Parental Leave At The United States Essay - 1960 Words

III. Parental Leave in the United States The lack of a paid parental leave law in the country does not necessarily mean that it is absent in the U.S. labor market. Some generous and more progressive companies do recognize the importance of the leave to employees and do offer it. According to the Employee Benefits Survey of 2015, 21% of employers nationally offer some paid maternity leave while 17% offer some paid paternity/adoption leave. However, about a fifth don’t have any kind of protected maternity, paternity, or adoptive leave. (Ray, 8; Time, n. pag.) An article online from Time Inc. Network lists some U.S. companies that do offer paid parental leave. Most of these companies use the leave to attract talented employees and most are in the information and/or technology industry. The list include: †¢ Adobe- 26 weeks of paid maternity leave and 16 weeks of paid leave for primary caregivers †¢ Amazon- 20 weeks of paid maternity leave, 2 of which can be taken before the birth of the child, and 6 weeks of paid paternal and adoptive parents leave †¢ Apple- 18 weeks of paid maternity leave, 4 of which can be taken before the birth of the child, and 6 weeks of paid paternal and adoptive parents leave †¢ Facebook- 16 weeks of parental leave (includes maternity, paternity, and adoption), and has a breastfeeding room in the office complex †¢ Google and YouTube- 18 weeks of paid maternity leave, 12 weeks of â€Å"baby-bonding leave† for primary caregivers, and up to 7 weeks for non-primaryShow MoreRelatedNew Fathers Should Have A Paid Parental Leave Law Essay1359 Words   |  6 PagesAs was pointed out earlier, 86 percent of fathers said they would take paternity leave if it paid 70% of their income. For a lot men in the Citation survey, the expected income reduction did not dissuade them from taking parental leave to be with their newborn and wife. My own survey showed me that the majority of respondents, and perhaps of the population, is unaware that there is currently no paid parental leave law in the country. This came as a surprise since only one of them did not have kidsRead MoreBenefits Of Implementing The Parental Leave Policy1042 Words   |  5 PagesThe United States and the United States Army had made several revisions to the paternity/ maternity leave policies. Even with current changes we are not where we need to be. The United States Army currently offers 10 days of paternity leave to Soldiers that are married ¹ and 12 weeks of maternity leave for female Soldiers. ² The Army should convert these two policies into one policy titled parental leave. Some of the benefits of implementing the parental leave policy are mother’s physical and mentalRead MoreOther Challenges That Parental Leave And Birth And Adoption Unemployment Compensation ( Baa Uc )1155 Words   |  5 Pageschallenges that parental leave and â€Å"birth and adoption unemployment compensation (BAA-UC), face are their opponents who think the government would be overstepping their boundaries if the government stepped in and changed parental leave. These opponents say that it would cost too much money to enforce. Others who are against BAA-UC believe that it is the parents’ concerns to provide for the daycare and the duties that come with raising a child of their own. The people also say parental leave â€Å"goes beyondRead MoreShould Parents Leave For Unpaid Leave? Essay1621 Words   |  7 Pageswhy parental leave needs not only be available but why it also needs to be paid. An unpaid leave can be very expensive for most people. Providing only unpaid leave would defeat the purpose of having it in the first place because most would not even use it. In a survey by the Boston College Centre for Work and Family, they found that 86% of men would take paternity leave if it paid at least 70% of their wages. (Citation , n. pag.) On the other hand, women without access to paid maternity leave areRead MoreThe United States Is The Only Industrialized Country Without A Requirement Essay1673 Words   |  7 PagesCurrently, the United States is the only industrialized country without a statute requiring all employers to provide some kind of paid time off for its employees to care for a newborn or a sick loved one. Data gathered from 38 member countries of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) support this claim. Figure 1 shows the member countries and the length of maternity leave provided to all employees. The graph details only the averages. Maternity leave provisions can includeRead MorePaid Paternal Leave And The United States1386 Words   |  6 Pages Paid Paternal Leave and the United States Part One: Problem Statement/Background The women s rights movement in the 1960s made one of the most monumental accomplishments of gaining equal opportunities in the workplace with the Equal Pay Act guaranteeing women â€Å"equal pay for equal work† as their male counterparts. Although this opened doors for women to have the same opportunities in the workforce as men it didn t, however, address the fact that women would most likely work during pregnancy andRead MoreEssay On Gender Inequality1687 Words   |  7 Pagesman and a woman. Though there is not one complete resolution that can fix this issue completely, there are some solutions and changes which can be implemented. Specifically, applying the model and policies similar to that found in Sweden to the United States might lessen the presence of gender inequality found in families and households. Increased Domestic Work Monetization through Tax Breaks To be clear, Sweden like most other developed countries still experience gender inequality at home despiteRead MoreRelationship Between Parents And Parents Spend More Time With Their Children1309 Words   |  6 Pagesdropout rate to the country’s generous parental leave statute. This lower dropout rate, they claimed, is because of parental involvement in the early months of the child’s life, a very crucial stage when fathers connect with their children and form the foundations of future relationship; when mothers get to provide the nourishment that their baby needs through breastfeeding and the emotional connection this practice forms. Again, a properly designed parental leave can encourage mothers to nurse theirRead MoreThe Law Of The United States1314 Words   |  6 Pagesand Medical Leave Act in the case of things like: family emergencies, serious health conditions, and pregnancies. The law requires an employer to allow twelve unpaid work weeks to be taken in a twelve month period every year. The United States Department of Labor states, â€Å"This law covers only certain employers; affects only those employees eligible for the protections of the law; involves entitlement to leave, maintenance of health benefits during leave, and job restoration after leave;. . . † ThisRead MoreTime With Their Children From Birth And Onward Was Supported1632 Words   |  7 Pagessupported immensely by the policies Sweden had in place. Listing the rights all parents had, â€Å"(a) take maternity/paternity leave around the time of delivery, (b) avail of a long period of parental (or childcare) leave during which they receive 77.6 percent of their income for 13 months per child and a flat rate of SEK 180 (USD 23) a day for another 3 months, and (c) take temporary leave for sick children aged 0-12, which provides up to 120 days off per child per year with 77.6 percent of the normal earnings

Fahrenheit 451 By Ray Bradbury - 1948 Words

Fahrenheit 451 employs a number of symbolisms to accompany the theme of censorship. Fahrenheit 451 demonstrates the impact of censorship and forced conformity on the Montag and surrounded people, life in a dystopian world where books are completely forbidden. The title itself is a reflection of the temperature at which books are burned on fire. The novel was actually written in the era of McCarthyism. It was a time when many Americans were falsely accused of trying to subvert the United States government. Moreover, it was also a period of the Cold War and a time when televisions emerged as a popular mode of communication. With this effect, Fahreinheit 451 seeks to address the effect of consumerism and reductionism by concentrating on how human creativity and individuality were destroyed by the mass media and advertising industry and also by political ideologies. The Fahrenheit 451 is, however, a work of science fiction that reflects a dystopian era. Bradbury employs distinctive liter ary styles such as symbolism in order to underscore the values of human imagination. He also deploys such literary style in order to portray cultural heritage. Based on the theme of censorship, reading or owning books was considered a taboo and was illegal. Almost every member of the society focused their minds on entertainment and mass media in order to achieve immediate gratification in life. Whenever people came across books, they were burned and the owners of such books were frequentlyShow MoreRelatedFahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury719 Words   |  3 PagesThe flash point of paper, or the temperature at which paper will burst in flames, is 451 degrees Fahrenheit. In Fahrenheit 451, written by Ray Bradbury, the main character, Guy Montag, is a â€Å"fireman† in a futuristic society where he and his coworkers start fires, rather than put them out. Books are banned and burned, along with the owner of the book’s house and sometimes even the owner of the book, upon disco very. Technology has taken over in a sense that social interaction between the average personRead MoreFahrenheit 451 By Ray Bradbury1952 Words   |  8 Pagesis clearly displayed in the plight of Ray Bradbury’s novel about a dystopian American society, Fahrenheit 451, which contains many ideas and bits of content that some people believed should be censored. In fact, one of the reasons that this novel was censored for displaying the dangers of censorship, which is both extremely ironic, and telling as to where this society is going. Thanks to several distributors and oversensitive parents and teachers, Fahrenheit 451 has been banned in many schools overRead MoreFahrenheit 451 By Ray Bradbury954 Words   |  4 Pages In Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, the author uses allegory (often misinterpreted by readers) to show the dangers of mass media consumption and the decline of reading traditional media. Many readers draw incorrect conclusions (lessons learned) from the book due to how generally the book applies its theme. Government censorship, though an important topic, is not the intended focus of the novel Fahrenheit 451. Finally, Bradbury’s original message of the book shows the beauty of traditional media andRead MoreFahrenheit 451 By Ray Bradbury1592 Words   |  7 PagesWhen writing the introduction to Fahrenheit 451, author Neil Gaiman stated that â€Å"ideas--written ideas--are special. They are the way we transmit our stories and our thoughts from one generation to the next. If we lose them, we lose our shared history†. Gaiman is absolutely correct; especially because what he is saying heavily applies to books. Books are a critical aspect in shaping humanity as a whole, they create and share a network of creative ideas, history, and overall entertainment; to loseRead MoreFahrenheit 451 By Ray Bradbury918 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"Fahrenheit 451,† written by Ray Bradbury, is a futuristic, dystopian novel based upon a societ y secluded by technology and ignorance. In this future society, books are outlawed and firemen are presented with the task of burning books that are found in people’s homes. Montag, a fireman, finds himself intrigued with the books, and begins to take them home and read them. As the story progresses, Montag learns the truth behind why books are outlawed and flees his city to join the last remnants of age-oldRead MoreFahrenheit 451 By Ray Bradbury847 Words   |  4 PagesSet Knowledge On Fire The book Fahrenheit 451 is a postmodern work by Ray Bradbury first published in 1951. In Bradbury’s story, all books are illegal and are subject to be burned by firemen. Furthermore, the two predominant themes of Fahrenheit 451 are censorship and ignorance. The censorship implemented over the years removes all information from society that is necessary to learn, which accomplishes to prevent people from questioning anything. The ignorance of society has been fostered and theRead MoreFahrenheit 451 By Ray Bradbury1661 Words   |  7 Pages1.) In the novel, Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, Montag’s view on life reverses. Two characters the influence the main character Guy Montag are the old lady whose house and books were burnt down and Mildred. The old lady was caught preserving books in her home. Firemen including Montag were ordered to burn the books. The old lady refused to leave her books, so she too was burned. She bravely gave an allusion as her last words, â€Å"Play the man,’ she said, ‘Master Ridley.’ Something, somethingRead MoreFahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury818 Words   |  4 PagesFAHRENHEIT 451 BY RAY BRADBURY Important People in Montag’s Life In Partical Fulfillment Of English 2 Ms Irina Abramov By Helen Hernandez November 9, 2012 â€Å"There are worse crimes than burning books. One of them is not reading them† -Ray Bradbury. In the past there were events that affected book writers. People will get together to burn books because they thought it was inappropriate or they were against their literature. Montag is a fireman in a futuristic society who would startRead MoreFahrenheit 451 By Ray Bradbury863 Words   |  4 PagesThe novel, Fahrenheit 451 was written by Ray Bradbury and it took place in the dystopian future. Throughout each novel, we are able to see a major theme, which is censorship. In this essay, I will explain how this theme are explored in the story by using the literary devices. To begin with, in this novel, censorship is not given a straight description, but we can see how the author shows it through many literary elements, such as using the setting, tone and symbolisms even foreshadowing. This novelRead MoreFahrenheit 451 By Ray Bradbury1544 Words   |  7 PagesRay Bradbury, the author of Fahrenheit 451, expresses his perspective on life in an interview. His interview contains a common theme: Do what you love, and love what you do (Bradbury). Bradbury sends a message in his interview that people should love life, and live to the fullest because he believes life is a beautiful thing. Although Bradbury no longer can demonstrate his love for life his message still lives in the pages of Fahrenheit 451. The Government of the society in the novel has told their

Drinking Age A Good Idea - 899 Words

Drinking Age Who could possibly think it’s smart to lower the national minimum age requirement to buy and consume alcohol? Richard Marron, State Representative of Vermont, thinks it’s a good idea. Ruth C. Engs, Professor of Applied Health Sciences at Indiana University, thinks it’s a good idea. Dwight B. Heath, Professor of Anthropology at Brown University, thinks it’s a good idea. I think it’s a good idea. Wouldn’t lowering the Minimum Legal Drinking Age (MLDA) result in more cases of drunk driving? Overall, no. The number of DUIs among people between the ages of 18-20 would most likely increase, but this increase would be offset by a decrease in DUIs among people between the ages of 21-24. In a study published in Southern Economic†¦show more content†¦How many videos have you seen online of a college student, completely wasted, doing something incredibly stupid? If this person had started drinking at a younger age, in an appropriat e setting, and in the presence of responsible adults, this would happen much less frequently. Unfortunately, it isn’t possible to learn to drink in a safe place when under 21 because you have to drink in a secluded area to avoid being caught. It isn’t possible to drink in the presence of responsible adults because these are the same people trained to not allow you to drink. Instead, young adults either binge drink with their friends at an unsafe location away from supervision, or they wait until they get to college where there aren’t any parents around and drink too much too fast due to a lack of experience. Currently, the National Minimum Drinking Age Act prevents states from lowering their MLDA below 21 by threatening to cut 10% of federal highway funding if they do so. This needs to change. With the correct legislation, the state would not only maintain funding, but would actually gain money. With a lower MLDA, more people would be able buy alcohol at liquor stores and drink alcohol in restaurants, bars, and other licensed establishments. Revenue for these businesses would increase, resulting in more tax money for the federal and state government. Teenagers get a rush from breaking the law. It’s a fact.Show MoreRelatedWhy Lowering The Drinking Age Is A Good Idea?. Lowering1627 Words   |  7 Pagesthe Drinking Age is a Good Idea? Lowering the drinking age to 18 in the United States has been a source of controversy in recent years. It has been a controversial topic because many people disagree, while many agree with the topic. For example, the people who disagree and are against lowering the drinking age to 18 believe we should not lower the drinking age because 18 year old individuals are not responsible enough to drink alcohol. While, the people who agree we should lower the drinking ageRead MoreEssay on Underage Drinking in Australia642 Words   |  3 PagesOver time, it has become a regular thing for citizens of Australian to drink excessive amounts alcohol; Australians of many different ages drink alcohol for a wide range of reasons; whether alcohol is being consumed due to a special occasion, for stress relief, or as an (not so good) anti-depressant. Alcohol, believe it or not makes a huge impact on Australians as young as 14. Statistics show that at least 90% of teenagers 14 years old and up have trie d alcohol at least once, and estimates also showRead MoreEssay on Lowering Drinking Age778 Words   |  4 Pagesthat we should lower that age to eight teen. A group of 129 college presidents are actually asking that there at least be a discussion to the argument (Lewis et al, 2008). They think that it would stop all the underage drinking at colleges and would teach kids at an early age how to handle alcohol (Lewis et al, 2008). In my option lowering it would not help all the problems we have with alcohol. I feel that it would just cause more alcohol abuse, but there is some good to lowering it. As kids startRead MoreDrinking Age Should Be Lowered937 Words   |  4 PagesDrinking Age should be lowered from twenty one to eighteen There is no taboo subject in America quote like underage drinking. The principal problem is not the age of drinking, but the hidden binge side of it. When it comes to the law, there is always an opinion. A reform should be made about the age of drinking for numerous reasons in my personal viewpoint. In the U.S, at the age of eighteen, one can legally vote, buy cigarettes, and join the army, to cite a few things. Going against the law, criticsRead MoreDrinking at 18 Essay1243 Words   |  5 PagesDrinking at 18 If you look around at college parties it seems as if everyone is drinking. Actually you are probably right, but over half of those people drinking are also under the legal drinking age. Drinking is one of the main forms of entertainment for the typical college student. The only problem with drinking being the main form of entertainment is that half of the students in college or 20 years or younger. This seems to be a problem all over theRead MoreDrinking Age1395 Words   |  6 Pagesoccur that debates whether one thing or another is good or bad, helpful or hurtful. Some debates are simple with no major side effects such as would drinking gatorade or water better maximize the performance of athletes. Other debates involving drinking are not as simple, these debates involve alcohol drinking age. Both arguments can have different viewpoints, the difference is the significance in the argument. What should the legal drinking age in the United States be? Consuming alcohol hasRead MoreEssay about A Better Solution to the Underage Drinking Problem759 Words   |  4 PagesA Better Solution to the Underage Drinking Problem Recently, the issue of underage drinking has become a major problem for our society. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (2009), about 10.4 million young people between ages 12 and 20 have drank more than â€Å"just a few sips† of alcohol. Moreover, 5,000 people under the age of 21 die each year in alcohol-related deaths including car crashes, homicides, and other injuries such as falls (NIAAA, 2009). When adolescentsRead MoreShould The Drinking Age Be Lowered?995 Words   |  4 Pageslegal drinking age be lowered to age 18? Recently people have been debating whether If the drinking age should be lowered to 18. Some people think 18 is a better age but others think it’s outrageous to lower the drinking age to 18. After much reading and observing, I myself think the drinking age should be kept at 21 years old,because young adults who drink while they re underage make poor decisions and majority of the young adults are in college lacking in classes. The legal drinking age shouldRead More Club Owners Must Not Allow Underage Drinking969 Words   |  4 PagesProhibiting nightclubs from admitting people under age twenty-one will take some weight off of parents, club owners, drivers and innocent bystanders. With the economy sinking, many owners are making what they believe a wise financial decision by allowing eighteen to twenty year olds in their clubs. They are mixing eighteen to twenty in with the twenty-one and up crowd, as failing clubs owners only see more people more money. Every night thousands of young adults eighteen to twenty years old are letRead MorePositive And Negative Effects Of Drinking Alcohol1709 Words   |  7 Pagesthe consumption of alcohol but it can be said that drinking alcohol has both positive and negative effects. Controversy may arise between opposing sides that those below the age of twenty-one are not responsible enough to drink however are allowed a driving license or a driver’s permit. In the United States of America, society and lawmakers focus more on the negative impacts of alcohol consumption especially when it comes to who we allow drinking, and do not consider that teenagers are able to think

Degree Portfolio Resource ICT Professionals

Questions: Week 3: Create a Word document called 'Critical Thinking' and describing why you need to be a critical thinker. Explain why it is important for ICT professionals to be critical thinkers. Note that you should include your definition of the term critical thinking. You need to provide at least four (4) relevant unique points in your discussion. Upload the document to Moodle. Week 5: Conduct a Strengths-Weaknesses-Opportunities-Threats (SWOT) analysis of your presentation skills. An example can be found on page 13 of the prescribed textbook. The SWOT analysis should be presented in a square with four (4) quadrants. In addition to the SWOT analysis, you also need to identify two areas of improvement for your presentation skills and outline some strategies you could use to enhance those areas. Use no less than 350 words and no more than 450 words for the entire task. Week 7: Some people love Social Networking through technology (Facebook and Twitter) whilst others loathe it. Write reflectively about your experience with the use of a Social networking technology such as Facebook or Twitter. You will need to provide a brief description of the experience and then write three paragraphs of reflective writing where you analyse the experience, what you have learnt from the experience and how you would handle it differently in the future. Your reflective writing should cover the three key points on reflective writing (see below). If you do not use Social networking technologies, you should write a reflection on why you do NOT use Social networking technologies. Call your MS Word document Reflective Writing and upload that file to Moodle. Week 11: In week 9 you learnt about how to develop a personal ethical framework and last week you learnt about work and cultural issues. Understanding who you are and how you relate to others in both your personal and work life can make you aware of the values that are important to you as well as the values that you may need to work on to improve. Create a document called Personal Ethical Framework in MS Word and how to build a reputation as a good ICT professional and how to work with others from diverse backgrounds. This document should include statements about your work ethic, values that are important to you and how you relate to and communicate with others around you. As you are training to be an ICT professional you should refer to the ACS Code of Ethics and/or ACS Code of Professional Conduct when writing this personal ethical framework. In addition, your response should contain your views on working with diversity in the workplace and how to be sensitive to the people who have been br ought up in cultures different to your own. Upload the Personal Ethical Framework document to Moodle. Week 12: Create a document called Successful Completion and write a reflective analysis that demonstrates you have satisfied all eight(8) course learning outcomes that are listed in the course profile for COIT20233 Professional Skills for ICT (they are listed below). In no more than two (2) A4 pages justify how the work you have completed this term has satisfied all eight (8) course learning outcomes. Please note it is important that you Justify that you have satisfied the course objectives do Not just summarise the course content and/or assessment items. Write two things you liked about this course and provide the reason or reasons you liked them. Also describe two suggested improvements to the course and justify why they would improve the course. Upload the Successful Completion document to Moodle. Anwers: Week 3: Critical Thinking and Its Importance for ICT professionals Academicians and research scholars have defined critical thinking as a special way of thinking which influences the individual to make rational decisions with the aid of lucid, reasonable and logical statements. In simple terms, critical thinking can be defined as the potential of an individual to think rationally by engagement of independent as well as reflective though procedure (Fowler, 2012). Critical thinking significantly emphasizes on understanding the logical relationship between different concepts and ideas. Restructuring the procedure of thinking is undertaken by individuals through development of critical arguments which ultimately leads to the achievement of rational and self directed as well as self monitored thinking process. In order to become an effective critical thinker, an individual must have the capability for interpreting and verifying the ideas in reasoned and logical well. Academic research studies have provided ample evidence for immense importance of critica l thinking in the present world. According to Hill and Shaw (2011), it is very important to improve the critical thinking of an individual. The principal reasons behind improving the critical thinking skills are given below: It has been observed that the critical thinking ability helps in enhancing the presentation and language skills. When an individual starts to think in logical way, it assists the person to express his ideas more clearly. Studies have demonstrated that critical thinking helps in promoting creativity as it enabled the individual to consider all perspectives and therefore provided rational solution to the problem. It is evident that critical thinking assists in facilitating self reflection which helps in justification of the personal decisions of the individuals. According to Fumoto (2012), use of information and communication technology such as social media, online education portals etc can be secured with the aid of critical thinking. According a study, International Computer and Information Literacy Study (ICILS) has helped in revealing that only 2% of the students have been using critical thinking in the essential ICT skill. In the following fields of ICT, individuals need to apply the critical thinking skills Individuals can apply critical thinking skill for encouraging the children to find a connection between their experiences. The ICT professionals have an opportunity for using different educational software in a creative way for extending the learning of child beyond the traditional practices. In order to implement it, individuals require high level of critical thinking skill. In order to implement the latest innovations of information and communication technology, the ICT professionals need to apply the logical thinking. Logical analysis and critical thinking ability are essential for the ICT professionals as well as users for conduction online information search an effective manner (Hatva, 2013). Reference Fowler, J. (2012). Professional skills. Part 4: helping staff to be positive. Dental Nursing, 8(1), pp.42-44. Fumoto, H. (2012). Young children's creative thinking. Los Angeles: SAGE. Hatva, E. (2013). Polishing Soft Skills for The Future HTM Professional. Biomedical Instrumentation Technology, 47(2), pp.147-151. Hill, A. and Shaw, I. (2011). Social Work and ICT. London: SAGE Publications. Week 5: SWOT Analysis of My Presentation Skill SWOT analysis is the acronym for strength, weakness, opportunities and threat. One can become successful in life if he utilizes his talents and improve the shortcomings to the fullest extent. Hence, it is very important to identify the strength, weakness, opportunities and threat of a person. In this paper, SWOT analysis of my presentation skill will be conducted so that the identified can be capitalized and opportunities can be availed (Maryska, 2012). Additionally, I will be able to work on my weak areas to improve those. The table of SWOT analysis is presented below: Additional Areas of Improvement: In the above section, SWOT analysis has already identified the strength, weakness, opportunity and threat of my presentation skill. Additionally, I have identified two additional areas which need to be improved for enhancing my presentation skill. First of all, lack of motivation and indecisiveness regarding what to include in the presentation. Additionally, lack of creativity makes the visual presentation dull which fails to attract and engaged the audience (Kniveton, 2012). Strategy for Improving Presentation Skill Regular practice and self assessment is required for improving my presentation skill. Reducing my pace of speaking and increasing voice modulation will help in retaining the attention of audience (Papadopoulos, 2013). Maintaining proper gesture throughout the presentation is important for me. I need to include interesting visuals such as relevant videos, graph, charts and pictures for engaging the audience during presentation (Jacobs, 2009). Reference Jacobs, D. (2009). Review of Communication skills for the health care professional. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, 22(2), pp.191-192. Kniveton, M. (2012). Supporting physical skills through ICT. Practical Pre-School, 1(135), pp.12-13. Llorens-Garcia, A., Llinas-Audet, X. and Sabate, F. (2009). Professional and Interpersonal Skills for ICT Specialists. IT Prof., 11(6), pp.23-30. Maryska, M. (2012). ICT Speicalist Skills and Knowledge - Business Requirements and Education. ERIES Journal, 5(3), pp.157-172. Moulic, M. (2012). Developing Effective Listening Skills to Enhance Professional Efficiency. iamure.ijbm, 3(1). Papadopoulos, T. (2013). EVALUATION OF AN ICT SKILLS PROGRAM: ENHANCING GRADUATE CAPABILITIES AND EMPLOYABILITY. ijecs, 4(1), pp.93-102. Week 7: Reflective Writing According to Miller and Briscoe (2012), increasing use of the social media technology such as Twitter and Face book has significantly influenced the personal life of human beings. It is evident the social media applications provides ample opportunity to the individuals for spending time by connecting with other people, tweeting and expressing their personal opinions, going through others perspective, sharing personal images and video with others, playing games and sometimes making new friends online. It has been observed that social media significantly contributes in the enhancing social network and provides and exposure to the individuals to a large group of people belong to different geographic region and culture. However, it is true that sometimes, the social network over expose personal life of individuals. I have been using Face book for the past few years and I have gained several experiences. I have been enjoying communicating online with the distant relatives and friends. Face book has provided a platform to share their recent activities and photographs with my close associates. I like to enhance my social communication through Face book as I found it convenient. I have been sharing my opinion regarding various ongoing issues and receive comments which express the perspective of other people. I apply my critical thinking ability to analyze those arguments and develop my own stand point regarding that topic. Later, I started to experience some negative aspects of Face Book. Increasing engagement in Face Book has significantly affected my personal life. The addition was too high that I used to start using Face book for dragging unnecessary conversation with people without any significant reason. It increased the noise in the communication structure and wasted my precious time. I found that Face book has become a compulsion in my life and I started to post impulsively for sharing each and every little incidents and activities of my life. It leaded to lose my individuality and I wanted to have instant gratification (Seri and Zanfei, 2013). For example, I used to get depress if I get less likes than my friend. Therefore, I decided to reduce the usage of Face book. Initially, it was tough for me to get out of the addiction. However, I have been able to successfully manage the controlled usage of Face book. Presently, I use face book for maintaining my social communication. It helps me to maintain a healthy connection with my friends, relatives and acquaintances. Additionally, I have reduced interaction with my online friends who are stranger. I have been using Face book in my leisure and hardly share any personal things such as personal emotions, pictures and stories on Face book (Pinkowska and Lent, 2011). Refernce Miller, A. and Briscoe, M. (2012). Results of a Preliminary Survey on Graduate Training in Professional Skills. oceanog, 25(4), pp.6-8. Pinkowska, M. and Lent, B. (2011). Evaluation of Scientific and Practice Approaches to Soft Skills Requirements in the ICT Project Management. IBIMA Business Review Journal, pp.1-12. Seri, P. and Zanfei, A. (2013). The co-evolution of ICT, skills and organization in public administrations: Evidence from new European country-level data. Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, 27, pp.160-176. Week 11: Personal Ethical Framework The Australian Computer Society has developed a code of ethics for the ICT professionals. The ICT professionals need to abide by the ethical codes listed below: Primary Public Interest It must be noted that the ICT professionals must place the interest of the public above the interest of an individual or the business organization. According to Cox (2012), it is the major reasonability of the ICT professionals to put significant effort in order to recognize the stakeholders group who will be significantly impacted by the activities of the ICT professionals. Hence, they need to protect the interest of the stakeholders for maintaining the security, utility as well as integrity of the information and communication system (Seri and Zanfei, 2013). Hence, it is important to consider the safety and interest of the stakeholders while delivering the service to its clients. Enhancement of the Quality of Life The ICT professionals need to play a major role in enhancing the quality of life of its customers by utilizing the skills of ICT professionals. The utilization of the critical thinking ability of the ICT professionals has significantly helped the community and the customers to improve the quality of life. For example, it has been observed that the ICT professionals have developed a tool, Braille, which significantly contributed in the education of the visually handicapped people (www.acs.org.au , 2015). Maintenance of Honesty ACS code has significantly emphasized on the role of ICT professionals in maintaining integrity and honesty in the workplace. It has focused on the fact that delivery of product and service is an integrated part of the ICT professional ethics. ICT professionals are advised to reject bribes and encouraged to not to participate in activities of misleading the customers. Additionally, the ICT professionals are advised to maintain honest reputation and draw a distinct line between professional and personal life. Demonstration of Work Competence The services offered by the ICT professionals must demonstrate high level of diligence to the work and the stakeholders. The competence of the ICT professionals must be expressed through their activities (Trajkovik and Mishev, 2014). Hence, the ICT professionals must choose to work in those areas in which they are confident and competent. Thus, it will also help in influencing the quality of performance in a positive manner. Maintaining Respect for Other People According to the code of ACS, it has been additionally found that the legislation for supporting equivalent appreciation or mutual respect along with the integrity of the working environment for each employee within the organization without any discrimination must be promoted (Vaghari and Shuib, 2013). According to the code of professional ethics and behavior it has been found that the ICT experts ought to be treated with respect as well as digni and ought to stay away from any type of provocation and dishonest conduct. The work environment will be comprised of representatives with different social and cultural background. Henceforth it can be stated that this code ensures the rights and the ethical values of the workers belonging to diverse community. The code endeavors to restrict discrimination in the workplace guarantee that opportunities for job, growth prospects, compensation and other working conditions are based on the skills and competencies of the employees instead of any c ultural biasness. Reference: Cox, D. (2012). Creative thinking for dummies. Hoboken, N.J.: Wiley. Trajkovik, V. and Mishev, A. (2014). ICT innovations 2013. Cham: Springer. Seri, P. and Zanfei, A. (2013). The co-evolution of ICT, skills and organization in public administrations: Evidence from new European country-level data. Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, 27, pp.160-176. Vaghari, S. and Shuib, M. (2013). A Target Needs Analysis of the Written Communication Skills for Students of Writing for Professional Purposes Course. Jurnal Teknologi, 65(2). www.acs.org.au (2015). [online] Available at: https://www.acs.org.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/7835/Code-of-Ethics.pdf [Accessed 28 Jan. 2015]. Week 12: Successful Completion This course module has significantly helped me in achieving the principle learning outcomes through implementation of the entire course work of the project. First of all, I need state that I have enjoyed completing the module thoroughly and it has been an enriching experience. This module has significantly contributed in understanding the basic ideas as well as the principles of effective interpersonal communication along with active listening and reading for meaning. Additionally, I am exposed to the importance of active listening, reading and effective interpersonal communication for ICT professionals. This module as given me an opportunity to demonstrate my ability and skills associated with team work. Team work skills are essential for becoming a successful ICT professional. Hence, I feel that was very pertinent for nurturing my professional skills. This module has enabled me express my ideas in an effective manner by use of both verbal and written communication. I have learnt to use appropriate words and methods for communicating effectively. Thus, my written and verbal communication skills have improved. I have learnt why critical thinking is important for the ICT professionals through analyzing relevant literatures. I get an exposure to the idea of critical thinking and application of it in the real life context. In this module I was given an opportunity to conduct a SWOT analysis of my presentation skill. Presentation skill is an important quality of an ICT professional. SWOT analysis helped in identification of my strength, weakness, opportunities and threat of my presentation skill. Undertaking a SWOT analysis has been found to be very effective as got to know about my weaknesses and threats. Additionally, I got an idea regarding the opportunities which can be utilized for enhancing my presentation skill. Moreover, strateg ies were developed for improving my presentation skill. This module has provided clear idea regarding the ACS code for the ICT professionals. It helped me in understanding the importance of ethical code for directing the ICT practice and behavior of professionals. The ACS code has significant contribution in maintain integrity of the service along with enhancing the quality of life. I was exposed to the responsibility of the ICT professionals to identification of the stakeholders and consideration of the public interest. This paper has provided an idea regarding the common work practice along with the professional values operating in the workplace of Australia. This module has significantly helped in assessing how information and communication technology can be used for improving the organizational procedures. I have learnt the major applications of ICT innovations and how those can change the organizational procedures. This module has provided an opportunity to express my idea regarding the application of emerging technologies in communication. I have discussed my personal experience of using social media. I reflected regarding my personal experience of using Face book. I evaluated the positive as well as negative aspect of social media by taking Face book as an example. I have learnt a lot form this module and I suggest that this module can include some assignments for discussing the application of ICT software in different industries.