The Classroom: An Intellectual Community :: Education Teaching Essays

The Classroom: An Intellectual Community -Perhaps I should have become a professor of Literature rather than a teacher, but for me that would be taking the easy way out. Literature promotes the discussion of ideas, something which most other subjects to do not. So, I want to take those aspects of the college classroom which have most affected my learning process and apply them at a high school level. I believe that the healthiest classroom situation comes not from a philosophy of teaching, but a philosophy of learning. To apply a philosophy to the teaching to literature, then, will be a gradual process for me as I spend more and more time in the classroom. What I do know thus far is that engaging students is crucial—they must be actively listening as well as participating. There needs to be a balance between listening and discussing. Because literature can be so subjective, it is important that I create an environment in which the student feels comfortable with forming and expressing his or her own observations and conclusion, not merely saying what they think I want to hear. If I can accomplish making this type of an environment for learning, I believe that students will be able to learn about an array of ideas about ideas, other people, and themselves. Conflict is essential: both within the classroom and within the subject. Not only do I want to facilitate honest discussion of texts and ideas, but I want to be able to present those conflicts that we may find in the texts themselves. Through these discussions, I hope to encourage my literature and composition students to think of themselves as producers and transmitters of culture rather than as just consumers. They get to have and express their own ideas as well as have their own opinions about someone else’s. This is what reading and writing are about, and as a teacher I feel it is important to teach this by example. I will need to throw myself out there as well, even if that means addressing those subjects which I may feel uncomfortable with. In an attempt to keep students actively involved, I may turn to the internet as a source of learning. In my own experience here at college I had a professor who required us to keep up discussions via the internet. She had a discussion board where students could tell of their interpretations and findings within our readings.

Film Inception Analysis

So, the long awaited film ‘Inception', written and direction by Christopher Nolan, in which Leonardo DiCaprio stars, was finally released. And after weeks of procrastination, I finally sat down and watched it. I had heard from my friends that it was an enthralling movie, with a great plot and truly magnificent acting, but of course I had to decide for myself. The film starts with a memory, or a vision from the future, no one is quite sure. We are then quickly taken back to a time before that memory, and the characters are introduced. We first meet Dom Cobb, a slightly unstable and troubled, but undoubtedly clever, ‘dream thief.' His job, unsurprisingly, involves infiltrating the minds of people and stealing their dreams, to gain an idea of their thoughts and motives. Now at first he seems to be a rather normal man, which a rather abnormal job. However, we are soon introduced to his many flaws and weaknesses. For instance, he often warns his colleagues to never use personal feelings when in a dream, but he constantly takes around the guilt he carries. He feels guilty because his wife committed suicide, and he blames himself. He was trying to extend the idea of mere dream entering, and begin a world changing concept, inception. This means that they would have to plant an idea in someone's mind so that it grows into a feeling and they act upon this feeling, scary stuff really. He did this to his wife successfully, but he made her believe that she was in a dream however she was in reality. We are told that the only way to be released from a dream is to die in the dream, and so she kills herself to return to her ‘reality.' Dom Cobb blames himself for this and so, whenever he enters a dream, she follows him around, attempting to sabotage the whole operation. We are then acquainted with Arthur, Eames, Mr. Saito and Ariadne, and these are all accomplices of the main man. Arthur and Eames are his assistants they support him by acting as his friends or enemies inside the dream. The plot is, to say the least, baffling. Dom Cobb and his buddies decide to enter the mind of one Robert Fischer, to stop him from taking over his father's company and becoming a multimillionaire and providing energy to half the world. Mr. Saito is the man who gives them the job of planting an idea inside Robert Fischer's mind, and so he insists on going into the dream with them. They then go through different levels or phases of dreams, such as level 1, 2 and 3. Level 1 is merely a dream. Level 2 is a dream within a dream, which is confusing, and then Level 3, which is a dream within a dream within a dream, and by this point I was truly bewildered. Although the plot is extremely confusing, it is very well written. The acting is phenomenal, with a special mention going to Leonardo DiCaprio, whose performance was exceptional. It had been said that this film was one which had to be watched twice to gain the full experience and understanding of the plot, and I agree with this wholeheartedly, although it did leave me scratching my head even after the second viewing. The choice of music is also quite good and I was usually left thinking to myself that that song summed up the scene perfectly. The same has to be said with the costumes, they were generally well chosen. The suits were all immaculate, and the snow suits were also quite a nice touch. My favourite scene was definitely the one which confused me the most. The final scene is set in Leonardo DiCaprio's house. He returns, thinking that the children will run away like they normally do, but instead they run towards him. He takes a small object with him, like every other dream thief, to distinguish between dreams and reality. Dom Cobb takes a spinning top, which spins forever when he is in a dream. The viewer thinks he is in a dream, as his children are running back to him, but the spinning top ceases to spin. This, I think, is the scene that confuses many people and it is the reason that many people have to return to see it once more. I hope that ‘Inception' signifies the beginning of a new wave of futuristic films, and if it has paved the way for other similar films to arrive, then I will be glad. This film is definitely worth watching, and I would highly recommend it. While the film is slightly unrealistic in the way that they jovially jump from dream to dream, it is most certainly a film that will stick in my mind for a long time.

Organizational Behavior Human Relations Approach

Organizational behavior basically connotes the study of the thinking of people, their actions and how they feel in an organizational setting (Milner, 2006). Some of the main approaches or perspectives that have been applied in organizational behavior include the human relations approach, scientific management, and the contingency approach. In adopting a contingency approach, managers or leaders in an organization appreciate the complex nature of organizational behavior in the particular organization since it is informed by a diverse range of factors. It implies that managers in organization are obligated, or forced by necessity to develop their own skills on how to manage their organization, depending on the uniqueness of the particular organization. Good managers possess a variety of skills to enable them to overcome the various challenges that present themselves in organizational behavior. They include: the ability to properly identify the various organizational behavior challenges, set out the various underlying causes of such behavioral challenges, crafting strategies for achieving the various behavioral goals of the organization, and adjustment and implementation of the chosen or preferred strategy. What is more, the behavioral challenges encountered today by managers in organizations are compounded by technological and demographical changes in terms of workers, as well as the increasing complexity of the work environment (Milner, 2006). In particular, there is now anShow MoreRelatedIndustrial and Organizational Psychology Essay1154 Words   |  5 Pagesworld (King, 2013). According to the United Nations International Labor Organization, United States worker works more hours and is more productive, but not necessarily more efficient, than their European counter parts (King, 2013). Industrial Organizational Psychology (I/O psychology) applies the science of psychology to work and the workplace (King, 2013) to enhance worker efficiency and productivity. Researchers in the field of I/O psychology looked to find a broad range of topics related toRead MoreEssay on The Department of Veteran Affairs 573 Words   |  3 Pages These three divisions integrate a centralized policy directed/ decentralized execution approach to govern daily operations. Four organizational behaviors (Bureaucratic Politics Approach, Human Relations Approach, Collegial Model, and Supportive Model) can be found within the organizational structure of the DVA. These behaviors are necessary for the organization success. The Bureaucratic Politics Approach is found in the Veteran Benefits Administration, Veteran Health Administration, and NationalRead MoreThe Influence of a Companys Leadership and Culture on Its Business Ethics1541 Words   |  6 Pagesethics Definition of Organizational Culture Organizational culture refers to the values and behaviors essential in the contribution or development of unique social and psychological environment with reference to an organization. This is an indication that organizational culture is inclusive of the expectations, philosophy, values, and experiences that focus on holding an organization together with the aim of enhancing its image and reputation to the outsiders. Organizational culture relates to theRead Moreorganizational behavior1213 Words   |  5 Pages CHAPTER 4 CASE â€Å"EQUITY MOTIVATES EMPLOYEES AT AMERICAN FLATBREAD† 1. Is American Flatbread using a traditional approach to motivation, a human relations approach, or a human resource approach? Explain. American Flatbread is using the combination of a human relations and human resource approach. The management believes that contribution and participation would enhance motivation. They also believe that people would want to contribute anything of importance for the good of the organization.Read MoreEssay on Organizational Conflict775 Words   |  4 PagesConflict 1 Organizational Conflict: The three views Organizational Conflict: The three views Conflict 2 Organizational conflict is a state of discord caused by the actual or perceived opposition of needs, values and interests between people working together. Conflict takes many forms in organizations. There is the inevitable clash between formal authority and power and those individuals and groups affected. There are disputes over how revenues should be divided, how the work should beRead MoreManagement Theory and Practice1736 Words   |  7 PagesBachelor of Science in Human Resource management school of business Management theory and practice – assignment one Name: Taonga Emily mbuzi Computer numb: 1021 Tutor: Mr. Muleya INTRODUCTION Management is a process of working with and through others to achieve organizational objectives within a changing environment. (Kreitner R. 2007, p. 5) it has approaches, theories, principles which need to be learnt in order that we understand the nature ofRead MoreContemporary Approaches758 Words   |  4 Pagesinfluential in both theory and practice. All of these approaches need to be taken into consideration by practicing managers when striving to compete in competitive business environment. Quantitative Management ï‚ · A more scientific and quantifiable approach introuduced during the world war 1 by military planners ï‚ · It applies a mathematical apprpoaches to managerial problems ï‚ · helps management by applying mathematical models of the problem eg, linear programming,simulation,forecasting and breakeven analysisRead MoreHuman Relations Movement1552 Words   |  7 PagesThe main concern of this assignment is the human relations movement and how it eradicated the influence of the classical and scientific management in the industry today. This approach raises some important questions about what are the keys function of the classical-scientific management theory, and the contrast of the worker in the classical-scientific and behavioral management. Some additional points need to be considered such as the Hawthorne studies and also the most important aspect covered isRead MoreThe Neoclassical Organizational Theory Essay633 Words   |  3 PagesThe neoclassical organizational theory, which evolved as a reaction to the rigid, authoritarian structure of the classical organizational theory, focuses on the importance of human relations and behavior in the workplace (Docherty et al., 2001). According to the classical organizational theory, ther e is a single best method to designing an organization. Based on this theory, a manager must have close control over their subordinates, resulting in an organization with tall hierarchies and a narrowRead MoreThe Dynamics of People and Organizations1655 Words   |  7 PagesChapter 1 The Dynamics of People and Organizations Organizational Behavior Organizational Behavior is the study and application of knowledge about how people – as individuals and as groups – act within organizations. Organizational Behavior is a scientific discipline in which a large number of research studies and conceptual developments are constantly adding to its knowledge base. Goals of Organizational Behavior (Most Sciences share four goals) * Describe (How people behave under a variety