China Sustainable Cities Program

Executive Summary China Sustainable Cities Program is a massive project that is meant to turn around the current structure of the cities of this country. After years of being considered the world’s leading country in environmental pollution, China has decided to make a move that would see have a transformed society. This project is meant to ensure that the cities are self sustaining and able to meet the international safety standards.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on China Sustainable Cities Program specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Procurement and contract management is one of the important factors that have to be considered in this project. Contracts should be issued based on merits. It is important that the project management team considers both legal and health concerns as measures of determining the best firm to award contracts. One of the strengths of this project is that China is a country has a huge human resource base and therefore it should consider exploiting it maximally. This move by the government of China was seen as a transformational leadership. It is therefore necessary that quality measures are considered when putting up the project. Various measures of quality should be employed. The human resource involved should also be properly managed to ensure harmony in the projects. Introduction China is one of the fastest growing economies in the world. According to Lieberthal (1995, p. 67), it is also one of the largest manufactures of various products targeted at both developing and developed nations. Because of the large manufacturing companies in this country, it was named the leading country in the world in air pollution. It emits the highest percentage of carbon into the air, causing air pollution (Campanella 2008, p. 85). This would in turn pollute rain water and this cycle of pollution would continue. China has the highest population in the world. Most of its cities currently are over capacitated, a fact that has been attributed to the poor urban planning. As such, the government has seen it wise to design cities that are able to meet the demands of the current population and the expected growth. The cities have been planned to meet the needs of the expected population growth of this country. According to Zhou (2006, p. 78), the cities are planned in such a way that it would satisfy the demands of the future population despite the limited space that is available in these cities. In this effort, there is also the need to ensure that the cities are free from carbon pollution. Zhao (2011, p. 34) explains that the cities are to be sustainable in two main fronts. The first front is that they should be able to absorb China’s expected large population for the next fifteen to thirty years without any problem of limited housing facilities.Advertising Looking for report on political sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first pape r with 15% OFF Learn More The other front is that the cities should be free of pollution. China still expects to be the leading manufacturer in the world. However, it is making an effort to produce these products at limited pollution rates (Berlatsky 2010, p. 89). The cities should completely be free from any form of pollution. This paper seeks to critically analyze china sustainable cities program in international project management field, with a view to ascertaining its strengths and weaknesses. Findings Procurement and Contracts Management in China Sustainable Cities Program Procurement Strategies Low (2000, p. 56) explains that procurement is one of the most important factors to consider in coming up with the major projects. In China Sustainable Cities Program, there was a need to develop a procurement strategy that would see to it that this project is made a success (Joseph 2010, p. 41). The concerned individuals in this government investment must properly manage the c ontracts. Principles and approaches According to Zhang (2010, p. 67), it is very important to ensure that major project are awarded to firms and individuals who have the capacity to perform the required task in the best way possible. The approach taken in selecting the firms to award various tenders would depend on the track record. Lye (2010, p. 54) says that China Sustainable Cities Program is a project that is geared towards achieving the best infrastructure within China’s major cities. Procurement must therefore be done professionally. Legal considerations Legal factors should also be considered in the procurement process. According Benn (2002, p. 29), when awarding contracts to such massive projects like this, it is highly recommended that the legality of the contracted firms is confirmed. The firms should be legally viable to carry out obligations that they are assigned (Martine 2008, p. 39). It should be based on merit and should be done transparently. The entire proce ss of the project should be based upon the laws of the land. Rules and regulations of different arms of the government should be adhered to. Health and safety The program aims at coming with cities that are sustainable. As Meng (2010, p. 27) says, one of the leading factors to consider in coming up with these cities is health and safety procedures. The project management team has the mandate to ensure that the contracted firms have the capacity to ensure health and safety of the cities upon their completion (Chang 2000, p. 37). The whole process of developing the cities should also be characterized by health and safety procedures.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on China Sustainable Cities Program specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Relationships As Wright (2008, p. 19) says, the process of awarding tenders should be done in a free and fair manner if success is to be achieved. The tendering process should not be base d on some favoritism standards. The award should be given on merit irrespective of any relationship that could be there between the tendering board and the concerned firms. Transformational change and leadership in china sustainable cities program Change Principles in Projects The Chinese government has seen the need to develop cities that are able to respond to the requirements of the environment. For some time now, the leadership of this country has always been challenged to show leadership and cut down on its pollution rates (Kalman 1998, p. 34). This project is seen as its positive response towards this challenge. Transformational change and leaders The development of these cities is seen as a transformational approach by transformational leaders of this country. Wang (2009, p. 28) says that transformational leadership is the key ingredient towards transformational change. This massive project is a clear pointer that the government has considered the need to transform this count ry for the better. Quality assurance in projects This project is one of its kinds. Quality assurance is always easily done when there a benchmark upon which it is done. As Visser (2010, p. 90) says, quality would be based on some set standards. However, because of uniqueness of this project, quality assurance would be based on the expectations of the project. It would be judged on how well it satisfies the expectations of the designers, the government and society in general. Managing risks in projects Midler (2009, p. 30) argues that risk management is a factor that should be considered in such a massive project. The project management should clearly spell out risks that are likely to be experienced in coming out with such projects and the best mitigation measures. According to Terrill (1975, p. 34), risks in such projects are unique to a given area as they are always shaped by such factors as environment and social structure of the society among others. The role of People Managemen t in cross cultural teams This project has attracted human resource from various regions. As such, it is a fact that the human resource working on the project vary in cultural practices (Perkins 1999, p. 18). The project management team should make an effort to ensure that this team work cohesively, without letting the cultural differences factor in when implementing the plan. According Chasek (2000, p. 26), the team should be allowed to practice their cultural practices independently without any prejudice. Performance Earned Value Management in China Sustainable Cities Program Earned Value Management in Projects Earned value management would be one of the key considerations in this project. In this massive project, the main aim is to have a city that is self sustaining, a city that is able to absorb the growing population of China and maintains the environment clean (Knapp 2000, p. 78). The earned value should be based on this expected value of the project.Advertising Looking for report on political sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Origin and application Song and Woo (2008, p. 95) say that Earned Value Management is a tool for measuring project progress and performance. It originated in United States in 1960s as a financial analysis tool for large projects. This tool came to existence because of the need to evaluate the performance of large projects. It was a measure to ensure that large government or institutional projects run as per the plans of the concerned individuals. Techniques The main techniques in assessing projects using earned value management tool is by determining the Project Value of the completed project. The perceived value of the project would be determined based on the cost of the project (Knight Song 1999, p. 88). The value of the completed project should reflect on the cost of the project. Key consideration and issues relating to Earned Value Management Some of the key considerations of issues relating to Earned Value Management include the simplicity or complexity of the implementation o f the projects. As Dauvergne (2008, p. 81) says the analysis can be done based on simple implementation where emphasis is only based on technical performance. Alternatively, it can be based on intermediate implementation which involves integration of schedule and technical performance. The last approach would be advanced implementation which integrates the technical performance, cost and schedule of the project (Knox Marston 2012, p. 68). In each of the three approaches, there is uniqueness that the concerned individuals should be observant of. Performance management-360 degrees appraisals 360-degrees appraisal, also known as 360-degree feedback or multi-rater feedback or multi-source assessment is an appraisal procedure of the human resource by the immediate members of an employee. In this project, the contracted firms have the obligation to meet the expectations of the Chinese government in constructing the new model of the city. Day and Ma (1994, p. 69) argue that such firms wou ld need to ensure that individual employees who are tasked with various duties in the firm perform their duties as per the expectations. There would therefore be a need to conduct appraisal of the employees at regular intervals. The project management team can involve the locals to give a feedback of the entire project, individual sections of the entire project and even the performance of single individuals of the project (Ferroa Chan 2002, p. 67). The feedback would then be used to determine the path for the project. If the feedback is negative, the project management team may need to go back to the drawing board and define new paths. Risk Earned Value Management should not be used as a single tool for the analysis. This is because of the risk involved. This approach has been lauded as being a very appropriate tool in the analysis of the financial viability of the project, and other financial factors. However, the risk comes in that it does not cover quality of the project. Robbin s (2007, p. 39) says this approach would give the right budget for the project but it is not an assurance on the quality. For this reason therefore, the cost of the project would be correctly determined, but the result may be dissatisfying. This main undoing of this approach has been the reason why it has been recommended that this tool should be used in conjunction with others to ensure a complete assessment and quality assurance. Quality and compliance issues China Sustainable Cities Program is a major project that would require a close monitoring to ensure complete compliance to quality issues. The government looks forward to having a project that meets the specifications that were put in place. Because of the amount of investment put in this project, it would demand that the project satisfies all the conditions put in place. Conversely, the people of China who are expected to stay in these ultra-modern cities have their own expectations that should be met upon completion of this project. The project management team must therefore employ the right quality management tools to ensure that the project comes out with the right quality. Human Resources and Conflict Management in China Sustainable Cities Program The HR role and function Human resource has a pivotal role in the development of China Sustainable Cities. This massive project requires skills manpower to ensure its success. These ultra-modern cities require a lot of skills in order for them to become s reality (Fook Gang 2010, p. 62). The role of human resource would not only be in the construction and quality management, but also the auditing and inspection duties. Negotiation and conflict management Conflict management is one of the most important functions in any set up that have individuals who, in one way or the other are expected to differ in thoughts. According to (Glaeser 1987, p. 39), negotiation is the best way through which such conflicts can be resolved. In this program, there should be a clearly spelt way in which the human resource should relate. Management of conflicts should be done using negotiations or any other appropriate means (Inoguchi, Newman Paoletto 1999, p. 32). Teamwork Teamwork cannot be avoided in such a massive undertaking. This project would have a number of professionals and individuals performing different duties all geared towards the achievement of a sustainable city. Different departments should work in close coordination with others to ensure uniformity. Overlapping of duties should be avoided at all the stages (Hodges 1970, p. 47). The entire team should work having in mind the objective of the entire process. Knowledge management and the learning organization Human resource is always in a continuous learning process. Knowledge management is therefore a factor that any organization would have to consider in order to ensure effectively of its human resource. The team involved in this project should have a rough idea of how the project would look like upon completion. This may call for some in-service training (Liauw, L 2008, p. 27). Conclusion China sustainable cities project is one of its kind. It is geared towards ensuring that China has cities that would be in a position to absorb the growing population of this country. The project is meant to ensure that this country has cities that are pollution free. Though very costly, this huge project is a move by the government to ensure that this country makes an effort in ensuring that this country adheres to the environmental protocols put forth by international bodies. To ensure that this project is a success, there is need to ensure that several measures are put in place. The success of this project would start from the procurement. It is from this that the project would get quality products that would be used in various stages. For this reason therefore, the project management team should ensure that it employs an appropriate procedure in the procurement procedure. The project management team should ensure professionalism in conducting their duties. Transformational leadership is one of the most important factors that should be considered when implementing this project. People employed to work on the projects may come from different regions. However, it is important to manage them in such a way that they would be in a position to work as a unit, without having their difference in culture as a barrier. Recommendations This project is one of the major undertakings of China as a country. It is one of the moves that are meant to ensure that various cities of this country are not only able to absorb the population of the country, but is also eco-friendly. Success of the project is therefore given a lot of priority. Some of the factors to consider in ensuring success include the following. The project management team should consider outsourcing local firms to perform these duties. Although some phases of the project may require outsourcing of internati onal firms, most of the duties should be done by the locals. This would not only lower the cost, but will also result in quality performance because they would have a feeling that they are developing their own country. To ensure quality of the entire project, quality assessment should be done at close intervals. The team should develop stages that assessment would be done. Any issue raised at each stage should be addressed before moving to the next stage. The project should be conducted with international standards in mind. Because of the financial consequences involved in the project, various arms of the government should be involved. List References Benn, D 2002, Daily life in traditional China: the Tang dynasty, Greenwood Press, Westport. Berlatsky, N 2010, China, Greenhaven Press, Detroit. Campanella, TJ 2008, The concrete dragon: China’s urban revolution and what it means for the world, Princeton Architectural Press, New York. Chang, L 2000, Factory girls: from village to city in a changing China, Spiegel Grau, New York. Chasek, P 2000, The global environment in the twenty-first century: prospects for international cooperation, United Nations University Press, Tokyo. Dauvergne, P 2008, The shadows of consumption: consequences for the global environment, MIT Press, London. Day, LH Ma, X 1994, Migration and urbanization in China, Sharpe, Armonk. Ferroa, P G Chan, E 2002, China, Benchmark Books, New York. Fook, L Gang, C 2010, Towards a Liveable and Sustainable Urban Environment Eco-Cities in East Asia, World Scientific, Singapore. Glaeser, B 1987, Learning from China?: development and environment in Third World countries, Allen Unwin, London. Hodges, H 1970, Technology in the ancient world, Knopf, New York. Inoguchi, T Newman, E Paoletto, G1999, Cities and the environment: new approaches for eco-societies, United Nations University Press, Tokyo. Jacka, T 2005, Rural women in urban China: gender, migration, and social change, Sharpe, Armonk. Jo seph, W 2010, Politics in China: an introduction, Oxford University Press, Oxford. Kalman, B 1998, China, Crabtree Pub, Toronto. Knapp, R 2000, China’s walled cities, Oxford University Press, Hong Kong. Knight, J Song, L 1999, The rural-urban divide economic disparities and interactions in China, Oxford University Press, Oxford. Knox, P Marston, S 2012, Human geography: places and regions in global context (6th ed.), Pearson Education, Glenview. Liauw, L 2008, New urban China, Wiley, London. Lieberthal, K 1995, Governing China: from revolution through reform, W.W. Norton, New York. Low, N 2000, Consuming cities: the urban environment in the global economy after the Rio Declaration, Routledge, London. Lye, L F 2010, Towards a livable and sustainable urban environment: eco-cities in East Asia, World Scientific, Singapore. Martine, G 2008, The new global frontier urbanization, poverty and environment in the 21st century, Earthscan, London. Meng, X 2010, The great migration: ru ral-urban migration in China and Indonesia, Edward Elgar, Cheltenham. Midler, P 2009, Poorly made in China: an insider’s account of the tactics behind China’s production game, Wiley, Hoboken. Perkins, D 1999, Encyclopedia of China: the essential reference to China, its history and culture, Facts on File, New York. Qiu, X.2006, A case of two cities, St. Martin’s Minotaur, New York. Robbins, P 2007, Encyclopedia of environment and society, Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks. Song, L Woo, W 2008, China’s dilemma: economic growth, the environment and climate change, Anu E Press, Canberra. Terrill, R 1975, Flowers on an iron tree: five cities of China, Little, Brown, Boston. Visser, R 2010, Cities surround the countryside: urban aesthetics in post-socialist China. Duke University Press, Durham. Wang, Y.2009, ICCTP 2009 critical issues in transportation system planning, development, and management: proceedings of the Ninth International Conference of Chinese Tra nsportation Professionals: August 5-9, Harbin, China. Reston, VA: American Society of Civil Engineers. Wright, H 2008, Instant cities, Black Dog Publishing, London. Zhang, J 2010, ICLEM 2010 logistics for sustained economic development : infrastructure, information, integration : proceedings of the 2010 International Conference of Logistics Engineering and Management : October 8-10, 2010, Chengdu, China. Reston, Va.: American Society of Civil Engineers. Zhao, J 2011, Towards sustainable cities in China analysis and assessment of some Chinese cities in 2008, Springer, New York. Zhou, L 2006, China business: environment, momentum, strategies, prospects, Pearson, Singapore. This report on China Sustainable Cities Program was written and submitted by user Kailynn Salas to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

What Is an Alternative High School Is It Right for You

What Is an Alternative High School Is It Right for You SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Will you be attending an alternative high school or are you wondering if it’s the right choice for you or your child?For some students, alternative high schools fit their personality and learning style much better than traditional high schools, and they can be a way for these students to achieve success. What are alternative high schools? How are they different from traditional high schools? Is attending one the right choice for you? How can you find the right alternative high school? Read on for answers to each of these questions and more. What Are Alternative High Schools? An alternative high school is simply a school that doesn’t provide a completely traditional learning experience.This is a very broad definition, and, because of that, alternative high schools can vary widely. They can be public or private and can include magnet, charter, and online schools (although not every school in these categories would be considered an alternative high school). Some alternative schools are offered throughthe student’s regular school district, while others, such as magnet, charter, or private schools, operate independently of the public school system. Classes at online schools are conducted primarily or completely over the internet.There is no official â€Å"alternative school† designation or requirements a school must meet in order to be considered alternative. An alternative high school will usually include the word â€Å"alternative† in its name or mention it in its mission statement or website homepage. Alternative schools were first created to help â€Å"troubled† students who had behavioral problems that traditional publicschools were ill-equipped to handle. However, today students attend alternative schools for a variety of reasons which are discussed in more detail below.In general, alternative high schools exist to give students who do not do well in a traditional academic environment an opportunity to succeed in high school and earn a high school diploma. How Are Alternative Schools Different From Regular High Schools? As mentioned above, there can be large variations between alternative high schools.Some alternative high schools don’t give out grades, some allow students to develop their own graduation requirements, some include a significant work component, some take place during non-traditional hours, and more. Common features of manyalternative high schools include: Smaller Class Sizes:Smaller classes allow teachers to give students more individual attention and make it easier to tailor lessons to specific student needs. More Flexible Schedules and Graduation Requirements:Some alternative high schools offer classes at night, which can be helpful for students with jobs or children. Others have flexible graduation requirements and give students more choice in the classes they must take (as opposed to one math class, one science class, one English class, etc. each semester). This can give students the opportunity to study a subject of particular interest to them. Wider Variety of Teaching Methods:Alternative high schools often use numerous teaching methods that emphasize creativity and interaction. This can help students who struggle with sitting in a classroom and taking notes all day. Non-Traditional Evaluation Methods:Some alternative schools don’t give out grades, instead they provide written evaluations. Others offer academic credit for work experiences or internships. Address Social, Mental, and Emotional Needs of the Student: In addition to addressing academic needs, alternative schools often have additional resources, such as counseling and support groups, available for students. You can also research specific alternative schools to get a better idea of what they can offer. For example, City-As-Schoolin New York City, has no grades, exams, or class years. Students complete projects and papers which are added to their portfolio, and they spend about half of each week at an internship instead of in the classroom. It's also easy to find student testimonials of alternative schools online. One former student of an alternative high school credits the school with saving her life.You can read these to get a better idea of the typesof students alternative schools have helped and how they overcame their difficulties. Even if you never wanted to show up to class at your old school, an alternative high school may have teaching methods that work for you. Why Do Students Attend Alternative High Schools? There are multiple reasons why someone may begin attending an alternative high school, but they usually relate to the student not thriving in a traditional school. Specific reasons include: Trouble Learning in a Traditional Classroom One of the main reasons students attend alternative schools is because they don’t learn well in a traditional school. They may have learning disabilities that make it challenging for them to sit in a classroom all day, they may struggle to retain information learned this way, or their classes may interest them so little that they have no desire to attend school or complete homework. Alternative schools specialize in using varied and creative ways to teach the material, and their teaching methods are often much more tailored to each student’s learning preferences. Need More Support/Guidance Some students also need more guidance than traditional schools can provide. This can be academic support or emotional support/counseling. They can benefit from the smaller classes of alternative schools as well as the increased access to counselors and support groups. Many alternative schools also often have regular meetings with a student’s teachers, parents, and counselors to make sure the student is on track, which can also be beneficial for many students. Bored or Not Challenged at Their Current School Alternative high school may also be an option if you don’t feel challenged or interested at a traditional school. This may be the case if you don’t find yourself caring about your classes, struggle with sitting at a desk all day, find the coursework too easy, or want to focus your studies on a subject your school doesn’t offer. Alternative schools often use a wider variety of teaching methods, including hands-on, interactive, and self-directed work, which can benefit you. Social or Behavioral Difficulties A student might also have issues with classmates or teachers. This can include being bullied, struggling to make friends, befriending the wrong crowd, or coming into conflict with teachers and students. A student’s social network is a huge part of their high school experience, and if they don’t feel included or welcomed at their school, or don’t contribute to an inclusive and welcoming environment, it can be very difficult for them to do well. Attending a new school with new classmates as well asteachers and counselors who can better meet their needs can have a significant improvement on their high school performance. Difficult Life Circumstances Additionally, some students have experiences that make attending traditional high school challenging. These can include pregnancy, serious illness, family problems, and more. Circumstances like these can make it difficult for a student to concentrate on classes, and they may need more individual support and flexible scheduling. Is an Alternative High School the Right Choice for You? So, should you attend an alternative high school? The answer varies depending on the person, but, in general, if you are very unhappy or performing poorly at your current high school, some major changes need to happen for you to get on track to graduate high school and set yourself up for success in the future. Transferring to an alternative school that useslearning styles that suit you better than your current school can help youdo well and even begin to enjoy high school if you didn't before. The new school, teachers, and classmates can help give you a fresh start with high school. However, some students prefer to stay in their current high school and aren’t receptive to the idea of attending a new, â€Å"different† high school.Making a student transfer to a new school when they are against it can make them even less likely to succeed in school, so, if they are extremely opposed to the idea of transferring schools, and it is possible for them to stay at their current school, you could try letting them remain â€Å"on probation† at their current school. If they make required changes that are laid out beforehand (improving grades, meeting attendance requirements, disassociating with a badcrowd, etc.) they can be allowed to remain at that school, but, if they do not, they will have to transfer to an alternative school. If you do decide that attending an alternative high school is the right choice, or even if you just want more information on what your options are, read the next section on how to select the best alternative high school for you. Choosing whether to attend an alternative high school can take a lot of thought in order to make the right decision. How to Choose the Right Alternative High School Selecting the right alternative school is an important undertaking; you have to make sure you choose a school that fits with your personality and learning style. Attending an alternative school that isn’t a good fit won’t help you do any better in high school than you were doing before. Choosing which school to attend requires more work than simply finding the alternative school that’s closest to you. Follow these three steps to make an informed choice and give yourself the best chance of success in high school. Step 1: Identify the Issues With Your Current School Before you do anything else, you should figure out exactly why your current school is not working for you.Make a list of all the reasons you are switching schools. Was it due to problems with classmates? Boredom with traditional education? A need for more guidance and support? Really think about all the reasons you aren’t happy with your current school. The more complete and specific your list the better your chances of finding the best alternative school for you are. If you're unsure of whether or not you want to change schools, this is also a good time to see if you can solve these problems while remaining at your current school. You may be able to make changes to your class schedule, join a program that includes more non-traditional learning, or a different option. If you'd like the option of staying at your current school, set up a meeting with your guidance counselor and possibly some of your teachers. They'll be able to go over all your options with you so you can make the best decision. Step 2: Make a List of the Qualities Your New School ShouldHave Next, use the list you made in the previous step to come up with a new list of things your new alternative high school should have for you to do well there.Research different alternative schools online to get a better understanding of what alternative schools can offer. Perhaps you want an alternative school with smaller class sizes, non-traditional teaching methods, the opportunity to earn academic credit through a job/internship, or other qualities.You should use your list from step one to develop this second list. For example, if one of the reasons you were unhappy with your current school is because you get bored sitting at a desk all day, your second list should mention that you’d like an alternative school that offers more hands-on work. Step 3: Research Nearby Schools Now that you know what you’re looking for, start looking at potential alternative schools you can attend.Most students will be limited to schools that are close to them because they will still be living at home, but if that isn’t a requirement for you, you can look at alternative schools in a wider area that offer boarding options. You should also take cost into consideration. Some alternative high schools are free or low-cost while others can have large price tags attached. There are often ways to reduce costs through grants or scholarships. If you find an alternative school you’re interested in but is out of your price range, talk to someone at the school’s office. They should be able to give you advice on financial aid options. Once you find a school you’re interested in, research it thoroughly before applying for enrollment. Talk to teachers and staff, research the school and its goals, and see if you can speak with past or current students to get their opinion.Many alternative schools offer potential students the chance to attend classes for a day or a few days to get a feel for the school and see if it will be a good fit for them. Definitely take advantage of this if it’s an option because it’s a great way to decide if the school is really the right one for you. Once you’ve decided on a school, contact the office to learnhow you can enroll or apply for enrollment. Not all alternative schools can accept everyone who wants to attend, especially smaller schools, so be aware that it’s not guaranteed that you’ll get in. Talk to staff and teachers to get a better idea of what you need to do to get enrolled at the school. Once you've foundyour ideal alternative high school, you can begin the enrollment process! How Do Colleges View Alternative High Schools? Will attending an alternative high school hurt your chances of getting into college? Will it make colleges think you’re a â€Å"bad† kid who will have a negative impact on their school? In short, no. Colleges understand that there are many reasons why a student may attend an alternative school, and there are multiple areas on your application for you to put your alternative school experience in a positive light. If you don’t have any behavioral issues (like suspensions or expulsions) on your transcript and your attendance record is good, that is a huge benefit for you when you apply to college. You can use your personal statement to discuss why you attended an alternative school, how it helped you, and how it has prepared you for the future.Even if your grades from your first few years of high school aren’t great, showing significant improvement and being able to clearly discuss how you’ve overcome difficulties will put your alternative education in a positive light and show colleges that you’re able to overcome challenges and still be successful. If you do have a record of behavioral issues and/or truancy, convincing colleges that you should attend their school will be a bit more difficult, but you should still follow the above steps. In your personal statement (some schools also have an area on their application where you can provide them with additional information on yourself), mention that you had problems before, then clearly and specifically discuss how you’ve worked to overcome them and the progress you’ve made since then. Obviously, this is much easier to do when you've made a lot of progress, so keep staying on track in order to make the best impression. If you’re worried that colleges will think that your non-traditional learning environment hasn’t prepared you enough for college, taking the SAT or ACT and receiving strong scores will help show them that you have the knowledge necessaryto do well in college. Summary Alternative high schools can be a great, and even life-changing, option for students who haven’t thrived in traditional high schools.A wide variety of alternative high schools exist, but, in general, they use more non-traditional methods of teaching and are able to be more flexible in accommodating student needs than traditional high schools. Some alternative high schools use grades, some allow students to work part-time for class credit, some allow students to develop their own class schedule, and more.Students attend alternative high schools for a variety of reasons, but, in general, it’s because they are unhappy at, not challenged by, or uninterested in a traditional high school environment.If you decide to attend an alternative high school, be sure to research potential schools thoroughly to find one that fits you well. What's Next? Have you decided to attend an alternative school and will now be transferring schools? Our complete guide to transferring high schools will walk you through each step of the process and help you make sure you've completed each requirementyou need to! Considering online high school? They're becoming increasingly popular, but it's important to be well-informed before you make the decision to attend school online. Check out our guide to online high schools to learn if they're the right option for you. Studying for the SAT or ACT?We have great guides to help you study for the SAT and ACT and get your best score! Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Molecular Aspects of Conservation Genetics Essay - 1

Molecular Aspects of Conservation Genetics - Essay Example Scientific genetic approaches have made it easier to identify the cryptic species in particular taxa, and thereby have conservational significance. To achieve a positive result on conservation efforts, especially those linked to an individual species, an in-depth study of the taxonomy is mandatory (Mace 2004). However, since extracting taxonomical evidence based on morphological characteristics of birds has been a â€Å"taxonomic-headache† (Howell and Webb. 1995), a designed systematic molecular approach is a much better alternative. Neotropical parrots belonging to the genus Amazona have been treasured for their capability to mimic human sounds and their beautiful plumage. However, most Amazona species parrots are under threat of extinction except Amazona farinosa, also known as the Mealy Amazon which is prevalent in parts of both Central and South America. Wenner et al conducted a study to evaluate and validate the taxonomy of A.farinosa species complex by employing analytical methods such as complementary analysis and multiple genetic loci. DNA sequence data from mitochondrial and nuclear introns were extracted from sources like frozen tissues, bone and toe pad extraction and were used to understand and analyse the relationship between the five sub-species of A.farinosa. In the mtDNA data set, 110 sites were variable while about 96 of the sites were parsimony informative. Unique haplotypes were identified and joined to estimate the percentage of relation between the haplotypes. Three distinct haplotypes clust ers and a minimum of 11 mutational steps were recognised. Phylogenies constructed using maximum-likelihood (for both individual as well as concatenated gene regions) and Bayesian method showed the existence of two negatively monophyletic clades- Central American clade and South American clade. The genetic distance recovered between both