Nature vs. Nurture essayPosted by admin as Essays Essay Example for Free

Nature vs. Nurture essayPosted by admin as Essays Essay The natural characteristics of a person can either be quite similar or quite different to the unnatural characteristics of a person. The natural characteristics of a person are the traits that come from their parents; the ones that people are born with which are genetical. These traits are developed biologically. The unnatural characteristics of a person, or the nurtured characteristics, are the traits that people develop themselves after they are born. The environment of a person’s life greatly determines their personality. The traits a person has that they weren’t born with are the traits that the environment has influenced on them. There are many traits that I have inherited naturally through genetics from my mom and dad. I can tell that my work ethic has been inherited from my dad because he is a very hard worker and I also strive to achieve my personal best. My mom tends to be very sensitive at times and concerned for other people’s feelings, which I know, I have inherited. I have also inherited my dad’s super mathematical skills and my mom’s artistic abilities. I can also tell that I have inherited a good sense of well being from my mom. There are also many behaviors that I have developed from the environment I grew up in. I have learned to respect all people from being influenced at school and by my parents. I’ve also been trained to be responsible of things such as doing my work. I learned that if I am not responsible and don’t do my work, then I must pay bad consequences. I have also learned from experiences that if I do what I am supposed to do, I may be rewarded for it. I have been influenced to do something that will benefit myself and be rewarded for good things done. My environment has influenced me in many ways to act upon certain things automatically. Things like looking both ways before crossing the street, or other things that appear to be common sense are learned from nurture. I believe that my personality is a combination of both nature and nurture. I think that I am probably more nurtured though. I have gone through many experiences in which I have learned different lessons. These lessons have taught me how to act in my life. I know that I am a very different person than my mom or my dad. I don’t have very much in common with either of them. Although we do share some of the same aspects, I feel that I am more different from them than alike. I have developed the majority of my social skills from my friends and not my parents. Most of my social life revolves around my friends, who have influenced me in a lot of the decisions I make and in the way I act. I don’t socialize with my parents nearly as much as I do with my peers. I don’t think I know my parents well enough to say if I am like them when they are around their friends or not though. My personality is also partly nature though because I find that I do think like my parents sometimes. Most of the time I find that I think more like my friends because I am around them a lot more. My parents and I share a lot of the same opinions too, and not just because I grew up thinking the same way they do. The nature and nurture of a person can vary greatly. Sometimes there are certain things that are hard to decide whether they are inherited or learned. I might share some qualities with my parents, but they could just be characteristics that I learned in my life that my parents also learned in their lives too and weren’t inherited. I believe that genes indicate the potential for one’s behavior and personality, and that the environment helps create the extent as to how that behavior is carried out.

Enhancing traffic police performance in Egypt Essay Example for Free

Enhancing traffic police performance in Egypt Essay Vision My vision is that of a public service (traffic police) with a performance culture, client-focused (Public) and results oriented (more organized economy) and to decide and examine its current performance in terms of efficiency and effectiveness, and according to the current performance situation, we will try to determine the factors that leads to this situation and also the means to recover or maintain such situation. Where are we now? Many pubic servants are unclear about what the overall objectives are and just what is expected of them. Just to concentrate on traffic police performance, lets first explain the meaning of performance. Job performance ( ) is measured as the quantity and quality of tasks accomplished by an individual or group. This definition urges us to know what factors determine individual performance. In answering this question, the following individual performance equation is a good starting point:- Performance = Ability x Support x Effort We have to handle each of the above three elements, to identify the current points of weakness and strength in traffic police performance and determine whether there is a current inefficiency and/or effectiveness or not. First: Ability Ability establishes an individuals capacity to perform at a high level of accomplishment. By examining this factor on traffic police soldiers and representatives, we may find that many of them lake the appropriate and effective ability to work in police. I believe that many of them are doing their work in a careless way, a way that no one feels responsible toward his work. You can say they are working under pressure and stress of their superior, where, fear and expectation of punishment and insulation is the only dominate on their behavior which in return affect their performance, so they pretend that they are doing their work by checking the car, driving licenses and other traffic regulations but actually there is no concentration and no sense of responsibility control their performance. You can find the way police officers treat their soldiers or subordinates, you will find it a very aggressive way, also you can conclude the reflection of this treatment on their behavior, for sure this treatment has a negative effect on their behavior and attitude toward their work and they will continuously try to do their work in a manner that prevent their officers not to repeat such treatment. Second: Support Every one needs support, even if his work is of high performance, support can be represented in motivation, no stress, encouragement and the most important thing is the persons feeling that he will be rewarded for this work performance. I would like to give an example for this:- Once when I was waiting in traffic sign and before it turned green to pass, at that time I remembered that I have forgotten to lock the seat belt and I found a police representative coming to me to check my driving license and to charge me with a penalty which was EGP 50, I told him that I forgot to lock the seat belt and this was the first time but he pretended that he did not hear to me and started to write a penalty, at that time I hint to him that I will give him EGP 10, actually he caught the money in a certain manner that I am sure that he tried it many times in order not to be seen by his officer or any one else, then I passed by the car without any penalties. Examples for this kind of behavior are many and actually they are common in traffic police stations as I am Manager of Tax dept. and Car pool section , my subordinates in car pool section who are responsible for making car licenses and its renewal usually come and told me that they pay bribe for the employee who handle the cars file, the Engineer who make the inspection of the car, the person who is assigned to choose the car number and the metal board, and even the person who hang the metal board on the car. So no one work for his salary that he is being paid at the end of the month. That is what I intend to mean when I said that every one should feel that he is rewarded for his performance so that every one will try to do his best in order to be paid additional income or incentive or bonus to be encouraged to improve his effectiveness in his work. Also there is lack of technology, new technology must be founded in order to assist and support police officers to improve their work performance efficiency. I am sure that you will agree with me when I remembered you with the computer system used in the traffic police station, is it effective? Many times when I go to the traffic police station to renew my car license, I found that the computer system is out of order and I have to stay for an hour or half an hour till its being repaired. Third: Effort Any person should only work in the place he loves, so as to give it the maximum effort he can, this means that traffic police officers, representatives and soldiers as well must believe in the job they do and should recognize that they work in a so critical area that no exception, no cautions can be applied in its regulations. Once the person believes in that, he will exert as much effort as he can in order to perform effectively and efficiently. Through the above, do you determine now where we are? Using an expired license for two years, during which the traffic police checked it 6 times and returned it back without taking any regulatory procedure, for sure there is lake of ability as the police working while they are not working indeed so they are not effective, also there was lake of support as they are not feel satisfaction that they should be provided and supported by their work so that they are performing ineffective. Finally there was lake of effort as they do not believe in the objective of the work they do to exert effort for it so their performance is inefficient. What is expected in the future? I think that the first step in the improvement process is the selection of right people, as any organizations success is ultimately determined by the quality of its workforce, the right people not only can execute the tasks needed to achieve the organizations objective, they also are a product of and are motivated by the supporting people who provide clear regulations and instruction and maintain gentle relation and communication with the whole workforce, in addition to compensation and reward according to the work performance. The most important change that I hope to be effected in the future is the launch of new technology in the traffic police system, which I think it will reflect remarkable advancements in the efficiency and increased productivity to provide more traffic law enforcement with the same staff and at less inconvenience to the public. Virtual Partner: A Mobile technology Solution A new technology used by Delray Beach Police Department, Virtual Partner is an efficient, timesaving, easy-to-use application that increases efficiency and productivity in several areas. The software was designed and developed by those who stood to benefit the most from the technology, the police officers themselves. These officers, in their quest, exceeded the boundaries  of ordinary operations by developing a technology that has incredible output in terms of efficiency, adaptability, productivity, and ease, at nominal cost. The Virtual Partner application consists of four program components. The automated response system provides quick responses to queries made by officers to the National Criminal information Center (NCIC) and the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV). Ever mindful of officer safety, the developers included a voice response function that verbally relays information in response to queries entered by the officers. In terms of officer safety, Delray Beach feels the voice response capability was a major breakthrough. Using voice response, an officer can remain focused on the offender and the offenders vehicle without looking at a computer screen, thereby increasing the officers safety and eliminating distractions. The voice response provides the officer with specific information needed such as tag and drivers license status as well as color, make and model of the vehicle. The officers also customized the program to their needs so that it would eliminate unnecessary information and only relay pertinent information requested by the officers. The program confirms warrant hits by signaling the officer with an audible alert tone. The program verbally relays back case numbers, dispatch time, and other requests made by the officer, as well as gate codes to any of the secured gated-communities. The system is also equipped with a two dimensional barcode capability that reads the drivers license information on licenses from other states that have a magnetic strip for so-called swipe capability. The information generated from any of these inquires can be automatically entered onto forms commonly used by police officers. The capability of the program continued to develop after the officers determined the utility and performance they needed from technology. Through their efforts, several components to the system have been engineered that unequivocally changed Delray Beachs technology from a hindrance to an asset. Also its a very important tool needed to enhance the performance effectiveness of traffic police, Traffic Police organization should develop a quality control system for traffic information dissemination to the public. Currently, there is no organized way of monitoring the accuracy of information disseminated to the public. Development of a quality control system will require the following:- 1. Identification of all types of information being disseminated, the source of each type of information, and the means of dissemination. 2. Establishment of procedures for checking the accuracy of each type of information. 3. Establishment of policies regarding the frequency with which information is to be verified. 4. Identification of personnel to monitor information quality. The way by which the information is delivered to the public is very important to think of, and give it the priority, as people needs to aware of what they usually forget as a result of occupation in their life needs.

Tests to Increase Anaerobic Metabolism

Tests to Increase Anaerobic Metabolism The body uses anaerobic metabolism during exercise for energy without the use of oxygen. The body uses energy anaerobically only up to the first two minutes of exercise (Plowman Smith, 2011). The Wingate and Cunningham Faulkner test measure anaerobic metabolism in athletes. Soccer games at the professional level are approximately 90 minutes long, which requires a high amount of aerobic metabolism. However, soccer games have a constant change in intensity throughout a match. A soccer player may need to go from jogging to a spot to sprinting towards the ball or net. These short duration, high intensity plays in soccer will require the athlete to use anaerobic metabolism. Therefore, it would be beneficial for a soccer player to perform the Wingate or Cunningham Faulkner test to help increase their anaerobic metabolism. This would help the soccer players in game when they are trying to make a play or run after the ball. The most valid way to measure and improve anaerobic fitness in socc er players would be the Cunningham Faulkner test, not the Wingate test. The Wingate test only has a duration of 30 seconds, whereas the Cunningham Faulkner test goes on until complete exhaustion of the athlete. A duration of 30 seconds would not be enough to accurately measure a soccer players anaerobic metabolism. The Cunningham Faulkner will determine how long the athlete can go before reaching exhaustion and in response the body will adapt to improve anaerobic performance (Plowman Smith, 2011). With this in mind, soccer players should still highly train aerobically rather than anaerobically due to the amount of time they are playing. The protocol of laboratory 3 4s: Maximal exercise, testing consists of monitoring an individuals maximal oxygen uptake. This is achieved by attempting to get their heart rate to surpass their max rate, blood lactic acid reaching between 7.9-8.4mM, or reaching fatigue and failure to continue before reaching max. Data collected from maximal oxygen uptake is vital information that soccer players can use to better improve their performance during game time. Assessment is conducted using a treadmill or cycle ergometer. To tests for VO2 max it can be done both indirectly and directly. Direct testing constitutes the use of monitored exercises where an individual is hooked up to a tank and monitors to measure their aerobic capacity, oxygen intake and carbon dioxide output. The second way to measure VO2 max is through indirect testing. This is done without the aid of gas composition machinery, instead an individuals exercise VO2 max is determined using a formula where an approximation can be made. To measure VO2 max indirectly using a treadmill can be achieved by using the formula VO2 (mL/kg/min) = (0.2 x S) + (0.9 x S x G) + 3.5 mL/kg/min. This formula takes into considerations speed expressed as (S), body mass in (Kg) and Percentage grade as (G). The speed and treadmill elevation increases in increments per minute till fatigue or target heartrate is achieved. To measure VO2 max indirectly using a cycle ergometer can be achieve by using the formula VO2 (mL/kg/min) = 1.8[(work rate) / (BM)] + 3.5 mL/kg/min + 3.5 mL/kg/min. This formula takes into consideration body mass in (Kg), work rate in (Kgm/min) and 1 Watt is equivalent to (6 Kgm/min). The individual starts cycling at 25W at 70 to 100 RPM with the load increasing by 25W each minute. Once the athletes reaches their VO2 max, the data can be reviewed and determine if whether to increase the training volume or intensity to further improve their ability to take up oxygen throughout the body. Soccer players can especially benefit from VO2 max testing because games last the duration of 90 minutes, averaging running ten kilometers a game. Typical soccer games involve all sorts of physical activities from jogging, running, sprinting, kicking, ball handles and physical pushes which all require an explosive amount of energy. Soccer players endure high intense physiological strain seen especially in professional teams. In order for soccer players to compare with professional teams a great deal of training on aerobic capacity is needed (Castagna, Chamari, Stolen and Wisloff, 2012). The cycle ergometer and treadmill max VO2 test, effectively mimics the environment matched on the field in terms of running capacity. This ultimately gives the player an advantage to further train and enhance their ability to efficiently use oxygen throughout the body. Soccer players use both aerobic and anaerobic pathways, but most dominantly rely on the aerobic component of performance (Manna, Khanna, Dhara, 2010). Because the aerobic component of soccer players are more heavily relied on, the expected average Respiratory Quotient (RQ) or Respiratory Exchange Ratio (RER) would be approximately 0.7. An RQ/RER of 0.7 is optimal fat burning, so the fuel source that soccer players use are primarily fats (Plowman Smith, 2011). Wisloeff et al. (1998) argues that for soccer athletes, maximal oxygen uptake should be conveyed in relevance to body mass. Although soccer athletes are to obtain a body mass index (BMI) of normal range, body types and size can differ. Because body types can differ, a soccer athlete may be mesomorphic, endomorphic, ectomorphic, and body types play a factor in ones resting metabolic rate (RMR) (Hazir, 2010). In relation to body type, body size also contributes to RMR. Heat loss is greater when the bodys surface area is greater, so for smaller bodies, a higher RMR is needed to maintain body temperature (Plowman Smith, 2011). Factors such as body type/BMI, and body size are all contributors to a soccer athletes RMR. Age is also a contributor, but a decrease in RMR is usually seen around the age of 60 because this is an age in which a reduction in energy intake and volume of exercise is exhibited (Rachel, Van, Dinneno, Seal, Jones, 2001). It is not common for a soccer athlete to continue playing competitively at age 60, and so age is not a huge influence to RMR relating to young soccer athletes. As in many sports, an appropriate cardiovascular response is critical for soccer performance. The nature of training that soccer players complete enables the resulting increases in appropriate cardiovascular responses (Knobloch, 2009; Lovell, Midgley, Barrett, Carter, Small, 2013). Such responses include elevated stroke volume, heart rate and cardiac output. Soccer players are consistently shown to have a lower resting heart rate (Raven, Gettman, Pollock, Cooper, 1976), as well as better stroke volume values compared to other athletes (Hoff, 2005). Furthermore, athletes who play soccer are required to have better endurance training compared to athletes who play other sports, such as sprinters. As such, they are able to increase their stroke volume while retaining the ability to maintain a lower heart rate (Palatini, 1988). In turn, this leads to soccer players exhibiting more effective recovery rates; this also suggests a greater diastolic volume, contributing to the efficacy of the stroke volume (Tahir et al., 2015). The cardiovascular responses seen in elite level soccer players are also seen in recreational soccer players, albeit to a lower magnitude (Castagna et al., 2007). The aerobic requirements of the sport develops cardiovascular fitness. As such, anyone who participates will see the associated benefits. Additionally, similar results are seen in a wide range of participants independent of age, sex, and health status. This is crucially important in factors such as exercise prescription and lifestyle interventions because vulnerable groups of sedentary individuals would be able to improve their cardiovascular health and fitness while partaking in an activity they inherently enjoy (Lin et al., 2015). Soccer players are required to work at varying intensities during a game. Sometimes they are required to do this in environments that vary in temperature. As a result, hydration is very important, especially in a hot environment. A study, highlighted that there may be cause for concern of heat exhaustion, electrolyte loss, and dehydration in soccer players playing at any level (Shirreffs, Aragon-Vargas, Chamorro, Maughan, Serratosa Zachwieja, 2005). The researchers conducted a study where male soccer players sweat loss, solute loss and fluid replacement patterns are observed (Shirreffs et al., 2005). The players were all elite professionals; they were provided with their own water bottles that were weighed before and after their training session. The results showed that on average the players only had 45 ÂÂ ± 16% of their sweat loss replaced during the session. As a result, the players failed to completely replace the fluids that they had lost (Shirreffs et al., 2005). The perc ent dehydration of all the players ranged from 0.7% to 3.2% of body mass. With the majority of players having a percent dehydration higher than 1.0%, (Fig X). These levels of dehydration may be relatively low but they can have a negative impact on exercise and cognitive performance. At a level above 2% dehydration, cognitive function has shown to be adversely affected. A level of at least 1% is enough to have an impact on exercise performance (Shirreffs et al., 2005). An explanation for the decrease in performance is related to blood volume that is lost when a lot of sweat is lost. During exercise, it is important to maintain blood flow to the muscles and to the skin. The skin is then able to convect heat to the body surface. When there is difficulty meeting these requirements, the core temperature of the body rises (Shirreffs et al., 2005). This elevated core temperature then causes fatigue. Therefore, players that are not well hydrated will fatigue faster and as a result will not be able to perform as well. Muscle fatigue affects soccer players in a unique manner to other sports. Although muscle fatigue is common among players, it is unclear what the underlying mechanisms of fatigue are. In the later stages of activity, it is understood that fatigue results as muscle glycogen stores deplete. However, in the initial stages of exercise, soccer players are shown to have reductions in muscle pH to a lesser extent than athletes who participate in other sports (Bangsbo, Iaia, Krustrup, 2007). Additionally, the phosphocreatine systems remain elevated throughout the activity (Mohr, Krustrup, Bangsbo, 2005); as such, it takes longer for the dominant energy pathway in the muscles of a soccer player to transition from the phosphocreatine system to the anaerobic and aerobic glycolytic pathways (Bangsbo et al., 2007). Current research suggests that the periods of greatest muscle fatigue (thereby showing the greatest decline in athletic performance) occur at beginning of the second half of play, and towards the end of regulation (Mohr et al., 2005). This is widely attributed to the decrease in muscle temperature after the halftime break, and to depletion of glycogen stores at the end of play (Mohr et al., 2005). This is deemed a result of the effect of temperature on the rate of metabolic reactions within the working muscle, specifically ATP hydrolysis and regeneration (Ferretti, 1992). The recommendation for soccer players is to engage in low-intensity activity prior to the beginning of the second half to moderate the decrease in muscle temperature, and therefore maintain athletic performance throughout the game (Lovell et al., 2013; Mohr et al., 2005).

the revenge of islam :: essays research papers

HOUSTON, Texas (CNN) -- Enron security guards were stationed on the 19th and 20th floors of the company's building here Tuesday to prevent further shredding of documents, company lawyers said during a federal court hearing. Former executive Maureen Castaneda said Monday employees were shredding documents as late as January 14, in spite of the company's December bankruptcy filing that costs thousands of investors and employees their life savings. In the wake of the reports of continued shredding, Enron lawyers said the company allowed FBI agents in the building to interview employees and that guards had been posted round the clock to prevent more document destruction. Some 40 attorneys representing investors asked a judge to place federal marshals or an outside firm's security guards in the Enron building to prevent shredding. The lawyers also asked the judge to take possession of all documents relevant to the investigation into the collapse of the energy giant -- including boxes of shredded papers they said company executives ordered destroyed. It was also revealed in court that shredded documents were found in a wastebasket, which was turned over to authorities. It is not clear who conducted the search in which the papers were discovered. Packing materials become evidence MORE STORIES Shredding through history Ex-Enron exec: Shredding went on after probe began VIDEO/AUDIO †¢ Enron collapse hurts Houston charities †¢ Enron: A tale of two meetings MORE STORIES †¢ Ex-Enron exec: Shredding went on after probe began †¢ Lawyer who wrote document memo quizzed †¢ Terms set for sale of Enron's Indian plant †¢ Andersen blame game heats up EXTRA INFORMATION †¢ Guide to the fall of Enron †¢ Bush administration ties †¢ Chapter 11 timeline RESOURCES †¢ In-Depth: The end of Enron? †¢ Protect your 401(k) †¢ TIME.com: Inside the scandal †¢ In Focus: What happened? LEGAL RESOURCES Latest Legal News Law Library FindLaw Consumer Center Select a topicBankruptcyDiscriminationDivorceEstate PlanningLandlord-TenantPersonal InjuryTaxes Castaneda said she took boxes of shredded paper home with her to use as packing material. She later realized the significance of the refuse. She recalled e-mails telling employees how to handle financial documents. "One said our policy is not to destroy documents, given the threatening legal suits," she told CNN. "And that's what made me realize that I had more than just shreds." "It is an absolute smoking gun," said Castaneda's attorney, Paul Howes, referring to the shredded papers. Howes is with Milberg, Weiss, a San Diego-based firm that specializes in class action suits.

Matrix 1 v.s. Matrix 3 :: essays research papers

After watching â€Å"Matrix Revolutions,† I was disapointed. The movie lost its confusing yet interesting story line that the first one did very well, and there were so many characters that a lot of them got lost in the story and they wasted many good actors.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When they return to the real world and the battle of the machines starts, it just goes on and on and on while Neo and Trinity disapear for a long time. The fight scenes just never cut away for such a long time that in the end it became anoying to watch. When the human base was under attack by the machines, there was no dialogue for such a long time. The effects were really good but they didn't cut away from this specific scene for what seems to be half the movie. The visual effects were just as good as the first movie but the fight scenes didn't match the originals. It isn't a really bad thing to take out the fight scenes, it's just the fact that the first movie was based solely on those fight scenes and it wasn't smart for them to take so much of them out. There were only a few good fight scenes and the biggest one dealt with flying and it was sort of overkill by the end. I think that one big thing that made â€Å"Revolutions† worse than the first movie wa s that everyone seemed to be in love with eachother. After watching the first one I was expecting more fighting but instead they turned it into romance and it was drawn out way too long. It seemed that in â€Å"Matrix Revolutions,† they had too many plot points that I've seen in other movies before.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The whole movie is full of little errors like this. For example, the machines make a deal in the end with Neo to defeat the agent Smith, and after he does, the machines are supposed to not continue attacking humans and growing them in their fields after years of doing so, just because of a promise. It doesn't make much sense. Neo comes in and saves the day at the end, but the movie doesn't really even explain how it works. Neo's about to lose and die and then magically he wins. I didn't think it was a very good ending, they should have finished the series at the end of the second movie.

Ancient Babylonia :: World History

Ancient Babylonia When studying Ancient Babylonia it is notably important to look at these factors: daily life, religion, people, society, government and economy so we can determine the development of the civilization and how it is similar to the way we live today. The Babylonian Empire is unique because their government was run by a law known as the Code of Hammurabi similarly are government is run by numerous laws. Their knowledge of science and astrology is intriguing due to the fact that they were the first civilization to form the basis of the sixteen month of thirty days calendar, their discovery of the calendar lend us to the calendars we have today. In addition to government, science and astrology their economy was very modern and played an immense part in their daily life. The way the Babylonians lived life is identical to the way we live our life today. In today's society we are governed and protected by laws, well we can say the same about Ancient Babylonia their society was governed and protected by the Code of Hammurabi(1750). The Code of Hammurabi main purposes were " to make justice visible in the land, to destroy the wicked person and the evil doer, so that the strong might not injure the weak". Our legal system is somewhat like this in terms of we sentence and enforce punishments on the criminals to protect other innocent citizens. Just like are prime minister, the Babylonian king Hammurabi wished to secure a uniform pattern of justice throughout his land, to certify that everyone was well aware of punishments and rules before breaking or committing them. The most well known term to describe this law is " an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth". This quote indicated that the punishment suited the crime. The Babylonian civilization was considerably keen on science, mathematics and astrology. They were apprehensive in the cause of medicine an example of this is their belief that sin was the cause of a patient's illness. Here is an old Babylonian proverb that says " an infection without a doctor is like hunger without food". What this is saying is they depended on doctors to suit their needs just as we depend on food to suit hunger. This describes perfectly what the Ancient Babylonian civilization was like, they depended on doctors and herbal medicine just as we do today.

Product Based Learning

After more than 15 years in Singapore, I will be returning to Australia. Helping to start an institution that was committed to the philosophy and practice of programmable learning has been tremendously enriching in many ways: trying to understand the unique nature of different disciplinary knowledge when crafting problems; deconstructing facilitation practice in classrooms made up of diverse students; designing faculty development activities that try to foster and model critical and reflective practice; and the creation of learning spaces, both concrete and virtual, all of which assist in the achievement of learning.My immersion in the practice and empirical research of PL has forced me to wrestle almost daily with philosophical questions that are not easily resolved. I share two such questions that have motivated constant reflection about PL. Question 1: What is the â€Å"self' in self-directed learning? Aristotle, Kant, Descartes, Habeas and Hegel all allude to the importance of t he concept of self in any theory of human development and learning. In PL there is a strong emphasis on the â€Å"self' directing learning. The appeal for self-directness is very compelling, yet hard to get a handle on.Contemporary sociological texts suggest we are constantly constructing our sense of self. So how does a PL facilitator understand the students' ever- changing sense of self so this can be acted upon, or, perhaps more fundamentally, how does the student derive a notion of self in a manner that would drive his or her learning? Furthermore if the self is embodied by the rational, the emotional, and biological attributes of an individual, how do these combine to inform self-directness? Question 2: How do PL institutions and facilitators affect the behavior of learners?When PL is implemented at an institutional level, it stems from the life that PL can affect the behaviors of students to achieve certain desired outcomes – what should be valued in the pursuit of cha nge? The various traditions in psychology and sociology address the question of how to affect behavior differently, I. E. , whether the emphasis is on altering the internal state, or the manipulation of external and social environments. Parker Palmer takes this divide further and asks is meaningful change from the human heart (the subjective) or from factors external from us (what is regarded as objective)?Add to that the belief that knowledge is socially constructed, and a yard of epistemological and ontological questions arise. In addressing these types of complex philosophical questions that underpin PL, have found myself, at times, confounded by the intricacies of the competing philosophical positions. This can lead, if one is not careful, to a paralysis wherein we choose to either dismiss PL as an idea that is too hard to come to terms with, or accept PL as method for teaching that is simply followed.I addressed the danger of the latter in a paper presented in 2004 at the 5th A sia Pacific Conference in PL: â€Å"An explicit philosophy of teaching grounded in the beliefs of what is knowledge and learning, while also taking into the account the context within which a teacher operates, can provide the basis of a conviction for one's actions, an anchor that can secure the teacher when faced with the opposition that naturally occurs in trying to enact a vision of a better education. This is especially so for those trying to implement or sustain PL in the â€Å"hallowed† halls of reproductive pedagogy.Without a philosophical basis of PL the educator is placed in a perplexed situation of trying to defend the house built on sand with the tide washing in. In deciding to flee from the UN- enable fight he becomes akin to a nomadic wanderer searching the waste lands of instrumentalist drifting from one pedagogical fad to the next but being unable to establish a foundation long enough to ensure when the next wave of â€Å"what is good education† hits th e beach that they are not swept up by it. I share these philosophical questions, as hand the baton over to the new editor of Reflections on PL Karen Gogh, with the purpose of pointing out how there is a continued need to persist in the reflection of PL both empirically and philosophically. In this edition we feature highlights from the 3rd International Symposium on Problem-eased Learning and include two research papers that were presented at the symposium. I really valued the symposium as we collectively grappled with the philosophical and practical issues of PL.