What Facilitation Really Means and Why Its Key to the Future of Work

What “Facilitation” Really Means and Why It’s Key to the Future of Work In recent years, there has been increasing interest in a skill known as facilitation.Employers are increasingly looking for employees with facilitation skills, and facilitation has even been touted as the key to the future of work.As more workplaces abandon the traditional reliance on hierarchical structure and become more reliant on collaboration and problem solving, rather than just tactical execution, demand for facilitation skills will only keep increasing, and therefore, it is important to start developing this key skill early enough.But what exactly does facilitation mean, and why is it so important to the future of work?WHAT IS FACILITATION?When you ask someone to be a facilitator, the first thing they will probably think about is chairing a meeting or making presentations. This is a total misconception.Facilitation is about creating a structure and environment that makes it easy for people to collaborate.Facilitation is about bringing diverse groups of people together and mak ing it easy for them to work together to come up with a solution to a problem.The term facilitate is derived from the Latin word “facilis”, which means “to render less difficult” or “to make easy.”In the modern context, a number of definitions of facilitation have been put across.According to Trevor Bentley, a facilitator, independent consultant and author of the book Facilitation: Providing Opportunities For Learning, facilitation can be defined as:“the provision of opportunities, resources, encouragement and support for the group to succeed in achieving its objectives and to do this through enabling the group to take control and responsibility for the way they proceed.”Facilitation is important in any process that requires people to work together to come up with a desired result without being bound by the constraints of hierarchical structure.This includes processes such as brainstorming sessions, meetings, team building sessions, planning sessions, training and de velopment sessions, conflict resolution, or any other activity that requires a group of people to collaborate to achieve specific predetermined results.WHO IS A FACILITATOR? According to Ingrid Bens, a certified public facilitator and author of several books on facilitation, a facilitator can be defined as:“One who contributes structure and process to interactions so groups are able to function effectively and make high quality decisions. A helper and enabler whose goal is to support others as they achieve exceptional performance.” The role of a facilitator. Source: Steps ForwardAs a facilitator, your role is to guide the different people participating in a process to ensure that they come up with the desired results together.You provide the tools and structure needed to ensure that everyone plays a role in the process and that the process is constantly moving forward.However, as a facilitator, you do not get to make decisions for the group. Instead, your role is to provide a framework to help the group make decisions by itself.Some of your tasks as a facilitator include establishing an objective for the process, creating an environment that provides opportunities for contribution and discussion, making suggestions that will help the process run more smoothly, interrupting speakers who might be drifting from the objectives of the process, and generally steering the group towards constructive solutions.One important thing to note is that anyone can be a facilitator. You don’t need to hold any titles or have ce rtain levels of experience in order to play the role of a facilitator.All you need is the ability to bring people together and create an atmosphere that makes it possible for them to collaborate towards a common objective.This means that facilitation is not only reserved for managers and other business leaders.Actually, there are some managers who are poor at facilitation.On the other hand, having someone who is not in the group’s leadership as a facilitator helps break down the constraints of hierarchical structure, thus making everyone feel more comfortable with sharing their opinions and ideas.THE FACILITATION ZONEFacilitation is a somewhat delicate process that requires the facilitator to maintain a balance between encouraging the members to participate in the process and controlling the process.If the facilitator focuses so much on encouraging participation, there is a high likelihood that the session will turn into an animated but unregulated discussion that will take so muc h time without achieving anything meaningful.On the other hand, if the facilitator focuses so much on controlling the process, the participants might feel like their participation is stifled, thus making it harder to come up with the best solution.Therefore, everything the facilitator does should be aimed at encouraging the participants to share their contributions, while at the same time ensuring that the session does not degenerate into a meaningless discussion.WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FACILITATING AND CHAIRING A MEETINGLike I mentioned earlier, when most people come across the word facilitation, they confuse it with chairing a meeting, probably because both involve taking charge of the meeting or whatever activity is taking place.However, there are some differences between facilitating and chairing.Usually, someone chairing a meeting acts as the seat of wisdom and knowledge within the group.Even though a chair may give the participants opportunities to contribute, his or he r opinions carry more weight, and it is ultimately up to the chair to make the final decision for the group.The role of the facilitator, on the other hand, is not to give opinions or make decisions for the group, but rather to draw out the opinions and ideas of the participants and provide them with a framework for making decisions wholesomely as a group.In addition, a good facilitator does not take sides. He or she guides the process from a neutral point.Being an effective facilitator also involves developing a structure to ensure everyone’s ideas get heard and making sure every participant is comfortable sharing their ideas, and ensuring that the participants do not feel like their ideas and decisions are being influenced by their leader.While there is a difference between facilitating and chairing a meeting, the best chairs also play the role of facilitators.They give everyone equal opportunity to contribute, rather than hogging the mic at all times or acting like they have all the answers.WHY FACILITATION IS KEY TO THE FUTURE OF WORKToday, there is increasing demand for people with facilitation skills at the workplace, and as we march into the future, facilitation will become even more important.There are a number of factors contributing to the increasing demand for facilitation.First, the world is diversifying at a very rapid pace.Technological advancement has turned the world into a global village.Today, several companies have footprints spanning across different countries and continents.Other companies â€" with the help of the internet and other communication technologies â€" depend on employees spread out across multiple geographical locations and time zones.The result is that the modern workplace has become very diverse. In the coming future, the trend of workplace diversity will only increase.The diversity of modern workplaces is a good thing.When you bring together people from different backgrounds, with different experiences and different perspec tives to work on a common problem, there is a high likelihood that creative and innovative solutions will emerge.However, owing to their diversity, you can’t simply bring these people together and hope that they will work together on their own to come up with solutions.This is where facilitation comes in. Facilitation makes it possible for businesses to harness this diversity and channel it productively.Second, the business environment is becoming increasingly competitive.Actually, the world has become hypercompetitive.Business are increasingly finding it harder to sustain competitive advantage, and we can expect this trend to continue into the future.With such high levels of competition, any business that wants to remain in business needs a high dose of creativity and innovation from its employees.One of the best ways of fostering creativity and innovation at the workplace is to encourage employees to work in teams.When employees work in teams, they are quicker and more effective in their work.Having several minds exploring a problem is also more likely to uncover unconventional solutions that would not have come up otherwise.This usually happens in brainstorming sessions where team members come together on a common platform to offer various perspectives that might lead to novel solutions, which in turn helps the business remain competitive.In order for team work to be successful, however, there is need for effective facilitation.This means that facilitation is critical for the success of the organization in the age of hyper competition.Finally, the growing diversity of the modern workplace means that it is inevitable that there will be conflicts at the workplace.Whenever people from diverse backgrounds and with diverse perspectives come together, conflict cannot really be avoided.But here is the thing about conflict at the workplace â€" it can either be destructive, or it can be channelled creative to come up with innovative process, products and solutions .The key is to manage conflict effectively so that it results in creativity rather than destruction.In order to do this, there is need for effective facilitation.Considering these factors, it is inevitable that the importance of facilitation at the workplace will only keep growing.HOW TO BE AN EFFECTIVE FACILITATOR Being a good facilitator is a skill, and like most other skills, it can be learnt. Below, we look at tips on how to improve this key skill. Source: Cleverism.comAlways Start by Setting Some Ground Rules and ObjectivesWhenever you are called upon to facilitate a meeting, brainstorming session, or any other process, the first thing you should always do is to lay the ground rules and objectives of the process.Give the participants an outline structure of how you intend the session to run.Make it clear what you expect of the participants and what will not be tolerated, such as criticising others opinions or disrespect for other participants.Help the participants to clarify what the desired outcome is, and make sure that this outcome can be reasonably achieved within the available time.Ensure that there is consensus about the objectives of the session to avoid someone bringing up something new somewhere down the line.Doing this also helps foster a sense of ownership among the participants.You also need to make sure the participants understand that your role in the process is only to facilitate, not to push your own agenda.The aim here is to foster an atmosphere of trust and openness.While establishing the ground rules, you also need to determine how any potential disagreements will be dealt with.The good thing about establishing boundaries is that you are in a better position to notice when the participants veer of the track and bring them back to ensure that the desired outcome is achieved within the available time.You Have to be Good at Time ManagementWhether you are facilitating a meeting, a team building session, or a conflict resolution, you probably don’t have the whole day.Therefore, as a facilitator, it is up to you to decide how the objectives of the session can be met within the given time frame.When planning the structure outline for the session, think about each activity and how much time it is supposed to take.Considering that each participant needs to get heard, you should plan time allocations more efficiently than in a regular, run of the mill meeting.Make sure it is clear to the group how much time is allocated for each activity.Once you allocate the time for each activity, you also need to ensure that the time allocations are followed, else the time will run out before the objectives for the session have been achieved.Keep track of the time and come up with a way of notifying people that time is running up when it seems like they will exceed their allocated time.For instance, you could hold up your fingers to let them know how much time they have remaining, or you could simply say it loud.If someone goes beyond their allocated time, don’t be afraid to interrupt them and ask them to wind up.Encourage ParticipationAs a facilitator, this is one of your most important jobs.If someone feels like their contributions and ideas are being stifled, they will refrain from making further contributions, which means that the session will not effectively serve its purpose.As a facilitator, it is up to you to find ways to make the environment inclusive, so that the participa nts not only feel comfortable sharing their ideas, but are actually encouraged to contribute.If you notice that some of the participants have not contributed, reach out to them and encourage them to speak out.You should also design structures and activities that encourage contribution.For instance, you could divide the group into smaller discussion groups, since people are more likely to share their ideas and opinions when dealing with a smaller group of people.Remain ImpartialThis is another important thing to keep in mind when playing the role of a facilitator.As a facilitator, your main task is to draw out the contributions of the participants and guide the group to make a decision on their own, without in any way influencing the outcome yourself.This is not as easy as it sounds.Remaining impartial means that you should suppress your opinions and ideas while moderating the ideas and opinions of others.Whatever you do, you should help the group reach consensus without imposing you r opinions on them. At the end of the session, the group should feel that they have achieved the outcome by themselves.Always Be Ready to InterveneWhile you are not actually chairing the meeting or brainstorming session, you are still in charge of the session, and it is up to you to make sure it ends successfully.This means that you should constantly monitor what is going on and determining whether it is taking the group closer to its objectives.If something happens that you feel is taking away from the objectives of the group, you should be ready to intervene and get the group back on track.For instance, if someone is taking more time than they are allocated, you should intervene and let them know that they have to give time to other participants.Similarly, if someone says or does something that is disrespectful to another participant, you should step in and let them know that disrespect will not be tolerated.The point here is that you should always be ready to step in and stop any thing that might make it harder to achieve the objectives of the group.Be Sensitive to Individual and Group FeelingsI already mentioned earlier that facilitation is all about fostering an atmosphere of trust, openness and respect.In order to do this, you need to be able to use your senses, your instincts and your intuition to pick up the atmosphere and gauge how the participants are individually responding to the topic being discussed and the opinions of other participants.When some of the participants feel uncomfortable, angry, or even hurt by something that was said, most of them will not speak up about their discomfort.Instead, they will silently pull out from the discussion.As a facilitator, it is up to you to read the body language and emotional temperature of the participants and gauge whether everyone is feeling comfortable with the discussion.Take note of those who are talking and those who are not and try to get them involved.Aside from being sensitive to the feelings of th e individual participants, you should also be sensitive to the group chemistry.How does the entire group feel?Are they eager, bored, angry, restless, enthusiastic, or suspicious?Once you perceive the group chemistry, you should then try to influence it in a way that promotes participation and engagement.For instance, if the group is bored, try to bring in some engaging activities or humour to bring up group energy.Probe the ParticipantsSometimes, there will be participants who will remain clammed up despite your best efforts of creating an atmosphere of trust and openness.Still, it is important to hear what they have to say. Probing is a great way of getting such participants to express themselves.For instance, if you notice someone has not spoken, you can nudge them with questions such as “What are your thoughts on this, Suzie?”Probing is also a great way of ensuring that everyone’s contribution is clear.When a participant shares ideas or opinions that are not very clear, pro be them with more questions to get them to elaborate their ideas till everyone in the room has understood what they are saying.Synthesize IdeasWhen a diverse group of people is sharing their individual ideas, it sometimes becomes difficult for some of the participants to make sense of what is being said or to understand how it ties to the bigger picture.As a facilitator, it is up to you to take the different ideas from different people and express them in a succinct manner that allows everyone to understand how the ideas are connected to the whole.Once someone has finished making their contribution, give a summary of what they said and confirm if that is what they actually meant.This minimizes the chances of some participants’ contributions getting misinterpreted.WRAPPING UPFacilitation is an important skill, and as the modern workplace continues becoming more diverse and more competitive, the importance of this skill will only keep increasing.Therefore it is important to start de veloping your facilitation skills.Remember, facilitation is all about bringing diverse groups of people together and making it easy for them to work together to come up with a solution to a problem.With the tips shared in this article, you can start slowly improving your facilitation skills.Considering that facilitation requires lots of skill in reading other people’s body language and behaviour, you need to practice a lot.The more you practice, the better you will get.

Fashion Creations of Christian Lacroix - 1465 Words

â€Å"For me, elegance is not to pass unnoticed but to get to the very soul of what one is.† –Christian Lacroix The creations of fashion designer, Christian Lacroix, are the epitome of the perfect spontaneous combinations of what he truly embodies. Inspiration for these comes from his southern France roots, his passion for the Provence traditions and customs, and his continuing fascination with the history of clothing. Lacroix’s artfully unexpected mixtures express a new form of luxury, simultaneously playful, baroque, and sophisticated. He intertwines bright colors and over the top materials in creations that express a distinct blending of varying cultures. These cultures, and their distant or forgotten costumes, form the basis of the†¦show more content†¦The Christian Lacroix house was inaugurated in 1987 in the city of Paris. On July 26, 1987 Lacroix showed his first collection (introducing the â€Å"pouf† skirt, known as a milestone in fashion history for its inventiveness) under his very own name, and that year the Council of Fashion Designers of America awarded him, â€Å"Most Influential Foreign Designer.† He was referred to as the â€Å"Messiah†, by a French magazine, and even Time featured him on the cover. In 1988, he received his second Golden Thimble, and debuted his first Ready-to-Wear collection. In 1989, Christian Lacroix introduced his first line of accessories including jewelry, handbags, shoes, glasses, scarves, and ties. Also, during this year he celebrated the opening of boutiques in Paris, Arles, Aix-en-Provence, Toulouse, London, Geneva, and Japan. In 1994, he created the â€Å"Bazar† line, a collection based more on folklore and historical time periods than his Ready-to-Wear and Haute Couture lines. In 1995, Lacroix launched the CL Linen and Towel Collection in the spirit of which he believes, â€Å"that fashion and lifestyle are two sides of the same coin.† In 1996, he cre ated his Jeans line. This collection embraces the past, present, and future and was inspired mainly by popular and ethnic art and tradition throughout the world. The fact thatShow MoreRelatedInternational Marketing - Dior Addict4819 Words   |  20 PagesDior Addict Content Introduction FRANCE I. Marketing analysis p 4 A. PESTL p 4 B. Opportunity / Threat p 4 C. Strengths / Weaknesses p 5 D. Segmentation p 5 II. Communication analysis p 5 A. Christian Dior`s image p 5 B. Mode of communication p 6 1. Basic offer p 6 a. FAB terminology p 6 2. Persuasive communication p 6 a. Target description p 6 b. Process of message transfer p 6 c. StimulusRead MoreThe Influence of the Western Culture on the4363 Words   |  18 Pagespeople from the prevailent religion in the subcontinent played an important role in the change in the traditional culture. The converts to chiristanity were encouraged not only to give up their religion but also their traditions and cultures. A fine christian convert would dress like an Englishman and imitate English behaviour in all things.Thus the converts to Christanity were buoyant to think behave and live like the Englishmen. The English education system was introducced by the then Governer Generals’Read MoreLuxury Brand5746 Words   |  23 Pagesluxury only per hour of the Release, thanks to: fashion in particular of Christian Dior and the new look, per hour of the revolution zazou and the existentialism. In the post-war period it will really be necessary to wait, the years 1950 and them assistances of the Marshall plan so that manufactures take again their activities. The textile comes then at the head from exports with nearly 20% to the value to the exported products, thanks to Parisian creations very appreciated on the other side of theRead MoreLvmh Strategic Management10280 Words   |  42 Pagesand trunk- maker and jobbed as a luggage packer in Paris. During this time he became familiar with the needs of the wealthy travelers. IN 1854 he opened the first â€Å"Louis Vuitton Malletier† store in Paris. His signature canvas and the innovative creations such as flat-topped trunks and wardrobe trunks, soon increased demand and gave the brand the image of cosmopolitan and elegant lifestyle goods. In order to prevent counterfeiting he created the world famous monogram logo and various distinguishingRead MoreLvmhs Diversification Strategy Into Luxury Goods5810 Words   |  24 P agesenvironment, its resources and competitive position. 2.1 Background to Organization LVMH is an international group of companies that produces and sells luxury goods. It is associated with a number of product lines such as wines, cosmetics, fragrances, fashion, watches, jewellery and retail and with the most prestigious brands in those sectors. Since it conception in 1987, when Louis Vuitton merged with Moet amp; Chandon champagne and Hennessy cognac, LVMH was conceived to be a star group. Its businessRead MoreLouis Vuitton MÃÆ' ¶et Hennesey (Lvmh)5826 Words   |  24 Pagesenvironment, its resources and competitive position. 2.1 Background to Organization LVMH is an international group of companies that produces and sells luxury goods. It is associated with a number of product lines such as wines, cosmetics, fragrances, fashion, watches, jewellery and retail and with the most prestigious brands in those sectors. Since it conception in 1987, when Louis Vuitton merged with Moet amp; Chandon champagne and Hennessy cognac, LVMH was conceived to be a star group. Its businessRead MoreCase Study LVMH, Strategy and future: Diversification.5524 Words   |  23 Pagesenvironment, its resources and competitive position. 2.1 Background to Organization LVMH is an international group of companies that produces and sells luxury goods. It is associated with a number of product lines such as wines, cosmetics, fragrances, fashion, watches, jewellery and retail and with the most prestigious brands in those sectors. Since it conception in 1987, when Louis Vuitton merged with Moet Chandon champagne and Hennessy cognac, LVMH was conceived to be a star group. Its business strategyRead MoreGucci Case Study12528 Words   |  51 PagesHarvard Business School 9-701-037 Rev. May 10, 2001 Gucci Group N.V. (A) Historically, fashion was viewed like movies. We made it a business. -Domenico De Sole, CEO, Gucci Group Domenico De Sole seated himself at the wenge-and-steel conference table in his London office, a few steps from Bond Street, home to the most glittering names in the luxury world. It was a springlike morning in February 2000, and several blocks away, eager shoppers

My Critique of a Blogpost Essay - 571 Words

So I found this article via a Facebook friend. The following comment is what I wrote on that friends wall. I felt it only appropriate to allow the author to read and respond to my criticism. So, as black man whos, currently, very irreligious but was a Christian for 15 years, my perspective on this article may be different from that of the authors. While I think the author of this article has internalized the patriarchy inherent to many religious circles (be they Christian, Jewish, Muslim, etc), I disagree with the author even more on her understanding of the Bible. There are 4 things in particular that really irked me about this article. 1. The author totally misunderstands the story of Adam and Eve. The quote ...just remember what†¦show more content†¦3. The author is really arrogant! If you accept that God is omnipotent and omniscient and you accept that God created you, then you also accept that God created your freewill. And you also accept that not even God is powerful enough to go against your freewill. For this I call your attention to Deuteronomy 30:18-20 which says This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now CHOOSE life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Even in the Old Testament God makes reference to the fact that you have a choice and he is not at liberty to make that choice for you. The fa ct that the author can tell you how to express your freewill in choosing who you will and wont pursue romantically, or otherwise, but God cant belies the authors arrogance. 4. Finally, my last comment is simply a warning. Beware of anyone who tells you they know Gods will for your life. Again: if you accept that God is omniscient, then you accept that God knows his plan for your life. And if you accept that God is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last, the

Type Ii Diabetes Mellitus Among African Americans Free Essays

Type II Diabetes Mellitus among African Americans Type II Diabetes Mellitus is an adult-onset diabetes that affects 90% of the diabetes patients. It is when the body does not recognize the insulin being produced by the pancreas, or not enough is produced. Insulin is a hormone that causes different cells to take up glucose for energy. We will write a custom essay sample on Type Ii Diabetes Mellitus Among African Americans or any similar topic only for you Order Now Resistance to insulin causes the build up of glucose in the blood, which causes improper functions of cells and blood circulation, damage to nerves and blood vessels. The prevalence of type II diabetes is highest in African Americans among ethnic and racial groups. African American type II diabetic populations have tripled in 1993 when compared to 1963. Type II diabetes is mostly developed after age 40, but the age is getting younger due to high rates of obese populations among African Americans. Major causes for such high rates include, hereditary traits, hyperinsulinemia, poor diet, obesity, smoking habits and lack of physical activity. Some symptoms to notice are frequent urination, increased thirst and hunger, dry mouth, blurred vision, skin irritation and fatigue. Medical doctor diagnoses it after a confirmatory test called fasting plasma glucose test (FPG). Blood is drawn while fasting and analyzed for blood glucose levels. Normal is considered to be between 70 to 100 milligrams per deciliter, and if it greater than or equal to 126 milligrams per deciliter, one is said to have diabetes. Although oral medications are available, type II diabetes can be controlled by proper diet and exercise. Frequent self-testing for glucose levels using a glucometer can provide information on how well you are doing managing the levels. Frequent doctor visits for glucose tests are recommended. If left uncontrolled, it can cause eye diseases such as retinopathy, which is more prevalent in African Americans than Caucasian Americans. It can also lead to kidney failure, amputation and the worst-case scenario, diabetic coma. Prevention is important to decrease these chances and avoid serious health consequences. Bibliography Search: 1. Tuomilehto, Jaakko, Lindstrom, Jaana, Eriksson, Johan G. , Valle, Timo T. , Hamalainen, Helena, Ilanne-Parikka, Pirjo, Keinanen-Kiukaanniemi, Sirkka, Laakso, Mauri, Louheranta, Anne, Rastas, Merja, Salminen, Virpi, Aunola, Sirkka, Cepaitis, Zygimantas, Moltchanov, Vladislav, Hakumaki, Martti, Mannelin, Marjo, Martikkala, Vesa, Sundvall, Jouko, Uusitupa, Matti, the Finnish Diabetes Prevention Study Group. Prevention of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus by Changes in Lifestyle among Subjects with Impaired Glucose Tolerance. New England Journal of Medicine. 344 (2001): 1343-1350. 2. Brancati, FL. â€Å"Incident type 2 diabetes mellitus in African American and white adults – The atherosclerosis risk in communities study. † Journal of the American Medical Association 283. 17 (2000): 2253-2259. 3. Robbins, JM, Vaccarino, V, Zhang, H, Kasl, SV. Socioeconomic status and type 2 diabetes in African American and non-Hispanic white women and men: evidence from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. † American Journal of Public Health 91. 1 (2001): 76-83. 4. Signorello, Lisa B. , Schlundt, David G. , Cohen, Sarah S. , Steinwandel, Mark D. , Buchowski, Maciej S. , McLaughlin, Joseph K . , Hargreaves, Margaret K. , Blot, William J. â€Å"Comparing Diabetes Prevalence Between African Americans and Whites of Similar Socioeconomic Status. † American Journal of Public Health 97 (2007): 2260-2267. 5. Bell RA, Summerson JH, Konen JC: Dietary intakes by levels of glycemic control for black and white adults with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). J Am Coll Nutr 14 (1995):144–154. 6. Weatherspoon LJ, Kumanyika SK, Ludlow R, Schatz D: Glycemic control in a sample of black and white clinic patients with NIDDM. Diabetes Care 17(1994):1148–1153. 7. Wisdom K, Fryzek JP, Havstad SL, Anderson RM, Dreiling MC, Tilley BC: Comparison of laboratory test frequency and test results between African-Americans and Caucasians with diabetes: opportunity for improvement. Diabetes Care 20 (1997):971–977. 8. Fagot-Campagna, A. â€Å"Emergence of type 2 diabetes mellitus in children: epidemiological evidence. † Journal of Pediatric Endocrinol Metab. 13. 6 (2000). 9. Osei K, Rhinesmith S, Gaillard T, Schuster D P. â€Å"Impaired Insulin Sensitivity, Insulin Secretion, and Glucose Effectiveness Predict Future Development of Impaired Glucose Tolerance and Type 2 Diabetes in Pre-Diabetic African Americans: Implications for primary diabetes prevention. † Diabetes Care 27 (2004):1439-1446. 10. Osei K, Gaillard T, Schuster D P. Pathogenetic mechanisms of impaired glucose tolerance and type II diabetes in African-Americans. The significance of insulin secretion, insulin sensitivity, and glucose effectiveness. Diabetes Care 20 (1997):396-404 11. Danadian K, Balasekaran G, Lewy V, Meza M P, Robertson R, Arslanian S A. â€Å"Insulin sensitivity in African-American children with and without family history of type 2 diabetes. † Diabetes Care August 22 (1995):1325-1329. 12. National Institutes of Health–NIDDK: Diabetes in African Americans. In Diabetes in America. 2nd ed. No. 95–1468 ed. , 1995,p. 613–629 How to cite Type Ii Diabetes Mellitus Among African Americans, Papers

There Are Many Things That Make the Desktop Superior to the Laptop free essay sample

There are many things that make the desktop more efficient and superior to the laptop. The desktop is better than the laptop due to the fact it has more features. The desktop alone can fulfill the task of a computer without having unnecessary and utterly useless add-ons. â€Å"Bona Fide.com†, which is â€Å"just not another tech site†, compares the qualities of a desktop to that of the laptop. The site claims that â€Å"desktops are more superior to laptops† due to the fact they are portable, light weighted and have wireless internet The desktop, which is currently advancing in modern day technologies, now added the wireless internet feature. Although many would find this to be a useless feature for a desktop due to its heavy interior, one can avoid drilling holes in walls and moving hundreds of wires; it can all be taken away by a small router. The weight of the desktop easily outweighs the laptop therefore making it harder to transport. We will write a custom essay sample on There Are Many Things That Make the Desktop Superior to the Laptop or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The desktop, which was falling behind due to these disadvantages, now made the difference less oblivious. The desktop now has most of the features a laptop would need. The portability of the laptop is easily outmatched by the superior speed of the desktop. The desktop, which could not connect wirelessly now can by connected with a router. The laptop, which was known for its portability and wireless internet, will soon be matched in the competition when the desktop equals the laptop in most aspects and becomes the more popular once again. The desktop is also known as the traditional type of computer as well.

10 Tips to Help Stop Cyberbullying

10 Tips to Help Stop Cyberbullying 10 Tips to Help Stop Cyberbullying Sharon J. of Philadelphia PA, USA, was at work when the call came in. Her 6-year-old son was attacked in class by his peer with a pencil. She was horrified. Racing to the school, and then into the nurse’s office she found her terrified little boy with a bandage on his cheek. The nurse said that a little more to the right and the other child would have taken out Sharon’s little boys’ eye. The bully? A six-year-old little girl who wanted what the boy had for lunch instead of what was in her lunch box. The punishment, nothing. That’s right. After meeting with the mother of the little girl and the principal, Sharon was told, â€Å"kids fight†. She was only a little girl with a bad temper. The Statistics This and many other stories like it pour out of elementary, middle and high schools each day. The number of the bullying attacks is astounding. Almost 80% of students in the USA say that they have been bullied at one time or the other. Parents? If you think that since you are sending your precious child off to college that the bullying is finally going to be over, think again, that statistic above represents college age children. Yes, bullying in college is on the rise. Bullies, Bullies, Everywhere We could rattle off some numbers to try to impress upon our readers how many bullies are out there, but they wouldn’t be accurate. Due to embarrassment, shame, or just no-one to tell, many incidents of bullying are never reported. The facts are: Bullying in college will not stop unless the bullies are reported and they pay for their actions. Laws should be passed that punishes the parents as well as the child in incidents of bullying that cause harm to any individual. Bullying in college leads to suicide, depression, and drop-outs. The numbers will continue to rise unless parents, teachers and those being bullied don’t begin to report what is going on. There is a rise in the act of suicide because of cyberbullying in college. Much bullying begins in the home, and this leads to school and college bullying. Many children that are bullied by overbearing parents tend to show the same disregard for their peers on the school playground, on college campuses, and on the Internet. Adult Bullying? Yes, adults bully other adults. Australia reports show that they are #1 when it comes to workplace bullying. A target could be someone in the office that is: Well liked Smart They excel at their jobs Instead of trying to emulate the target a bully will try to manipulate them or sabotage their work. Many adult bullies are just people that do not cope well in society so they hide behind their bullying tactics. With bullies, it’s all about power. College Challenges After considering that there are adults who bully, parents must take the time to talk to their newly adult children on what a bully looks for in an individual target, and ask them if they are the bullies themselves. This conversation must be had if we are to limit the instances of bullying that are infecting our Universities. Most bullies target those who are Passive Submissive The new kid The quiet kid The kid that is not in a clique The kid that seems to always be in class early The kid with the high grades The kid that does not confront anyone or anything Kids of different races are often bullied Bullies in college have also been known to target handicapped persons and the elderly. As horrible as this may seem to be, it is true. They look for those that weaker than themselves. When Your Child is the Bully No parent wants to get the call that their child is being bullied, but no parent wants to be embarrassed to know that their child is the perpetrator of the bullying. Our first reaction is, â€Å"not my sweet innocent child, they couldn’t be so mean†. The one thing parents do know is their child. Sit down with your child and instead of lashing out at them, ask them what happened. Follow some of these suggestions: While listening to your child, only stop them if they are playing the blame game. Let them know you don’t want to hear what happened with other kids, just want part they played in the incident. Tell them that, when you point your finger at someone, 3 fingers are pointing back at you. Play a game of: what if it was you? Encourage them to have empathy for the bullied victim. Children and young adults need to learn empathy at home. If you as a parent always side with your child and never show them where they are wrong, you encourage them to be bullies. There is a poster that reads, â€Å"Children live what they learn†. This is so true, but that does not make you a bad parent. They could have gotten the bad habit of bullying from television or from their peers. Trying to fit in. Talk to them to see why they did what they did. And discuss ways of stopping it from happening again. If the bullying was cyber-bullying, your child should be made to get rid of the pages that were put up, and then make restitution to the individual that they harmed. Get the school involved in the punishment of the child who bullies and the apology to the victim. This should be a sit down of all parties involved. Sometimes this is enough to set a bullying kid straight. If you as a parent of a bully stops this behavior when it arises, bullies can change. Sometimes it’s physical, a mental imbalance, sometimes it can be the influence of violent games they are exposed to Many parents use video games to get their kids out of their hair. If your child has been exposed to years and years of violent games, they will have a violent nature and this could cause bullying. Cyber-Bullying Tips It was bad enough when you had to worry about the playground or the middle school bully, but with the internet providing the perfects storm for kids to bully, how do you cut the throat of this new threat? One thing parents need to do is to get the facts about cyber-bullying. It usually involves more than just one child doing the bullying and it can span over many types of venues. Some of the lethal weapons used to cyber bully are: Instant messages E-mails Posting pictures of your child without their, or your, permission Stealing your kid’s passwords and sending false messages on social media When your child is attacked by many on social many, this is called attack by proxy. This can be super dangerous because they can have their identity stolen and placed in porn sites without their knowing. The bullies will also post their private addresses and phone numbers. The reasons they do this is beyond one reason, but some are: They don’t think of the consequences of their actions, or They think they are getting back at the victim for some reason,   and   this person doesn’t see themselves as a bully. What Can Parents and Educators Do? First and foremost, have in place a set of guidelines and laws that address bullying behavior, and make serious consequences stick when bullying is observed and acknowledged. Also promote the following: An inclusive atmosphere campus wide. When students are more connected to one another there are less instances of bullying. Have in place policies based on bullying. If they are not in the student handbook, have the handbook redone to reflect the policies. Start groups such as writing groups where students can express what is going on with them in the college community. This gives students a voice. With this   college writing service, start some type of contest for student essays on bullying. Have a reporting place that students feel safe to tell on suspected bullies, confidentially. No student like to feel like a snitch, this is one reason for lack of telling. Model how to act by treating all with respect and dignity. Children, and young adults will usually emulate who is leading them. Offer a class on computer ethics. Teach children the importance of not sharing their passwords with anyone. Show them how to keep information that they find online as proof of cyberbullying. Get trained to handle bullying. Anyone on campus that must deal with children directly would do well to have a workshop on how to handle bullies in college. Listen to both sides, don’t pre-judge what you are hearing from one side of the story. Keep an open mind. Do not ignore it or feel that it is a passing situation. If you are told that a student feels threatened, take it seriously. Intervention is key. When something happens take the time to do something about it right away, refer to the policies on bullying and if you need help, get other adults involved. There truly is strength in numbers in a case of bullying. What can Students do? Students often develop cliques in college, and because you want to be   like by your friends,   you may often feel   the need to back them up no   matter what. In the case of bullying, this is not a way to help your friend. It takes a stronger friend to tell a friend that they are wrong when acting a certain way. If your friend decides that they are not going to like you anymore for telling them to do the right thing, then this is not a friend that you need in your life. When you witness someone on campus bullying another student, whether it is your friend or not, don’t join in. Instead try some of the following suggestions: Stay calm- don’t argue with either of them, instead say something like, â€Å"come on we don’t have to be like that, this is not high-school†. Many students in college do not want to be made to look like they are acting like high-schoolers and will stop the behavior, especially if a friend tells them this. If it is your friend, steer them away from the other person, they don’t necessarily have to kiss and make up or anything like that. Everyone is not going to like everyone. If you walk up on a fight, ask bystanders why they are not doing something and stop the fight. Taking one of the people away with you and showing bystanders that   they should get involved. Talk to a person that you know is a bully when you are alone with them. Confront their behavior and ask them why they choose to act that way. Give them reasons that you would not participate in that type of behavior, and if necessary, let them know that if they continue to show that type of behavior you will not be associated with them. If you are afraid of your friend that is a bully. Report them to an authority that will not tell that you reported them. It is better to do something than to wait for the worst to happen. This is just a few of the things that can be done when one is a bully. Cyber bullying has reached a high peak and if we as those on the sidelines don’t do something to correct the behavior in those that practice the bullying, we are just as guilty as they are, if not worse than them. So, if   you see it, report it, step in and   be a part of the   solution, not the problem.

Free Essays on SWAT

For a long time I have been interested in Police work. It’s not the best paying job out there, but im willing to bet that its one of the most fulfilling jobs. The Police field is a broad area so I have decided to narrow my occupational research down to the SWAT division of the Police Force. The information on this division of the Police Force is limited due to the facts that SWAT operations are highly secretive about internal affairs. SWAT stands for Special Weapons and Tactics. The definition of a Swat is a squad of policemen who have been trained to deal with violent and dangerous situations. This is an understatement or put nicely in my opinion. In addition to criminals and dangerous encounters. Police and SWAT officers have to be alert and prepared to deal with threatening situations at all times. These officers are required to be required to be armed at all times. SWAT teams are called upon in the most dangerous, high tension, high risk situations. The stakes for a SWAT team are all or nothing. There is very rarely a grey area in the situation because of the high tensions, and the type of work they’re called in for. The first SWAT team formed was in 1967 these units were originally 15 teams of 4 men trained. Originally the purpose of Special Weapons and Tactics teams, were to protect Police Stations during civil disturbances of the civil rights movements as well as the Vietnam protest. The first high risk operation occurred in 1969 when the SWAT team raided the Los Angeles Black Panther Party. This first operation left 3 LAPD officers wounded. SWAT teams are found in most major cities or in counties that contain smaller cities within in them. The most renowned squad is the LAPD team. SWAT team requirements differ throughout departments. SWAT is earned through merit as an Officer. There are things that can be done to help enhance your chances of a promotion to the SWAT squad such as workshops, military service, and specia... Free Essays on SWAT Free Essays on SWAT For a long time I have been interested in Police work. It’s not the best paying job out there, but im willing to bet that its one of the most fulfilling jobs. The Police field is a broad area so I have decided to narrow my occupational research down to the SWAT division of the Police Force. The information on this division of the Police Force is limited due to the facts that SWAT operations are highly secretive about internal affairs. SWAT stands for Special Weapons and Tactics. The definition of a Swat is a squad of policemen who have been trained to deal with violent and dangerous situations. This is an understatement or put nicely in my opinion. In addition to criminals and dangerous encounters. Police and SWAT officers have to be alert and prepared to deal with threatening situations at all times. These officers are required to be required to be armed at all times. SWAT teams are called upon in the most dangerous, high tension, high risk situations. The stakes for a SWAT team are all or nothing. There is very rarely a grey area in the situation because of the high tensions, and the type of work they’re called in for. The first SWAT team formed was in 1967 these units were originally 15 teams of 4 men trained. Originally the purpose of Special Weapons and Tactics teams, were to protect Police Stations during civil disturbances of the civil rights movements as well as the Vietnam protest. The first high risk operation occurred in 1969 when the SWAT team raided the Los Angeles Black Panther Party. This first operation left 3 LAPD officers wounded. SWAT teams are found in most major cities or in counties that contain smaller cities within in them. The most renowned squad is the LAPD team. SWAT team requirements differ throughout departments. SWAT is earned through merit as an Officer. There are things that can be done to help enhance your chances of a promotion to the SWAT squad such as workshops, military service, and specia...