Workplace Literacy Program Essay Example for Free

Workplace Literacy Program Essay Workforce development There is a symbiotic relationship between skilled workers and productivity. In an ideal workplace, workers must have sufficient knowledge of their individual tasks and be equipped with the necessary skills in order to better perform their work, avoid mistakes, deal with other organizational members without any difficulty, and increase the level of production. Nowadays it is necessary for every job applicants to be competitive, literate, skilled at writing and listening skills, and be able to perform a given task. It is important that human resources must be able to adapt to technological and technical developments taking place in a workplace or a particular industrial setting. Workforce development is indispensable in bracing the competitiveness of human resource through carefully planned programs and activities (Giguere, 2008, p. 238). This kind of development is not just the concern of individual employees but most importantly the company or employer himself. Both entry-level employee and existing personnel must be able embark on training skills in order to enhance their performance in a variety of service, interpersonal and administrative areas. In this regard, there are various areas to be improved on the part of human resource. To secure career development workforce must be able to improve their human resource skills through a systematic and practical programs. When it comes to technical aspects, it is also imperative to improve the workforce knowledge in computer networking and to embark on basic computer training. The problem why a workplace is saddled with low productivity is because there is no existing or fully developed workforce development program aimed at honing the skills of both entry-level and old personnel. Workplace literacy program, on the other hand, is aimed at enhancing the literacy level of both the employed and unemployed (Drago-Severson, 2004). This has been the focus of the federal government for nearly three decades in order to reduce the level of adult illiteracy. This only means that literacy has a huge impact on businesses which all seek to acquire literate and competitive workers. Apart from being a national priority, there is also a growing concern among businesses in regard to increasing adult literacy (Goad, 2002, p. 123). We are all aware of the huge impact of adult illiteracy on businesses. This concern was goaded by fast-paced technological development and the risk of foreign competition. The only answer to this scenario is an increased adult literacy and to improve workforce basic skill requirements. Recruitment plan Like any literacy and workforce development program in the past, recruitment is on a voluntary basis. Anyone who thinks he/she needs to improve his/her literacy skills is welcome to enlist or enroll in the program. However, those identified that will attend this program are both teenage and adult people who lack the necessary literacy skills to exist in a work environment. The main target of this program are people like Catalina who aspires to improve her career or work, which is the only means to improve her family’s economic standing and to have a quality time with her children. There are a lot of Hispanic and other immigrants in the United States who are fit to undergo this program, especially now that most businesses demand better literacy skills and competency among job applicants. The recruitment process may be made through building connections with businesses and through direct contact with potential subjects. Pre-assessment Plan Considering the ongoing economic crisis there is a need to implement this program whose purpose is to ensure career development, increase adult literacy rate, and raise workers’ productivity and competence through corporate-based and practical lessons and activities. Apart from this, this is the time wherein immigrants have to be more competitive in order to be acquired and to exist in the job marketplace being dominated by American citizens. Initially, there should be difference between workforce development and workplace literacy program based on the practical industry requirements. Workforce development should mainly center on soft skills or human resource skills, while workplace literacy should focus on basic skills needed by an employee. Instructional Design As already stated above, there should be a gap between workforce development and workplace literacy program. For the workforce development program, three areas should be mainly considered— a) human resource skills; b) computer networking; and c) basic computer training. For the human resource skills, the following courses or lessons shall be implemented: Handling difficult people: the purpose of this lesson is to train or motivate people how to deal properly with other organizational members, particularly the snotty executives and employers. Certainly this centers on human relations within a particular workplace. Other things to be considered are problem approaches and problem-solving techniques, as well as supervision of difficult workers. Developing positive attitude: This lesson shall focus on motivating employees to think big, to think out of the box, and to think independently. Communication Skills: some of the important subjects to be tackled here are effective communication, giving and receiving criticism, giving and receiving feedbacks, meeting skills, as well as business writing. Conflict Management: some of the important lessons to be taken here are the effective ways to manage conflict in the workplace, giving and receiving criticism, resolving and managing conflicts, negotiating and arbitration, among others. Effective listening: this lesson shall focus on good listening skills— on how to be an attentive listener. The role of communication and listening shall also be tackled in order to better inform the program attendee. Costumer service skills: This must be mastered by all program attendee whether they choose to work as costumer service provider or not. The lessons to be tackled here are the effective ways to deal with costumers, how to be in control when dealing with costumers, serving them, giving and receiving costumer feedback, and how to achieve outstanding costumer service. Career development and personal improvement (Rothwell, Gerity Gaertner, 2004, p. 1): The main focus of this lesson is to uplift employees’ self-esteem. Other subjects to consider are goals and setting them, enhancing positive assertiveness, time management, team-work skills, and successful long-term learning (Gallo, 2004). Interviewing skills: For entry-level personnel this aspect is very important. Program attendees should be informed of what to expect during the actual interview session. Leadership training: Under this lesson, some of the subjects to be considered are the importance of team leading, how to manage a team, mentoring and coaching, effective project management, team building, and motivating at work. For basic computer training, the following areas must be focused on: desktop operating systems (e.g. Microsoft Windows XP), suites, word processing, spreadsheet, presentation graphics, desktop publishing, database, internet, and network operating systems. On the other hand, for workplace literacy program, the following must be taken into account (Hull, 1997, p. 8): Knowing how to learn: This gives the attendee the importance of long-term learning, why there is a need to learn, and how to learn. Reading, writing and computation skills Listening and oral communication Creative thinking and problem solving When it comes to the philosophical framework of the program, it must be based on Objectivism wherein self-interest should be taken as the moral goal of an employee. A rational philosophy is needed in every workplace so that workers may be able to think rationally, independently and effectively. Instructional Staff All instructional staff must possess at least industry-based knowledge or work experience. Members of the instructional team must have finished college or taken up masters, but what is important is that they have an objective industry-based knowledge and that they have been in the profession for at least two years. However this two-year requirement is not necessary as long as the result of the written examination, interview and then practical examination show that they are qualified to be member of the instructional staff. Administrative and Support Services For the support services, the program attendees shall need the following: library with study room, computer laboratory for basic computer training, decent classrooms equipped with a computers, projectors, chairs and study tables. There should also be a community room wherein all attendees shall be free to interact with each other in order to from personal and professional bonding. As for the administrative services, there should be an administrative office to be composed of administrative officers. Administrative staff shall include an institute or program secretary, checkers, evaluators, and all other administrative staff needed for the success and continuation of the program. A program website, as well as a practical Information Technology infrastructure is also needed to better serve the needs of the program attendees. Program enrollees or attendees shall be encouraged to submit their works and projects through the website in order for them to enhance their computer and communication skills. Evaluation and Assessment Plan Workforce development and workplace literacy programs are indeed important instruments in raising adult literacy and making their competitive in the job marketplace (Boyle, 2001, p. 11). However, the success of this kind of program depends upon the effectiveness of the instructional design which is to carryout the underlying aims and objectives of the program. There is a need to split workforce development and workplace literacy program because they have different objectives and ends. Workforce development is synonymous to career development, which can only be achieved through improvement of human resource skills. The purpose of this program is to encourage workers to apply whatever they have learned to their workplace. On the other hand, workplace literacy program aims to reduce adult illiteracy in the industrial setting through vocational skills. Under this overall program, what is being developed and improved are not just the basic literacy and computer skills of the workers, but also interpersonal and goal-setting skills, their self-esteem, as well as costumer service and leadership abilities. With all these factors and design in mind, there is no doubt that this program will succeed and will be able to produce more able, more literate and more competent workers in the future. Resources: Boyle, M.E. (2001) The new schoolhouse.: Literacy, managers and beliefs. Westport, CT: Prager. Drago-Severson, E. (2004). Becoming adult learners: Principals and practices for effective development. NY: Teachers College Press. Gallo, M.L. (2004). Reading the world of work. Malabar, FL: Krieger. Giguere, S. (2008). More Than Just Jobs: Workforce Development in a Skills-based Economy. Paris, France: OECD Publishing Goad, T.W. (2002). Information Literacy and Workplace Performance. Santa Barbara, CA: Greenwood Publishing Group. Hull, G. (ed). (1997). Changing work, changing workers. Albany, NY: State University of New York Press. Rothwell, W.J., Gerity, P.E. Gaertner, E.A. (2004). Linking Training to Performance: A Guide for Workforce Development Professionals. Washington, D.C.: American Association of Community College

The Enormous Lie Exposed in The Enormous Radio :: Enormous Radio

The Enormous Lie Exposed in The Enormous Radio John Cheever’s "The Enormous Radio" begins with the Westcotts appearing like the perfect "all-American" family. Cheever describes them as "the kind of people who seem to strike that satisfactory average of income, endeavor, and respectability" (Cheever 817). What is ironic about this story is the Westcotts are far from being the "perfect family," and the community they try to conform to is just as flawed as the Westcotts themselves. A way the Westcotts try to conform to their society is by keeping secret the fact that they listen to the radio and attend musical events. This is because these activities were not something members of their community did, much less talked about. The reader knows this because Cheever says the "Westcotts differed from their friends, their classmates, and their neighbors only in an interest in music. They went to a great many concerts although they never mentioned this to anyone" (817). A particular instance that shows the Westcotts aren’t the "perfect family" and the society they try to conform to is just as imperfect, is the fight between the Osborns. This shows the Westcotts’ community is flawed because Mr. Osborn is overheard being an abusive husband. Irene tells Jim: "Mr. Osborn’s beating his wife! They’ve been quarreling, and now he’s hitting her" (822). This incident also causes the Westcotts to question the "perfection" of their own marriage, and Jim and Irene end up having a disagreement about dishonesty. And it is widely accepted that dishonesty and physical abuse are not qualities of a "perfect" marriage. Another way it is shown that the Westcotts are not flawless is when Jim makes his enraged speech to Irene. This speech entails how he’s "sick" of her addiction to the radio and disgusted about her stealing jewelry and money from her sister and about the nonchalant manner in which she went to have an abortion (824). Even her coat is symbolic in showing the true nature of the Westcotts. Irene’s coat was "of fitch skins, dyed to resemble mink" (817). The fact that the coat was dyed to resemble something of higher status than it really was can be used as a metaphor to describe the Westcotts’ nature: they were one way when presenting themselves to society (high class and socially conscientious, like the coat and the Westcotts’ marriage both appeared), and another way when they were in the privacy of their own home (not well made, like the coat and how their marriage really was). The Enormous Lie Exposed in The Enormous Radio :: Enormous Radio The Enormous Lie Exposed in The Enormous Radio John Cheever’s "The Enormous Radio" begins with the Westcotts appearing like the perfect "all-American" family. Cheever describes them as "the kind of people who seem to strike that satisfactory average of income, endeavor, and respectability" (Cheever 817). What is ironic about this story is the Westcotts are far from being the "perfect family," and the community they try to conform to is just as flawed as the Westcotts themselves. A way the Westcotts try to conform to their society is by keeping secret the fact that they listen to the radio and attend musical events. This is because these activities were not something members of their community did, much less talked about. The reader knows this because Cheever says the "Westcotts differed from their friends, their classmates, and their neighbors only in an interest in music. They went to a great many concerts although they never mentioned this to anyone" (817). A particular instance that shows the Westcotts aren’t the "perfect family" and the society they try to conform to is just as imperfect, is the fight between the Osborns. This shows the Westcotts’ community is flawed because Mr. Osborn is overheard being an abusive husband. Irene tells Jim: "Mr. Osborn’s beating his wife! They’ve been quarreling, and now he’s hitting her" (822). This incident also causes the Westcotts to question the "perfection" of their own marriage, and Jim and Irene end up having a disagreement about dishonesty. And it is widely accepted that dishonesty and physical abuse are not qualities of a "perfect" marriage. Another way it is shown that the Westcotts are not flawless is when Jim makes his enraged speech to Irene. This speech entails how he’s "sick" of her addiction to the radio and disgusted about her stealing jewelry and money from her sister and about the nonchalant manner in which she went to have an abortion (824). Even her coat is symbolic in showing the true nature of the Westcotts. Irene’s coat was "of fitch skins, dyed to resemble mink" (817). The fact that the coat was dyed to resemble something of higher status than it really was can be used as a metaphor to describe the Westcotts’ nature: they were one way when presenting themselves to society (high class and socially conscientious, like the coat and the Westcotts’ marriage both appeared), and another way when they were in the privacy of their own home (not well made, like the coat and how their marriage really was).

Leading Marines Essay

Originator: Lance Corporal Steven M. Spencer / 1262282666 / 0431 Task: Provide an essay summarizing MCWP 6-11 Leading Marines, also answer the question of, ‘Why did the Commandant of the United States Marine Corps want every Marine to read MCWP 6-11’, with 1000-1500 words. Method: By reading MCWP 6-11 Leading Marines, answer and write an analysis on the objectives given per instruction. End State: All guidelines will be followed to the highest standard and while answering these questions give support on the opinionating statements. Chapter 1: Our Ethos For anyone to understand the United States Marine Corps personally, they would have to go through the process of transforming into a Marine. The Marine Corps stands out from every other branch of the any military in the world with a tremendous amount of differences. Yes, we have rank, pay and differences in authority, but what makes Marines more proficient in anything they do more than anybody else? Whenever somebody sees the Eagle, Globe and Anchor instantly they think United States Marine Corps or just the â€Å"Marines.† We hold a standard that is not just known in the United States or is easily taught and absorbed, but known throughout the world. Even though we except having our name tapes on our uniforms receive recognition for reaching impossible goals, we expect to be known as a Marine more than anything. There is no such thing as being selfish in the Marine Corps because Marines are instilled and trained to care for their fellow brothers and sisters who are common, but the traditional way we care for each other is only known in the Marine Corps. A change can and usually only lasts for a short period of time, but a transformation into a Marine is worth a life time. Failure isn’t in the vocabulary of the Marine Corps so we are trained to fight first, never to back down and win. Chapter 2: Foundations Learning the ways to become a Marine and the ways of the Marine Corps will  evermore be the hardest lessons taught to you and to learn in life. No matter if you stay in for one enlistment or two, the depth of the Marine Corps is unknown so knowledge will continuously flow and it is endless. All Marines get taught the basics of being a leader in entry level training, but only a few can react to help form their trait into an elite skill only for them. In order to become the elite you have to build a â€Å"Foundation of Values† (pg.31) so that respect in all aspects will become evident between the followers and their leader(s). While setting the example it does not matter what rank you are, you still show that the standards that you hold will reflect on who you are as a person and a Marine. Each Marine chooses how their standards and ways will become beneficial not only to the Marine Corps, but to themselves also. Why do ethics make conducting a moment of decision making so har d? At some point and time every Marine will come to a point in their career or life where the grey area will be the path they choose, but will not think that it is the right way. Moral and ethic dilemmas are common more and more each day. Every Marine is taught to be the toughest both physically, and mentally. The most profound and scariest ability of a Marine is the Quiet Courage. Even though not everyday a Marine comes to that point, it is a skill that takes time, blood, sweat and tears to achieve. Physically saying something is important, but body language is the most important aspect in life no matter what the circumstance. Having the ability to act without either hesitating or thinking for more than a few seconds about the next step is horrifying. You never know how not only your destiny, but your nation’s destiny and the destiny of your peers will change on a split second decision in combat. That’s why having the brotherhood bond with your peers and showing the mutual respect to your fellow brothers and sisters will help you focus on everyday lessons. Life lessons are endless. Chapter 3: Challenges The uncertainty of making life, perception, war and a new way of life all come into one and into harmony will form friction. The way things throughout your life add up to will either be lessons being taught to yourself or failures for others. What is continuously coming towards Marines everyday is the way of challenging. There is more than one way to challenge you, but what way is that? There will always be challenges for your morals, attitude  and leadership throughout the Marine Corps. Exceeding any expectations will boost not only your moral, but the moral of your peers. Moral Courage is self-sustained, but can be turned on or off in an instant. If the standards cannot be met in tranquility then difficult decisions will become more evident not only in battle, but in peacetime or in peace. Controlling the way a battle goes mentally throughout your Marines is very important, but physical courage, the urge to keep pushing forward is what gave us every reason of why we are known today. Having both moral and physical courage are challenges to overcome, but if adapting to a life style of quick teaching is too difficult for you then unit cohesion or embracing leaders is an imperative move; Also the innovation, winning and being the best Marine you can be will never be applicable to your life. Question: Why did the commandant of the United States Marine Corps want every United States Marine to read MCWP 6-11 Leading Marines? Answer: The main purpose on why I think the commandant of the Marine Corps wanted every marine to read Leading Marines is not only the lessons on how to strive to become a better marine, the book teaches the aspects from the bottom up so a full transformation can be seen. The basics is where every Marine gets the skills to start out with, but then the article goes into depth of what can happen, why you think happens and why it actually happens. Having more than one type of ability all built into one is what sets United States Marines apart from anyone in the world. The focus, leadership and the drive among the elite is what had not just made history, but is currently and forever will be carving the way through the heart of the few and transforming the few to the proud then the proud to the well renown elite Marine.

Gnosticism And Tertullians Development Of Christian...

During a time where Gnostic ideology was one of the heresies gaining momentum, Tertullian and Irenaeus were two of the individuals that brilliantly defended the faith. They saw Gnosticism through the same lens as many other Church Fathers, as nothing else but a heresy. In their time this was a real threat to the true faith that was laid out for them through the Scriptures and through the oral tradition passed down by the apostles. Like many heresies, Gnosticism started off within a Christian foundation. However, what makes it more interesting is that Gnosticism as philosophy or the ideology as a whole may have predated Christianity since we see some epistles arguing against some of the Gnostic principles (Kelly 23). To further refute the heresy, Irenaeus and Tertullian had a tremendous contribution in the development of Christian apologetics. While similar, many have credited Irenaeus to his ecclesiological development and Tertullian to his Christological development in the early Chu rch. Through the writings of Irenaeus, we quickly learn of how he viewed the Scriptures and the apostles. Irenaeus laid his argument by stating a foundation that every Christian would agree with, which was that Christ himself is the ultimate source of Christian doctrine. While this may seem very intuitive, it is because of this foundation that Irenaeus lays out that he is able to further develop his argument. Irenaeus continues with this argument by stating that Christ has revealed his message