Using Technology as a Tool to Improve Teaching and Learning Processes The WritePass Journal

Using Technology as a Tool to Improve Teaching and Learning Processes Abstract Using Technology as a Tool to Improve Teaching and Learning Processes ) Truscano, M (2008), Knowledge Maps: ICTs in Education, Infodev, Washington DC, USA Ward, S and Connolly, R, (2008), ‘Let them Eat Shakespeare’, Â  The Curriculum Journal, 19:4.

Learning About Dolphins for Homeschoolers

Learning About Dolphins for Homeschoolers What Are Dolphins? Dolphins are beautiful, playful creatures that are delightful to watch. Although they live in the ocean, dolphins arent fish. Like whales, they are  mammals. They are warm-blooded, breathe air through their lungs, and give birth to live young, which drinks its mothers milk, just like mammals that live on land.   Dolphins breathe through a blowhole located on the top of their heads. They must come to the waters surface to breathe air out and take in fresh air. How often they do this depends on how active they are. Dolphins can stay underwater up to 15 minutes without coming to the surface for air! Most dolphins give birth to one (sometimes two) babies about every three years.  The dolphin baby, who is born after a 12-month gestation period, is called a calf. Female dolphins are cows and males are bulls. The calf drinks its mothers milk for up to 18 months. Sometimes another dolphin stays nearby to help with the birth. Although it is occasionally a male dolphin, it is most often a female and either gender is referred to as the auntie. The auntie is the only other dolphin the mother will allow around her baby for awhile.   Dolphins are often confused with porpoises. Although they are similar in appearance, they are not the same animal. Porpoises are smaller with  smaller heads and shorter snouts. They are also more shy than dolphins and typically  dont swim as close to the surface of the water. There are over 30 species of dolphin. The bottlenose dolphin is probably the most popular and easily-recognizable species. The killer whale, or orca, is also a member of the dolphin family. Dolphins are highly intelligent, social  creatures who swim in groups called pods. They communicate with each other through a series of clicks, whistles, and squeaks, along with body language. Each dolphin has its own unique sound  that it develops shortly after birth. The average lifespan of a dolphin varies based on the species. Bottlenose dolphins live about 40 years. Orcas live about 70. Learning About Dolphins Dolphins are probably one of the best known sea mammals. Their popularity may be due to their smiling appearance and friendliness toward humans. Whatever it is, there are hundreds of books about dolphins.   Try some of these to begin learning about these gentle giants: Dolphins First Day  by Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld tells the  delightful story of a young bottlenose dolphin. Reviewed by the Smithsonian Institute for accuracy, this beautifully-illustrated book provides wonderful insight about the life of a dolphin calf. Dolphins by Seymour Simon in partnership with the Smithsonian Institute features gorgeous, full-color photographs along with text that describes the behavior and physical characteristics of dolphins. The Magic Tree House: Dolphins at Daybreak by Mary Pope Osborne is the perfect fiction book to accompany a study of dolphins for children in the 6- to 9-years-old age range. The ninth book in this wildly popular series features an underwater adventure sure to capture your students attention. Dolphins and Sharks (Magic Tree House Research Guide) by Mary Pope Osborne is the non-fiction companion to Dolphins at Daybreak. Its geared toward kids who read at a 2nd or 3rd grade level and is filled with interesting facts and photos about dolphins. Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott ODell is a Newbery medal winner that makes a fun fiction accompaniment to a unit study about dolphins. The book tells a story of survival about Karana, a young Indian girl who finds herself alone on a deserted island. National Geographic Kids Everything Dolphins by Elizabeth Carney features  beautiful, full-color photos and is packed with facts about dolphins, including the different species and conservation efforts. More Resources for Learning About Dolphins Seek out other opportunities to learn about dolphins. Try some of the following suggestions: Download a set of free  dolphin printables  to begin learning the terminology associated with dolphins. The set includes coloring pages, vocabulary worksheets, and word puzzles.Visit an aquarium or a park like Sea World.Visit the ocean. If you go out on the ocean in a boat, you may be able to see dolphins swimming in the wild. Weve even been able to observe them from the beach before. Dolphins are beautiful, fascinating creatures. Have fun learning about them! Updated by Kris Bales

Doctrine of Precedent Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Doctrine of Precedent - Essay Example Therefore, there is a dire need for a coherent case law. This is because it helps in strengthening the predictability of decisions and improves their authority. The doctrine of precedent also known as stare decisis provides that the decision of a higher court within the same jurisdiction acts as binding authority on a lower court within the same jurisdiction (Brassil & Brassil 2000). However, the decisions of higher courts act only as persuasive authority to lower courts in different jurisdiction. Therefore, the concept of judicial precedent requires cases to be decided in a similar way when the material facts are the same. The doctrine is only concerned with the legally material facts in order to arrive at similar decisions (Siltala 2000). On the other hand, Ratio decidendi translates to â€Å"reason of deciding† and can be defined as the material facts of a given case in addition to the decision thereon. Under common law, the doctrine of precedent is used to offer direction, certainty, consistency, and impersonality (Harlow 2005). Even as the doctrine of precedent is one of the most significant features of the common law, this doctrine is not without challenges. It is very important for any judge to identify a clear ratio decidendi in any precedent (Duxbury 2008). One of the main challenges in making decisions guided by precedents is the possibility of two conflicting methodologies employed by Lords to reach a decision. This paper will focus on the impact of the two conflicting approaches used by Lords Wilberforce and Bridge in McLoughlin v O’Brian 1983 and show how the choice between these two conflicting approaches would result to completely different results for the claimants in Alcock v Chief Constable of South Yorkshire Police 1992. McLoughlin v O’Brian 1983 AC 410 In this case, the plaintiff’s husband and their three children were involved in a road accident that was allegedly caused by negligence of the defendants. The accid ent caused the death of one of the plaintiff’s children while the husband and the other two children sustained serious injuries. When the accident happened, the plaintiff was at home two miles away from the scene. A motorist who witnessed it at the scene passed the information on the accident to the plaintiff. After the information, the plaintiff was taken to the hospital where her family members were admitted. When she looked at the extent of their injuries and the news of the death of her daughter, the plaintiff suffered severe and continuous nervous shock. The plaintiff sued the defendants claiming damages against them for the nervous shock, distress, and injury to her health ultimately caused by the defendant’s negligence. However, the suit was not successful because the judge felt that the plaintiff’s injury was not reasonably foreseeable. The plaintiff believed that the defendant’s negligence led to her suffering. This case involved the tort of negl igence that has been a topic of discussion on the evidence of negligence (Stephenson 1996). In tort law, negligence is defined as the failure to execute reasonably, that is, as a normal man would perform. Therefore, according to Harlow (2005) â€Å"negligence is the omission to do something which a reasonable man, guided upon those considerations which normally regulate the demeanor of human affairs, would do, or do something which is prudent and reasonable man would not do.† Having defined negligence as a tort, it is of importance to note that it has remained the most vital tort in modern law (p. 8). This is because it utterly concentrates on the infringement of a legal duty to take care, which may result to damage of property or injury to the claimant. Negligence is known to cause individuals