Setting Goals and Objectives

The words setting goals is important in that the term can be interpted generally as guidelines that explain what you want to achieve in your life. Goals are for all intence purposes abstract statements of intent that help create a vision of what you are striving to accomplish over a significant period of time. To achieve your goals one must identify, what type of resources one should collect, which skills one should develop, what knowledge one should acquire. In setting the goal one must determine if there is anything one requires in order to achieve their objective before they can reach their goals. The introduction of the objective and activities required in setting goals if fundemental. For example while a particular goal is important to you on its own, objectives and activities are important too. But objectives and activities are for all intense purposes the building blocks of your goals. If an objective or activity does not work to help achieving your goals, then one must change or replace that objective so that it does.

Note that objectives are also more than just activities. Activities are the doing while objectives can be viewed as the effort attached to the action in order to accomplish ones objective. They still contain some challenge in them. Activities are things that you just do. So, while a particular goal is important, objectives and activities are also important too, but they are not as important if they are idependent of each other. To be a success in setting your goals one needs to be both persistent and flexible in one's approach. When one encounters difficulties or unexpected problems, use all your persistence and determination to stick to your goals and this will pay of.  Always try to stay as flexible with your objectives and activities as you can, so one does not undermine oneself. If the way you do things does not work, try another way alter the setting somewhat to get to your goal. Overtime you will find a path that works, when you do stick to it.

Articles to view:

Smart Goal Setting

How to set goals when you have no idea what you want

How to set goals

Manners

We have all heard of the term manners, yet we often find it hard to identify exactly what the term means. Manners are for all intence purposes the foundation blocks upon which we conduct ourselves in or day to day dealings with others. Manners are a way of behaving with reference to politness. They can be viewed in the way a person speaks to or treats another person. In short manners serve to allow us to give consideration for others. At the very centre of good manners is something that is authentic, it is a concern for and respect of other person.

If we think about the term manners we can view them as an enforced standard of conduct that allows the person present themselves in proper and polite and refined way to others. This means manners are a set of standards which we as humans adhere to in the way we behave. Manner's serve as a curtsy or a respectful gesture of acknowledgment of the presence of other people in ones company. What is considered mannerly is highly susceptible to change from culture to culture. In some countries it is deemed rude to belch after eating food in other it is rude not to belch after eating. Other types of manners can centre around things such as:

• Respect differences
• Opening and closing doors for others
• Take compliments courteously
• Listening to people
• Being a good sport
• Cleaning up after yourself
• Using terms, please,yes and no

Manners are taught as we grow and we understand what we are saying when we use the term manners.  Sometime we need to remind ourselves of our manners throughout life.  By being positive and reinforcing our manners overtime we can grow to be much happier and content within and this has positives in the way others view us.

Articles to view:

Essay on Good Manners
Manners
Proper Table Manners

Social Responsible

Social responsibility is an idea that holds the fabric of society together. As active members of society we learn to be responsible for ourselves, other's and the environment around us. Link to this idea of social responsibility is our understanding of our obligation to act to benefit society at large. In the formal sence soical responsibility falls upon many people's or organisation shoulders as they strive to maintain a balance between industry and the ecosystem. A trade-off always exists between economic development, in the material sense, and the welfare of the society and environment. In many ways social responsibility means sustaining the equilibrium between both. As human beings we often develop a deeper level of understanding of social responsibility which includes our awareness and growing appreciation of the environment around us. We are interdependent on each other and our environment.

                              

On our way to becoming adults, the development of social responsibility can help children find out who they are, what they can do and where they fit into the world. Parents and communities can provide opportunities for young people to learn about their world and how to contribute to the greater good and provide recognition to reinforce the values one learns. By creating a caring and loving home environment, teaching young people the importance of their actions and decisions, and teaching them the values of respect and concern for others, parents can build the foundation for social responsibility. Numerous lessons and opportunities abound in every day family life.

When a young person does something that hurts a family member, parents can help them to reflect on how the other person feels as a result of what they did and how they might make amends or do things differently next time. Over time and with regular practice, young people can grow inself control and accountability for their actions. Parents can extend the opportunities to care beyond the family to include others in their community including people in need. They may also teach how a small act can make a big difference.


Articles to view:

What is Social Responsibility?
Social Responsibility
Individual Social Responsibility

Disability and Education

A disability can be a physical or mental condition that limits a person's in some way. In education students whom exhibit these conditions are often put at a disadvantage. Areas such as behaviour disorders and learning, physical, hearing or vision impairment can hamper the progress of an individual student therefore they often require modified supports while partisipating in the education system. If we think of a disability it is generally defined as a condition which may restrict a student's mental, sensory, or mobility functions in undertaking or perform a task in the same way as a other student who does not have a disability.

Disabilities affect people in different ways. Non disabled students associate the disabled student with someone whom is unable to participate in class. Just because the student is in a wheelchair, or who is blind or deaf they should not be viewed as a hinderence. This is the negitive attitude. Non disabled students often view students with a disability in a totally different manner seeing the disability first and not the person and therefore they view the disabled student as needing to be treated differently. Unfortunately, this kind of stereotyping is in itself a form of discrimination. The only thing that separates a person with a disability is that, for one reason or another, they are unable to do certain things in the same way as a non disabled student can. It is often the case that a disabled student may require some form of adaptation or alteration to assist them to overcome the effect of their disability.

These could be through the regular classroom, with support of modified curriculum or additional human resources, placement in special classes within regular schools - which may be smaller in size, allowing for more individual attention. However, if the students impairment is significant, it may mean placement in special schools, again with smaller class groups and other modifications to meet the person's needs. In addition, other resources such as transport, building modifications, maybe required. Individual Education Plans and technology, designed to make learning as easy, enjoyable and effective as possible is critical. The preferred education system should be all inclusive approach wherever possible, taking into account the level of impairment involved, the special needs of an individual student and the needs of other students who may be affected must also be considered.

Disabled people are much more likely than the non-disabled to leave school without any qualifications. According to research by the Disability Rights Commission, disabled students are often faced with discrimination, some of which is extremely prejudiced and most of which is subtle stereotyping based around assumptions and expectations. Disabled students are often perceived as dependent and lacking the ability of their non-disabled peers.

Mainstreaming Equalities

Socail Model Approach
Disability Gov

Cyber Safety

Online safety is about behavior, not so much technology. It is important to understand that bad online behavior leads to risks. Protecting personal information such as telephone number, home address and pictures of identification is a must. Reducing a person exposer to harm is also about teaching people to understand the risks they face while online and teach the individual to change their online behavior that cause parents the greatest worries. Parents often struggle with the idea of teaching young people about online safety. In many cases young people are so much more on top of technology, that it makes it difficult for parent's to deal with the problems, as may young people can just switch off.

 

Online safety is seldom about technology, but has more to do the young person's behavior. The choices they make about what information to share with people is at the centre of online saftey. Ask yourself this would you place all your personal detail's outside in your garden for all to see. Online saftey is just about that, Why post your personal information on the web or put your trust in someome whom you only encountered while browsing the internet? 

This key to Cyber Saftey is just this:

• Never post your personal details. (like telephone numbers, address, their full name and school).
• Parents/Guardians should make sure your child does not spend all of thier time on the computer.
• People, not computers, should be their best friends and companions.
• Keep the computer located in an area where it can be seen and viewed, not in your young persons bedroom.
• Learn how to use computers so you can all enjoy using the net safely.
• Teach the young person never to meet an online friend offline unless you are with them.
• Monitor your son or daughters activities online.
• Make sure that your child feels comfortable coming to you with questions they may have.
• Don’t over react if things go wrong, help the young person deal with the problems.
• Keep the young person from going into chatrooms, or the like, unless they are monitored.
• Talk to your children, find out what they like online.
• Get to know their online friends.
• Warn the young person about the way some people us online methods to entrap people into potentially dangerous situations.

By asking questions of yourself about what I need to know you will gain much more experience with making those types of judgments calls on whom you and your child will interact with online. You can then help educate other people in how to stay safe. Remember empowering yourself. is the best form of cyber safety there is.

Articles to be view:

FBI.GOV
Digital Literacy
Cyber Smart

Conflict Resolution

Conflict is a normal and necessary part of healthy relationships. After all, if you think about it, two people can’t be expected to agree on everything at all times. Learning how to deal with conflict is really important. Rather than avoiding it embrace it. It is crucial that we learn how to deal with conflict. When conflict is mismanaged, it can harm the relationship. However, on the other side when handled in a respectful and positive way, conflict can provide an opportunity for growth, ultimately strengthening the bond between two people. By learning the skills you need for successful conflict resolution, we can then learn to face disagreements with confidence. By learning to deal with conflict you can and keep your relationships with people strong and growing.

 

 

Conflict arises from differences. It occurs whenever people disagree over their values, motivations, perceptions, ideas, or desires. In many cases these differences may look trivial, but when a conflict triggers strong feelings they can be destructive to all concerned. When we view our feelings there is a deep personal need at the core of the problem.

• The need might centre around a want to feel safe and secure, respected, valued, a need for fulfilment whatever the need one must try and take care of oneself.
• Try not to do harm to other person's involved in the conflict.
• Be as clear as possible when discussing matters.
• Clarify your needs.
• Point out the possible threats in the dispute (i.e. difficulties being encountered).
• Learn to listen and take a stance in the interaction.
• Be willing to be flexiable.
• Be calm, respectful and patient.
• Work towards solving the problem

Conflict resolution is a skill that if practiced correctly can serve to strength relationships, but if practiced incorrectly it becomes an ineffective way to deal with issues. Most of the mistakes we make in dealing with ways to resolve issues may stem from our inability to recognise we are often making assumptions about what we think other person wants or needs. And usually the conflict at hand may reflect a much deeper issue that each side is trying to resolve. It is important to apply common sense and view the difficulties we encounter as stubling blocks to get over and not a wall that we cannot climb.

Articles to view:

 

Conflict Resolution

Academic Leadership Support Conflict Resolution
Mind Tools Conflict Resolution

School Bullying

"Bullying involves an initial desire to hurt, this desire is expressed in action, someone is hurt, the action is directed by a more powerful person or group, it is without justification, it is typically repeated, and it is done so with evident enjoyment." Ken Rigby (1998). Bullying includes a wide variety of behaviors, most all involve a person or a group whom repeatedly trying to harm someone who is weak and at a vulnerable point in their life.

Attacks (such as hitting, threatening or intimidating, maliciously teasing and taunting, name-calling, making sexual remarks, and stealing or damaging belongings) or more subtle, indirect attacks (such as spreading rumors or encouraging others to reject or exclude someone) cause considerable damage to the individual.

  

Bullying can be direct to indirect harassment, ranging from minor irritation to major assault. People whom engage in this from of bullying often say they are, just having a bit of fun, but some individuals go beyond fun breaking the law raping,stabbing and physically harming their victim.

A student can be bullied by one person or more for years.

Bullying can happen sporadically or over a long period of time.

Bullying occurs in primary, secondary, boarding school and college institutions.

Students whom are targeted often feel powerless and alone. This is critical issue because the extent of the type of abuse be it physical, psychological and other damage that injures the victim, serves to have a lasting impact. The impact on the target is made worse by fear of future attacks and fear others won't help or carer. The bullies might not realise at a conscious level that their behaviours are mean or abusive. At an unconscious level the bully may not knows that they are underming the victim that they're taking the target's power away and self respect away.

Articles to view

COPS: Bullying in School
Safe School Project
School Bullying
Bullying at School