Improving Patient Flow in Emergency Departments Essay

Improving Patient Flow in Emergency Departments - Essay Example AD: The hospital is also faced with crowding issues especially after disaster attacks. The hospital can be understaffed or overcrowded during large scale emergencies or during normal operations. The issue alters communication channels significantly and subsequently slows down service delivery (Hoot & Aronsky, 2008). AD: the challenges were evaluated based on the occasional complaints at the complaint box. The complaints have further been raised by staffs and patients at the Ethics Department. Bearing the frequency of the complaints, i decided to take action on the matter (Hoot & Aronsky, 2008). I employed simulation model in the collection of data. I decided to analyze the admission records at the ED so as I can have a generic outlook of the queue. I took a keen assessment on Monday’s admissions which are normally the busiest, so as I could forecast and have an estimate on busy day admissions. I also evaluated the empty in-patient beds at the hospital so as I could measure the department’s capacity (Hoot & Aronsky, 2008). AD: The Hospital management and i instituted the Six Sigma model so as to enhance patient flow at the ED. After instituting questionnaire surveys on 400 inpatients at the ED, the management decided to improve boarding time during patients’ treatment at the ED (ACEP, 2014). AD: The management decided to employ internal measures to curb the situation. The management reached on stringent accountability measures. It was concluded that in case of any delays or bed missing by the patients, the responsible nurses would be held accountable. The CEO and the nursing vice president would be called so as to provide corrective or disciplinary measures. Bed meetings would be instituted before the start of every shift so as the practitioners can understand the current situation (ACEP, 2014). Case Managers would also be allocated to specific physicians in order to follow up on patients treatment procedures. In addition, the

Excel Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Excel - Assignment Example The airline is also socially responsible in ensuring that it relates well with the public. Good relationship with the public is a good move and this helped the airline to increase its profit margins. It can also be noted in the table 1 of sheet 2 that the revenues of the airline were increasing as the sales continued in different quarters. This can as well be seen with the increment in the net profit of the business. Success of a business is seen by increment in profits, reduction in expenses or even when the production gets reduced further while the passengers realize the full consumption of the commodity. In my position as the sales and marketing director, I use all the resources within my proximity in the attracting of passengers to use our airline and make them know and came to reality that the services we offer are of high quality and that they cannot regret the value of their money after the consumption of the transport service. A lot of factors need to be well addressed by the management on the operations of the airline effectively and efficiently. In this, it is worth considering that the airline is operating in different market and with the expansion, it is therefore important for the management to do proper supervision on the staff in the other markets as well as thorough auditing of the financial records that are prepared by the accountants in those markets. In this regard, what can been be very useful to prevent any losses that may rise due to in accuracy, omission and commissions. The management should also give discounts to the passengers who make online reservations as this will make most of them o book online whenever will want to travel. Online reservation is a good way to save the time for the various passengers as it also reduces the cost of spending say for the people living far away from the operating locations of the airline. It is also a safer way since

The Main Contractors Estimators Action On Receipt Construction Essay

The Main Contractors Estimators Action On Receipt Construction Essay 1. Introduction 1.1 Structure of sub-contracting The Hong Kong Construction Industry are made up of mainly three layers though the process of tendering, which include the tendering from developers to main contractors and the sub-contracting main contractors to sub-contractors. In the report, sub-contracting will be further discussed. In the process of sub-contracting, the estimator of main contractors breaks down the whole construction work into various tasks. For instance, breaks down a building construction work into basement, substructure, bamboo scaffolding, superstructure and finishes. The estimator will then undergo tendering process and sub-contract these various works to favourable tenderers. In addition, quotation is a document plays a role in the tendering process. It is a priced document which derived from tender that main contractor released and can be regarded as a reduced size of priced Bills of Quantity that tenders submit to the main contractor. Since quotation contains monetary terms and which can result in several companies interest, it has to be kept highly confidential to avoid collusion or unequal situation to happen. 1.2 Role of cost estimator To clarify, it is to discuss the role of main contractors cost estimator in this report. First of all, the estimator is not merely one person but a team with, for example, quantity surveyor, project manager, contract manager and planning engineer. The roles of cost estimator before award of project are to estimate the cost of construction works, prepare initial budget, price the Bills of Quantity and arrange for man power, materials supply and plants for proposed project. After the award of project, the cost estimator will break down the works as described above, prepare sub-contacting schedule which stated the time to finish tendering of specific tasks and deadline of commencement of different work, and prepare the tender document with self estimated budget not enclosed. After the receipt of quotation, the cost estimator will select to sub-contract to the most suitable tenderer with equal basis. Besides, there is other role that is significant to cost estimator. They are to balance the quality and price for selection of sub-contractors, materials and plant, keep all the monetary details highly confidential even within the company and do not receipt of any kind of interest to avoid collusion which keep the tendering process undergoing in equal basis. 1.3 Sub-contracting procedure after receipt of quotation The general sub-contracting procedure can be illustrated by figure 1.3. After the preparation of the quotation documents and the sub-contractor list for open invitation of quotation, a request for quotation will be issued to the sub-contractors on the list. Interested sub-contractors will prepare their quotations and submit them by depositing to the bid box before the deadline set in the quotation documents. Upon the deadline for submission, a number of quotations would be received from different sub-contractors. The main contractors estimator is then started to assess and evaluate those quotations being received. The major actions of the estimator after receipt of quotation include checking of the quotations for their compliancy, errors and adjustments as well as selection of the preferred quotation by quality/price mechanism. A quotation report will also be prepared afterward. If the main contractor finally gets the tender from the client (i.e. the developer), performance evaluation may be conducted by the estimating team for future works. à ¥Ã…“-à §Ã¢â‚¬ °Ã¢â‚¬ ¡1.png Figure 1.3 Sub-contracting procedure after receipt of quotations 2. Checking of the quotations (with Appendix 1) Upon receipt of quotations from the sub-contractors, the date should be entered on the enquiry record. Basic information of the sub-contractors should be checked and the database is to be updated wherever necessary. To avoid any erroneous price submitted, the estimator of the main contractor then has the responsibility to read, check and verify the quotations for the following: Whether the quotations are in line with requirements set out in the enquires; Whether the costs are consistent If there are any errors; If the prices provided by the sub-contractor are reasonable How are the prices when they are compared with the market prices. 2.1 Checking of compliancy with requirements After the quotations are received from the sub-contractors, the main contractors estimator has to make an in depth examination on the quotations in order to assure that they are made in accordance with the enquires requirements and no alternative offer have been submitted. Any breakdowns of price should always be checked while the rates are being entered into a computerized estimating system to ensure they are correct. The quotations should also be checked against the terms and conditions (Fig.2.1.a) and content of the enquires (Fig.2.1.b) for any arithmetic errors, missing items, reality and consistency of rates, tender qualification, validity period of tender, and signatures properly provided. 2.1.1 Quotations from Material Suppliers The quotations for material supply should be recorded on a Materials Comparison Form (Fig.2.1.1.a) and in accordance with the enquires provided by the main contractor or the clients. The rates are entered during the pricing stage, and any divergence discovered from the provided enquires are to be recorded for later assessment. The estimator should check for the followings: The materials adopted comply with that stated in specification; The quantities of materials are sufficient to meet the required amount as stated in the enquires; The methods of delivering, unloading and handling of the materials comply with that required by the main contractor, special conditions for ordering and payment, and the suppliers with the most competitive prices should be contacted to ensure that they had noted all the relevant restrictions on delivery to site; The delivery dates meet with those required, otherwise additional enquires to maintain a full enquiry list may need to be sent; The intended on-site or off-site storage of the materials and settlement of payment; The conditions stated in the quotations is as same as the terms and conditions stated in the enquires and the quotations are not alternative offers. 2.1.2 Quotations from Plant Suppliers The quotations for plant supply should be recorded and on a Plant Quotations Register (Fig.2.1.2.a). Wherever a performance specification for the usage of the plants is given, the quotations should be checked cautiously to make sure that all the plants provided accomplish the enquires requirements. The estimator should check for the followings: The plants are sufficient to meet the needs of the construction programme; The wages for plant operators are included; The working hours of plant operators comply with the intended site working hours; The responsibilities and charges for maintenance are clearly identified. 2.1.3 Quotations from Labour-Only Sub-Contractors The quotations for labour should be recorded on a Domestic Sub-contractors Register (Fig.2.1.3.a) which is used as a form for sub-contract comparison. Any divergence from the enquires discovered should also be recorded for later assessment and unit rates pricing when selecting quotations. The estimator should check for the followings: The conditions stated in the quotations is as same as the terms and conditions stated in the enquires and the quotations are not alternative offers; The discounts comply with the enquires requirements; The payment basis of the labour; The ambiguities concerning the responsibilities for protections, storage, clearing up, unloading are resolved; The supporting information including the schedules of rates and the programme information are given. 2.2 Checking of errors and adjustments The main contractors estimator should check whether the quotations are basing on complete and accurate information. 2.2.1 Domestic Sub-contractors The main contractors estimator should ensure that all the items for a particular trade are priced properly, and should request the sub-contractors for any missing rates. The rates provided should be checked for consistency with the bill of quantities, and they should be realistic although the cost will vary depending on the quantities, location and timing. The main contractors estimator could withdraw or change an offer and report to the client if any obvious errors are detected or the tender document is found to be altered. The estimator may apply a percentage or add a lump sum to certain rates in cases where considerations are taken for the following: Work of specific builders which is not measured somewhere else is needed; Certain attendances are needed to be included in the measured rates; Specific trades requirement provided by the contractor; Margin for over-heads and profit are to be included in the measured rates so the estimator could spread the over-heads to works which seems to be under-measured. 2.2.2 Nominated Sub-contractors Nominated subcontractors are subcontractors required by the client to enter a contract for execution of work or the supply of things designated as Prime Cost of PC items. The main contractors estimator should ensure that the PC sum is included in the bill calculations and a percentage for profit is added to the PC sum wherever necessary. 2.2.2.1 General and Special Attendances The main-contractors estimator should also access the costs for general and special attendances. The costs for general attendances are normally provided in the evaluation of project over-heads for logistical requirements; while the special attendances are to be priced separately in the measured bills of quantities and the estimator may price the work if those attendances are properly described. Figure 2.2.2.1.a shows different types of attendances to be provided to the sub-contractor by the main contractor. These attendances should be priced in project over-heads and the amount required should depend on the sub-contractor. Therefore, the main contractors estimator should adjust the amount of lump sum or added percentage to different types of sub-contractors carefully. 2.3 Comparing of Prices 2.3.1 Comparing with Market Prices The main contractors estimator should compare the quotations provided by the sub-contractors with the market prices. 2.3.1.1 Variations in unit rates While comparing the prices, the estimator should also consider factors which may affect the rates of materials, plants, and labour. The rates for materials may depend on the suppliers locations, the sizes of the materials, the delivery costs, and whether alternative materials are to be adopted should also be considered. The rates for plants could be affected by the prices for erecting and dismantling, maintenance, and insurance of the plants in the construction sites. As for the rates for labour, they depend very much on whether skilled labour is available in the area or extra payment for labour with special skills are needed, the location at which jobs are to be carried out should also be taken into consideration. 2.3.2 Comparing with other quotations The main contractors estimator should carefully compare each quotation submitted by all the sub-contractors. A spreadsheet such as the Sub-contract Comparison Sheet (Fig.2.3.2.a) may be used for comparing as it facilitates listing, rates comparing as well as mathematical checking. 3. Selection of the quotation (with Appendix 2) Price3.1 General criteria Quality TimeIn most of the case (i.e. except in case of nominated sub-contractor), there is still a long-list of sub-contractors, who compliant with the requirements, remain after checking the quotations with the enquiries. In order to identify the preferred sub-contractor(s), hence, a short-listing with several criteria should be processed. The most significant factor is price, while other criteria include experience and qualifications, financial and resources standing, reputation and management system. 3.1.1 Price The quoted price in the quotation constitutes substantial effect on the decision making of the cost estimator. With a lower cost to hire a sub-contractor, the main contractor can turn out give a lower bid in the tender to the developer and therefore, increase the opportunity of getting the project. 3.1.2 Experience and qualifications An experienced and qualified sub-contractor on the type of work of the project means it can finish the work in a more effective way compares with those without (i.e. the completion time may be shortened due to its experience on the trade). In the case of specialized works such as demolition work and foundation work, experience is even more important. The cost estimator can evaluate the sub-contractors past performance with the company or refer to different Registers  [1]  and professional bodies for determination its competence on the work. 3.1.3 Financial and resources standing Financial standing of the sub-contractor is an important factor since inadequate working capital of the sub-contractor may hinder the working progress and lengthen the completion time. In addition, the cost estimator needs to ensure the sub-contractor is having sufficient resources (i.e. man power, material, plant, etc.) to deal with the work, especially in the case of supplier. By investigating into the liquidity, credibility and adequacy of resources of the sub-contractor, the cost estimator can so avoid delay of the entire construction of the project to minimize loss to the client. 3.1.4 Reputation and management system Reputation of a sub-contractor is generated when it provided quality services in the field. By investigating the past performance (i.e. workmanship, time management, worker and material quality, etc.) of the sub-contractor, the cost estimator can reasonably select sub-contractor(s) who can provide up-to-standard work. The management system should also contribute to the decision of the cost estimator, as proper management can generate synergy effect to the labour performance. 3.2 Establishment of the quality/price mechanism The major concern for the main contractors estimators to select an appropriate quotation is to have a quotation of both low price and good quality. Hence, in order to maintain a good balance between quality and price, a quality / price mechanism should be established to facilitate the process. 3.2.1 Formulation of the quality / price ratio The quality / price ratio should be formulated at the first stage. The ratio can depend on the complexity of the work, the degree of innovation and the flexibility. For instance, straightforward projects should be less complicated and less innovative. Therefore, the price factor should be given a higher weight. Thus, the quality / price ratio of 20/80 could be considered. Similar approach can be adopted for complex and repeat projects to obtain the ratio. Fig. 3.1 shows the relationship between quality and price for different kinds of projects. 3.2.2 Weighting of the quality criteria Different quality criteria should be weighted according to their importance to the project. Basically, there are four major criteria. They include the practice of the company, the project organization, the key project personnel and the project execution. Practice of the company comprises the organization structure, financial stability, quality assurance, resources, management systems, relevant experience of the company and etc. Project organization refers to the organization of the proposed project team and the authority level of team members. Key project personnel includes the qualifications, communication skills and enthusiasm of the team members and the extent they understand the project brief. Project execution refers to the programme, method and approach, as well as the management and control procedures of the project. To weight the criteria, it is suggested that the key project personnel can occupy around 30 to 40% of the total weight, 20 to 30% each for the practice of the company and the project execution, 15-25% for the project organisation. 3.2.3 Establishment of the marking (scoring) system After the quality / price ratio is formulated and the quality criteria is weighted at the first and second step, a quality threshold should be introduced to the marking system. It is the minimum marks that must be scored by the short-listed sub-contractors in the quality assessment so as to allow further consideration of the quotations. An assessment sheet can then be prepared for subsequent assessments of the quotations. In the assessment sheet, both the quality and price scores will be given and an overall score will be added. An unfilled assessment sheet is shown as Fig. 3.2. 3.3 Assessment of the quotations After returning the quotations from various sub-contractors, the main-contractors estimators can start to do the assessment on the quality and price. 3.3.1 Quality assessment Marks should be scored according to the quality criteria (i.e. practice of the company, project organization, key project personnel and project execution) and the weighting and marking system set down previously. If the scored mark of a quotation is below the targeted quality threshold, the quotation should not be further considered and should be discarded. However, if it is the situation that all the submitted quotations are below the threshold and there is a common failure of a specific criterion, then the estimators may re-assess the requirement to see if there is a need of amending it. 3.3.2 Price assessment Price assessment should be considered only if a quotation has passed the quality assessment. It is done in the way that the quotation with the lowest quoted price is considered to score 100 marks in this section. While for other quotations having a higher quoted price, their scored marks will be deducted with a proportional percentage. However, for particular quotations having an extraordinarily low price, they should be reviewed in order to ensure full compliance of the requirements. Finally, the quality and price scores should be totalled and the assessment sheet should be dated and signed for later auditing purposes. Fig. 3.3 shows an example of a completed assessment sheet. 3.3.3 Final assessment After all the qualified and assessed quotations have been obtained, their overall scores can be compared with an assessment comparison sheet. The sub-contractor with the highest overall score will eventually win the bid. Fig. 3.4 shows an example of a completed comparison sheet. It is seen that the assessments of different firms (i.e. firm A, B, C and D) have been done and the overall scores have been calculated onto the same sheet. Since firm A has got the highest overall score among the competitors, its quotation will be considered by the main contractor. 4. Quotation report A quotation report is used to summarize all the necessary information and evaluation result of the assessment, and as a reference for the cost estimator to refer to if finally sub-contractor is needed to be awarded. The quotation evaluation report should include the followings: The sub-contractor list established at the beginning A summary of the quotations received and opened The results of the checking and selection of the quotations The evaluated price of each quotation, showing any corrections, errors or adjustments The scores and rankings of the quotations, according to the assessment Recommendation to award the contract 5. Actions after tender is awarded by the developer If the main contractor finally gets the tender from the developer, there are still several actions that the main contractors estimator needs to do. Firstly, notification to the wined sub-contractor (i.e. the highest scorer in the final assessment) to ensure the selected team is still available. Once the award is made, advisement to all other discarded sub-contractors in writing should be processed. Secondly, the estimating team should evaluate the performance of both the selected sub-contractor(s) and the quality/price mechanism. Evaluation to selected sub-contractor can be by the way of inspection during work or after completion. The results may be used in selection of sub-contractor in future works as mentioned in Part 3. Besides, the evaluation of the appropriateness of the quality and price ratio and the weighting system can used to adjust the mechanism and improve its operation in future works. 6. Conclusion In conclusion, the main contractors estimators actions on receipt of quotations from their sub-contractors are first checking for their compliancy with the quotation documents, and sorting out any errors and adjustments. Secondly, the estimator needs to select the preferred sub-contractor(s) by considering their quoted price, experience, financial and resources standing, reputation, etc with the quality/price mechanism. Thirdly, a quotation report will be prepared afterward. And if the main contractor finally gets the tender from the client (i.e. the developer), performance evaluation may be conducted. The above actions and procedures conducted by the cost estimator can be further illustrated by the case study in the next part. 7. Case study The case is from the main contractor Chun Wo Constrcution and Engineering Limited, of project Tuen Mun Western Trunk Sewerage (DC/2009/11). The cost estimator proposed to sub-contract the installation works of temporary water and electricity of site offices and underwent the following procedure. In the first stage preparation of documents, the estimator prepared the description of required work. Simply, it includes the description and details of proposed installation works. They then decided the adaptation of selective tendering rather than open tendering as time was limited and selected two contractors in the sub-contractor list. They are Wing Wo and Sky. Lastly, they prepared the tender document of the work, which contains common items to all tender documents, including general conditions of contract, standard conditions of sub-contract, special condition of contract, general specification and standard methods of measurement, and specific item details such as particular specification, particular preamble, schedule of rates and drawings. Figure 7a is the tender document list of the work. After prepared the tender document, they issued request of quotation to the two contractors. In the second stage the selection of sub-contractor, the estimator received the quotations by bid box and checked with the compliance, errors, adjustment and price as described in previous section. They selected the criteria for the work as quality to price ratio, experience and reputation. After the comparison of those criteria, they recommended Wing Wo as the sub-contractor since it had better quality to price ratio and experienced. Figure 7b is the tender report for comparison. Since the score of Wing Wo was the highest, its director was invited to have further negotiation to assure all details were known and the same in two parties, and price adjustment had done at that moment. Finally, estimator prepared sub-contract for the work in which an item concerning wage payment was added, and signed with the director and project manager. Figure 7a Tender list Figure 7b Tender report

Defining Writing Style :: Writing Style Styles Essays

Defining Style In a search for the meaning of true style, I consulted two books on the subject. These texts differ on many levels, but most strikingly are their styles of presentation. Strunk and White, authors of The Elements of Style, lean more towards the rule-book approach, telling us what to do and when to do it without much explanation. John Williams, on the other hand, uses his book Style: Toward Clarity and Grace in almost a lecture form, filled with comparative examples of correct and incorrect ways to approach his stylistic suggestions. While the Strunk and White text is smaller and therefore seems to be the better read by default, its guidelines and helpful hints tend to be vague and often contradictory. Williams offers the reader a longer, but manageable, text full of detailed examples and prompts for the reader to test their understanding of his suggestions. When it comes to defining style, Strunk and White can give us no precise definition. They believe that "there is no satisfactory explanation of style, no infallible guide to good writing, no assurance that a person who thinks clearly will be able to write clearly (S&W 66)." In addition to this statement, Strunk and White, give the beginning writer 21 rules that will help them find their style. If I already know these rules (which Strunk and White suggest I do) then they should already be embedded in my style. I shouldn’t need to read about them. In truth, I do. Even skilled professional writers need a refresher course on form every now and then. The Elements of Style offers just that, a quick reference guide for refining your style-not defining it. With a contrasting approach, Williams sets his definition of style as something that cannot be directly taught. Instead of giving us rules to follow, Williams presents devises used by graceful writers, what he calls "ingredients of a modestly elegant style (Williams 153)." As a beginning writer, I found Williams to be helpful. I was able to identify and understand where he was coming from. Several of his "ingredients" were elements that I already try to incorporate into my writing, but now I feel I can do so more seamlessly. One such element, the 4th ingredient in Williams style recipe, is the use of the metaphor.

Assessment History Essay

Then and Now: History of Assessments Used in Special Education In today’s world students are being diagnosed every day for multiple disorders. Over the history of special education both standardized (formal) and curriculum based (informal) assessments have been created and implemented to help make sure that students are receiving the proper support to help them meet their educational goals. Assessments within special education are implemented to determine a student’s strengths as well as pinpoint areas where they may need extra support and guidance. (Pierangelo & Giuliani, 2007) The results of the assessments given to students will be used to decide if the student qualifies for special education services. The assessments used in the United States have developed in conjunction with special education services, to what we know and use today. This paper will outline the history of assessments administered in the United States, discuss how today’s application of assessment differs, and how these changes have impacted special education as a whole. History of Assessments The history of special education has evolved greatly over the years. Prior to the 1970’s there were very few individuals with special needs being served within the public school system. There were two federal laws passed in 1975 that would aid in the process of children enrolling in the public schools. The first law was Education for All Handicapped Children (EHA), this law requires that children of all ability levels receive the right to public education. The second law that played a key role in providing students with disabilities appropriate education is the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA). The IDEA not only requires students with disabilities access to public education but that the school district provides personalized services (special education) for individuals who qualify. (Special Education News, 2013) The laws and legislative acts passed advocate for these students, making sure they receive free and appropriate education. As special education evolved over the years so did many of the tools used to assess students with special needs. Although â€Å"Interest in intelligence dates back thousands of years, it wasn’t until [the early 1900’s that] psychologist. Alfred Binet was commissioned to identify students who needed educational assistance, that the first IQ test was born. † (Cherry, 2013). This type of assessment was a standardized test that measured the individual in areas such as their: skills, character traits, attitudes, knowledge, and educational measurement. As the special education field grew, the use of the Simon-Binet method spread quickly across the Western world. (Reschly, 2002). â€Å"Historically, educational assessment in the United States has been dominated by psychometric assumptions and approaches,† such as the Simon-Binet Scale. (McLaughlin & Rouse, 2000). However, as time as the years have gone by the assessments and protocols used for special education have adapted and evolved. Today’s Assessment / Impact of changes In today’s world there are a variety of assessments and tools to choose from when working with and identifying students with special needs. These assessments fall under two categories, the first being standardized assessments, and the second being curriculum based assessments. The Binet scale, now known has the Stanford-Binet Intelligence scale has been adapted since it was introduced to educators in 1905, and is one of the many standardized assessment tools still used today. Although standardized tests are a great starting point for diagnosing students with special needs it should not be the sole contributor to the diagnosis of a student. Two main concerns when using a standardized test such as the Stanford-Binet scale are that it is culturally unfair and testing conditions and interpretation of test results influence how the student will do on the assessment. Often the standardized tests that are implemented within the school district have been created in the UK or the United States and are mainly designed to be used among white, middle-class children. Therefor if this test is used for any child outside of the specific target group it will be unfair and could lead to the misdiagnosis of students who need special education services. (Newton, 2009) â€Å"For example, if a student with limited English proficiency were assessed using an IQ measure where the directions are given in English, this student’s performance would likely be compromised based upon limited understanding of the instructions, resulting in a significant underestimate of the student’s true intelligence. † (GCU, 2013) It is  extremely important for educators to properly assess the students and to make sure we work with them in their areas of struggle prior to labeling them as needing special education. Since every assessment has its pros and cons it is a teachers responsibility to become familiar with their students and know what assessment would best fit their needs. Since there can be some limitations with standardized tests educators may want to explore various curriculum based assessments to aid in the process of identifying these students. One common curriculum based assessments that is used today is the Response to Intervention (RTI). RTI is a type of educational intervention that is implemented to provide students who are having difficulties extra assistance prior to referring them to a special education program. This informal assessment tool is a multi-level prevention system that helps students succeeds in their education. Teachers will follow RTI by monitoring the students’ progress on a regular basis, implementing evidence-based interventions of varying intensities depending on how the student is responding. (NCRTI, 2010). Curriculum based assessments such as RTI have many benefits to students and Educators. Educators today may choose to use these types of assessments because it allows them to be proactive about the problem at hand, they are easy to implement into a classroom routine, if interventions are successful the child will be brought back up to grade level without needing special education services. (Wilmshurst & Brue, 2013) Conclusion The assessments and protocols developed throughout the history of special education have evolved and implemented to benefit the students, as well as special education as a whole. Each assessment and intervention has been created to aid educators in the process of serving their students to the best of their abilities. School systems went from using one assessment tool to identify and work with students with disabilities to having a vast selection to choose from. Both formal and informal assessment tools used by educators in today’s society aid in the process of diagnosing and helping students who qualify for special education services. Although, there are some assessment tools that may be better than others, each one will have their pros and cons. Educators can create and use assessment tools that reflect what we know about the student and their learning abilities. The educators and their school districts â€Å"can do so by building on what we have learned during the past decade, and ensuring that the process and outcomes of their approach to alternate assessment are transparent and subject to review, stand up to both technical and ethical scrutiny, push practices and outcomes in the expected and desired directions, and can be improved through data-based oversight over time. † (Quenemoen, 2008). Educators will have to use the best judgment and knowledge to decide what assessment(s) will best work for them. Whether educators use one assessment or a variety of assessments, the main objective is to give the student the best chance to succeed in their education and assist them in becoming functioning members of our their community. References Cherry, K. (2013). History of Intelligence Testing. Retrieved from: http://psychology. about. com/od/psychologicaltesting/a/int-history. htm Grand Canyon University. (2013). Types of Evaluation. Received from: www. my. gcu. edu McLaughlin, M. & Rouse, M. (2000). Special Education and School Reform in the United States and Britain. New York, NY: Routledge. Newton, C. (2009). Problems with IQ and Psychometric Assessment. Retrieved from: www. inclusive-solutions. com/word/IQ_Problems_Jan. doc? NCRTI. (2010). Essential Components of RTI. Retrieved from: http://www. rti4success. org/ Pierangelo, R. & Giuliani, G. (2007). Understanding Assessment in the Special Education Process. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin. Quenemoen, R. (2008). A brief history of alternate assessments based on alternate achievement standards (Synthesis Report 68). Minneapolis, MN: University of Minnesota, National Center on Educational Outcomes. Retrieved from: http://www. cehd. umn. edu/NCEO/onlinepubs/Synthesis68/Synthesis68. pdf Reschly, J. D. (2002). Change Dynamics in Special Education Assessment: Historical and Contemporary Patterns. Peabody Journal of Education, V77 n2 p117-36. Retrieved from: http://owl. english. purdue. edu/owl/resource/560/10/ The History of Special Education in the United States. (2013). Special Education News. Retrieved from: http://www. specialednews. com/the-history-of-special-education-in-the- united-states. htm Wilmshurst, L. & Brue, W. A. (2013). Advantages of Response to Intervention. Retrieved from: http://www. education. com/reference/article/advantages-rti/

Male Bashing Stereotype Essay

‘’Male bashing stereotype† by Kimberly Graham article is a first person account about the question of what women want and her wants and dislikes. The author’s main point is that no one really has a clear idea of what women want. There are so many books and shows about the wants and needs of both women and men but especially women and they are all inconclusive of what the whole populations of women really want. The author is right that whether you are a feminist or a typical woman you don’t always know what you want in a man. A woman might want a man that is tall, handsome and makes a lot of money but she doesn’t want him to be controlling, a pig, or insulting. Sometimes when you ask for specifics characteristics you get stuck with others that are not welcome. You might want a man that works but you don’t want him to show up at your house all dirty from work for your date. It is hard to find someone that matches your specification exactly if you don’t even know what those specifications are and what sacrifices you are willing to make as a woman but have what you want. The article targets people that want to learn about relationships and the stereotypes that are put out there about dating. The author wants people to dwell longer on what they don’t want instead of what they do want. â€Å"So what does this paper prove? I have come up with an answer to the question of what women want. Or have I? No, the statement is too vague. Society should not generalize-it’s an emotional question. †