Emotional, Behavioral, and Physical Disabilities Essay Example for Free

Emotional, Behavioral, and Physical Disabilities Essay The education of students who have emotional and behavioral disorders, physical disabilities, health impairments, or traumatic brain injuries can be a difficult and challenging task if proper teaching strategies are not put in place. It is also important to for these students to gain self-advocacy skills and for teachers to teach the other students understanding, respect, and how to respond appropriately to the students with disabilities in their class. Another important aspect of the education of special needs students is an individual education plan (IEP). It is important to understand each individual disability before a teacher can properly determine the best teaching strategies. The education of students with emotional behavioral disorders is interfered because of an inability to build and maintain relationships with peers or teachers, an inability to learn, exhibiting inappropriate behavior and feelings, constant unhappiness or depression, and unreasonable fears about school (Clayton County Schools Special Education Department, 2012). Emotional behavior disorders in children are caused by environment, heredity, or both (Anjeh, D. , 2007). The education of students with physical disabilities is also more difficult. Physical disabilities are broad categories that include many conditions such as muscular dystrophy, missing limbs, spina-bifida, and cerebral palsy. There are many different causes of physical disabilities. Physical disabilities make it hard for children to more around and to control their voluntary motor movements (Anjeh, D. , 2007). Health impairments also cause issues related to a student’s education. Health impairments can limit a student’s alertness, vitality, and strength. Often health impairments cause a student to have extended absences, inability to attend a full academic schedule and/or inability to attend to tasks for the same length of time as peers (Clayton County Schools Special Education Department, 2012) A traumatic brain injury can also affect a student’s educational performance. A traumatic brain injury is an injury to the brain caused by an external physical force. These types of injuries can cause impairments of judgment, problem solving, sensory, motor ability, memory, cognition, thinking, physical functions, and speech (National Association of Special Education Teachers, 2006/2007). The most common cause of traumatic brain injuries are caused by motor vehicle or bicycle accidents. Other causes include being shaken, falling, sports related injuries, and gunshots. Traumatic brain injuries can cause physical, cognitive, and/or psychosocial-behavioral/emotional impairments (Anjeh, D. , 2007). Teachers can try many different strategies to help students with the above disabilities. These strategies are often beneficial for the regular student as well. Lash (2000) suggests that to help a student to concentrate better or pay attention a teacher can reduce distractions in the work area of a student, divide the student’s work into smaller sections, having students summarize the teacher’s instruction, and using verbal or non-verbal cues. Because short term memory is often affected by a traumatic brain injury a teacher can repeat or summarize the information needed frequently. The teacher can also encourage the student to use note cards, calendars, or planners. The use of mnemonics may also be helpful to the student. A teacher could provide students with traumatic brain injuries additional time, checklists, schedules, outlines, and other organizational materials. When teaching students with emotional and behavioral disorders the teacher must remain sensitive to these student’s issues. First the teacher must identify the behavior and its cause. Lewis, Heflin, DiGangi (1991) found that the best approach is to pinpoint the specific behavioral problem and apply data-based instruction for remediation. Remediation should include encouraging new behavior in place of the bad behavior and using positive reinforcement (Algozine, Ruhl, Ramsey, 1991). Extra training in social skills is also important. Teaching strategies for the physically impairment deal with the provision of certain accommodations and making learning as well as the learning environment accessible. Some strategies include giving the student extra time, reducing the amount of furniture in a classroom, and training staff on the health care needs of the student. The removal of physical barriers, elimination of social barriers, participation in extracurricular activities, inclusion in sports and leisure time activities are all strategies teachers can use with students with disabilities. Some students may require many visuals while other may require added audio. To improve a disabled students self-esteem and self-advocacy the student should be allowed to assume responsibility for their own learning which will improve their self-concept, feeling of belonging to the school, and success at school. A focus should be placed on teaching the student the skills necessary for taking responsibility and showing initiative in making decisions about their own instruction. It is also important for the teacher to help the disabled student’s peers to understand, accept, and include their peers with disabilities (CSWD, 2002). Inclusive classrooms can be helpful because they enable disabled and nondisabled students to discover the similarities they share and to accept each other’s unique traits that they have (Kliff Kunc, 1994). As school communities become increasingly diverse, it is more important than ever that teachers, administrators, parents, and students work together to create a tolerant school climate where each student feels safe and valued. IEP meetings are an important part of a disabled student’s educational process. Present at the meeting were the student’s father, the special educational teacher, and a member of the staff that is responsible for any financial related issues that may come into play. The meeting began with a brief introduction and signing of an intake sheet. The special education teacher reviewed the child’s present academic levels and discussed reading comprehension and fluency improvements. A copy of all testing scores was provided to those present. The father discussed worries that his child is shy and the need for social skill training. Moving the child to an inclusive classroom was discussed but it was decided to wait for this transition for the beginning of the next school year due to the child’s need for routines. Lastly it was determined there would be a short meeting scheduled for the end of the school year to determine classroom placement for the following school year.

Difference Between Murder And Manslaughter

Difference Between Murder And Manslaughter The prosecution must prove beyond all reasonable doubt Woolmington [1935] that the defendant committed the offence (actus reus) and also had the necessary state of mind for committing the offence (mens rea). Murder is the intention to kill or cause grievous harm. The actus reus of murder is if the act committed is intentional, unlawful and is the main cause of death. In Alfs case this is setting fire to Petes house. For Alf to be legally responsible, the prosecution must provide evidence that Alfs act was the factual and legal causation of Veras death. Factual causation can be acknowledged by asking was the defendants act a cause in fact of specified consequence.  [2]  This can be answered by asking But for what the defendant did would the consequence have occurred? If the answer is no, causation in fact is recognized. The But for test makes it easier to determine factual causation between Alfs act of setting Petes house on fire and Veras death. The question in court should be Wo uld Vera die if Alf had not set the house on fire? In R v White [1910]  [3]  prosecution failed to establish factual causation. In this case, if Alf had not set the house on fire, Vera would not have died. Meaning factual causation can be recognized. Legal causation has to be established to be able to take legal action. It uses concepts of blameworthiness, liability and expectation to select the most suitable. R v. Pagett (1983)  [4]  talks of legal causation, as the defendant did not fire the weapon that killed his girlfriend. However he was held liable as the most culpable in the actions leading to her death. Alfs actions need not be the individual cause of Veras death as anothers act may have contributed; it must a substantial and operating cause of death. Jo saw the fire moments after it started and chose not to call for help and Olly could not help as he forgot the ladders. The defendant will not lawfully have caused the particular outcome if there was a novus actus interveniens sufficient to break the legal chain of causation. This can be an act of the victim, third party or an unpredictable natural event. The outcome of the intervening must be so overwhelming that the defendants attack is reduced in importance. In Alfs case, Jo and Olly do not break the chain of causation as their actions are not overwhelming causes for Alf not to be liable. R v Cheshire (1991)  [5]  shows that not all events following the defendants act will break the chain of causation. The mens rea for murder is the mental element the intention to kill or cause dangerously bodily harm. Alfs case outlines that it was not his intention to cause harm, nevertheless was aware of a risk of harm. The mens rea necessary is intention. It is the highest level of mens rea and separates in two areas direct and oblique. Direct intention is when the defendant desires an outcome and their goal is to accomplish it. Oblique intention is when the defendant has a purpose in mind but in achieving that also causes other outcomes that were not desired. Nedrick [1986]  [6]  is like Alfs case. The Nedrick test has objective and subjective perspectives. The objective part would ask if Alf foresaw the death of Vera as a virtual certainty and was he aware that his act could cause harm. The subjective part would ask if Alf foresaw Veras death as a virtual certainty. Even though Alf was aware of the possibility of causing harm, he would not have significant intention if he did not foresee death as a virtual certainty, as he intended a different outcome to what took place. Therefore Alfs intention was oblique as he did not want to kill or cause anyone any harm his intention was to frighten Pete into leaving Sandra alone. Hancock and Shankland (1986)  [7]  the House of Lords indicated that the likelihood of the consequence taking place was something to take into consideration in determining whether there was enough facts from which intention might be inferred. The two miners were convicted of manslaughter and not murder as their intention was to frighten and not kill. Alfs intentions were to frighten Pete not to kill him. However, in contrast with Hancock and Shankland, Alf was aware of the likelihood of harm but the two miners were not. Recklessness takes an inexcusable risk, having two levels subjective and objective. Subjective recklessness is where the defendant realises there is a risk but chooses to take it nonetheless R v G [2004]  [8]  . Objective recklessness is where a sensible person realises there is a risk R v Caldwell [1982]  [9]  . However, a person is still guilty even when mentally unable to realise the risk. Alf shows subjective recklessness by not chekingif the house was empty, and is aware of the possibility of someone getting injured, but still pours the paraffin through the letter box and starts the fire. In Hyam v. D.P.P (1975)  [10]  , the issue before the House of Lords was whether or not the mens rea necessary for murder, was established when the defendant was aware of the high probability that her act would result in death or serious bodily harm. In both the Nedrick (1986  [11]  ) and the Hyam v. D.P.P (1975  [12]  ) cases the defendants were behaving recklessly Alf comm itted an act which was against the law, dangerous and was aware of the risks of harm. The two types of manslaughter are, voluntary and involuntary. In this case, Alfs actions were voluntary. Two specific defences which apply to Alfs case are provocation and diminished responsibility. Provocation was a common law defence prior to the Homicide Act 1957 defined by Delvin J in R v Duffy [1949]  [13]  Provocation is some act, or series of acts, done to the accused which would cause in any reasonable person, and actually causes in the accused, a sudden and temporary loss of self- control, rendering the accused so subject to passion as to make him or her for the moment not master of his mind.  [14]  Section 3 of the Homicide Act 1957 lengthened on this providing that Where on a charge of murder there is evidence on which a jury can find that the person charged was provoked (whether by things done or by things said or by both together) to lose his self- control, the question whether provocation was enough to make a reasonable man do as he did shall be left to be dete rmined by the jury; and in determining that question the jury shall take into account everything both done and said according to the effect which, in their opinion, it would have on a reasonable man.  [15]  This requires the prosecution to prove all elements of murder. There are three elements of provocation; firstly there must be some provocative conduct, secondly there must be a cause to make defendant lose self-control and thirdly if the loss of self control occurs, a reasonable person would also have lost self-control and act in the same way. In Alfs case the facts do not point to any evidence that he was provoked. Alf was profoundly depressed and acted in anger after hearing Sandra was dating Pete. However setting fire to Petes house was not an act performed in the heat of the moment, which would have overcome a reasonable man. Therefore provocation is highly improbable to win if used as a defence. Diminished responsibility is a defence simply statutory. Section 2 (1) of the Homicide Act 1957 states Where a person kills or is a party to the killing of another, he shall not be convicted of murder if he was suffering from such abnormality of mind (whether arising from a condition of arrested or retarded development of mind or any inherent causes or induced by disease or injury) as substantially impaired his mental responsibility for his acts and omissions in doing or being a party to the killing.  [16]  If Alf uses this defence he will not be successful, as he was not suffering from abnormality of mind. The burden is o n the defendant to prove their defence on the balance of probabilities R v Dunbar [1957]  [17]  . In R v Bryne [1960]  [18]  , Lord Parker CJ described an abnormality of mind as a state of mind that the reasonable person would find abnormal Alf can argue he was suffering from depression, as the news of Sandras relationship with Pete caused mental distress and use insanity as a defence. This defence can apply to Alf; however he would have the burden of proving his mental state and that his depression affected his reasoning. According to the MNaghten rules it must be proved that, when the offence was committed, the defendant was under defect of reason, evolving from mental illness, so not knowing the nature and quality of the act committed, or, if he did, not knowing that what he was doing was wrong. If this is the case then Alf will not be held responsible due to insanity. I think it most likely that Alf will be charged with reckless manslaughter, as his intention was not to kill or harm, but to frighten Pete. When setting Petes house on fire he does so in a state of depression and on realising that Vera is inside he immediately changes his mind and runs into the burning house and tries to save her. If Olly had brought t he ladders the tragic death of Vera could have been avoided. There are three different offences of committing involuntary manslaughter, constructive, gross negligence and reckless manslaughter. The case states that Jo is a neighbour and a family friend who notices the fire moments afterwards but does nothing about it. The law does not impose a duty on a public bystander to help or save a person in danger. In order to establish negligence for manslaughter a higher degree of care or relationship is required, even though Jo omitted to call for help she did not owe the victim a duty of care. In R v Stone and Dobinson [1977]  [19]  , they allowed an ill sister to live in their house; she died after they failed to call for medicinal help. They both had a duty of care as they were her primary carer, both charged with manslaughter by gross negligence. The duty can be breached if at any time a risk of injury to health is foreseen R v Stone and Dobinson [1977]  [20]  . If Jo had created a danger which could cause harm to anyone then she would ha ve a duty however this is not the case the fire therfore has not duty to act. Such duty arises from special relationships such as, parent child Gibbins Proctor (1918)  [21]  , a contractual duty Pittwood (1902)  [22]  , an official position Dytham (1979)  [23]  . Jos decision not to act can be considered to be morally wrong but this does not make it a criminal liability. Jo could be convicted of involuntary reckless manslaughter. The case states fireman Olly and his crew turn up to the scene but cannot help as they have forgotten to bring any ladders. The House of Lords in R v Adomako [1994]  [24]  decided that to establish the gross negligence form of manslaughter the prosecution must prove a duty of care a breach of the duty of care and gross negligence. Olly has a duty as a fire man is to save lives and prevent harm to others he breached duty by being negligent in failing to be adequately prepared and failed to carry out his duty by being unable to get to the victim. In the case of Pittwood (1902)  [25]  a railway crossing keeper omitted to close the gates resulting in a person crossing getting hit and killed by a train. The keeper had a contractual which was breached as he was negligent. Bateman (1925)  [26]  states that negligence is gross when it is beyond a matter of mere compensation between subjects and showed such disregard for the life as safety of others as to amount to a crime against the State and conduct deserving of punishment  [27]  Olly was negligent as he did not bring the ladders that could have saved Veras life. Olly could be charged of manslaughter by gross negligence for failing to provide duty of care and breaching his contractual duty.

The Modigliani And Miller Theory Finance Essay

The Modigliani And Miller Theory Finance Essay The Modigliani Miller Theorem is a linchpin of modern corporate finance. At its core, the theorem is an irrelevance proposition: The Modigliani Miller Theorem provides circumstances under which an enterprises financial decisions are independent on its value. Modigliani (1980, pxiii) explains the Theorem as follows: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ with well-functioning markets (and neutral taxes) and rational investors, who can undo the corporate financial structure by holding positive or negative amounts of debt, the market value of the firm debt plus equity depends only on the income stream generated by its assets. It follows, in particular, that the value of the firm should not be affected by the share of debt in its financial structure or by what will be done with the returns paid out as dividends or reinvested (profitably). There are four distinct results that are understood from the Modigliani Miller Theorem and they are as follow: The debt-equity ratio does not affect its market value under certain conditions. The second proposition inculcates that a firms debt-equity ratio is unaffected by its weighted average cost of capital that is the cost of equity capital is a linear function of leverage. Firms market value is sovereign of its dividend policy. Stock-holders are non-chalant about the firms financial policy. The modern theory of capital structure started with Modigliani Miller(1958) on the plight of capital structure irrelevance. The distinct results shown above were based on the following assumptions: Market prices cannot be influenced by scale of an individuals transactions that is all investors are price-takers. Firms and investors being market participants can lend or borrow at the same riskless rate. Income taxes are neither paid on the corporate level nor at a personal level. There are no transaction charges or allowances. Investors are all rational wealth-suitors. Enterprises are grouped into homogeneous risk classes such that all members of the group obtain the same return. Similar expectations about future company earnings are formulated by investors ( normal probability distribution). The assets of a company that can no longer carry out its business( insolvent) can be sold at full market values. Criticism of the Modigliani and Miller theory There is a common argument that Modigliani Miller provides a means of finding reasons why financing may matter but does not provide a reasonable description of how firms finance their operations. This is supported by a number of researchers such as Hamada (1969) and Stigiltz (1974). The theorem has given rise to a lot of questions. How do firms choose their capital structure? Do firms have target leverage? What are the determinants of firm capital structure decisions? Many researchers have tried to answer these questions in their studies but the results are still enigmatic. The most frequent hypotheses used to address capital structure are static trade-off, pecking order and market timing theory and many others. The criticism against this theorem can be grouped into two types: Papers that deal with the limitations of the arbitrage conditions. Arbitrage process is the operational justification for Modigliani and Miller hypothesis. Arbitraging can be defined as the process of buying a security in a market where the price is low and selling the security in another market where the price is higher. In so doing, an equilibrium is achieved and it implies that the security cannot be sold at different prices. According to the MM hypothesis, the total value of homogeneous firm that differ only in the debt-equity ratio will be similar due to the artibraging condition. The later is no longer smooth due to institutional restrictions and it is also affected by transaction cost due to the limitations of the MM hypothesis. The MM leverage irrelevance proposition bumped much controversy and criticism on the methodology section. Their proofs are based on a more appropriate and fundamental notion than a competitive equilibrium. This is where the arbitrage argument comes into play. When the arbitrage is absent, the economy becomes standard to price repetitive securities and Black Scholes (1973) depended on the MM- type arbitrage argument which was rather clumsy as it was engaged with the comparision of firms whose cash flows had similar risk characteristics. According to Stiglitz ( 1969)  [1]  , firms do not issue much debt as there is the consequence of bankruptcy. The focus switched from the idea of risk class to the importance of bankruptcy. Studies that analyse the effect of market imperfections on the firms choice of capital structure. Taxes, bankrypcy costs, transaction costs, adverse selection and agency conflicts are all part of the major explanation for the use of debt in corporate. Trade-off Theory The various costs and benefits of an alternative leverage plans are assessed by a decision maker who runs a firm. The trade-off theory is originated from a debate over the Modigliani and Miller theory. This is due to the addition of corporate taxes to the primitive irrelevance proposition. A debt benefit is seen to be created which serve as a shield before the takes. Bankruptcy is the offsetting cost of debt that is needed. The optimal debt-equity ratio mirrors a trade-off between the tax benefits of debt and deadweight costs of bankruptcy Myers (1984). A firm that anchors a target leverage ratio and gradually moves towards the target is a firm that follows the trade-off theory. The determination of the target is made by stabilizing the tax shields against the cost of bankruptcy Jensen and Meckling (1977); Harris and Raviv (1990); Taggart (1977). It also weighs up the advantages and disadvantages of using debt. As discussed earlier, there is a shield benefit that acts as a barrier to taxes DeAngelo and Masulis (1980). In addition, there is a reduction of the free cash flow problem Stulz (1990). However, the pitfalls of debt include the feasible cost of financial distress Kraus and Litzenberger (1973); Kim (1978) and the agency cost arising between the shareholders and the creditors. Frank and Goyal (2005  [2]  ) take the Myers earlier notion of trade-off to a new position namely the static trade-off theory determined within a single period and a target adjustment behavior. Agency Cost Theory Jensen and Meckling (1976) launched the agency cost of free cash flow theory. The theory is hinged on the conflict between managers, outside shareholders and bondholders. The conflicts can be either between the bondholders and shareholders which is a result of moral hazards or between managers and shareholders.. According to this theory, the managers do not always use the funds of the firm for the benefit of the company but rather for their own benefits. The managers exploit the powers they have and the abuse can be categorized in three different varieties. Foremost, managers possess ground on which they can enjoy the full value of anything they get from the firm such as private jets since they hold only a fraction of these allowances on the job consumption. Second, they might assay for the entire building as large firms have a tendency to give managers prestige, power and compensation for the work they do just to encourage them. Lastly, they have the power to tyrannise the firm acco rding to their own preferences and make themselves prerequisites by investing in projects which others cannot manage. This negates the wealth of the shareholders.. Harris and Raviv (1990); Bodie and Merton (2000) agency cost is seen to be more relevant to firms in mature industries. As these firms tend to generate cash which exceeds their investment needs. The availability of free cash in mature industries is higher and easily used for the management of the firms. Nyborg (2010). Therefore, it is true to say that agency cost is more relevant to larger firms. Market Timing Theory The market timing theory is based on the fact that enterprises prefer to issue stocks when the prices of the stocks are high and repurchase the stocks when the prices are falling. The assumption they make is that the market can be timed and managers really try to time market. The issue of debt and new equity can be made based on past price movements Marsh (1982). In a survey of British firms, CFOs harbor that they try to time the equity market. Those who considered the issue of shares reported that the amount by which the stocks are undervalued and overvalued is an important factor Graham and Harvey (2001). The shocks of equity price have an inexhaustible effect on the corporate capital structure. Following increments in stock prices, firms tend to issue equity and repurchase shares when the stock prices decline which is actually the opposite of what one might expect if corporate tended to equalize their structures towards a target Welch (2004). Fischer, Heinkel and Zechner, (1989) observed that with new debt and equity issues over time, firms tend to return to their preferred leverage range. More specifically, firms are forced to march out from the preferred level of debt to equity ratio by embrassing more debt as a source of financing to new projects or as a way to self- defend themselves against take-overs show a transcendence to paying down debt to rebound to a more acceptable mix of leverage. Muscarella and vetsuypens, 1990. The Pecking Order Theory Donaldson (1961) had been the first one to describe the prominent story based on a financing pecking order. He monitored: Management strongly favoured internal generation as a source of new funds even to the exclusion of external funds except for occasional unavoidable bulges in the need for funds.  [3]  According to the picture that Donaldson framed, companies quietly complied retained earnings, becoming less tilted when they are lucrative and gather debt, becoming more uplifted when they are unprofitable. If companies are otherwise heedless about their capital structures as suggested by Miller (1977) then they will not make future capital structure selections which compensate the effect of their earnings history. But the common pecking order theory branches out from Myers (1984). A firm pursues the pecking order if it prefers  [4]  internal financing and debt equity if the external financing is used. The pecking order theory is proposed by Myers and Maljuf (1984) and is an application of asymmetric information theory. Following this theory, the managers of a firm who are considered as insiders are likely to posses private information about the firms quality and investment projects. Ergo, the choice of a firms capital structure strikes the outsiders who are actually the investors the information to managers. Because outsiders have less information than the managers regarding the value of the firm, the issued equity will be underpriced by the market. Financing the project through a security will prevent such a situation to crop up that is the security will not be undervalued by the market. The securities used can be in the form of retained earnings as internal funds and risk-less debts. Hinged by the argument set by Myers and Maljuf (1984) , Myers (1984) suggested that the pecking order theory propose that firms finance their projects by firstly using internal funds in the form of retained earnings, secondly through the utility of debts ( risk-less debts are used first and when there is a shortage or there is no more of the risk-less debt, risky debts are used) and finally equity is issued. Pecking Oder Theory speculates that managers do not take into consideration an optimal capital structure when making financial decisions.  [5]  They unpretentiously choose what seem to be the low cost financing devices. Why do firms prefer debt to equity? In corporate finance, asymmetric information refers to the fact that firm insiders, routinely the managers have better information than market actors on the value of their firms asset and investment opportunities. The possibility that the market will wrongly price the firms claim is created by this asymmetry thus providing a positive role for financing decisions of companies. Let us think of a firm who wants to make new investments by making use of its growth possibilities. Given that this firm solicits to supply the resources, it needs to issue stocks. The stocks cannot be fully valued by the investors Myers (2001). Pecking order theory is born due to mispricing which comes to light as a consequence of not knowing the actual values of equity. The existence of asymmetric information lies in the middle of mispricing Halov N and Heider F (2005). As a result of the asymmetric information, the firms quality as good issue stock to find resources, the issued equity are undervalued by investors koupoulos (2006). Since a price cut is liked to be observed from the investors and to avoid this situation internal resources are preferred rather than issuing equity to finance investment without incurring any cost that arises from asymmetric information. Fama and French (2002) found that later supply resources used in investment financing are debts as they bear a low risk. Due to the problems that are initiated by asymmetric information, firms hash external resources use as a cheaper policy as compared to the issuance of equity. There are several reasons why firms consider external financing as a better option to finance investment. One of them is the position of organizational sales. Enterprises with sturdy sales line gives the supremacy to finance through debt for their needs by availing form market trust towards them. These firms, therefore, have no trouble in repaying their debts due to the stable sales and their earnings. They are also liable to having recourse to debt more easily. Additionally, size and structure of firms is another factor to be considered. Firms having more accessorized assets put borrowing first in line of their resources list since they will easily get debt. Tax advantage is as well a factor that can be added to the above list as it prioritize debt financing. A correction on the original model has been suggested by Modigliani and Miller (1963). In the new model, they clearly incorporate the corporate income tax, while the other assumptions were kept untouched. Assuming ceteris paribus, the value of the firm (VL) will be maximized as it is a function of the market value of debt. In theory when the levered firm reaches its maximum market value as it is financed entirely by debt. To finance their needs of financing, the firm should use as much debt as possible. To further relax the Modigliani-Millers assumption, Miller (1977) introduced personal taxes together with corporate taxes into the model assuming that all enterprises have similar tax r ates. According to him, the relatively higher personal income tax paid on bonds by firms should be grossed up by any differential that bondholders will pay on their interest income otherwise, bonds will have no value and no one would want to hold bonds. Therefore, in equilibrium the debt advantage is negligible. De Angelo and Masulis (1980) brought in the recognition of the existence of a non- identical marginal tax rates among different firms and the outcome of tax-shield items in the financial statement other than interest expenses. As far as capital structure is concerned, they brought in two implications. First, in equilibrium a firm who is considered as a borrower benefits from a positive gain from leverage if the tax rate is higher than the marginal firm because of a low pre-paid interest rate they pay. Moreover, items such as depreciation, oil depletion allowances and investment tax credits are defacto non cash charges. They predicted that there is a positive relationship bet ween the level of debt and the effective tax rate and a negative relationship to the amount of non debt tax shields available to them. The interest rate of debt users is deductible from tax base which in turn relinquishes the importance to debt instead of equity. Equity financing confers rise to transaction costs and to avoid this problem financing through debt is viewed as another reason Fama and French (2004). In addition to that, uncertainty of control that might be experienced in enterprises is seen as a plausible factor. The presence of new shareholders confirms the fact that they will prefer stock financing as a lack of resources and will eventually give rise to risk of management control in firm whilst in financing via debt, there is no such risk of control loss. Lamont (1997) evaluates that more than three-quarter of corporate investments in US are made through internal financing. Further, Fazzari, Hubbard and Perterse  [6]  n (1988) has shown the delicacy of investment to internal cash flow, accenting the cost advantage of internal resources and thus explaining the fact why firms have recourse to external funds. Leary and Roberts (2005) also found that firms will not have recourse to external capital markets if they have sufficient internal funds but they are more likely to make use of the external funds when they have big investment needs. Event studies also provide a significant amount of evidence indicating that information is conveyed. Repurchases made through debt had larger announcement returns than those financed with cash thus representing larger increases in financial leverages Masulis (1980) and Vermaelen (1981) ). Heinkel and Zechner (1990) analysed an expanded catalogue of risky securities that include preferred stocks. Assuming a given capital structure and asymmetric information about investment quality, they showed that in an amalgamated equilibrium, all stock firms tend to overinvest and accepted some negative NPV projects. The overinvestment can be eliminated by issuing an initial debt which resulted in an optimal leverage ratio. Besides, an underinvestment problem is created if managers make use of more debts considering the tax advantage of debt. Nevertheless, a kindred issue of preferred stocks will enable the firm to issue a higher level of debt desired without creating the problem of underinvestment. Therefore, managers develop an optimal capital structure with debt, preferred stocks and common r which is consistent with the pecking order theory. There are also researchers that went through adjustments of capital structure around long run optima.  [7]  Marsh (1982) was one of them as he predicted that firms that have a leverage ratio below the average for the last 10 years are more likely to issue debt. Jalilvand and Harris (1984) is consistent with the results of Marsh (1982) as he shows that 108 of US manufacturing firms tend to issue long term debt when the long term debts are below average. The Pecking order theory is tested on both large firms and small firms. Most of the studies have been carried out on large firms. Few studies focused on small and medium sized firms. Since SMEs confront more information asymmetry problem, it is said that the financing decisions of SMEs are better explained by the pecking order theory. Consequently recent studies have attempted to explain the financing decisions of small firms in the context of the pecking order theory. They also argue that there is a lot of differences between large and small firms. It is not only a matter of size, this is why accurate models are used to study the decisions of the latter. The problem of information asymmetry is more persistent within small firms than in large firms. This is due to the scarcity and informality of information that is available. The financing structure of small firms is explained by using a financial growth cycle by Berger and Udell (1998). (à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦) in which financial needs and option change as the business grows, gains further experience, and becomes less informationally opaque. For the first two years namely the initial stage or the infant stage, companies face more information asymmetries as their main source of funds are from friends and relatives, trade credit and investors. As the age and size of companies become large enough, credit from financial institutions become more available. This is a typical view of pecking order where the degree of information asymmetry decreases as the firms grow in size and experience. Small firms find external equity costly due to the fixed costs of initial public offerings. Chittenden et al (1996). A SME pecking order was described by Zoppa and Mc Mahon (2002).  [8]  As pecking order theory prescribes, the internal funding is the first choice. In second position, the company uses short -term debt which includes trade credit and personal loans. Long-term debts are then used which include loans from owners, family and relatives. The last alternative is equity. The study of Gebru (2009) is found to be consistent with other studies as pecking order theory holds to be true for SMEs. The sample used is from Tigray and it is seen that the educational level of owners decreases and there is less intrusion in the form of ownership. Ownership type, acquisition type and owners level of education are found to be the major determinants of MSE financing preferences. However, Murray and Goyal (2003) demonstrated that pecking order theory fails where actually it should be liable and this applies for small firms where the main problem is information asymmetry. Various studies have been carried out to test the validity of pecking order theory. Evidences have shown that many researchers are for the theory and the others are against and they are as follow: Shyam- Sunder and Myers (1999) proposed to investigate the pecking order theory in the US market. According to them, the pecking order was described as an excellent first order caption for financial behaviors of companies. The slope of a firms deficit is alleged to be equal to one and the coefficient of the intercept is zero if the pecking order holds. The regression is made to the change of debt in year t. Besides, results unveil that pecking order shows a greater confidence when tested with the target adjustment model. However Chirinko and Singha (2000) examined the interpretation of Shyam- Sunder and Myers (1999) regression test as it showed that the hypothesis test used by the later suffered from statistical power problems. These problems mustered the questions about the validity of inferences hinged on their new testing strategy. The former found out that the assumption of the slope of the deficit being one was not a necessary assumption for pecking order theory to be valid. The slope coefficient would equal to one if pecking order holds and will fall short to unity if the pecking order is not valid. Coupled with the above, the importance of information asymmetry as a determinant of capital structure as proposed by pecking order theory is tested by Bharath, Pasquariello and Wu (2009). It is seen that for the period, the test was carried out, information asymmetry did actually affect the capital structure decisions of US firms. They estimated that for every dollar of financing deficit to cover, firms in highest adverse selection decile issue more debt than those in the lowest decile. They also found out that its only when information asymmetry is to its minimum that firms will prefer to issue equity. These evidences explain the partial relevance of pecking order theory. Besides, Lemmon and Zender (2006) tested the modified version of pecking order theory. The debt capacity of a firm is taken into consideration. They wrangled that the financing choice of firms may depend on its debt capacity. This is because they believe that to fulfill financing needs, some firms may save on the debt capacity. Internal funds remain first on the financing list for all firms. Firms that are flexible to debt capacity will chiefly use debt to fill their financing deficit. Hinged on these findings, they came to the conclusion that the firms debt capacity is a good descriptor of financial behavior and goes along with the modified version of pecking order theory. Tong et al (2011) tested the static trade off theory against the pecking order theory for US firms. According to them, pecking order theory produces issuance of debt until the debt capacity is attained. Their evidence indicated that pecking order is a better headline for US firms issue decisions than the static trade off theory. The Australian case was evaluated by Suchard and Singh ( 2006). The Australian market can be distinguished from typical US and European markets as it has many distinct characteristics. They found out that listed debt market was limited. This is mostly where firms obtained bank debt, debts that are convertible but not callable and stand alone warrants which are used to raise capital. They examined the determinants of security choice for hybrid issuers based on these differences and claimed that the results supported the pecking order theory. Coupled with the above, the linkage between managerial optimisim and corporate financial decisions was verified by Lin et al (2008)  [9]  . The evaluation was carried out by testing the Heatons (2002) model. Apart from information asymmetry, managerial optimism also contributes in the pecking order theory. Lin et al (2008) wanted to know if the pecking order preference was better when the managers were more optimistic. Listed Taiwanese companies were used in their sample and a stronger relationship was found between the issuance of debt and the financial deficit which is consistent with the model used by Lin et al (2008). In contrast, Faulkender and Wang (2006) provide restrained evidence for the pecking order theory. According to them, approximately a value of $1.43 is placed on companies cash holdings by investors of equity firms. This is done as it prevents a company from paying costs when raising capital in the market. Since, external financing becomes more difficult and costly to obtain, the cash value is higher for firms facing hindrance on additional financing. However, the cash value decreases as cash holdings become larger, high leverage, better cash to capital markets and larger cash distributions through dividends rather than the repurchase of shares. Next, many individual financing decisions of firms were screened by Fama and French (2005).  [10]  They found that these decisions were in contradiction with the important prognosis of pecking order theory. To give an example of the contradictions, pecking order theory states that equity issues should be the last option to be used but yet, it is observed that most firms issue some sort of stocks annually. Leary and Robert (2010) contended that pecking order theory was no way able to meticulously classify more than half of the observed financing decisions of US firms. They also suggested that the little pecking order behavior that was seen was due to incentive conflicts rather than information asymmetry. Further, Gonenc (2008) studied to verify the extent to which pecking order theory was incorporated in corporations in the US, the UK, Germany and Japan. They speculated that investors from the UK and US had an asymmetric information problem which was caused by the large spread of equity being owned. He proponed that in these countries, two managers and insiders have more information than outsider investors. German and Japanese investors faced the same asymmetric information problem mainly due to the less information flows. But evidences have shown that US, UK and Germany firms were not very supportive when it came to the pecking order theory while Japan supported the pecking order theory during the 1980s and 1990s. The impact of industry membership on the capital structure dynamics were scrutinized by Tucker and Stoja (2011) over the period from 1968 to 2006. They recommended that pecking order theory could explain only a few aspects of UK corporations capital structure policies, but it does not give an adequate explanation of their behaviours in the real world. More explicitly, they perceived that in the short run, old economy firms followed the standard pecking order theory but the new economy corporations prefer equity to debt when external funds are required. The incremental financing decision for 150 Dutch firms was estimated for the period of 1984 to 1997 by Haan and Hinloopen (2003). A distinction is made between internal financing and three types of external funds: bank borrowing, debt issues and equity issues. They concluded that Dutch companies had ingrained financing preferences namely, internal financing was preferred in the first position, bank loans are used secondly, thirdly equity are issued and finally bonds are issued. In addition, an investigation was carried out by Delcore (2007)  [11]  as to whether capital structure determinants in emerging Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries followed the traditional capital structure theory. The explanation of capital structures in CEE cannot be made by the pecking order theory. They came to the conclusion that there are factors that influenced the leverage decisions for CEE countries and they were: the difference of banking systems, disparity in legal systems governing corporate operations, shareholders and bondholders rights protection and corporate governance.

Adolescent Eating Disorders Essay -- Health Weight Obesity Anorexia Es

Adolescent Eating Disorders With children as early as age 7 showing dissatisfaction with their body, and as young as 9 starting dieting, eating disorders are a serious issue in our society. Taking a look at perceptions, behaviors, and medical issues associated with the disorders of anorexia and bulimia, scholars have tried to categorize and find answers to the problems which certain adolescents suffer. In this paper I focused on the two major eating disorders of anorexia and bulimia.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In 1978, Brunch called anorexia nervosa a 'new disease' and noted that the condition seemed to overtake ?the daughters of the well-to-do, educated and successful families.? Today it is acknowledged and accepted that anorexia affects more than just one gender or socio-economic class; however, much of the current research is focused on the female gender. ?Anorexia nervosa is characterized by extreme dieting, intense fear of gaining weight, and obsessive exercising. The weight loss eventually produces a variety of physical symptoms associated with starvation: sleep disturbance, cessation of menstruation, insensitivity to pain, loss of hair on the head, low blood pressure, a variety of cardiovascular problems and reduced body temperature. Between 10% and 15% of anorexics literally starve themselves to death; others die because of some type of cardiovascular dysfunction (Bee and Boyd, 2001).?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Bulimia nervosa is a slightly less serious version of anorexia, but can lead to some of the same horrible results. Bulimia involves an intense concern about weight (which is generally inaccurate) combined with frequent cycles of binge eating followed by purging, through self-induced vomiting, unwarranted use of laxatives, or excessive exercising. Most bulimics are of normal body weight, but they are preoccupied with their weight, feel extreme shame about their abnormal behavior, and often experience significant depression. The occurrence of bulimia has increased in many Western countries over the past few decades. Numbers are difficult to establish due to the shame of reporting incidences to health care providers (Bee and Boyd, 2001).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Many scholars have employed a variety of research methodology to try and answer the questions of: Why do some adolescents resort to extreme measures to resolve their problems? What can be done to improve the current state of the situ... ... changes of puberty, which may be interpreted as ?getting fat.? Encourage an active lifestyle. This needn?t involve organized athletics necessarily, but rather any movement ? walking, dancing, biking ? that is pleasurable enough to do everyday. References Bee, H. and Boyd, D. (2001). Physical and cognitive development in adolescence. Lifespan Development. 3ed., 292-293. Brunch, H. (1978). The Golden Cage. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. Elkins, W. L., Cohen, D. A., Koralewicz, L. M. and Taylor, S. N. (2004). After school activities, overweight, and obesity amoung inner city youth. Journal of Adolescence, 27, 181-189. Fouts, G. and Vaughan, K. (2002). Locus of control, television viewing, and eating disorder symptomatology in young females. Journal of Adolescence, 25, 307-311. Gross, S. and Cinelli, B. (2004). Coordinated school health program and Dietetics professionals: Partners in promoting healthful eating. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 793-798. Muise, A. M., Stein, D. G., and Arbess, G. (2003). Eating disorders in adolescent boys: A review of the adolescent and young adult literature. Journal of adolescent Health, 33, 427-435.

Potential and Challenges for Carbon Sequestration in Agricultural Soils

Agriculture occupies a larger portion of global land area (about 35%) than any other human activity (Betts and Falloon, 2007). Agriculture soil stocks have been suggested as potential measure to sequester atmospheric CO2 to help stabilize its concentration in atmosphere and has been estimated that 0.4-0.9 Pg C year-1 can be sequestrated within global agricultural soils (Paustian et al., 1998). This has been supported by the fourth assessment made by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, that identified agriculture as among the economic sectors having the greatest near-term (by 2030) greenhouse gas mitigation potential, largely via soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration (Smith et al.,2007). However, currently, there is much uncertainty and debate due to uncertainties associated with quantifying the impact of the various crop management practices on green house gas emission ,the spatial and temporal scales involved in quantifying greenhouse gas emissions from, and C sequestration in, agro-ecosystems, uncertainty of future climatic conditions that affect type of crop mana...

1950’s Trade Policies of Pakistan

Period II:  The Golden Sixties, 1958 to 19695 Ayub Khan, the first military dictator of Pakistan, assumed complete control of the state in October 1958 and reigned over the golden period of Pakistan’s economic history. With the help of Harvard advisors, Khan vigorously implemented the Planning Commission on Economic Management and Reforms with impressive results. 6 GDP growth in this decade jumped to an average annual rate of 6 percent from 3 percent in the 1950s. The manufacturing sector expanded by 9 percent annually and various new industries were set up. Agriculture grew at a respectable rate of 4 percent with the introduction of Green Revolution technology. Governance improved with a major expansion in the government’s capacity for policy analysis, design and implementation, as well as the far-reaching process of institution building. 7 The Pakistani polity evolved from what political scientists called a â€Å"soft state† to a â€Å"developmental† one that had acquired the semblance of political legitimacy The Flat Fifties, 1947 to 1958 The main features of the 1950s was the establishment and expansion of thelarge scale manufacturing sector, which ranged from a high annual growthrate of 28. 7% in 1953/4 to a low 4. 9% in 1957/8. With industry growing athigh rates, there was reverse picture in the agriculture sector, which onlyonce in this period achieved double digit growth rates. Agriculture stagnated to the extent that its growth was not even enough to cope with the growth inpopulation, resulting in a fall in per capita consumption of food grain and theneed to import food as well. A stagnant agriculture in a predominantlyagricultural economy meant a slowly growing economy. The major impact of  economic policy in the 1950s was to transfer income away from agricultureand from urban consumers and to the new and rapidly growingmanufacturing sector 7. 2. 1 The Trade Regime: 1950-60 The major instrument of protection to import-substituting industries during the 1950-60 period was the system of import licensing. The value of import licenses issued and the distribution of these licenses across import categories were determined by the chief comptroller of imports and exports. Both the level and the product composition of import licenses changed from year to year, but in all years demand for imports exceeded the controlled supply, creating a gap between importers’ costs (c. i. f. prices plus duties and sales taxes) and market prices. The margin above importers’ costs represented a windfall profit for those fortunate enough to have the import licenses. Also, domestic manufacturing firms were able to sell their products at prices well above importers’ costs because of the scarcity markups created by restrictive licensing. Tariff protection was, in most product lines, a far less significant factor in overall protection than the licensing of imports. The structure of nominal and effective tariff protection, therefore, provides little indication of the production incentives created by the trade-control system during this period. A study by Lewis (1970, p. 69) suggests that the scarcity markup-the percentage increase of the wholesale price above the importer’s cost-was 67 percent. Lewis also found that, for his sample, nominal rates of protection across the three major subcategories of manufacturing- consumer, The Export Bonus Voucher Scheme During the 1950s it became clear that exporters were caught in a continually worsening cost-price squeeze. The maintenance of an overvalued exchange rate through restrictive import controls implied (1 ) a constant rupee return per dollar of goods exported; but (2) production costs that had a tendency to escalate when foreign exchange became scarce and the scarcity premium on imported raw materials rose. To offset this disadvantage, the export bonus voucher scheme was introduced in 1959. For every Rs 100 of foreign exchange earned, the exporter received a voucher for either Rs 20 or Rs 40, depending on the type of product, that effectively became a license to import goods up to the face value of the voucher. The bonus vouchers were licenses to import only goods from a list of importable items, but the list was quite broad and encompassed consumer, intermediate, and investment goods. Exporters had considerable freedom in deploying their vouchers. They could be used to import raw materials for processing into export or import-competing goods. They could be used for personal imports of luxury items, such as automobiles. Or they could be sold on the open market, commanding a price well in excess of their face value. This latter alternative was extremely popular, and bonus vouchers were traded on the Karachi stock exchange with the premium-that is, the price expressed as a percentage of its face value-quoted daily. Importers purchasing the vouchers could then import any item on the bonus list. If the premium was 150 percent and the c. i. f. value of the imported item was $1, or Rs 4. 6 at the official rate of exchange, and the duty 50 percent, the total cost to the importer was: Rs 4. 76 + 1. 5 (Rs 4. 76) + 0. 5 (Rs. 4. 76) = Rs 14. 28. Since many items were purchased with bonus voucher premiums and customs duties of these same levels, it is clear that the marginal EER for exports exceeded the official exchange rate by a substantial amount. For the exporter, the bonus voucher scheme offered a differentiated and variable EER. Agricultural goods carried a bonus rate-the share of foreign exchange earned returned in the form of vouchers-of zero while manufactured goods carried rates . f 20 or 40 percent initially. The bonus rate structure, the number of rate categories, and the commodities assigned to the various categories were changed from time to time. Also, the premium fluctuated between 100 and 200 percent, though an attempt was made to stabilize the bonus premium at about 150 per cent. The EER for exports ranged, therefore, from Rs 4. 76 to Rs 7. 61 (Rs 4. 76 + 1. 5 x 0. 4 x Rs 4. 76). INDUSTRIALIZATION: Ayub Khan's era is known for the industrialization in the country. The new regime of Ayub Khandisbanded many of the controls that had been imposed following the post-korean war recessionin 1952. He created an environment where the private sector was encouraged to establishmedium and small-scale industries in Pakistan. This opened up avenues for new jobopportunities and thus the economic graph of the country started rising. In 1959 there was afundamental reordering and change in the method of directing industrialization through trade  policy and a series of liberal policies were introduced which remained in effect till 1965. Themain emphasis of the new rade policy in 1959 shifted away from direst controls and towardsindirest controls on imports, and on domestic prices of other goods. It was the export bonus scheme launched in 1959 that was considered to be the key to the importliberalization process in Pakistan. The scheme allowed a free market in the bonus vouchers for  certain commodities. The Export Bonus Vouchers Scheme (1959) and tax incenti ves stimulatednew industrial entrepreneurs and exporters. Bonus vouchers facilitated access to foreignexchange for imports of industrial machinery and raw materials. Tax concessions were offeredfor investment in less-developed areas. These measures had important consequences in bringingindustry to Punjab and gave rise to a new class of small industrialists. In addition the earlier closed and selective import licensing scheme of the 1950s, which was  based on the importers ability to importduring the Korean boom of 1950-2, was replaced in 1961 HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT PAKISTANECONOMICPOLICY by the open General license(OGL), which allowed newcomers to enter the trading sector. Thenew traders made substantial profits and gains from processing import licenses. The most marketfriendly change was the introduction of the Free List†, which permitted the import of certaingoods without any license. The free List was extended over time from 4 items to 50 in 1964. Thetariff structure continued to be used as a signaling device, as it had been in the 1950s. the biasagainst producing machinery and equipment locally continued, as the import duty on these itemswas still the lowest, thus making it easier to import these goods rather than produce them athome. The main reason why the government could be so generous in its import policy in the firsthalf of 1960s was critically linked to the availability of foreign aid, which increased from 2. 5  percent of GNP in mid 1950s to 7 percent of GNP in mid 1960s. In 1965 the Free List suffered serious setbacks as foreign aid was curtailed, and due to theresulting foreign exchange squeeze, the import liberalization policies were abandoned and manynew import controls were introduced. The governments import licensing scheme was to suppose to encourage the private sector toinvest, just as the EBS was a means for exporters to acquire additional foreign exchange byexporting more. The exchange rate had been over valued in the 1950s, but the EBS compensatedfor that and boosted exports, especially of manufactured goods. The scheme transferred asubsidy to exports, and the export of raw jute fell from 60 percent of total exports in 1958 to 20%in 1968, while exports of cotton and jute textiles increased from 8. 3% to 35% in this period, andexports of other manufacturers increased tenfold from 2 to 20 %. The EBS also had a positiveimpact on imports making raw materials and machinery easier and cheaper. This resulted in low  prices for agricultural inputs, while EBS transferred subsidies to manufactured exports. Due toEBS and import licensing and liberalization strategy large-scale manufacturing increased from8% per annum between 1955 and 1960 to 17% between 1960 an 1965 in the second five year  Ã‚  plan the controls reimposed following the foreign exchange and aid curtailment caused thisgrowth to fall to about 10% in the second half of the 1960s. None of the growth in industry during the period of second five year plan was due to the importsubstitution, instead domestic demand and absorption rate were the dominant factors. As foreignaid had increased so had imports and even though manufacturing output grew to impressive ratesdue to the import policies and foreign resources, imports increased at a faster pace. Growth ininvestment goods was by far the fastest of all sectors during the early 1960s.. he reasonaccording to Asian bank was that since this sector was most dependent on imported rawmaterials, it benefitted most from import liberalization. Another reason why import substitutionslowed down was the EBS, which encouraged the export of manufactured goods. Pakistan’s growth rate of 5. 065 was far higher than many comparable countries, indicating bothtechnological dynamism and dynamic allocative efficiency in a comparative perspective

Planning to Meet the Needs of Learners in Education and Training Essay

Initial and diagnostic assessment involves the process used by trainers to get to know the learners and making a healthy relationship with them. Gravells and Simpson (2010) provided that the initial assessment occurs when learners are introduced to new learning programs. It is a comprehensive approach whereby the trainer and the learner begin to create a picture of their achievements, interests and skills. The learners also build up their learning experiences and needs correlated with their goals. The diagnostic assessment assists in identifying specific learning needs and strengths. It evaluates the learning targets of students and suitable teaching and learning strategies essential in achieving the set goals (Gravells & Simpson 2010). As an educator, it is imperative to initially diagnose and assess the individual learning goals of each and every learner in order to be able to map their future progression. It is essential to analyse their skills and achievements, and correlate them with their intended targets. Carrying out this analysis will enable the trainer to understand the task ahead and how to meet each learner’s requirement. Explain how your own planning meets the individual needs of learners As a trainer, relating to real life circumstances and situations is one of the simplest means of making learning more accessible to both the learners and trainers. This context provides a more perceptive framework for learners’ skills and enhances additional learning (Petty 2009). Besides, allowing the learners to review the literature of the taught subjects enables them keep the information fresh in their minds. This promotes additional learning in the fact that the learners improve their ability to maintain currents skills and create new skills. Planning it provides an opportunity for the implementation of curricula reforms in light of the dynamics and the characteristics present within a group of students, finally resulting to an enhanced learning experience. Educators should plan various strategies depending on the learning environment and the nature of the study. Students adopting this approach not only focus on the literal aspects of learning but also on the underlying concepts, and their main interest is the task at hand. They further seek  integration to widen their understanding of a subject across disciplines. Explain ways in which teaching and learning plans can be adapted to meet the individual needs of learners Most classrooms consist of different learners with a wide range of needs, which the trainers have to consider while planning, teaching and assessing their students. The most effective teaching and learning plans must have clearly stated objectives that the learners should learn. Gravells and Simpson (2010) explained that teaching and learning plans consist of an introduction to the lessons, the engagement of learners in learning activities that enable them understand the content of the lesson, and the opportunities for learners to participate in providing the feedbacks on the lesson learned. Hence, it is paramount for a trainer to know the strengths of every learner, and how they can be assisted to develop their talents, skills and knowledge. While designing teaching and learning plans, it is also important for any trainer to consider the specific learning needs of all the learners (Petty 2009). Differentiated instruction is another way to be adapted to meet learners’ needs. Learners are different, and they do not learn in the same ways. With trainer’s teaching and learning plans in mind, it is essential to know how the students learn and create a design instruction which accounts for the different types of learners (Gravells & Simpson 2010). The trainer has to assess the current knowledge of students on the outcomes, and he or she is likely to evaluate that learners have diverse skills on the planned learning outcomes. Petty (2009) stated that the trainer should also present teaching in different instructional experiences. This can be achieved by making small group of learners and providing them with assignments and projects. Identify Opportunitites for Learners to Provide Feedback to Inform Inclusive Practice Allowing self assessment enables the learners to provide feedback on their learning and development. According to Petty (2009), self-assessment outlines major areas that need improvements and enhances knowledge and skills among the learners. Inclusive learning provides individual needs of the learners; therefore allowing the trainer to develop lesson and activities associated with learner’s needs. Learners’ feedback is more constructive than trainer’s feedback because it only focuses on negative aspects of learning outcomes (Gravells & Simpson 2010). Peer assessment also provides positive effects towards the development of learner cohorts and inclusive learning practice. In relation to the proximal learning theory, learners gain knowledge for each other and this is one of the productive ways of learner feedback. Group discussions are very essential in a classroom setting because they not only improve student-student interaction, but also they assist the teacher in evaluation the level of knowledge acquire. This can be very useful in inclusive practice feedback. The teacher is able to assess the student’s as they discuss. Also, use of feedback evaluation forms, question and answer discussions also provide ample opportunities for providing inclusive practice feedback. Analyse ways in which minimum core elements can be demonstrated in planning inclusive teaching and learning As a tutor, every lesson plan distributed should incorporate all the necessary minimum core elements. In most cases, deployment of numeracy proves an intricate aspect while planning to fit the lesson plans. It is an intricate issue particularly when dealing with art subjects but it can fit when students are deploying the laser cutter, which demands exceptional measurements practice. When considering written assignments learners should be given word count papers. Thus, they comprise of both English and numeracy subjects. Well, it is quite imperative to constrict in minimum core as much as possible during lessons. Normally, embedded learning and teaching coalesces the development of language, numeracy, and literacy with vocational skills (Keeley-Browne, 2014). The acquired skills provide students with necessary motivation and confidence sufficient to guarantee students excellent qualifications both in their career and in life. In lesson planning, a selection of the following ways of minimum core features predominantly. Literacy, which handouts use, written homework set, presentation, and self-participation through written board exercise, features most. The second example is numeracy where student use measurement and laser cutter for their exercises saved on the computer. Language is the other way of encouraging students to engage in-group work. Educators should normally sit with students on a personal level and deliver an interactive verbal lecture (Keeley-Browne, 2014). This mode of teaching ensures and encourages students open-up on their work experiences. Lastly, deploying ICT through computer use for various researches and set essays during the unit. References Gravells, A & Simpson, S 2010, ‘Planning and Enabling Learning in the Lifelong Learning Sector’, Exeter, Learning Matters Keeley-Browne, L. (2014). Achieving Your Award in Education and Training. Milton Keynes: Open University Press. Petty, G 2009, ‘Teaching Today’, 4th Edition, Cheltenham, Nelson Thornes Source document