: Respondent 1 A 12 years old boy and is preparing for his UPSR next year. He falls into the category of normal slow learner. His performance in the class is very good. He has the basic skills of using computer which make him able to use the sample courseware properly. Respondent 2 A 12 years old boy. He falls under the category of slow learner and Syndrom Down. He has the basic skills of using computer which make him able to use the sample courseware properly. Respondent 3 A 7 years old boy. He just started his school early this year. He is the most challenging student because he falls under the ICU slow learners category. Moreover, he doesnt have basic skills of using computer which make the test scenario more difficult to be performed. The purpose of choosing these three students is to observe how different categories of slow learners make use of and react to the courseware. Basically, all the student use the courseware in the same way depends on their knowledge and skills about computer. Below is the summary of result from the test scenario done with all three students. Table 2: Summary of test Scenario Result No Simulation Date Action and Data Expected Result Actual Result 1 12 Apr 2010 Launch the courseware interface Courseware interface appear successfully 2 12 Apr 2010 Launching topic 1 Topic 1 launched successfully 3 12 Apr 2010 Launch Learn from topic 1 menu Learning module appear successfully 4 12 Apr 2010 Checking audio for topic one Audio working successfully 5 12 Apr 2010 Checking synchronization of audio and visual flows. Audio and visual is synchronized Flow of audio and visual is too fast 6 12 Apr 2010 Click the button Play Again for topic 1 learning module Audio and visual replay 7 12 Apr 2010 Launch Exercise for topic 1 Exercise launched successfully Exercise for Topic 3 about colors appear 8 12 Apr 2010 Performing exercise about numbers Exercise done successfully Exercise cannot be performed because exercise for colors appear 9 12 Apr 2010 Click the button Play Again for topic 1 exercise Exercise can be redo Exercise appear is not for topic 1 10 12 Apr 2010 Launching topic 2 Topic 2 launched successfully 11 12 Apr 2010 Launch Learn from topic 2 menu Learning module appear successfully 12 12 Apr 2010 Click and hover on the images of the body parts Audio and visuals working to describe the images Audio working only if cursor is hovered on the image. When image clicked, nothing happened 13 12 Apr 2010 Launch Exercise for topic 2 Exercise launched successfully 14 12 Apr 2010 Drag the words into the respective body part Words dragged successfully Because there are some input of the exercise not in the learning module of topic 2, student get confused easily 15 12 Apr 2010 Click the button Play Again for topic 1 exercise Exercise can be redo 16 12 Apr 2010 Launching topic 3 Topic 1 launched successfully 17 12 Apr 2010 Launch Learn from topic 3 menu Learning module appear successfully 18 12 Apr 2010 Click and hover on the images of the color. Audio and visuals working to describe the images Audio appear when the image is clicked. When it is hovered nothing happened 19 12 Apr 2010 Launch Exercise for topic 3 Exercise launched successfully 20 12 Apr 2010 Dragging each color into the respective jar. Each color dragged successfully 21 12 Apr 2010 Return to courseware interface from any point of the courseware Courseware interface appear successfully Other that that, Pn Khadijah says that , the teaching syllabus and method are different from the mainstream syllabus. They use preschool syllabus in their learning modules However, if they show good performance the teacher will prepare them to be in national examination like UPSR. More information about the interview will be explained in the next section below. Questionnaire In order to get in-depth details of requirements of the courseware to be developed, interviews and questionnaire is conducted with the respective teachers of the schools. This is important because not all required data can be acquired through the test scenario assessment. The teacher answering the questionnaire is Pn Khadijah, Coordinator of Special Education for Sekolah Kebangsaan Sultan Yusuf. She has years of experience in teaching slow learners especially in English subject. Pn Khadijah is given the overview of the current English courseware and then she is given the questionnaire. Below is the result of questionnaire answered by the teacher: Data Analysis From the interview and questionnaire conducted with students and teacher of Sekolah Kebangsaan Sultan Yusuf, there are several issue should be addressed about the current English courseware and also what can be improved for the courseware to be developed: Flow of audio and visual must be synchronized and not too fast because slow learners couldnt catch up if its too fast For unknown reason, exercise for Topic 1 that should cover about numbers is replaced with exercise from Topic 3 which is about colours results in having two exercises about colours and the absences of exercise about number. The instruction is different than what can be done in the learning module. For example the instruction of topic 2 says to click the image to hear the audio. But instead, the audio only appear when cursor is hovered on the image. Nothing happened when it is clicked. Input of the exercise should be the same as what it appears in the learning modules to avoid confusion for slow learners. For example, the input of the exercise for topic 2 includes the stomach part even though it is not taught in the learning modules. Input of learning modules shouldnt be more than 5 in a topic because slow learners could easily forget what they learn if theres too many input. Slow learners in Malaysia are familiar with the Malaysia English. Using U.S English or Britain English in the courseware would confuse them. Students especially kids like learning using computer. Slow learners are not excluded. So the courseware to be developed must be visually attractive. Proposed System Architecture Figure 2: Proposed System Architecture The courseware will integrate use suitable multimedia elements that will support interactive learning environment either for the use at school or at home. This will make the learning process will be more engaging and entertaining. The courseware will consist of 3 modules primarily developed for students of Standard 4 to Standard 6. All this modules will be developed based on learning syllabus for slow learners from Sekolah Kebangsaan Sultan Yusuf. After the application is launched, students will be accessing the courseware interface. To ensure the flexibility of the learning process, students will be given freedom to choose which module they want to use. After each module there will be exercise that will test the students understand of the current topic. However, students are free to choose whether they want to do the exercise or not. If they dont want to do the exercise, they can proceed to next module or return to the courseware interface to choose other modules. In addressing that slow learners cannot cope with too much input at a time, each module will consist of two parts. This will enable the students to enrich their learning without taking too much input at a time. They have the freedom to choose which part they want to use in a module. The three modules are: Numbers, Reading Skills, Body Parts. Module 1:Numbers The first module will teach the students the foundation of recognizing numbers. The first part will teach about how to identify ordinal and cardinal numbers and whats the difference about them. The second part will teach the student how to differentiate between odd numbers and even numbers using the same modules in current English courseware with enhancement made on it. Module 2:Reading Skills This module is intended to enhance the reading skills of the students.. The activity in the first part will be focus on matching picture. Each time a picture from two sets of pictures will be shown to the student and from there the students will be asked to match the picture with the picture from the set which is not shown. The second part will focus on matching letter and words. The concept will be the same like in the first part. Module 3:Body Parts This module will teach the student the foundation of identifying body parts. The first part will teach the student about main body parts in general. The second part will teach the student specifically about parts on head The tools chosen for the development of the project will be Gamemaker 8. The reason to use this tool is because it is easy to be used compared to most of other tools. It allow the user to use collection of freeware images and audio for starters like the author to make a game looking courseware which will encompass on drag-and-drop action using the mouse. This tool will be used along with other tools like Adobe Photoshop CS3 and Macromedia Flash where necessary to make the courseware more interactive and rich. Conclusion Current English courseware is using basic concept of combining audio with visual in the teaching. Even though, it is still not perfect. There is lots of area for improvement can be made for the courseware. The authors project will take the opportunity to make enhancement on the courseware to maximize its potential. The new courseware to be developed will be more interactive and rich while in the same time addressing the issue of current courseware. With assistance from various parties such as the authors supervisor, Miss Elaine, teachers of Sekolah Kebangsan Sultan Yusuf as well as other people, this project will succeed. Acknowledgement The current courseware mentioned in this paper is developed by Mohd Izzat helmi B Yahya where his work had been base for the authors English courseware developed for slow learners. Here the author also would like to thank Ms. Elaine Chen Yoke Yie as the supervisor for the project, Pn Khadijah, Coordinator of Special Education for Sekolah Kebangsaan Sultan Yusuf, and all other parties who had contribute to the project whether directly or indirectly.

Essay --

Introduction ïÆ'Ëœ This document is to develop METI’s digital strategy for recruiting, in part because recruiting activities will be my next mission at METI immediately after my graduation from HKS next year. ïÆ'Ëœ Looking at the current recruiting tools of METI, I was shocked to see how biased toward analog tools they are, in spite of radical changes occurring in the digital era. For example, METI makes countless phone calls to prospective students, but barely send emails to them. METI uses a great deal of posters, flyers and brochures, but does not have a consolidated website or blog for recruitment. METI holds a lot of face-to-face seminars, but does not conduct online sessions. ïÆ'Ëœ Therefore, inspired by cutting-edge campaign strategies in the United States, I am strongly determined to transform METI’s recruitment strategy in parallel with the development of digital tools, in order to attract the best and brightest who are able to deal with difficult problems Japan faces, such as nuclear power plants, territorial disputes and cyber terrorisms. ïÆ'Ëœ In summary, facing widespread public distrust of the Government of Japan and fierce competitions against other attractive ministries and lucrative private firms in the field of recruitment, it is critical to take advantage of progressive digital tools in each phase, such as targeted e-mail campaigns, Google Adwords campaigns, blogs, Twitter, Facebook, and Google Hangouts, in combination with existing analog tools, in order to successfully reach out to targeted candidates. ïÆ'Ëœ The key is how to make most of METI’s principal assets, distinguished brand and its ambassadors (employees), and how to engage student themselves as â€Å"co-developers† under the principles of Web 2.0. 1. People 1-1. Japanese R... ...o still wonder whether they should choose METI or private firms due to the nature of policy-making that is not familiar to many of them, it is critical to develop an intimate environment where all the member can know each other and discuss policy issues together. ïÆ'Ëœ Since public policy-making is essentially different from the private sector, the intimate discussion will empower admitted candidates who have already chosen to take the difficult examinations and intense interviews to be more confident about their first career. Conclusion ïÆ'Ëœ By combining existing tools with digital tools effectively, METI will be successful in attracting, engaging and hiring high-quality students. ïÆ'Ëœ It is important to note that the key is always how to utilize METI’s primary assets, METI’s distinguished brand and its ambassadors, and how to engage students themselves as â€Å"co-developers†.