Monday, December 30, 2019

Using Response Cost in Classroom Behavior Management

Response cost is the term used for removing reinforcement for an undesirable or disruptive behavior. In terms of Applied Behavior Analysis, it is a form of negative punishment. By removing something (a preferred item, access to reinforcement) you decrease the likelihood that the target behavior will appear again. It is often used with a token economy  and is best used when a student understands the implications. An Example of Response Cost Alex is a young child with autism. He often leaves the instructional setting, requiring the teacher to get up and leave. He is currently working on sitting in the instructional setting while participating in an imitation program. He is given tokens on a token board for good sitting during instruction, and earns a three minute break with a preferred item when he earns four tokens. During trials he is given constant feedback on the quality of his sitting. Even though his leaving the site of instruction has decreased, he does occasional test the teacher by getting up and leaving: he automatically loses a token. He quickly earns it back when he returns to the table and sits well. Eloping from the classroom has been extinguished. Leaving the instructional site has dropped from 20 times a day to three times a week. With some children, like Alex, response cost can be an effective way to extinguish problematic behavior while supporting other behavior. With others, response cost can present some serious problems. Response Cost as Part of an ABA Program The basic unit of instruction in an ABA Program is the Trial. Usually, a trial is very brief, involving an instruction, a response, and feedback. In other words, the teacher says, Touch the red one, John. When John touches the red one (response), the teacher gives feedback: Good job, John. The teacher may reinforce each correct response, or every third to fifth correct response, depending on the reinforcement schedule. When response cost is introduced, the student may lose a token for an inappropriate behavior: the student needs to know that he or she can lose a token for the target behavior. Are you sitting nicely John? Good Job or No, John. We dont crawl under the table. I have to take a token for not sitting. You need to constantly be evaluating the effectiveness of response cost. Does it really reduce the number of inappropriate behaviors? Or does it just drive the inappropriate behavior underground, or change the misbehavior? If the function of the behavior is control or escape, you will see other behaviors popping up, perhaps surreptitiously, that serve the function of control or escape. If it does, you need to discontinue response cost and attempt differentiated reinforcement. Response Cost as Part of a Classroom Token Economy Response cost can be part of a Classroom Token Economy, when there are certain behaviors that can cost a student a token, a point (or points) or money (a fine, if you are using play money, School Bux or whatever). If it is a classroom program, then everyone in the class has to be able to lose points at a set rate for a certain behavior. This reductive method has been shown to be effective with students with ADHD, who often never get enough points for positive behavior, so they end up very quickly bankrupt in the classroom economy. Example: Mrs. Harper uses a token economy (point system) in her Emotional Support Program. Each student gets ten points for each half hour that he/she stays in their seat and works independently. They get 5 points for each completed assignment. They can lose 5 points for certain infractions. They can lose 2 points for less severe infractions. They can get 2 points as bonuses for exhibiting positive behavior independently: waiting patiently, take turns, thanking their peers. At the end of the day, everyone records their points with the banker, and at the end of the week they can use their points in the school store. Cost Response for Students with ADHD Ironically, the one population for whom cost response is effective are students with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Often they fail at classroom reinforcement schedules  because they can never quite earn enough points to get the prize or the recognition that comes with earning points. When students start with all their points, they will work hard to keep them. Research has shown this can be a powerful reinforcement regimen for students with these behavioral disabilities. Pros of a Response Cost Program When you have real clarity about the behaviors for which a student can lose points, tokens or access to reinforcers, it is likely that you will see very little of those behaviors. At the same time, you are reinforcing the desired behavior.Response cost is easy to administer,When the student has a behavior that prevents his or her peers from learning, creates a danger to himself or others (eloping, climbing on furniture) response cost can provide a swift punishment without actually applying any aversive. Cons of a Response Cost Program If the ratio of positive reinforcement is not at least 3 to 1, your students may never get out of the hole. It will merely be punitive, and never really take hold.If response cost is not consistently applied in a non-emotional way, it will become the source or recrimination and bad blood between students and staff or students and teacher.If it builds dependence on punishment, it will be counter-productive. Reinforcing replacement behavior is still the most effective way to change undesirable behavior. Resources and Further Reading â€Å"Behavior Modification in the Classroom.† Learning Disabilities and Challenging Behaviors: A Guide to Intervention and Classroom Management, by Nancy Mather et al., 3rd ed., Brookes, 2008, pp. 134-153.Walker, Hill M. â€Å"Applications of Response Cost in School Settings: Outcomes, Issues and Recommendations.† Exceptional Education Quarterly, vol. 3, no. 4, 1 Feb. 1983, pp. 47-55.

Sunday, December 22, 2019

The Role Of International Organizations On Human Rights

When I first began studying Russian my freshman year of college it was for the language and cultural education. In the next four years it became the catalyst for my dedication to the field of human rights. It was during this period that Russia was harshly criticized for its actions towards LGBT individuals and received even harsher criticism for its actions in Ukraine and the human rights implications. It was also during this time period that I studied abroad in Russia, and it was through my interactions with Russians and the Russian system that human rights became a far more complex issue in my mind. Human rights abuses are not a thing exclusive to failed states and nations embroiled in terrorism and conflict. They occur in every country and affect all types of citizens, and as such our methods of dealing with them must be cooperative. Because of this, the role of international organizations and their ability to bind all states together and emit social pressure is essential in fight ing for human rights around the world. While international organizations have their limitations of effectiveness, they show promise for new solutions and developments in human rights. International organizations often do not have funds or political influence equal to states, but their unique ability to collaborate with nationals of all cultural backgrounds and experiences heightens their ability to create effective solutions for human rights threats. During my time interning for the Office ofShow MoreRelatedNgo Is An Acronym That Means Non Governmental Organization1656 Words   |  7 Pagesmeans non-governmental organization. The term comes from the United Nations and, originally, its meaning is broader than private development organization. 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Saturday, December 14, 2019

Answering Questions on Keystone Corporation Free Essays

Based on the Geert Hofstede Cultural Dimensions Study, there is an uneven distribution of power and wealth in the Indian society, which is generally accepted by the Indians as a cultural norm (Geert Hofstedeâ„ ¢ Cultural Dimensions India). Indians are persevering, and are more receptive to unstructured ideas or occurrences, having less regulations and standards with which to control unexpected events (Geert Hofstedeâ„ ¢ Cultural Dimensions India). Australians are generally individualists who have a penchant for privacy (Geert Hofstedeâ„ ¢ Cultural Dimensions Australia). We will write a custom essay sample on Answering Questions on Keystone Corporation or any similar topic only for you Order Now There is a higher level of equality between Australia’s tiers of society, spanning between families, organizations and even the government (Geert Hofstedeâ„ ¢ Cultural Dimensions Australia). North Americans, belonging to the category of United States, have one of the highest individualism traits yet have greater equality between social levels, and hold the highest regard for cultural differences (Geert Hofstedeâ„ ¢ Cultural Dimensions United States). Americans appreciate fewer rules and do not try to control all events and outcomes (Geert Hofstedeâ„ ¢ Cultural Dimensions United States). Friction in the Keystone set-up is predictable, made up of the easy-going Indians, the individualistic Americans, and the private Australians. 2. In any global company that is planning to consolidate its workforce, there are four global drivers for engagement: (a) The nature of the job itself and the opportunities for growth. Keystone has to ensure that the work environment is healthy with lots of team work, respect and camaraderie. Employees are well compensated and motivated. (b) Confidence in the company’s leadership. To obtain the confidence of its workforce, a company must have leaders that act and work in accordance with established company goals and visions, and earmark resources that support those values. (c) Recognition and rewards Even though just compensation and regular, earned bonuses are not exactly drivers, they should be conceptualized to motivate the workforce and enhance a healthy competition within the organization. Non-monetary rewards such as recognition is effective in morale-boosting within a company. (d) Organizational communication There should be consistent open channels of communication, wherein information is released from top management in an organized and systematic way. Communication should be enhanced by dialogues, giving and taking of feedback and an open-door policy for management. Leaders should take the initiative in  this particular driver. 3.  Ã‚   Within this Global Project are two of the most contrasting personalities: the German and the Indian. Nevertheless, to prevent conflict in the organization, I will closely study the personas of the different races. I will focus on the similarities, and work on managing the cultural differences. The Americans and the Germans have high levels of individuality, thus I can use them for the marketing side of my Project. The Indians will be best for customer service, because of their easy-going nature and lower tolerance for rules and regulations. I can also employ the Germans to spearhead the finance sector of the business, where strictness is appreciated. The Americans and Indians will make up the largest part of the organization, which is operations. Both have perseverance in their natures, and would easier adapt to new work environments and adjust to each other as well. The Americans and Indians would be more receptive to occasional changes in the organization, and will work well with less friction. The Indians will be on my Public Relations team, and if I could get a female for the part, the better. She will have a good disposition, perfect for dealing with clients, and would be more competitive than her male countryman.  In the world we live in – especially if one is operating a business — fully understanding the cultural peculiarities, quirks and traits of the workforce can spell the difference between success and failure. To foster harmony in a multi-cultural organization, one must realize that even minor considerations like time may be perceived in different ways by different cultures. In most Eastern and African culture, friendship and relationships are more important than time. Hence, one does not run away from a friend to make it on time for work. It is different in the West. It would be best to integrate into the organization, team-building activities wherein employees who work in close proximity are encouraged to know each other on a more personal level. Thus, friction is minimized and mutual respect is fostered.  Thus, to have an effective organization, top management must study the cultural traits of the employees, in particular, with respect to politics and diplomacy, religion, social values and cultural traditions. Though this, management can determine which areas of the business a person is best suited, and top management can also devise ways of keeping their people happy, motivated and productive. Works Cited Hofstede, Geert. Geert Hofstedeâ„ ¢ Cultural Dimensions. The Netherlands: 1967 – 2003. How to cite Answering Questions on Keystone Corporation, Essay examples

Friday, December 6, 2019

Beyond the dead sea scrolls Essay Example For Students

Beyond the dead sea scrolls Essay BEYOND THE DEAD SEA: THE ESSENES AND THE QUMRAN COMMUNITYTo paraphrase the Bobby Darin pop hit, Somewhere, beyond the Dead Sea, there’s a religion waiting for me. There was a serious lack of documentation on Judaism practices prior to the birth of Christ, which made understanding the reasons behind the emergence of Christianity even more complex. Then, in 1947, while a young Arab boy, Muhammad ed-Dhib, was throwing stones at a cave, breaking a jar with one, therein were contained the complete scrolled texts of the Old Testament, known thereafter as the Dead Sea scrolls. Although theologians are divided as to who actually wrote down the texts, it is widely attributed to the Essene monastic sect, which had lived in the Qumran region. The actual origin of the Essenes is unknown, but it is believed that they evolved from the Hasidim of pre-Hasmonean times, approximately 170 B.C. They were first written about by Josephus, who was impressed by their seemingly innate ability to forecast the future. Josephus described how Judas, perhaps the most famous Essene, successfully predicted that the ruler of Judea, Aristobulus, would kill his brother. It is believed that the Essenes were one of the first all-male monastic orders, and it is uncertain whether they were exclusively Jewish in origin, or if the group had roots in Greek philosophy as well.Organizationally speaking, the Essenes were a singular entity, presided over by a president, who was obeyed unconditionally. There were four classes of Essenes, according to Josephus, which consisted of children at the first class, novices occupying the second and third classes, with full members comprising the esteemed fourth class. It was a democratic order, with trials ordered t o execute any disciplinary action against a member, requiring the affirmation of one hundred members. Excommunication always resulted in starvation death, as members would not eat food prepared by anyone outside of the group for fear of pollution. Their lifestyle was simplistic and extremely chauvinistic, and the Essene mistrust of women is revealed in the Book of Enoch. According to this text, those Essenes which deviated from the policy excluding women were committing blasphemy: But you have changed your works, and have not done according to his command, and transgressed against him; (and have spoken) haughty and harsh words, with your impure mouths, against his majesty, for your heart is hard. You will have no peace They (the leaders) and all of them took for themselves wives from all that they chose and they began to cohabit with them and to defile themselves with them; and to teach them sorcery and spells and the cutting of roots; and to acquaint them with herbs. Clearly, women were not welcome additions to the Essene family, which could perhaps explain its inevitable downfall. After all, without procreation, how can a religion be passed down from generation to generation? Philo gave what many scholars believe is a first -hand account of the Essenes’ daily life: They do not offer animal sacrifice, judging it more fitting to render their minds truly holy. They flee the cities and live in villages where clean air and clean social life abound. They either work in the fields or in crafts that contribute to peace. They do not hoard silver and gold and do not acquire great land holdings; procuring for themselves only what is necessary for life. Thus they live without goods and without property, not by misfortune, but out of preference. They do not make armaments of any kind. They do not keep slaves and detest slavery. They avoid wholesale and retail commerce, believing that such activity excites one to cupidity. With respect to philosophy, they dismiss logic but have an extremely high regard for virtue. They honor the Sabbath with great respect over the other days of the week. They have an internal rule which all learn, together with rules on piety, holiness, justice and the knowledge of good and t heir minds truly holy. Their exclusion of women is explained by Philo as a necessary sacrifice for the higher good of their community. They live together in brotherhoods, and eat in common together. Everything they do is for the common good of the group. Seeing it as an obstacle to communal life, they have banned marriage. They view women as selfish, excessively jealous, skillful in seduction and armed, like actors with all sorts of masks designed to flatter and ensnare men, bewitching and capturing their attention and finally leading them astray. The husband, bound by his wifes spells, or anxious for his children from natural necessity, is no more the same to the others, but becomes a different man; instead of a freeman, he becomes a slave. Clearly, the Essenes were an extremist group with convictions that were certainly radical for their time. .u1f224cda7646a423b04a17d66cf23e35 , .u1f224cda7646a423b04a17d66cf23e35 .postImageUrl , .u1f224cda7646a423b04a17d66cf23e35 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u1f224cda7646a423b04a17d66cf23e35 , .u1f224cda7646a423b04a17d66cf23e35:hover , .u1f224cda7646a423b04a17d66cf23e35:visited , .u1f224cda7646a423b04a17d66cf23e35:active { border:0!important; } .u1f224cda7646a423b04a17d66cf23e35 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u1f224cda7646a423b04a17d66cf23e35 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u1f224cda7646a423b04a17d66cf23e35:active , .u1f224cda7646a423b04a17d66cf23e35:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u1f224cda7646a423b04a17d66cf23e35 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u1f224cda7646a423b04a17d66cf23e35 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u1f224cda7646a423b04a17d66cf23e35 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u1f224cda7646a423b04a17d66cf23e35 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u1f224cda7646a423b04a17d66cf23e35:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u1f224cda7646a423b04a17d66cf23e35 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u1f224cda7646a423b04a17d66cf23e35 .u1f224cda7646a423b04a17d66cf23e35-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u1f224cda7646a423b04a17d66cf23e35:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: The Literacy Narrative, A Discourse Community Analysis, And A Writing Research EssayThe beginning of the end for the Essenes began with a confrontation at Qumran with a rival extremist Jewish sect known as the Sadducees, or Sons of Zadok. Unlike other Jewish groups, the Sadducees did not believe that there were opposing spirits of good and evil. Most importantly, they did not believe in any kind of spiritual life after death, spiritual or otherwise; For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor an angel, nor a spirit. In other words, there is life here and now and nothing beyond. It may be affected by the exercise of free will, but God’s blessings could o nly be received during one’s mortal life. In other words, there was no eternal life in the Kingdom of God according to the Sadducees. Both the Essenes and Sadducees are no more, with both groups apparently being among the victims of Jerusalem’s downfall in 70 A.D. What remains are the remnants of their teachings, which have been incorporated in Judeo-Christian doctrine. The Essenes are noteworthy in that they deviated from the popularly-accepted practice of slavery. The Sadducees laid the foundation for prevailing modern-day philosophy of Existentialism, which embraced the concept of free will and the responsibility that goes with it. They might have been forgotten altogether, had it not been for a stone-throwing Arab shepherd boy and the scrolls he discovered over 50 years ago. The Essenes and the Sadducees might be as dead as the Dead Sea itself, but as long as the scrolls remain, so, too, will their theological legacy. Works CitedCross, Frank Moore Jr. The Ancient Library of Qumran and Modern Biblical Studies. New York: Doubleday, 1958. Dupont- Sommer. The Essene Writings From Qumran. Oxford:Basil Blackwell, 1969. Grundy, Robert H. A Survey of The New Testament. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1994. Vermes, Giza. The Dead Sea Scrolls. Cleveland: William Collins, 1978.