The Advantages and Disadvantages of the Use of Computers in Tertiary Education

The ability to utilise information technology at the tertiary level has many disadvantages, but on the other hand the drawbacks could leave many persons asking if society benefits? Education is a very suitable medium for social mobility as on transcends the various classes, strata and levels of education. This is one option in order to achieve some measure of financial freedom. This statement implies that anyone must embrace, straddle and overcome the establish levels in an education system.That is from the informal learning one experience from birth to the formal early childhood to the elementary level then secondary and eventually the tertiary level. In this twenty-first century of many technological advances, it is absolutely essential that consideration be given to the acquisition, implementation, utilisation, and function of information technology through the use of computers at the tertiary level of education. This development of computers provided tertiary educators and studen ts with a new dimension to challenge their capabilities, explore new horizons in learning and exploit the system that existed.Both constituents met their requirements and demands of tertiary level studies in the form of output in producing documents for presentation, preparing papers for submission, acquiring information for research, keeping of records and just knowledge for development with just a click. The advantages that present themselves to the student signals â€Å"Studying†¦. made in heaven†, easy access to reliable information, no note taking, implying full attention on the lecture or activity. Storage of information is not bulky.As students embraced the technological age, presenting their coursework papers in a legible manner, with little grammatical and spelling errors, lecturers who were not computer savvy were scrambling to acquire the necessary skills to match the students. Note taking and reading of textbooks, even the buying of textbooks are becoming rar e, all information is read off a screen. The acts of carrying around bulky textbooks are a thing of the past. Flash drives, CD’s, small hand held devices have taken over. Slowly traditions are being broken and the computer is becoming the students learning tool.They are buying memory sticks instead of books. Lecturers on the other hand utilise the technology to make presentations to class, keep records, communicate with students via e-mails, receive and give assignments and information through the computer. This made students feel that attendance at lectures was not a necessity as they could get the lecture on the Internet any time. One of the main advantages pertains to the effective use of limited resources available in tertiary institutions. Any lecturer would agree that the contact time with students is the least time involved in a course.In a learning environment undergoing rapid transformation, it is not surprising that teaching methods have also been changing. Lecturer s have to get with the times. As a part of the process of adapting to changing student demands, lecturers have had to consider new ways of delivering course content. A very practical example of this is the close relationship, technologically, that the lecturer and student develops. Course content and lecturers are sent directly to each student via e-mail or made available on a website.The disadvantages of this intensive mode of teaching signal the observer that there is a significant loss of social skills, study skills and data. No longer do students sit together in the same room, they could be miles apart but communicating through teleconferencing or videoconferencing. Data could be loss in the blink of an eye or the flick of a switch. A conscious effort must be made to back up and save information already acquired. The integrity of exams and one’s information could be questioned as all information can be so easily shared.It also found that the assumption that Academic Staff make, that students already have computer literacy skills, is often erroneous. We must take into consideration the student who suffers from technological anxiety, most times they are in the older age bracket and are not computer literate. Then there are the students who are economically challenged and find it difficult to access a computer. The prolonged use of computers pose serious health risks in repetitive eyestrain, lower back pain and computer vision syndrome.The user must take frequent breaks and purchase equipment to deal with correct posture. Despite the stated disadvantages, the use of computers in tertiary level studies is here to stay. Lecturers can track students, disburse information, keep records, recycle course content, store exams and revision exercises, communicate with students at any time of the day, not only during class contact time, with just a click. While students use this flexibility to maximise their study and personal time.

Theory X Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Theory X - Essay Example One of the best views of these is that provided by Bobic and Davis. The authors have brought out excellent views on how the Theory X and Theory Y operate within companies. As explained by Bobic and Davis, â€Å"We conclude with a comment on what all this might mean for the future of management. If people are different (some adaptive and others innovative) and personality is relatively invariant, then the management task becomes increasingly complex† (Bobic & Davis, 2003). I completely agree with their views and believe that in the current times, the main reason that might cause a management for fail is due to the use of a single approach of management. It is essential to note, with the changing times and with the high levels of competition that is currently prevalent in the markets, it is now a necessity for the managers to not only focus on one method of management. The needs and working styles of employees are very different and a single office can have a wide range of characters including those who are very adaptive to those who are very innovative. Hence it is the duty of the managers to use this as a chance of training themselves to meet the varying needs and not to stick to a single theory. An excellent example of this is the case of my previous job. I worked there part time, and my manager (knowingly or unknowingly) followed to the point, the theory X. There was always an environment of discomfort in the environment and despite having some of the best in his team; the manager was unable to run the team effectively. The employees in his team included people with great insights, interest in their jobs and a strong level of dedication. However due to the behavior of the manager, a number of people started to quit their jobs only to get better jobs in better companies. Considering the impact that Bobic and Davis have had on Theory X and Y, it is essential to note that in the current times, leaders cannot be one who

In the light of the global financial crisis, discuss how the Essay

In the light of the global financial crisis, discuss how the remuneration of chief executives of banks should be determined - Essay Example In the U.S, for example, this was followed by acquisition of properties from defaulters. Despite a given financial situation, the banks’ chief executives have always enjoyed a constant pay through basic salaries and bonuses. Their positions have been secured by tenures and extensive pension plans. The banks have defended such payments as a way of protecting the interest of the bank by ensuring that they beat the competition for CEOs in the country. It is this unfounded huge salaries and allowances to CEOs despite financial situation, global or local, that needs to be reviewed. Such review should assist in ensuring that banks do not incur unnecessary expenditure when they should be recording increased investments and value for the shareholders. This paper will look into various ways that the remunerations of the chief executives of banks can be determined. In drawing up the analysis, various factors that add up to their pay such as pensions, office tenure, bonuses and gross sal ary will be looked into. Components to Be Monitored In determining the total remuneration of a CEO, various components should be given consideration. Such components are given priority owing to the fact that they motivate better performance by the CEO come the following financial year. They should also act to retain the person in office and within the bank to beat the market demand of such personnel. The components include salaries, bonuses, compensations, stock options and incentive plans. Salaries Like any other employee in a bank, the CEO is entitled to an annual or monthly based salary. Owing to the high number of companies willing to pay large sums for a given CEO, competition for such personnel has heightened considerably in many countries. Given a bank’s need for a well performing CEO, it is essential to ensure that a CEO is paid accordingly in an effort to retain them. Considering the constant nature of the salary, financial crisis should be given consideration when c oming up with figures (CNN Money, 2013). For some banks like Citi bank in the United States, the CEO’s salary is determined and approved by the shareholders. This ensures that the figure protects the interests of the bank’s owners. Any increase or decrease should be given room in cases where either is deemed necessary. In an Annual General Meeting (AGM), the shareholders may approve to reduce or increase the CEO’s salary as an effort to protect the interests of the bank during crisis (New York Times, 2009). Bonuses CEOs are usually awarded bonuses based on their previous performances. In most of the banks, the bonuses are based on profits realised within a given year. Such bonuses act as motivation to the CEOs and incentive for better future performance. With bonuses, complexity arises when it is eminent that the following year will be faced with financial crisis. Bonuses are essential as they act as incentives to the CEOs although over a very short period. Such incentives are meant to ensure that the CEO performs better by increasing on the growth of the bank through increased profits and shareholder value. It is the same bonuses that have been misused by many CEO to increase their pay. CEOs may lie about the profits realised by presenting deceiving figures to the board. Such an action has seen banks award bonuses to CEOs based on misleading information. To save banks during financial crisis or within a period preceding the crisis, bank financial accounts should be properly audited to ensure that the

Business report of Tesco Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Business report of Tesco - Coursework Example Murcott (2009, pg 244)claims that the magnitude of the European typical market holds numerous prospects for companies wishing to upsurge their production, by making operational usage of markets of scale. The European Union’s food industry should also look to arouse innovation and improve new products so as to thrive. All this should be carried out in a way that is courteous for the environment and which warranties safe access to farming raw materials. Boyle (2007, pg 5) TESCO is one of the companies in the European market. It is a British firm which is headquartered in England, United Kingdom, where it operates around 1,878 outlets, and also operates stores in Asia and Europe. Tesco.com is an entirely owned subordinate offering a broad online service, inclusive of tesco.net and tescodirect.com. The firm offers a wide variety of both offline and online personal financial services. Earle, (1997, pg 168) argues that, there exist other major enterprises in the food industry located in Europe. These companies include: Kerry Group; Bakkavor; Unilever; Nestle; Barilla Group; Danone; Yoplait; Paulig; Parmalat; Ferrero SpA; and Swisslion group. To begin with, Kerry Group is a public food company that has its headquarters in Ireland. It operates in 24 republics across five continents. It has a workforce of 36000 people in its technical, sales and manufacturing centres all over the world. Additionally, it supplies 15000 and above flavour products, food ingredients and food to consumers in more than 140 nations globally. Secondly, we have the Bakkavor; its headquarters are in London, England. However, it is dominant in the United Kingdom than other places. It is specialising in freshly prepared foodstuffs and has thirty-two industrial facilities in the United Kingdom, over twenty sites in five other nations. It has a workforce of 18,000 with a turnover of 1.6 billion po unds. Rayner et al. (2008, pg 150) says that, another

Anti-federalist Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Anti-federalist - Essay Example The strong belief of anti-federalists to have an independent, sovereign government for each state laid the basis for opposing ratification of US constitution. The anti-federalists who regarded constitution as untried were skeptical of its ability to form the finest form of government. They claimed it to be silliness to substitute the existing form of government with an entirely new document. Anti-federalists argued that constitution characterized twin evils of monarchy and aristocracy rather than the democratic goals of American Revolution. The most significant reason for the opposition against the ratification of constitution was the fear of provision for president’s supreme power. Limited restrictions on authority of national government over the states were claimed by anti-federalists and they stressed on an authority equal to states rather than a greater one. They claimed the emergence of congress as aristocratic in nature as president was supposed to be given much power by the constitution. Members of anti-federalist group doubted the effectiveness of national government in controlling a vast country like the United States. They sorted out several problems in constitution such as insufficient representation scheme and argued that constitution would put an end to self rule in the states.

Software Lifecycle Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Software Lifecycle - Research Paper Example The nature of the desired system in terms of system user requirements and its complexity will determine the choice of the SDLC model to be adopted. Generally, the success of system development is more dependent on how closely the plan and steps in the chosen model are followed (Alan, Edward, & Edward, 1988). For this scenario, the most suitable model for developing the system is the Spiral model. The spiral model of software development life cycle is one of the models that have been designed to improve the software development life cycle. After several years of research and development, spiral model offers a greater risk –driven approach of system development process as compared to the other models that are more document driven or code driven (Barry, 1988). The choice for this approach is based on the nature of the project; the project is described as being volatile and dynamic. It is also prone to the exit of the development team members and incoming of new staff to help in the development of the system. Essentially, the project faces a lot of risks during its development cycle and also requires integration to a more complex system upon completion. Consequently, a risk oriented approach is ideally the best model to be used in the project. Spiral model is a risk oriented approach that has been designed to incorporate the risk analysis aspect of the project. It is also one of the best approaches since it has been designed to incorporate many of the strengths of the other SDLC models and eliminate their weaknesses (Alan, Edward, & Edward, 1988). The spiral model has advantages that are unique to its approach of system development. It has a high amount of risk analysis compared to other models. The model is also ideal for projects that are complex in nature and are mission critical. The software is also produced at the early stages of the software lifecycle (Barry, 1988). The spiral model carries more similarities to the incremental model,

Hypothesis Identification Article Analysis Essay

Hypothesis Identification Article Analysis - Essay Example The researchers examine and evaluate current literature and come to conclusion that the question of women compensation at work and safety issues is not examined yet. There is no substantial analysis of this system and its impact on organizational performance and women employees. The researchers claim that the current system of compensation is ineffective and does not benefit employees and employers. To verify their hypothesis, Calvey and Jansz use a phenomenological research approach. They explain that "the purpose of phenomenological reflection is to try to grasp the essential meaning of something Insight into the essence of a phenomenon involves a process of reflectively appropriating, of clarifying, and of making explicit the structure of meaning of the lived experience" (Van Manen, 1990: 77-78, cited Calvey, Jansz, 2005, p. 285). The hypothesis statement helps the researchers to identify the area of research and construct it in accordance with their hypothesis. Also, the hypothesis statement helps to avoid ambiguity during analysis of the results. In this article, the hypothesis statement is used to predict the conditions of compensation system and outcomes are most likely to occur.