Sustainability and Waste Management

Sustainability and Waste Management Introduction The rapid economic development of Australia has underlined the necessity to minimize the impact of human activities on the environment. Scientists and public administrators pay close attention to waste management. One can say that the increasing dependence on landfills is one of the problems that should be addressed by policy-makers.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Sustainability and Waste Management specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This paper is aimed at showing that people recover energy from waste, rather than deposit it in landfills. This is the main thesis that should be elaborated. Overall, this strategy has several important advantages that can be of great value to Australian community. In particular, it can reduce water, air and soil pollution caused by disposing of refuse in landfills. Secondly, this approach can decrease the cost of energy, and this opportunity is important for the economic sus tainability of the country. Finally, in the future, this approach can improve the use of land in various urban areas. These are the main aspects that can be singled out. The challenges associated with landfills In order to examine this topic, one should first illustrate the problems that are associated with landfills in Australia. It should be mentioned that during the period between 2001 and 2007, the amount of waste, which was deposited in landfills, grew by approximately 12 percent (Australian Bureau of Statistics 2013). In 2001, there were 19 million tons, while in 2007 there were 21.3 million tons (Australian Bureau of Statistics 2013). Overall, one can speak about commercial, industrial, and municipal waste that is not recycled in any away (Australian Bureau of Statistics 2013). This trend is likely to continue in the future. It should be noted that the dependence on landfills can increase in the future due to the rapid demographic growth of the Australian society. This argume nt is particularly relevant, if one speaks about large urban areas such as Sydney or Melbourne that attract people from different parts of the world. There are several challenges that are associated with the growth of landfills, for example, leachates or emissions to water, visual disamenities, or the release of greenhouse gases (BDA Group 2009, p. 4). Moreover, one should bear in mind that approximately 30 percent of Australian landfills do not have the technologies that can enable them to capture methane and other chemicals that can produce an adverse on the environment (Lancaster 2012, p. 133). Thus, the increasing reliance on landfills can contribute to greenhouse effect (BDA Group 2009).Advertising Looking for essay on environmental studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Furthermore, one should not forget that the decomposition of waste is a very time-consuming process (Lancaster 2012, p. 133). In some cases, the decomposition can take from 50 to 450 years (Lancaster 2012, p. 133). This is why this trend should not be overlooked by policy-makers who must ensure the environmental sustainability of the country. In particular, they need to find some viable alternatives to landfills that cannot remain the only approach to waste management. The benefits of waste-to-energy technologies There are several solutions to this problem, and one of them is the recovery of energy from waste. The most widespread method of achieving this goal is the incineration of refuse. In the past, policy-makers did not favor this approach because the incineration of waste could result in the emissions of various toxic materials such as dioxins and fly ash that can pose a threat to the health of a person (Afgan Carvalho 2002). However, in the course of the last two decades, waste-to-energy (WtE) technologies have considerably evolved and their negative impacts have been minimized (Worrell Vesilind 2011). For exampl e, modern incineration facilities emit a smaller amount of CO2 in comparison with landfills (Letcher 2008, p. 151). This is one of issues that should be considered by public administrators. Additionally, there are other methods of deriving energy from waste. For example, one can mention pyrolysis, thermal depolymerization, or plasma arc classification (Letcher 2008, p. 151). These processes can produce fuel-cell hydrogen, biodiesel, bioethanal, or crude oil that are necessary for the generation of energy (Letcher 2008, p. 151). These techniques can be useful for processing different types of waste. Furthermore, such processes can minimize the emission of toxic substances into air. Thus, one should not suppose that incineration is the only technique that can be used. To a great extent, these examples suggest that technological developments can help people generate from waste. This is one of the points that can be made.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Sustain ability and Waste Management specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More There are several examples that can illustrate the usefulness of WtE technologies. For instance, this approach minimizes the release of various greenhouse gases as carbon dioxide, methane, or nitrogen oxides (Afgan Carvalho 2002, p. 445). These substances can be used for the generation of energy. More importantly, this approach can be a valuable tool for decreasing the greenhouse effect which is caused by methane or carbon dioxide (Worrell Vesilind 2011). This is the main environmental benefits of transforming refuse into a source of energy. Furthermore, these technologies can decrease the overall quantity of waste by more than 80 percent (Worrell Vesilind 2011). This benefit should not be overlooked by public administrators because in the future, the increasing amount of refuse can prevent the community from making an effective use of land in various urban areas of Australia w hich become much more populated (Australian Bureau of Statistics 2013). Furthermore, the growth of landfills can be attributed to intensifying economic activities. Thus, one should find ways of addressing this problem in the following years. To a great extent, the adoption of WtE technologies can be important for improving the environmental sustainability of the country and overall quality of life. These are some of the main examples that can be distinguished. Additionally, this strategy can help the national economy overcome its dependence on natural resources such as oil, natural gas, or coal that may eventually become depleted (Afgan Carvalho 2002, p. 445). It should be kept in mind, waste can be used to generate approximately 20 percent of electric power that urban areas need (Worrell Vesilind 2011, p. 23). Overall, the investment in these technologies can enable the country to save the cost of generating energy and use it for other purposes such as healthcare or education. Ye t, this opportunity is often lost nowadays. For example, a signification fraction of municipal waste combustible; furthermore, it can be used for the generation of energy (Worrell Vesilind 2011, p. 23). However, in many cases, it is not processed at all because there are not many facilities that can recover energy from this type of waste. The need to find alternative sources of energy can become even more urgent at the time when the price of fossil fuels increases.Advertising Looking for essay on environmental studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This is why the community should consider the benefits of WtE technologies because they can make Australia more self-sufficient. This is one of the issues that should be singled out because it is important for understanding the economic aspects of waste management. Admittedly, the recovery of energy from waste is not the only approach that policy-makers can consider. In particular, one should not forget about such a strategy as recycling which can also be viewed as a good alternative to landfills. In many cases, it can be a valid solution to environmental and economic problems. Nevertheless, this method is not always sufficient for reducing the volume of refuse. The problem is that some materials such as polymers cannot be effectively recycled. However, they can be used for the generation of energy. Therefore, one should not disregard the use of WtE technologies since these tools can decrease the amount of waste produced by various human activities. Conclusion Overall, this discussi on shows that by recovering energy from waste, one can derive considerable environmental and economic benefits. At present, the Australian community should find some alternative to landfills because the volume of refuse increases significantly due to demographic growth and intensifying economic activities. The use of various WtE technologies is helpful for reducing the volume of waste that can originate from households or commercial enterprises. Secondly, this type of processing minimizes the emissions of substances that contribute to greenhouse effects. Apart from that, this approach is critical for reducing the dependence on fossil fuels that can eventually become depleted. These are the main issues that can be identified. References Afgan, N Carvalho, M 2002, New and Renewable Technologies for Sustainable Development, Springer, New York. Australian Bureau of Statistics 2013, Waste Disposed to Landfills. Web. BDA Group 2009, The full cost of landfill disposal in Australia. Web. L ancaster, S 2012, Green Australia, Wakefield Press, Melbourne. Letcher, T 2008, Future Energy: Improved, Sustainable and Clean Options for our Planet, Elsevier, Boston. Worrell, W, Vesilind, P 2011, Solid Waste Engineering, SI Edition, Cengage Learning, New York. Sustainability and Waste Management Executive Summary The waste assessment was conducted to identify the waste generating processes and how to minimize waste at Nowra Chemical Manufacturers. The assessment indicates that wastes are mainly generated during the production of various chemicals. Specifically, wastewater is produced in the process of cleaning the manufacturing facilities. The wastewater is collected in a single waste tank where the chemicals in it mix to form solid waste (sludge).Advertising We will write a custom case study sample on Sustainability and Waste Management specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Thus, the main waste minimization opportunity is to eliminate the formation of sludge. This can be achieved by installing at least three different waste tanks to collect wastewater. Wastewater that contains a specific chemical will be collected in a particular tank to prevent sludge formation. This strategy will enable the company to reduce the cost of waste m anagement significantly. Description of the Facility Nowra Chemical Manufacturers (NCM) is a medium sized producer of various chemical products in Australia. The company has employed 45 people who are specialized in various disciplines such as chemical engineering. The company produces â€Å"over 200 specialty chemicals, which include various detergents, cleaning products, and disinfectants† (NCM 2014). These products are manufactured in the company’s production facility that covers 5 acres of land. The company’s production site is located in Nowra, New South Wales. The site has three sections, which include the administration block, the storage area, and the factory. The factory area has 24 reactor tanks that are used for various chemical processes (NCM 2014). It also has 38 mixing vessels that are used to blend various chemicals and raw materials. The capacities of the vessels vary from 200 to 20,000 liters. The factory has 20 tanks that are used for bulk stor age of raw materials and finished products that are in liquid form. Currently, the company’s waste management practices focus on reducing discharge of effluent into the ambient environment. In this regard, the company has built bund walls to prevent spillage of wastewater and chemicals. The company also recycles wastes and steam to reduce pollution. Moreover, it strives to reduce the wash down water that it uses to dispose wastes from 50KL to 30 KL per week. These practices cost the company $60,000 annually (NCM 2014). Rationale for Waste Assessment The reasons for conducting the waste assessment include the following. First, it will help the company to comply with the regulations in its industry. The government of Australia requires all manufacturers to submit annual reports on the amount of wastes that they discharge into the environment (Chauhan 2008, p. 57). Manufacturers are also required to report on the actions that they have taken to reduce pollution. Second, the asse ssment will enable the company to achieve its desire to reduce wastes. The assessment has identified the areas that require improvement in terms of reduction in waste production. It has also recommended strategies for reducing the wastes. Third, implementation of the recommended waste reduction measures will enable the company to reduce its operating costs.Advertising Looking for case study on environmental studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Methodology Waste Assessment and Data Collection Site visits were conducted in order to collect the data that was required for the assessment. The first visit focused on collection of firsthand information concerning the operations at the manufacturing site. Specifically, the aim of the visit was to identify the sources of the wastes, the disposal routes, waste generation rates, and the composition of the wastes. Subsequent visits were conducted in order to review the compa ny’s waste management system. The main objective of the subsequent visits was to identify opportunities for waste minimization and safe disposal of wastes. The data used for the assessment was collected through the following strategies. First, interviews were conducted during the site visits to collect information concerning the waste generation processes. The interviewees included the company’s technical manager, production engineer, and the general manager. Second, observations were made during the site visits to identify the waste disposal routes and the composition of the wastes generated by the company. Finally, data was collected by reviewing relevant documents such as the company’s environmental sustainability reports, financial statements, and strategic plans for waste management. These documents provided important information such as the amount of waste generated per year, the cost of disposing the wastes, and the strategies being used by the company to minimize waste. Waste Generating Processes The company’s wastes mainly consist of solid and liquid materials. Sludge is the main solid waste produced by the company. The liquid waste mainly consists of used water and toxic liquid chemicals. The liquid waste is often treated before being discharged into the ambient environment. This helps in reducing the environmental effects of various toxicants in the liquid wastes (Kumar 2007, p. 78). NCM produces a large number of chemicals on a regular basis to meet the needs of its customers. As a result, it uses a wash down approach to clean vital facilities such as reactors and mixing vessels after every operation. This process generates large volumes of wastewater that is contaminated with various chemicals (NCM 2014). The wastewater and toxic liquid chemicals are collected in a waste tank where they are treated before being discharged into the environment. However, mixing the liquid wastes in the tank leads to formation of large qua ntities of solid wastes in the form of sludge. Overall, the company produces 25 tons of solid waste (sludge) and 2,400 KL of wastewater annually (NCM 2014).Advertising We will write a custom case study sample on Sustainability and Waste Management specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The disposal route begins at the waste tank where the liquid wastes are collected. The sludge produced in this tank is transferred to another tank where it is diluted and discharged into the company’s sewer. The sludge that remains in the tank is shoveled into filter bags to separate water from any solid wastes (NCM 2014). The sludge is then disposed in landfills that have been hired by the company. The cost of disposing the wastes is very high due to the inefficiencies in the company’s waste management system (Australian Government 2008). In particular, the waste management system is labor intensive since most of the processes such as shovelin g sludge is done manual. Additionally, the solid wastes have to be transported by trucks to landfills where they are disposed. Overall, the company spends approximately $60,000 annually to dispose its wastes. Results from the Waste Assessment Solid Wastes Analysis Sludge formation in the company’s waste stream is mainly caused by 41 chemical products that are regularly produced (NCM 2014). The 41 chemicals are categorized into three groups namely, anions, nonions, and others (disinfectants, emulsions, and oils). These chemicals react differently when mixed in wastewater as shown in table 1. Table 1 Chemicals in wastewater Results Anions mixed with anions No sludge is produced Nonions mixed with nonions No sludge is produced Disinfectants, emulsions, and oils mixed together Sludge is produced Nonions mixed with anions Sludge is produced Anions mixed with disinfectants, emulsions, and oils Sludge is produced Nonions mixed with disinfectants, emulsions, and oils S ludge is produced The production rate of each of the three categories of chemicals that produce sludge is summarized in table 2. Table 2 Chemical category Tons per year Anions 696 Nonions 571 Disinfectants, emulsions, and oils 433 Total 1,700 Waste Management Costs Table 3 presents a detailed analysis of the cost of managing the company’s solid and liquid wastes.Advertising Looking for case study on environmental studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Item Cost per unit in $ Cost per year in $ Water intake 0.30 per KL 3,487 Effluent Regular wastewater 0.04 per KL 461 BOD wastewater 0.70 per KL 2,822 Suspended solids 0.55 per KL 2,028 Labor 40 per hour 31,200 Equipment operation 876 Warehousing/ storage 8,250 Transportation (sludge) 75.30 per ton 1,920 Neutralizers 8,400 Figure 1: comparison of waste management cost items Figure 2: Six-year waste management costs Analyses of Results Waste Generation Table 1 indicates that solid waste (sludge) is generated when wastewater that contains different categories of chemicals mix. In addition, sludge is produced when wastewater that contains disinfectants, emulsions, and oils mix. Table 2 shows that anions form the largest share (40.94%) of the chemicals that cause sludge formation. Thus, much of the sludge formation can be attributed to wastewater that contains anions. The data presented in table 1 and 2 means that generation of solid waste can be reduced if the company avoids mixing wastewater that contains different chemicals. Table 3 and figure 1 indicate that labor is the major cost item in the company’s waste management budget. This is attributed to the fact that the waste management system is labor intensive. Figure 2, shows that the waste management costs have been increasing in the last six years. Thus, the company has to minimize its wastes in order to reduce its operating costs. Waste Minimization Opportunities The alternatives that the company can adopt to minimize waste include reduction of wastewater and solid wastes. Reduction of wastewater is likely to reduce the costs associated with treating wastes and discharging them into the ambient environment (Anand 2010, p. 89). However, achieving significant wastewater reduction will be difficult since future increase in production will lead to increased water intake. However, the company can achieve significant reduction in solid waste generation if it integrates clean pr oduction principles in its operations (Berkel 2000). In particular, the formation of sludge can be eliminated if the wastewater is discharged according to the chemicals that it contains. This means that the wastewater that contains each chemical will be discharged in a separate tank, thereby eliminating the formation of sludge (solid waste). Cost Benefit Analysis The costs associated with implementing clean production principles in order to reduce solid wastes include the following. First, the company will incur the costs associated with modifying its waste disposal system in order to prevent wastewater with different chemicals from mixing. Second, the company will incur the costs associated with conducting chemical mixing trails in order to identify more chemicals that are likely to form sludge when mixed. Finally, the company will have to train its employees on how to implement the new waste disposal system. In this case, the company will have to pay for the training if it is outs ourced. The benefits of implementing the new waste disposal system include the following. First, the volume of solid waste (sludge) will reduce considerably. As a result, the cost of disposing wastes will reduce significantly. Second, the company will not be required to change its production system by eliminating some products or using alternative raw materials (Australian Government 2008). Thus, the company will improve its competitiveness by reducing its waste management costs without changing its product range. Third, reducing sludge formation will reduce labor costs significantly. Labor costs will reduce because disposal of sludge is labor intensive. Finally, the storage space that is currently being used to store large filter bags that are used in the solid waste disposal system will be available for storing other items. Savings Analysis The new waste management system will enable the company to realize cost reductions as shown in table 4. Cost reduction will be achieved in wat er intake, labor, warehousing, and transportation. Table 4 Item Current cost per year in $ Expected cost per year in $ Savings per year in $ Water intake 3,487 3,200 287 Effluent Regular wastewater 461 461 0 BOD wastewater 2,822 2,822 0 Suspended solids 2,028 2,028 0 Labor 31,200 10,400 20,800 Equipment operation 876 1,000 -124 Warehousing/ storage 8,250 2,750 5,500 Transportation (sludge) 1,920 640 1,280 Neutralizers 8,400 8,500 -100 Total 59,444 31,801 27,643 Recommendations for Waste Minimization Objectives The aims of future waste minimization include the following. The first objective is to reduce the volume of solid waste (sludge) by 60% in the next two years. The second objective is to reduce the volume of wastewater from 2,400KL to 1,200 KL (50%) in the next two years. The final objective is to train all the five employees who are working in the technical department on the new waste management system. The waste minimization strategy is to prevent sl udge formation at the disposal point. In this regard, the waste disposal system will be modified by installing different waste tanks to collect wastewater that contains each of the major chemicals that produce sludge. The reduction in sludge formation will lead to reduction of wastewater since little water will be required to dilute solid wastes at the treatment plant (Berkel 2000). Implementing the Recommendations The first stage should focus on conducting chemical mixing trials to identify all the chemicals that are likely to form sludge when mixed. This will enable the company to determine the number of waste tanks that it should install to dispose wastewater that contains various types of chemicals. The second stage should focus on training the employees on the new waste management system. The training should focus on improving environmental conservation awareness among the employees, cleaning procedures, installing waste disposal facilities, and effluent management. In the last stage, the company should modify the effluent stream by installing at least three waste tanks to collect wastewater that contains each of the three types of chemicals that have already been identified as major causes of sludge formation. Each tank should have a unique color to prevent confusion during disposal of wastewater. Timeframe for the Implementation Activity to be implemented Time Chemical mixing trials 3 months Training employees 8 months Modifying the effluent stream 12 months References Anand, S 2010, Solid Waste Management, McGraw-Hill, New York. Australian Government 2008, Cleaner Production Demonstration Project at Nowra Chemical Manufacturers,. Web. Berkel, R 2000, Cleaner Production for Process Industries. Web. Chauhan, B 2008, Environmental Studies, McGraw-Hill, New York. Kumar, A 2007, Environmental Studies, John Wiley and Sons, New Delhi. NCM 2014, About Us: Sustainability. Web.

How to Revise Your Paper for Clarity

How to Revise Your Paper for Clarity Writing and revising a paper is a time-consuming and messy process, and this is exactly why some people experience anxiety about writing long papers. It’s not a task that you can finish in a single sitting- that is, you can’t if you want to do a good job. Writing is a process that you do a little bit at a time. Once you come up with a good draft, it’s time to revise. Ask yourself the following questions as you go through the revision process. Does the Paper Fit the Assignment? Sometimes we can get so excited about something we find in our research that it sets us off in a new and different direction. It’s perfectly fine to veer off in a new direction, as long as the new course doesn’t lead us outside the bounds of the assignment. As you read over a draft of your paper, take a look at the directional words used in the original assignment. There is a difference between analyze, examine, and demonstrate, for example. Did you follow the directions? Does the Thesis Statement Still Fit the Paper? A good thesis statement is a vow to your readers. In one single sentence, you stake a claim and promise to prove your point with evidence. Very often, the evidence we gather doesn’t â€Å"prove† our original hypothesis, but it does lead to new discovery. Most writers have to re-work the original thesis statement so it accurately reflects the findings of our research. Is My Thesis Statement Specific and Focused Enough? â€Å"Narrow your focus!† You’re very likely to hear that many times as you progress through the gradesbut you shouldn’t get frustrated by hearing it time and again. All researchers have to work hard at zooming in on a narrow and specific thesis. It’s just part of the process. Most researchers revisit the thesis statement several times before they (and their readers) are satisfied. Are My Paragraphs Well-organized? You can think of your paragraphs as little mini-essays. Each one should tell its own little story, with a beginning (topic sentence), a middle (evidence), and an end (concluding statement and/or transition). Is My Paper Organized? While your individual paragraphs may be well-organized, they may not be well-positioned. Check to make sure that your paper flows from one logical point to another. Sometimes good revision starts with good old cut and paste. Does My Paper Flow? Once you make certain that your paragraphs are placed in a logical order, you will need to revisit your transition statements. Does one paragraph flow right into another? If you run into trouble with, you might want to review some transition words for inspiration. Did you Proofread for Confusing Words? There are several pairs of words that continue to vex the most accomplished writers. Examples of confusing words are except/accept, whose/who’s, and effect/affect. It’s easy and quick to proofread for confusing word errors, so don’t omit this step from your writing process. You can’t afford to lose points for something so avoidable!

Catabolite Repression and Induction of Beta-galactosidase Synthesis Lab Report

Catabolite Repression and Induction of Beta-galactosidase Synthesis - Lab Report Example Apart from induction, synthesis rate is determined by catabolite repression, whereby it slows down the synthesis of beta-galactosidase especially in the presence of a better carbon (and energy) source, such as glucose. In this experiment, Escherichia coli (E. coli) is used as the bacteria to induce synthesis of enzyme ÃŽ ²-galactosidase. The results support lactose metabolism by newly synthesised beta-galactosidase and also, quantitatively, IPTG is a more effective inducer of beta-galactosidase synthesis than lactose. In order to regulate the gene expression levels in a cell, there are certain mechanisms that must be considered in operation. In which case, the regulation is considered at transcription and translation levels or the stability of messenger RNA. The aforementioned can only work in regulation based on the synthesis of a particular protein. Consequently, it comes out as a subject of importance to investigate the regulation of transcription of bacterial genes. For this case, Escherichia coli (E. coli) is used as the bacteria to induce synthesis of enzyme ÃŽ ²-galactosidase. Escherichia coli (E. coli) can produce the enzyme ÃŽ ²-galactosidase which breaks lactose into galactose and glucose. Synthesis of the enzyme beta-galactosidase is induced in wild-type E. coli strains in response to the presence of lactose, the enzymes natural substrate (Ring, 1999, 80). The inducer, lactose, is usually the molecule broken down by the enzyme system. Worth noting is the ability of E.coli to solely use lactose as a carbon source regardless of the presence of glucose. A more stable inducer that lactose, IPTG (Isopropyl ÃŽ ²-D-1-thiogalactopyranoside) helps in inducing expression of the enzyme without being metabolized in the process. Apart from induction, synthesis of ÃŽ ²-galactosidase is also influenced by catabolite repression. The process involves slow down of the synthesis process, facilitated by lactose, especially when a presence of glucose is detected. Intuitively, glucose acts as a better energy and carbon source than lactose (Wallenfels, 1972, 67). When given both sugars, E.coli will not synthesize beta-galactosidase until all of the glucose is first exhausted from the medium.

MoD 3 Case Assign Promotion; Advertising, Selling Essay

MoD 3 Case Assign Promotion; Advertising, Selling - Essay Example ondly, old navy company has targeted this population since it is one of the underutilized potential of the male population since for a long time people have assumed that male population does not like shopping. However, this is fallacious since the only different thing about shopping for the male population is that they have different shopping habits than those for women. These facts on male usage of mobile phones were corroborated by research that was conducted in France, Germany, Italy, Spain and UK which found out that for every female that accessed mobile banking, there were twice as much men who accessed the service; this proved that mobile usage among men was higher compared to that of women. Studies carried out to determine the effectiveness of gender based ads in relation the gender-neutral ones showed that the gender specific adverts were likely to generate more traffic compared to the gender-neutral ones therefore, targeting the adverts towards men would likely bring more traffic to the sites that hosted the adverts online. In addition, it has been found out adverts that are specifically targeted towards men generate up to five times more revenue than the gender neutral ones. Ads that are targeted toward men found out the likelihood of men returning back to the site to make purchases were more compared to those targeting women or the gender neutral ones (Behind the campaign: Old Navy goes after men in new ad push, 2011). Since the promotion was to be in form of mobile content and in online sites such as YouTube and Facebook, the choice of this generation, which is also referred to as the millennials is perfect due to their comfort in using technology (Digital marketing works better for Millennials than TV, 2012; Zeng, Huang & Dou, 2009). In addition, this generation has been used to on demand entertainment and continual stimulation making it perfect for online ads. Due to the demands of this generation, televisions ads would not be effective as they only

Improving Primary Education In Rural Areas Education Essay

Improving Primary Education In Rural Areas Education Essay There is no doubt that the need of improving the quality of primary schools particularly in rural areas is very urgent for government. One of the most promising solution is through utilization of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). In this paper we present our effort and work in improving the quality of primary school teachers and the students learning process so that improves the quality of primary education. This work is part of our research project undertaken in Keerom Regency, Papua Province that is funded by Directorate General for Highly Education Ministry of National Education. Keywords: rural digital learning, primary school, teachers quality, students learning process INTRODUCTION The problem of national education quality has gained much attention recently. A major weakness in rural primary schools is the lack of qualified teachers needed to deliver the lessons in a classroom, primarily in Math and Sciences. Field observations show that most primary school teachers have non-Math and Science background and they deliver these subjects in conventional ways. The result, students misunderstand many abstract concepts of Math and Sciences [1]. The need of improving the quality of education for primary schools is urgently required, particularly for those in rural areas. In our recent studies, one of the most effective approaches to address this issue is by utilizing Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). Studies in [5] reveal that ICT is a key weapon in the war against world proverty in number critial areas including education, healtcare, government, trade, and small business support. Further, Teresa states that ICT-based solutions that work in develop countries cannot simply be transplanted to developing country environments. The solutions must be based on an understanding of local needs and conditions. Through funding grant from Directorate General for Highly Education Ministry of National Education, ITB Research Center on Information and Communication Technology conducts a research program to improve the quality of primary school teachers and improve the students learning process so that improves the quality of primary education, particularly for those in rural areas in Indonesia. In this paper, we report our effort and work on progress in designing and implementing ICT-based environment and learning process for primary schools in Keerom-Papua. In the next section, we provide the overview of related work. In section 3, we describe our work on designing and implementing ICT-based environment and learning process for primary schools in Keerom-Papua. Section 4 presents the challenges of deploying a digital learning system in rural area. Section 5 describes the conclusion of the research. RELATED WORK Our prior work in Research Center on Information and Communication Technology Bandung Institute of Technology suggest that ICTs plays important role as an alternative for delivering learning programs in primary schools such as through virtual class application. We hope that these programs can address some issues in rural areas including the disparity of high quality teacher distribution and the existence of many hard-to-reach geographical locations. Recent studies reveal that the use of ICTs will offer some benefit in improving the quality of primary education. ICT can broaden information access needed by teachers and students as foundation for developing knowledge-based community of teachers and students, ICT can improve the efficiency of learning process as well as improve the teachers and students skills, and ICT can maintain continuing and long life learning. Further, the use of ICTs for improving the teacherss quality and learning process is summarized as follows [1]: ICT for Teachers: developing teacher community network, learning resource repositories, and teaching best practices repositories. ICT for Class: creating virtual class that will help teacher delivering the lesson. ICT for Laboratory: consisting of virtual laboratory and sctructured computer lab. ICT for Students: creating a condusive environtment for students self-learning. ICT for Community: allowing the learning process to be delivered and conducted from anywhere and anytime (e.g. particularly from homes). Both of concepts of ICT for Teachers and ICT for Class have been implemented in a pilot project that was funded by ITB research grant [1]. The project involves two primary schools in Subang (representing rural primary school whose teachers have little knowledge about using computer), two primary school in Bandung (representing urban school whose teachers are computer literate) and one primary school in Cianjur (representing a sub-urban school with modest knowledge of computer usage). Learn from our own experiences, we bring that model to be implemented in Keerom-Papua. IMPLEMENTATION In this paper, we present our work last year in designing and implementing ICT-based environment and learning process for primary schools in Keerom-Papua. Actually, the system deployment consists of two main activities: i) deployment of digital learning infrastructure that is connecting all PC-based terminals and network devices through TCP/IP protocols and ii) deployment of digital learning programs that is providing several ICT-based learning applications and processes such as web-based teachers collaboration (ICT for Teachers) and virtual classroom (ICT for Class). WiFi-based Infrastructure The pilot project in Keerom-Papua involves three primary schools, as participants are SD Inpres I Arso 2, SD Inpres Arso 6, and SD Inpres Arso 7 and one secondary school as center of the community is SMAN Arso. Kantor Dinas Keerom is prepared for the future deployment. Table 1 shows the GPS-based survey from some locations. Table 1. The GPS-based survey Location Latitude Longitude Altitude Kantor Dinas Keerom S 2.91 E 140.77 69,1 m SD Inpres 1 Arso 2 S 2.91 E 140.75 57.3 m SMAN 1 Keerom S 2.87 E 140.74 43.1 m SD Inpres Arso 6 S 2.83 E 140.74 44.1 m SD Inpres Arso 7 S 2.77 E 140.76 35.0 m The deployment of digital learning infrastructure in Keeom-Papua is based on WiFi technology using star network topology [6]. The topology is one of the most common computer network topologies that are choosen because of the ability to isolate individual nodes in the maintenance and troubleshooting process. In that network, SMAN Arso acts as core node that is connected to SD Inpres I Arso 2, SD Inpres Arso 6, and SD Inpres Arso 7 directly using WiFi link as shown in Fig. 1. Figure 1. The mapping of some locations that will be networked in Keerom-Papua [Y] Considering several benefits, SMAN 1 Arso is choosen as a core network (see Fig. 2). SMAN 1 Arso lies in the middle of three primary school offering simplicity to implement star network with the school as the center of the network. This school has Internet connection to Jardiknas network provided by Ministry of National Education that will also provide Internet access for the participants. This school also has a computer teacher that is potentially grabbed as technical support for the sustainability operation of the digital learning infrastructure. Figure 2. The WiFi-based digital learning network using star topology in Keerom-Papua [3] The infrastructure is consisting of PC-based terminals and some network devices. In SMAN 1 Arso, we locate some devices such as a PC-based router, a digital learning server, a wireless access point, an IP Phone, and outdoor WiFi devices. In each primary school, we locate a virtual class box, a notebook, a wireless access point, an IP Phone, and WiFi devices. All of these devices are used to provide some digital learning services including web-based teachers collaboration and virtual classroom. Digital Learning Program From the five approaches of improving the quality of primary education, we have been implementing ICT for Teachers and ICT for Class. We will ellaborate each of these scenarios in the following section. The concept of ICT for Teachers relates to the use of ICT for providing electronic services to teachers and experts. It requires an Internet-based networking of teachers and experts so that allowing them to interact witch each other, to share learning resources and also teaching best practices [1]. This concept is being implemented in a pilot project undertaken in Keerom-Papua involving three primary schools (SD Inpres I Arso 2, SD Inpres Arso 6, and SD Inpres Arso 7) and one secondary school (SMAN 1 Arso) [7]. The participating schools are provided with PC/Laptop and software application as well as access to the Internet. With this infrastructure, a set of learning program are setup for teachers from participating schools. Similar to our pilot project in Bandung-Subang-Cianjur [1], among of them are chatting session in a certain time where all participating teachers interact with each other online as well as online discussion forum among teachers and experts (see Fig. 3). Figure 3. The WiFi-based digital learning network using star topology in Keerom-Papua The ICT for Class is implemented by providing a virtual classroom services for supporting distance learning. The main idea is that ICT will be used to allow a teacher help teaching a class in different school without having to physically attend to that school, for example using a recorded multimedia (offline mode) or through multimedia streaming on the Internet (online mode) [1]. Fig. 4 shows the diagram of online virtual classroom scheme through WiFi-based network in Keerom-Papua. In the online mode that uses teleconference and IP telephony system, a more interactive session can be conducted between students and remote teacher. Figure 4. Diagram of online virtual classroom scheme in Keerom-Papua [3] CHALLENGES The scenario for implementing ICTs in rural primary schools is difficult. Study by Misuraka show that there are a number of technological and human barries that treaten the utilization of ICTs, primarily in rural areas [4]. Our prior study also reveals that there are number barriers in the deployment of digital learning system in Keerom-Papua including the limitation of electricity availability, the bottleneck of WiFi-based intranet in several network paths, inflexibility of digital learning applications, and the human barriers in system operation and maintenance. In the future, some research activities will be conducted to address those issues. To overcome the human barriers, a combination of structured training and training-by-doing also will be conducted. CONCLUSION We have described our experiences last year in utilizing ICTs for improving the quality of primary school teachers and the students learning process so that improves the quality of primary education. A case study is undertaken in Keerom Regency, Papua Province. Today, the implementation of digital learning program is still in progress, particularly the implementation of ICT for Teachers and ICT for Class. Although the result of this research has not been conclusive yet, we believe that our research will be promising to address some quality issues of primary education, particularly in rural areas. ACKNOWLEDGMENT This research is partially supported by Directorate General for Highly Education Ministry of National Education and is conducted at Research Center on Information and Communication Technology, Bandung Institute of Technology.

Comparison Between Two Poems Essay

The two poems, Plug In, Turn On, Look Out and Portrait of a Machine both talks about machines and they are related to our everyday lives. There are quite a few differences and similarities in the two poems, Plug In, Turn On, Look Out and Portrait of a Machine. To start off with, the poem Plug In, Turn On, Look Out is warning everyone about how the machines would take over the world and teaching all of us what we should do usually to prevent them taking over and hurting us. The poem picks out all those horrible facts of machines, but on the other hand, the poem Portrait of a Machine is praising how beautiful and fantastic machines are. Both poems has one voice in the poem, only one person is talking and their intended audience are both the world in general, although, the poem, Plug In, Turn On, Look Out also speaks directly to you whilst you are reading the poem. Both poems have two stanzas, enjambment was used in both and the vocabulary in both poems were carefully chosen, each word stringed together into a phrase would add more detail to the image constructed in our minds. There are also quite a few differences, Plug In, Turn On, Look Out is a free verse, when Portrait of a Machine is a sonnet. In the poem, Plug In, Turn On, Look Out, all three tenses are used, to give the feeling that the machines has already started taking over the world, but it has not ended yet. On the other hand, Portrait of a Machine only uses the present tense throughout the whole poem. For the poem, Plug In, Turn On, Look Out, a lot of techniques were used but for the poem, Portrait of a Machine, not many techniques were used. In Plug In, Turn On, Look Out, personification was used, for example. machines are on the march. It emphasises that the machines are coming to get you, by using the word march. Metaphors were effectively used, for example, it came at me, snarling through its thirty-four rotary teeth and flicking its flexy tail. Those both quotes are used to build up atmosphere and add to the image created in the readers mind. It also exaggerates the terrifying side of machines. Alliteration was used, for example, I turned the telly on tonight and it turned itself off  again and flicking its flexy tail. The repetition of t starting words in I turned the telly on tonight and it turned itself off again makes us think of the ticking sounds when switching on and off the telly, coming from the remote and telly. The repetition of f in flicking its flexy tail is to make us think of flipping noises of tails. The poem was quite imperative as well, having the phrases, Keep your electric lawnmower securely tethered and Cut down supplies of food to your refrigerator. It is ordering you to do it immediately in order for you to stay safe. But for the other poem, Portrait of a Machine, there are only a few techniques used. Sibilant was used; the s sound was exaggerated in hiss. There was also a standard sonnet rhyming scheme to it, abbabba cdcdcd. If you put all the rhyming words from abbabba, it would create the sounds of huge machines at work with rods plunging down. The poet in Plug In, Turn On, Look Out seems to be quite scared about machines taking over the world. But the poet in Portrait of a Machine seems sarcastic and seems to be making fun of the people who uses machines in their daily life. Both poems are written to warn the world that we are replying too much on machines and technology that it is taking over our lives and we are losing ourselves. These two poems have different ways of warning us, Plug In, Turn On, Look Out has a very explicit warning to us, telling us to be careful what they will do, but on the other hand, Portrait of a Machine has a very implicit warning to us, telling us how beautiful machines are, in the eyes of people who are living in the modern society, then reminding us about not to lose ourselves. I had totally different emotions and reactions to the two poems. After reading Plug In, Turn On, Look Out, I was amused and I thought it was very interesting because it seemed to entertain me more than warn me, due to the fact that I know machines will not literally take over the world, on the other hand, Portrait of a Machine made me think, it was very deep that I read it over a few times, before I got the real meaning and purpose of the poem. The effectiveness of Plug In, Turn On, Look Out was not that effective but, for Portrait of a Machine, it had a strong effect and it was so heavy, that I will respond and think about the poem after reading the poem. Bibliography, http://www.oldmonovians.com/text2/allpassverse1962.htm

Blood in Macbeth - 1411 Words

Blood in Macbeth William Shakespeare wove many motifs like blood into his play Macbeth, written in 1606. These motifs serve to reveal many different aspects of the plot, characters, and themes. The Blood motif is often used throughout the play to symbolize guilt, or the lack of it. The two main characters, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are driven by ambition to commit evil actions including murder. Lady Macbeth plots to have her husband murder king Duncan of Scotland, so that Macbeth can take the throne. But, with all the murder committed in the play comes blood, and furthermore the feeling of guilt eventually corrupts the characters. It is important to realize in Macbeth, blood is not just a fluid that circulates in the vascular system of humans, but is as well used to symbolize potential occurrences in the future and express a deeper meaning than what can be physically seen. In William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, the blood motif is used to symbolize the feeling of guilt as well as a dark time through out the play. In the beginning of Macbeth, a bloody battle between Scotland and Norway takes place. In such a quick manner blood is one of the first motifs mentioned in the play depicting the dark era of war. King Duncan of Scotland asks about a sergeant who then tells the story of Macbeths heroic victories over Macdonwald and the King of Norway. The sergeants telling of the story is in itself heroic because his loss of blood has made him weak. This story of the bloodshed and hisShow MoreRelatedMacbeth: Blood2368 Words   |  10 PagesTracing A Word: Blood Act 1 1.) A. Quotation and speaker: Lady Macbeth: Bring forth men-children only; For thy undaunted mettle should compose Nothing but males. Will it not be received, When we have markd with blood those sleepy two Of his own chamber and used their very daggers, That they have donet? (1.7.72-77) B. Paraphrase and clarification: Hopefully you will only have male children, For you should compose nothing that isn’t masculine. When we have marked the servantsRead MoreTheme Of Blood In Macbeth1200 Words   |  5 Pagespicture in Macbeth. Image patterns. Gender Inversion, fertility, sleep, sensory denial, all of these patterns are depicted in the Shakespeare’s unsurpassed Macbeth. However, there is one pattern that marks the mind more than the others. Blood. A pattern seen in multiple instances in the play, but has a deep-seated meaning with Macbeth and his troubles. Shakespeare uses blood as the main image in Macbeth to reveal the forever impending and mucilaginous power of self torturing guilt. Blood takes a malevolentRead MoreBlood Imagery in Macbeth857 Words   |  4 Pagesevident as the bloody hands of Macbeth and his obsession with them. Macbeth has killed King Duncan and doesn’t stop there, he kills the guards making Duncan’s sons flee. This gives Macbeth the throne. 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Blood is a recurring theme in this play;Read MoreSymbol of Blood in Macbeth828 Words   |  4 Pages† (I ii 7-10). When Macbeth says these words, it is when we begin to get the full picture of the play and how powerful the image of blood really is. Throughout the play the symbol of blood changes meaning. It starts with blood representing honour and pride for your country and develops into treason and treachery. At the end of the play we see it had blossomed into guilt. Blood is an essential part of life and the same is true in Macbeth. At the beginning of the play Macbeth by Shakespeare, thereRead MoreSymbolism Of Blood In Macbeth766 Words   |  4 PagesConsidered to be Shakespeare’s most bloody work, Macbeth portrays its plot perfectly: Macbeth’s bloody rise to power and his tragic downfall. Throughout the play, the symbolism of blood advances this plot. We are introduced to Macbeth as a brave soldier without flaw, but he soon becomes consumed with achieving his â€Å"fated† future. From the moment Macbeth murdered Duncan, the symbolism of blood represents throughout the play his conscience, his dynamic character change, and his and Lady Macbeth’s guiltRead MoreRole Of Blood In Macbeth1918 Words   |  8 Pages Blood in Macbeth Essay Blood was very evident throughout William Shakespeare’s Macbeth. Violence caused blood to drip from the fingers of characters and stain them for the rest of their life. Blood meant various things in the play but it was certainly seen, literally and mentally. Hallucinations were commonly experienced in the play and added to things such as the plot and character development. Blood in Macbeth is more important when it is imagined by characters but is not actually there becauseRead MoreMacbeth Blood Essay2596 Words   |  11 Pagesitself heroic, because his loss of blood has made him weak. Thus his blood and his heroism seem to enhance the picture of Macbeth as a hero. 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