Wednesday, January 29, 2020

Educational Memories Essay Example for Free

Educational Memories Essay I first came into Wakefield City High School on September 1994. I had to go to the hall for an assembly. I was nervous I didnt know anyone. There was no one else from my old school just me. I was sat down feeling nervous in the assembly just then the head of lower school called out my name. They decided which tutor group I should go to Mrs Elliss classroom. I made a few friends in my class Tariq, Ajmal, Safdar and Zulfiqar. At first we all used to have the same timetable and I would ask them which lessons we would have next and which room the lesson would be held. But then gradually we were put into different groups meaning different timetable. Most of the teachers didnt like us. In maths we would look in the back of textbooks for answers that would be in are maths work. In science we made a mess of all the experiments. I broke three beakers and two test tubes, once I squirted hydrochloric acid at the black board the mark is still there. My music teacher liked me because I was good at the essays and minor music tests. I scored a high mark in the music exam but I was awful at playing music. I blew up the keyboard adapter. We would throw water balloons at everyone in the winter and set of bangers at bonfire week. In food technology the teacher hated are cooking we never cleaned up after we had finished. In art we used to draw pictures on are art folders even though she told us not to draw on them. We would draw a picture of a liver floating in a swimming pool and write next to it Liver+pool FC. My art teacher was Austrian and she would were these big black German boots and walk very disciplined like a solider. I thought she was related Adolph Hitler. In D+T resistant materials we had a teacher called Mr Taylor. Mr Taylor was tall and was a very moody person. When he was drunk he was alright. But when he was sober he was on a short fuse. He would never repeat himself. If anyone in the class asked, sir what was the question I didnt understand it sir he would start shouting and tell you to just do your work. He was tall skinny and atleast 30 years old. He would wear a white shirt with black pants. His hair had a lot of gel on it and his sideburns were completely shaved of. He always thought he was cool so he always brushed the side of his hair back. He never use to send students to isolation but he sent me because I was outside the school uniform by wearing white trainers. Whenever he explained to the whole class the work, what we had to do. I always fell asleep. So I always washed my face before entering the classroom. If you did anything wrong he would give dirty look and make you look like an idiot as though you are stupid and not clever. In the last two years all the teachers started getting on with me. I started doing well in my science and D+T. I got a high score in my science modular tests and I was predicted a c in my final G. C. S. E exam. In D+T I got a c for my coursework in G. C. S. E project Table. In my final two years at school Mr Taylor would not talk about work in D+T because we know what we had to do finish the design work. Instead Mr Taylor what talk about general interests and all kinds of things that he heard on the news saw in the papers or saw on TV. Most of al this talk was irrelevant but it was just to keep us company while we were working in the workshop and in the classroom. He would even put the radio on in the workshop and we would often have debates. He would view us as engineers including himself, which he was and he viewed the common man as underpaid labourers. He told us about his last job that he would operate a machine. He would just set the material on the machine and program the machine, then he would let the labourer do all the moving and lifting basically the heavy work. He said all this with confidence thinking non-of us would become a labourer, he thought we would all do well with his help D+T. He developed a relationship, which went from student and teacher to colleagues, and everyone knew what to do. We developed confidence in the workshop. I would use the sander and go into the store cupboard looking for whatever I needed to assemble the project. I would use all the machines, tools and equipment in my surrounding. Show preview only The above preview is unformatted text This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our GCSE Mildred Taylor section.

Tuesday, January 21, 2020

Occupational Therapy Essay -- essays research papers fc

An occupational therapist is a trained and licensed health care professional who can make a complete evaluation of the impact of disease on the activities of the patient at home and in work situations. Hobbies and recreational activities are considered when an assessment is made. The most generally accepted definition of occupational therapy is that it is an activity, physical or mental, that aids in a patient’s recovery from disease or injury.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Occupational therapist takes a history from the patient by conducting a thorough interview. Questions are asked about hygiene, eating, dressing, getting in and out of bed, driving, cleaning, working and the patients sex life. A physical examination is conducted extensively concentrating on range of motion. Observations of deformities are noted because they may hinder the performance of the patient. The therapist assesses the need for splints or supports which might benefit the patient and helps design specific assistive devices.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"It is the job of the occupational therapist to innovate plans to overcome the imposed limitations while helping the patient reduce strain and prevent further damage by teaching techniques that conserve energy† (Sasser 75). There are numerous ways to make daily living easier. The most crucial part of therapy is assessing the patient’s environment. All the people, cultural conditions and physical objects that are around them, create their environment. The behavior and development of people is a direct result of the interaction between them and their surroundings. A patient’s behavior is greatly effected when they are mismatched with their environment. â€Å"A persons environment match is present when the persons level of competence matches the demands of the environment† (Cole 75). Full participation by the patient is required to make it practicable. The importance of occupational therapy is to help the patient use what they have to the fullest. Therapists know that in this particular field there will not be a dramatic improvement, but there will be a better quality of life lived by the patient. In today’s world, it is extremely important to keep accurate records on all aspects of care giving. According to Sladyk, â€Å"Documentation is one of the most important duties an occupational therapist can have aside from treating the patient† (1... ...ing, organizing, analyzing, generating, integrating and evaluating. It is essential that as occupational therapy students we become self-determining, independent thinkers. Technical writing skills will be used throughout our career. Mastering technical writing will come with practice and will prove to be one of the most instrumental elements we have learned in our curriculum. Works Cited Aquaviva, J.D. Effective Documentation for Occupational Therapy. Bethesda, MD: American Occupational Therapy Association, 1992. Early, M.B. Mental Health Concepts and Techniques for the Occupational Therapist Assistant. 2nd ed. New York, NY: Raven Press, 1993. Markell, Mike. Technical Communication: Situations and Strategies. 5th ed. Boston, MA: Bedford/St. Martin’s Press, 1998. Okeema, Kathleen. Cognition and Perception in Occupational Therapy. Gaithsburg, MD: Aspen Publishing, 1993. Reed, K.L. Quick Reference to Occupational Therapy. Gaithersburg, MD: Aspen Publications, 1991. Sasser, Martha. The Practice of Occupational Therapy. 2nd ed. St. Louis, MO: Mosby- Year Book, Inc, 1998. Sladyk, Karen. OT Student Primer: A Guide to College Success. Thorofare, NJ: SLACK Incorporated, 1997.

Sunday, January 12, 2020

Philosophy of Education Essay

The word â€Å"teacher† does the profession no service. A teacher is really a combination of the most important professions in the world. Besides the parents, an educator is the biggest influence in a child’s life. The age span in which children are in school is the most impressionable years of their lives. A student’s educational experience can mold the events of his or her future. That is why I want to become a teacher. I want to be a mold for younger generations, and I hope for students to remember a knowledgeable and ethical teacher. Beliefs I feel the student should come to school willing to learn and the teacher should come ready to teach! The student’s role is just as important as the teachers; the student’s expectations of the teacher should be for her to teach and help them learn at all times. Teachers also play an important role in the classroom when it comes to the environment. If the teacher prepares a warm, happy environment, students are more likely to be happy. An environment set by the teacher can be either good or bad. If students feel the teacher is angry, students may react badly to that and therefore learning can be harder. I think teachers are responsible for the social behavior in their classrooms. This behavior is primarily a reflection of the teacher’s actions and the environment he/she sets. Metaphysics We are all here for a purpose and I believe that, that is to live for God and follow his way of life. It is hard to know what you are really on earth for until you find it through him! Some teachers will find it hard to keep the focus on the classroom do to all the other outside distractions but, I strongly believe that is you were meant to be a teacher then you will find a way to look past the bad and find the good. Why am I here? I think I am here to help children follow their dreams and make it through school easier than I did. When I become a teacher I want to be the best ever! I want to see that smile on the kids’ faces after I teach them something amazing. Progressivism I want to teach from some aspects of the progressivism style which focuses on respect for individuality, high regard for science, and learning from experience. I want to teach the children in my classroom to have respect for each other. This is a quality that will help them to be successful in society because if they respect others, then others will have respect for them. Having respect for others also shows that they have respect for themselves. I also want children to learn by hands-on activities. I will direct them from step to step and demonstrate how to do each step in the activities they perform. These activities make learning more interesting for the children because the children are able to get involved instead of just always watching the teacher do everything. Speaking of the children getting involved, they can really get involved when learning in a different atmosphere when on field trips. I feel taking children on field trips is an effective learning experience for them because it allows children to get out of the classroom setting and learn from a different perspective. In addition I want to focus on sciences because they are an important area in the knowledge of children. I think this growing area of our society should be focused on thoroughly because science advances and improves every day and I feel children should be aware of their changing world. Constructivism I feel like this is the main reason why I should teach and why I want to teach, I have learned so much though school and it has molded me to become who I am today. I learn a lot through experience and what I know will make me a better teacher it will help me relate to the ones that hate school or the ones that think they can’t do it. It’s all a process and the way you take the steps is how I think you will show others so you have to help them with their process and make sure that it doesn’t go bad or in the wrong direction. I plan to continue my education so that I may make teaching my profession. After graduation, I hope to find a position in an elementary school teaching in one of the first through sixth grade classes. I feel that elementary education is extremely important because it is here that children establish their foundation for the rest of the educational career. My goal and desires are to have the opportunity to touch a child’s life.

Saturday, January 4, 2020

The Sociology of the Internet and Digital Sociology

The sociology of the internet is a subfield of sociology in which researchers focus on how the internet plays a role in mediating and facilitating communication and interaction, and on how it affects and is affected by social life more broadly. Digital sociology is a related and similar subfield, however, researchers within it focus on such questions as they pertain to the more recent technologies and forms of online communication, interaction, and commerce associated with Web 2.0, social media, and the internet of things. Sociology of the Internet: An Historical Overview In the late 1990s, the sociology of the internet took shape as a subfield. The sudden widespread diffusion and adoption of the internet in the U.S. and other Western nations drew the attention of sociologists because the early platforms enabled by this technology--email, list-serves, discussion boards and forums, online news and writing, and early forms of chat programs--were seen as having significant impacts on communication and social interaction. Internet technology allowed for new forms of communication, new sources of information, and new ways of disseminating it, and sociologists wanted to understand how these would impact peoples lives, cultural patterns, and social trends, as well as larger social structures, like the economy and politics. Sociologists who first studied internet-based forms of communication took interest in impacts on identity and social networks that online discussion forums and chat rooms might have, especially for people experiencing social marginalization because of their identity. They came to understand these as online communities that might become important in a persons life, as either a replacement or a supplement to existing forms of community in their immediate surroundings. Sociologists also took interest in the concept of virtual reality and its implications for identity and social interaction, and the implications of the society-wide shift from an industrial to an information economy, enabled by the technological advent of the internet. Others studied the potential political implications of the adoption of internet technology by activist groups and politicians. Across most topics of study, sociologists paid close attention to the way online activities and relationships might be related to or have impacts on those a person engages in offline. One of the earliest sociological essays pertinent to this subfield was written by Paul DiMaggio and colleagues in 2001, titled  Social Implications of the Internet, and published in  Annual Review of Sociology. In it, DiMaggio and his colleagues outlined then-current concerns within the sociology of the internet. These included the digital divide, relationships between the internet and  community and social capital (social ties), the impact of the internet on political participation, how internet technology impacts organizations and economic institutions and our relationships to them, and cultural participation and cultural diversity. Common methods during this early stage of studying the online world included network analysis, used to study the ties between people facilitated by the internet, virtual ethnography conducted in discussion forums and chat rooms, and content analysis of information published online. Digital Sociology in Todays World As internet communication technologies (ICTs) have evolved, so too have their roles in our lives and their impacts on social relations and society overall. As such, so too has the sociological approach to studying these evolved. The sociology of the internet dealt with users who sat before wired desktop PCs to participate in various forms of online communities, and while that practice still exists and has even become more common, the way we connect to the internet now--mostly via wireless mobile devices, the advent of a wide variety of new communication platforms and tools, and the general diffusion of ICTs into all aspects of social structure and our lives requires new research questions and methods of study. These shifts also enable new and larger scales of research--think big data--never before seen in the history of science. Digital sociology, the contemporary subfield that has subsumed and taken over from the sociology of the internet since the late 2000s, takes into account the variety of ICT devices that populate our lives, the variety of ways in which we use them (communication and networking, documentation, cultural and intellectual production and sharing of content, consuming content/entertainment, for education, organization and the management of productivity, as vehicles for commerce and consumption, and on and on), and the many and varied implications these technologies have for social life and society overall (in terms of identity, belonging and loneliness, politics, and safety and security, among many others). EDIT: Role of digital media in social life, and how digital technologies and media are related to behavior, relationships, and identity. Recognizes the central role that these now play in all aspects of our lives. Sociologists must take them into account, and they have done so in terms of the kinds of research questions they ask, how they conduct research, how they publish it, how they teach, and how they engage with audiences. The widespread adoption of social media and the use of hashtags have been a data boon for sociologists, many of whom now turn to Twitter and Facebook to study public engagement with and perception of contemporary social issues and trends. Outside the academy, Facebook assembled a team of social scientists to mine the sites data for trends and insights and regularly publishes research on topics like how people use the site during periods of romantic courtship, relationship, and what happens before and after people break up. The subfield of digital sociology also includes research that focuses on how sociologists use digital platforms and data to conduct and disseminate research, how digital technology shapes the teaching of sociology, and on the rise of a digitally enabled public sociology that brings social science findings and insights to large audiences outside of academia. In fact, this site is a prime example of this. Development of Digital Sociology Since 2012 a handful of sociologists have focused on defining the subfield of digital sociology, and on promoting it as an area of research and teaching. Australian sociologist Deborah Lupton recounts in her 2015 book on the topic,  titled simply  Digital Sociology, that U.S. sociologists Dan Farrell and James C. Peterson in 2010 called sociologists to task for not yet embracing web-based data and research, though many other fields had. In 2012 the subfield became formalized in the UK when members of the British Sociological Association, including Mark Carrigan, Emma Head, and Huw Davies created a new study group designed to develop a set of best practices for digital sociology. Then, in 2013, the first edited volume on the topic was published, titled  Digital Sociology: Critical Perspectives.  First focused conference in New York in 2015. In the U.S. there is no formalized organization around the subfield, however many sociologists have turned to the digital, in both research focus and methods. Sociologists who do so can be found among research groups including the  American Sociological Associations sections on Communication, Information Technologies, and Media Sociology,  Science, Knowledge and Technology,  Environment and Technology, and Consumers and Consumption, among others. Digital Sociology: Key Areas of Study Researchers within the subfield of digital sociology study a wide range of topics and phenomena, but some areas have emerged as of particular interest. These include: The impact of ICTs on social relationships, like the role that social media plays in teen friendships today,  how and which rules of etiquette have emerged around smartphone use in the company of others, and how they impact dating and romance in todays world.How ICTs are a part of the processes of crafting and expressing identity, like through creation of social media profiles on popular sites including Facebook and Instagram, how selfies are a part of those processes in todays world, and the extent to which there may be benefits or drawbacks to expressing ourselves online.The impact of ICTs and social media on political expression, activism, and campaigning. For example, some sociologists are curious about the role and impacts of changing ones Facebook profile picture to reflect solidarity with a cause, and others, in how online activism might impact and/or advance issues offline.The role and impact of ICTs and the web in processes of building group affiliation and community, part icularly among marginalized groups like LGBT individuals, racial minorities, and among extremist groups like anti-vaxxers and hate groups.Since the early days of the sociology of the internet, the digital divide has been an area of concern for sociologists. Historically that has referred to the way wealth brokers access to ICTs and all the resources of the web-connected to them. That issue remains relevant today, however others kinds of divides have emerged, like how race affects the use of social media in the U.S. ​Notable Digital Sociologists Mark Carrigan, University of Warwick (education, capitalism, and big data)Deborah Lupton, University of Canberra (defining digital sociology as a subfield)Mary Ingram-Waters, Arizona State University (fantasy football and identity and ethics)C.J. Pascoe, University of Oregon (teen use of social media and ICTs)Jennifer Earl, Arizona State University (politics and activism)Juliet Schor, Boston College (peer-to-peer and connected consumption)Alison Dahl Crossley, Stanford University (feminist identities and activism)

Friday, December 27, 2019

Should The Death Penalty Be Illegal Through The Nation

Why should the death penalty be illegal through the nation? Murder is wrong we all know and come to the understanding of that. Ask yourself, then, what is capital punishment? Capital punishment is defined as the legally authorized killing of someone as punishment for a crime. The death penalty also known as capital punishment is an issue that have the United States quite divided. While there are many supporters of it, there is also a large amount of disapproval. Currently there are thirty-three states in which the death penalty is legal and seventeen state that have abolished it. According to death penalty information center reports stated that â€Å"The total number of death row exonerations in the united†¦show more content†¦A thread full of debatable and opposing data controversy is by both sides of the death penalty disagreement related to the cost of its administration and why it is continued to be used even though life in prison is more cost efficient. The high cost o f the death penalty is far more expensive than life without parole because the constitution requires a long composite judicial process for capital cases. The process is needed in order to ensure that innocent men and women are executed for a crime that they didn’t commit. Cost incurred to administer the death penalty punishment includes incarceration cost, trail cost, and an expensive appeals process. The cost to actually put the criminal to death are not the primary costs associated with the sentence. The real cost for the death penalty are spent on two attorneys for the defendant, expert eyewitness, jury selection, investigation cost, two trail including one for the verdict and one for sentencing, and then an automatic appeals process. When the death penalty is required as a punishment, rarely do the decedent plead guilty therefore, if the state does not win a death penalty verdict they still sustain cots of live imprisonment on top of trail cost. A Seattle University study examining show that in 2010 report prepared for the judicial conference of the United States found that between 1989 and 1977 the median cost of a federal death penalty case that went to trial was $269,139 between 1998 and 2004 it had grown

Thursday, December 19, 2019

Anorexia Role of Media - 600 Words

Anorexia: Role of Media Anorexia is an eating disorder and a mental condition that can be life threatening if not well managed. People suffering from this condition have several common characteristics that includes trying to reduce weight even when they do not weigh much, they suffer from their body image due to low self-esteem thinking they are overweight when they are not, and most of them have been found to exercise a lot with the intension of losing weight. The individuals suffering from anorexia tend to more often hide their eating behavior to their family and friends by lying about what they eat. This condition is believed to be a combination of both internal and external conflicts in their life (Spettigue Henderson, 2004). Like†¦show more content†¦Excellent self-esteem sense will help in solving the many underlying in the lives of such people who sometimes go to the extent of developing a strong feeling of rejection that may result to suicide. With the current trend s where thin men and women are portrayed as beautiful, sexy, successful, models, and impressive while the overweight as lazy, ugly or careless our children will be misguided and may lead some of them who are overweight to feeling out of place and rejected (Bonnie, 2000). Mass media act as the mediating factor between people and their bodies. They come up with diets analysis that are ideal and unrealistic in the practical sense. Most of the affected people normally try these ideal programs ending up with a disillusioned expectations, rendering them prone to unnatural ways like cosmetic surgery to achieve a desired body form and appearance. Media does not only glorify the slender appearance but also emphasize on the importance of such complexion and body shape. This has made women and girls prisoners of ideal beauty and appearance (Spettigue Henderson, 2004). There is plenty of evidence on the impact media has created stereotypes and their relationship with anorexia. However, many scholar and professionals are conducting research on risk factors that leads to vulnerability to negative media influence. In conclusion, media surrounds us with a negative impression for weight gain. With various advertisement that praises thin and slender ladiesShow MoreRelatedMedia’s Blow on Anorexia1054 Words   |  5 PagesMedia’s Blow on Anorexia About one in 200 persons in the United States will develop anorexia nervosa at some time. Ninety Percent are women (Anorexia Nervosa—Part 1 1). Anorexia is defined as an emotional disorder characterized by refusing to diet or eat. This is targeting young girls all across the world! This calamity is struck by something every person loves, social media. The media realm needs to be ceased from the websites that support dieting, celebrities displaying perfectionist bodiesRead MoreMedias Role in Anorexia796 Words   |  3 PagesMedia’s Role in Anorexia Many individual’s today would argue that most health problems develop from media. For example, the Modeling Industry is mainly nothing but tall and very slender women. Most would agree that adolescent females see the size of most models and assume that is what is considered beauty. Media does not promote anorexia to distort women’s body images. Most women that starve themselves do not do it because of television, movies, or magazines, etc. They starve themselves to makeRead MoreThe Detrimental Effects of Anorexia on the Body and Mind 1103 Words   |  5 Pagesrarely occurs naturally and to pursue that ultra-thin physique at any cost.† Anorexia is the third most common chronic illness among young women. Furthermore, one in every ten people with anorexia will die from a complication brought on by the disorder. Although Anorexia is a mental illness, it is most common in teenage females because it is incited by the media through the fashion industry and pro-anor exia websites. Anorexia is a mental illness that can be identified by its victims starving themselvesRead MoreAnorexia Nervosa As A Culture Bound Syndrome1440 Words   |  6 Pagesering from Anorexia-Nervosa within western countries, compared to that of 3.2% of females suffering from Anorexia-Nervosa in non western countries (DiNicola 1990:253), it is not surprising that Anorexia Nervosa has been labeled a Culture-Bound Syndrome. There have been three prominent hypotheses as to why this particular disease is considered so. The most prominent of these hypotheses is that westernized media’s ideologies of thinness and beauty have influenced young females into developing a â€Å"fat-phobiaRead MoreAnorexia Nervosa And Its Effects On Society1514 Words   |  7 Pagespeople are currently suffering from Anorexia. Anorexia Nervosa is an eating disorder in which people suffering drastically restrict food intake due to an intense fear of gaining weight and a distorted body image. There has been an unfortunate increase in people suffering from Anorexia Nervosa over the past several decades. Anorexia can be caused by a combination of social, interpersonal, and psychological factors that must be resolved through treatment. Anorexia is an extremely dangerous disorderRead MoreAnorexia Nervosa And Its Influence On Society1373 Words   |  6 PagesAnorexia Nervosa is mostly present in western countries. Anorexia nervosa has been increasing over years. Women are more affected by anorexia nervosa than men. (Makino, Tsuboi Dennerstein, 2004). Anorexia Nervosa is defined as people starving for food as they are afraid to put on weight .People adopting the western culture find their ideal body type as slim, so they need to do exercise and should not eat fat to stay slim. Mass media has contributed a lot in influencing women in the western cultureRead MoreThe Unhealthy Behavior Called Anorexia915 Words   |  4 PagesIntroduction In this assignment we choose to write about the unhealthy behavior called â€Å"anorexia†. The reason for choosing this topic is because one of our closest friends had to leave Hawaii because of this â€Å"disease†. Both Isabell and me felt that we could not help her at all regarding this illness, since she did not want to listen to us. She was determined to loose as much weight as possible, and she did not see that she was really hurting herself, and she was convincing us that she did not haveRead MoreThe Influence Of Media Reporting On Society s Perception Of Beauty1730 Words   |  7 Pagesis wonderful, so eat the damn red velvet cupcake† ( 2010, page number). It is evident that over the last decade the media has created an image that is unrealistic and unattainable for teenage girls. As such, based upon a macro perspective, the societal roles, status and expectations of young women have been impacted negatively. This paper will analyze how the combination of media reporting, socioeconomics and sociocultural factors contribute to the development of eating disorders as well as howRead MoreEating Disorders and the Media941 Words   |  4 PagesAccording to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, â€Å"the body type portrayed in advertising as the ideals is possessed naturally by only 5% of American females.† (â€Å"ANAD†) Body image has been a controversial theme because of the influence of the media. It is a widely known fact that eating disorder cases are on the rise. The concept of body image is a subjective matter. The common phrase, â€Å"Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder,† holds true meaning in this sense. One’sRead MoreEating Disorders Have Multiple Complex Causes; The Media is not to Blame 1568 Words   |  7 Pagesthe topic of eating disorders (ED), anorexia, bulimia, starving, purging, or any other form of self harm is brought into an everyday conversation, it is s imply looked at as nothing out of them norm and is just brushed off as if the topic was concerning what the President had for lunch that day. At first glance, the average person would probably conclude that the main reason eating disorders are so noted in young women today is simply due to the fact that the media puts so much pressure on these women

Wednesday, December 11, 2019

Economic- opportunity costs free essay sample

Opportunity cost refers to what you have to give up to buy what you want in terms of other goods or services. When economists use the word cost, we usually mean opportunity cost. The word cost is commonly used in daily speech or in the news. For example, cost may refer to many possible ways of evaluating the costs of buying something or using a service. Friends or newscasters often say It cost me $150 to buy the iPhone I wanted. Definitions and Basics Opportunity Cost, from the Concise Encyclopedia of Economics When economists refer to the opportunity cost of a resource, they mean the value of the next-highest-valued alternative use of that resource. If, for example, you spend time and money going to a movie, you cannot spend that time at home reading a book, and you cant spend the money on something else. If your next-best alternative to seeing the movie is reading the book, then the opportunity cost of seeing the movie is the money spent plus the pleasure you forgo by not reading the book. We will write a custom essay sample on Economic- opportunity costs or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Getting the Most Out of Life: The Concept of Opportunity Cost, by Russ Roberts on Econlib To get the most out of life, to think like an economist, you have to be know what youre giving up in order to get something else. Sometimes people are very happy holding on to the naive view that something is free. We like the idea of a bargain. We dont want to hear about the hidden or non-obvious costs. Thinking about foregone opportunities, the choices we didnt make, can lead to regret. Choosing this college means you cant go to that one. Marrying this person means not marrying that one. Choosing this desert (usually) means missing out on that one. Opportunity Cost, a LearnLiberty video. Prof. Don Boudreaux explains what economists mean when they talk about unintended consequences. Opportunities and Costs, by Dwight Lee. At CommonSenseEconomics. com. PDF file at CommonSenseEconomics. com first published in The Freeman Economics has been called the dismal science because it studies the most fundamental of all problems, scarcity. Because  of scarcity we all face the dismal reality that there are limits to what we can do. No matter how productive we become, we can never accomplish and enjoy as much as we would like. The only thing we can do without limit is desire more. Because of scarcity, every time we do one thing we necessarily have to forgo doing something else desirable. So there is an opportunity cost to everything we do, and that cost is expressed in terms of the most valuable alternative that is sacrificed. In the News and Examples Opportunity cost, rock concerts, and grades: A Fable of the OC, by Mike Munger on Econlib. You get to the box office about midnight, but dont sleep much because its noisy. Finally, sleep does come. It only seems like a few minutes later when the clank of the ticket window opening wakes you at 8:00 am. In the sunlight, you notice that there are way more people in line than you thought. Thousands, in fact. You may not get tickets, even after camping out But you start thinking about opportunity cost, the big OC. You recall from economics class that the OC is about foregone alternatives. In other words, the cost of doing one thing is all the other things you dont get to do as a result. I used this fable (sort of—it was Bruce Springsteen then) as a test question in my intermediate Microeconomics class at Dartmouth College. Biggest cost of college is what students could otherwise earn by working: Human Capital, by Nobel Prize winner Gary Becker in the Concise Encyclopedia of Economics Tuition and fees are not, for most college students, the major cost of going to college. On average, three-fourths of the private cost of a college educationthe cost borne by the student and the students familyis the income that college students give up by not working. A good measure of this opportunity cost is the income that a newly minted high school graduate could earn by working full-time. During the 1980s and 1990s, this forgone income rose only about 4 percent in real terms. Therefore, even a 67 percent increase in real tuition costs in twenty years translated into an increase of just 20 percent in the average students total cost of a college education.