Middle East CTE #2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Middle East CTE #2 - Essay Example The Middle East economies depend entirely on oil. Oil revenue constitutes about 80% of the GDP in the region (Akiner, & Aldis, 2004). The governments of the Middle East countries depend on oil revenue to import basic commodities such as food. Syria, Egypt, and Iran are some of the countries in the region that produce their own food. Due to the environmental effects caused by fossil fuels, the world is searching for alternative sources of energy. The escalating global oil prices also indicate the unsustainability of oil as the main source of energy for global economies (Akiner, & Aldis, 2004). In addition, most economies are considering using alternative sources of energy such as solar, wind and nuclear energy to minimize the revenues spent on oil. For instance, the US consumes about 60% of the total. America import 80% of its oil from Africa and the Middle East. Despite this demand, America is considering other alternative sources of energy in order to attain energy security. The country is investing in other renewable energy such as bio fuels and solar energy to reduce dependence on oil. Other upcoming economies such as China and India have become major oil consumers. However, the upcoming economies are keen about renewable sources of energy. This indicates that the future of oil is unclear since there is like lihood that people will stop using oil in the near future. The Middle East holds 66% of the total global oil reserves. This has a similar implication on the Middle East economies. Thus, the future of the Middle East depends on the industrialized world economies. The on-going efforts to reduce oil dependency in industrialized countries will have significant impacts on Middle East economies. The Middle East economies are likely to reduce significantly according to the rate of oil consumption (Mabro, 2007). However, due to the massive oil wealth in the region, Middle East countries will not experience a rapid economic decline. The

Anne Watson on Teachers as Informal Assessors Essay

Anne Watson on Teachers as Informal Assessors - Essay Example Included in this identification of components are criticisms on traditional, as well as new, approaches to evaluation practices. Of particular significance is the perspective provided with regards to the teacher prejudices which are often overlooked. This was identified because Watson’s perspective was detached as the author played the role of the researcher observing and evaluating the teachers she studied. A list of these prejudices and an understanding of each one could enable me to avoid them as much as possible. Also, it will allow me to understand the dynamics behind these prejudices or sets of values. Watson explained that teachers’ decisions are influenced by a number of variables. For example, there is the differences in how normal or abnormal are viewed; generalisability of illustrative incidents, sense of power, time and place, interpretation of questions and answers, assumptions of shred understanding and so on (p. 73). So when a prejudice is identified, it does not necessarily mean that it is conscious or that it is the teacher’s fault. These things are important to me to be able to inform on decisions and judgments. As I acquire a broader perspective based on this knowledge, I am able to use approaches and practices that are consistent with my objectives and standards of practice. The list can also allow me to be able to identify a mix of components and practices that I could use, tailored according to my needs and those of my students. Several frameworks were offered and I found that I could use some of them, even modify or integrate them altogether. For example, the procedure for systematic observation practice was outlined. Theories were promptly cited in order to contextualize activities and practices, such as these observations and the interpretation of observed phenomena. There are several interesting elements in the article that particularly stood out. For instance, there are the interviews that demonstrated the manner by which theory and practice differ. The interaction between the researcher and the teacher-participant provided fresh insights because when teachers provide data based on actual experience, the researcher examines them from the theoretical perspective. The interplay of these two elements – actual experience on one hand, and theory and critiques on the other, offered an opportunity for me to take useful components and incorporate them into one workable framework for my own assessment practice. Another important information that I think deserves to be mentioned is the classification of actual informal assessment practices: the assignment of level of achievement using personal knowledge and experience; the use of school-sanctioned system of assessment; the employment of test or task; detailed and systematic recording methods. The variations are quite numerous. This point underpins the fact that informal assessment practices vary because teachers can have their own assessment pr actices. What Watson was able to identify from the numerous practices provided by the teacher-participants was a comprehensive model that contains all the concepts and practices depicted in the manner of their relationships, interactions and characteristics in the context of