Technology

The beginning of the 21st century has been marked with the growing commitment to the use of technology in everyday life and the role of technology in curriculum and instructional design has become increasingly important. Throughout the history of instructional design, the impact of technology on student achievement has been the source of the continuous professional debate. In 1983, Clark wrote the best current evidence is that media are mere vehicles that deliver instruction but do not influence student achievement any more than the truck that delivers our groceries causes changes in our nutrition. Basically, the choice of vehicle might influence the cost or extent of distributing instruction, but only the content of the vehicle can influence achievement (p. 445). That means that, according to Clark (1983), what matters most is the curriculum content but not the technology, which is expected to drive it.

Looking back to the times when Clark (1983) wrote his book, it is more than clear than the then state of technologies did not leave curriculum designers any chance to fully appreciate their instructional potential. However, from the viewpoint of the 21st century, technologies are no longer the vehicles but are the direct sources of significant influence on student achievement. As a professional, I no longer imagine effective instruction without technologies. I view technologies as the most promising element of any successful curriculum. My expectations and beliefs in technology are supported by a whole range of studies and researches for example, Harwood and McMahon (1997) confirm the direct correlation between the use of video media in high school chemistry course and student achievement. That, however, does not mean that the content of the curriculum itself is no longer relevant rather, both the content and the vehicle can be fairly regarded as the two contributing factors to student achievement.

From my experience, technology, like any other instructional vehicle, requires that students are prepared to use it in learning. I am confident that the effects that technology produces on student achievement will largely depend on how well this technology is integrated in the basic curriculum and what technology skills students possess. However, it is at least incorrect to limit the role of technology to a curriculum vehicle the 21st century creates almost unlimited opportunities for using technology as the basic driver of positive student advancement in all disciplines.

Whether Rogers Diffusion of Innovations theory has become a revolution in the process of reconsidering the role of innovations in social life is difficult to decide, but it is clear that the theory creates a general picture of how innovations work and can work for the benefit of the social development. According to Rogers (1983), diffusion is the process by which an innovation is communicated through certain channels over time among the members of a social system (p. 5). Because innovations are neither authoritative nor collective, every individual is bound to pass a unique process of innovation-decision that comprises several essential stages knowledge, persuasion, decision, implementation, and confirmation.

What makes sense is that the members of social system are inherently interdependent, and thus, the quality of their innovation-decisions depends on the quality and direction of innovation-decisions made by other social system members. That means that some members will be riskier in their decision to adopt innovations, and the rest of society will seek to follow their example, as soon as the beneficial character of these innovations is confirmed. This is exactly how innovation-decisions work in education and public schooling while some schools and instructional designers set the stage for using innovations, others readily adopt the same innovative approaches as soon as they can see their positive effects on education. However, in the context of education, innovation-decisions of other social members alone cannot promote successful implementation of technologies according to Sahin (2006), diffusion of innovations is being driven by social, organizational, and personal variables social variables comprise friends, peers, and faculty members decisions about innovations organizational variables include physical resource support and university mandates, while personal factors imply personal interest in instructional technology, in using innovations to improve teaching, in enhancing instructional technology, etc. (Sahin, 2006). All these factors equally contribute to the development of innovation-decisions in education and can successfully expand the pool of those, who are willing to become the primary instructional innovators.

University of Puget Sound is a university that Ive looked forward to attending for a long time. With its interdisciplinary programs and the unique aspect of a liberal arts focused degree in welding, it has easily become a university of my choice. However, financial constraints are becoming a crucial barrier in my aspirations to acquire an undergraduate degree from this university.

Welding has been my long-term passion since the time I was acquainted with the subject of engineering. It has been my desire to seek admission in a prestigious university where I will be allowed to study welding in a rigorous manner. Applying for the American Welding Society Scholarship is my attempt to be able to attain an education that would otherwise not be affordable by me. Additionally, I also feel that I have the required credentials to deserve one. My transcripts from high school that are attached bear testimony to my commitment to result and achieving my goals.

I have extensive extra curricular activities that reflect upon my interest in the liberal arts. I find the concept of entwining liberal arts with a technical expertise in welding a perfect combination as it would give me the opportunity to pursue my passion for arts while having a stable career in welding. I am an ardent believer that if one does what he she loves, then there is no way that he she will not succeed. And it is with strong conviction in this belief that I am opting for this program to build a brighter future for myself.

I plan to market myself in the welding industry after completing my undergraduate degree and then after gaining sufficient experience I plan work in the industry and putting into practice my skills. Having struggled in the past few years to make financial ends meet, I have developed an entrepreneurial streak within me. But I am also resolute that I should acquire the relevant knowledge, skills and experience before starting up something myself so that Im sure that I will be prepared for anything that comes my way.

With its rich history dating back to the First World War, American Welding Society has been taking a number of initiatives to assist the youth in attaining brighter futures. And it is therefore my belief that in every fairness I am an ideal candidate for this scholarship in terms of need as well as merit.

With every passing year, the competition in employment is increasing, and the number of people to be employed is increasing at a faster rate than the employment opportunities. Therefore I wish to safe guard my future by achieving a scholarship and pursuing my professional education in a field that I feel passionate about.

Thus by pursuing the undergraduate degree at the University of Puget Sound, I hope to attain good quality education, an exposure to the many fields available, and the knowledge and ability to excel in the line of profession I choose. I hope that in years to come I can also avail all the opportunities and do justice to my chosen field. But for all this to materialize and turn into a reality, I am highly hopeful of attaining the American Welding Society Scholarship.

My name is Anwar Ahmed Anees Hammad. At present I am serving as Industrial Engineer.

I did my B.Sc. in Industrial Engineering with GPA 3.92 from King Abdul Aziz University Jeddah, KSA in 2006. I did my Masters in Engineering recently from McMaster University Hamilton, Canada with specialization in Entrepreneurship and Innovation.

I have excellent proficiency in a number of languages. My computing skill is also of advance level.

I do possess skills like creativity, working under pressure, working in teams, decision making abilities and ability to learn new skills.
     
I have gone through a number of training programs which include introduction to industries, industrial material handling, language skills, strategic planning and implementation, management for non-managers, writing skill etc.

I have served as supply planning manager and production line supervisor in industrial enterprises.

I am interested to get admission in Environmental Applied Science and management my academic background, training experiences, my potentialities and work experience all will be helpful to perform well in my studies in the field of my interest. That is why I am seeking admission in Environmental Applied Science and management.

Furthermore my academic background and work experience can be helpful in understanding how industries making our environment polluted and what remedial measures will be required by industries to minimize the menace of industrial pollution.
     
I am interested to carry out my research projects at master level and PhD level in waste management and water treatment and how entrepreneurship influence decision making in these areas. The research field I am interested in is related to my academic studies and work experience.

My academic background and work experience, as outlined above, are relavant to the field of study I am going to pursue in future.

My career objectives are to seek a job in any environmental protection agency on a responsible position after doing my PhD in Environmental Applied Science and management. I would like to work to mitigate industrial pollutants like industrial waste and contaminated water. My industrial engineering degree and the degree I am going to seek can go a long way to do my job well. In this way I would be able to contribute in creating healthy environment for the humanity.

My knowledge, abilities, potential and skills would be utilized for the betterment of the humanity as we see that industries all over the world have been making the life miserable for people for dumping their refuse in air and water without treating it properly. It is the need of the hour to do what one can do to make our air and water pollutants free. Moreover, work in this field will also be helpful to protect our biodiversity and aquatic life.

Human genetics refers to the inheritance study occurring in human beings. It encompasses various overlapping field of studies such as cytogenetics, classical genetics, molecular genetics, genomics, developmental genetics, biochemical genetics, genetic counseling, population genetics and clinical genetics. Most of the human inherited traits are influenced by the genes. Questions relating to human nature, having knowledge on human diseases and coming up with effective treatment for such diseases as well as understanding the genetic component of human life can be accomplished via human genetics study. Today, when we think of human genetics, what first comes to our mind are the physical characteristics of an individual inherited from the parents. However, there is more to human genetics. Genes have also been found to be responsible for various diseases today. Human genetics encompasses more than just genes inheritance (Lewis, pp 56).

Human genetics
Human genetics is more concerned with genes of individuals. When the term human genetics is mentioned, we all think about the inherited gene contents that determine the traits of an individual. To understand what genes are, one has to know their location and component. Genes are located in the chromosomes.

Chromosomes contain the ingredients that make up a living thing. Chromosomes are present in almost all cells of a living thing and they are located in their nucleus. They are made up of deoxyribonucleic acid commonly known as DNA and they are in form of strands. Some segments of these strands of DNA are known as genes. Each gene has a different form of protein and as commonly known, proteins are essential in building, maintaining and regulating the body. Proteins are vital during bone formation, controlling digestion, enabling the movement of muscles and in keeping the heart beat. Most of the body cells have 46 chromosomes with the egg and sperm cells containing 23 chromosomes each. Following the union of an egg and a sperm, the fetus that results after this union inherits equal recipes of DNA from its parents, that is, the mother and the father. Out of the 46 chromosomes inherited by the fetus, only two determines a persons sex. A boy inherits Y chromosome from the father and an X chromosome from the mother while a girl inherits one X chromosome from the mother and another X chromosome from the father.

The history of human genetics dates back in the 19th century. Gregor Mendel, a Czech monk was the first individual who argued that human traits were passed on or inherited across the generation. Mendel studied the inheritance of traits in pea plants such as smoothness and color and realized that such traits were being passed on from the parent following a particular pattern. However, Mendels ideas were only expounded by other scientists in the 20th century. Genes exists in different forms known as the calledalleles. A gene in charge of hair color determination for example may have various forms known as alleles auburn hair, black hair, blond hair or red hair. From the two genes one inherits from his or her parents, one of the two genes is much stronger than the other respectively known as dominant and recessive genes. The dominant gene determines the physical traits or characteristics of an individual and it is outwardly expressed in a living organism. For a recessive kind of trait to be exhibited, two recessive alleles must combine. In this case, the outcome may be different from the parents or the origin of the genes. Combination of two recessive genes usually leads to genetic disorders manifested in various forms today such as albinism.

Many of the genetically related disorders being noted today are as a result of changes in genes or alteration of genetic codes. In some instances, genes may be deleted while in other cases, they may be located in the wrong areas in a chromosome. They may also be swapped between other chromosomes. Due to these alterations, genes fail to work or end up working in the wrong parts of the body leading to genetic disorders. Mutation is another way in which the genetic code can be altered. Mutation of genes can have various implications they can prevent some protein parts from being made, can lead to substitution of amino acids, can delete some parts of the message thus shortening the gene, or they can make messages or proteins begin at the wrongful place. All these mutations manifest themselves as disorders. Some disorders are mild while others can be life threatening.

Future of human genetics
 So far, scientists and specialists dealing with human genetics have been able to identify and relate most of the birth defects and disorders to genetic variation. The specialists have also been able to identify the various mutations that cause disorders which have helped them come up with preventative measures for individuals believed to be at high risks of passing a disorder to their offspring. Treatments to some genetic disorders have been manufactured. With such tremendous breakthrough in human genetics, I believe that this field of medicine will further expand in the future. My vision for human genetics is to see scientists in this field being able to identify all genetic disorders and to come up not only with the cure for them but also preventative medicines for any individual feared to be at risk of such disorders. In the future, human genetic scientists should also be in a position to develop an immunization medicine to protect all individuals from genetic diseases. When this happens, medicine field will have discovered cures to almost all diseases including cancer, diabetes and other terminal illnesses.

There are various legislatures in the United Kingdom that directly affects the use of information communication technology in government agencies as well as the private sector. These legislations were enacted by the parliament to protect the public and organization from the harmful effects of information communication technology. Some of these legislations include the Data Protection Act of 1998, Computer Misuse Act of 1990 and Health and Safety at Work Act of 1974. There are other acts which govern the use of ICT and are very relevant in the public sector and government agencies but these three are the most important.

The Data Protection Act of 1998 was enacted by the United Kingdom Parliament and defines the criteria in which information about individuals should be treated and used legally. The main function of the act is to protect the citizen from abuse through illegal use of information about them. The act provides individuals with mechanisms in which they can safeguard information about themselves. The act defines the basic principle which any government agency that uses personal information should always adhere to. For example, the act requires that the information should not be used for any other purpose rather than the one it was collected for and should not be kept for unnecessary long time. The individual must also be allowed to access the information and it should only be available to authorized persons. This law is applicable in the European Union where different government agencies can exchange individuals personal information within the block. However, personal information held by government agencies can only be sent outside the EU on special conditions specified by the act.

Another act that affects the use of ICT in government agencies is The Computer Misuse Act which was enacted in 1990. This act makes some activities on computers, such as hacking personal systems, misuse of software and gaining access to personal files illegally. Computer Misuse Act specifies activities which should be considered illegal and punishable by the law. It is therefore illegal for a government agency to access personal information from a computer or modify the personal material without the authority of the owner. Individuals are also forbidden by this act from accessing government agencies information with intent, modifying the information or unauthorized access of secured information.

The Health and Safety at Work Act of 1974 is also very applicable in the use of ICT in government agencies and institutions. The act was originally designed to ensure that the employees as well as the employers are safe at the workplace. The act requires government agencies to provide safe ICT equipment and systems to their workers, provide user instructions and training for new equipments and protective equipments where necessary. On the other hand, the employee should also take responsibility and take care of other workers and themselves too. Workers should ensure their safety in the use of dangerous equipments by avoiding misuse and reporting faultiness in time. The healthy and safety at work act of 1974 which is used in the United Kingdom today is based on the European Union legislature.

Apart from these regulations, the European Union has a set of directives that are followed by member states. The EU requires a record of risk assessment of all potential risks associated with activities of any institution. The EU legislation pays more attention on the security of the people involved in any government or private agency dealing with ICT.

Throughout the past decades, humans destruction to the planet Earth has become a very alarming problem. The buildings people live in, the food they consume, and the insubstantial luxuries people exploit are creating a detrimental consequence on the very planet they heavily depend on. Because of these disturbing facts, governments all over the world have been formulating innovative strategies to minimize the current destructions to the environment. One of the most promising approaches being encouraged and continually developed by many countries today are hydrogen cars. Many nations view hydrogen as an excellent alternative energy medium for vehicles because it is the most abundant of all chemical elements in the planet and does not emit harmful chemicals into the environment. Without a doubt, when hydrogen powered cars become the accepted mode of transportation, people will certainly reduce their reliance on fossil fuels, accomplish lower prices at the fuel pumps, and cut back on the greenhouse gases that cause climate change.

Hydrogen Car Industry
In recent years, major automaker companies are continually working together to further develop even more practical hydrogen-fueled cars. In fact, many of these companies have already released their versions of hydrogen-powered cars. Honda, for instance, has already showcased a few lines of hydrogen cars and has announced some plans to expand its line of passenger cars in the near future. Likewise, Mercedes is expected to start this year a small-scale production of hydrogen cars. More significantly, a number of gasoline stations are getting on board by planning to supply hydrogen fuels along with gasoline at their pumps so that driving and owning these cars become more convenient for the general public. However, many experts still believe that additional research must be done before hydrogen cars become a common sight on all of the highways in the world.

Although hydrogen cars is now readily available in the market place, many automaker companies still believe that mass production of hydrogen vehicles will not yet take place during this new decade. Currently, hydrogen cars are apparently very expensive, but these carmakers believe that by the start of 2020, the prices of these cars will go down dramatically. California Fuel Cell Partnership predicts that between 2012 and 2020, mass production of fuel cells and internal combustion hydrogen cars will significantly take-off (Llanos, 2004). They further believe that as the volume of their production increases, the production cost would go down. Accordingly, if 100,000 hydrogen cars are produced in the future, the prices of these cars will expectedly go down to as much as 20,000 to 25,000 per car (Llanos, 2004).

Hydrogen Fuel Routes
There are two methods wherein hydrogen can be used to power vehiclesindirectly through fuel cells, or directly into a converted internal combustion engine. Small car companies like the Hydrogen Car Company and Robinsons Company are more focus on producing hydrogen internal combustion engine given that most of their cars are primarily designed to run on biodiesel and only secondarily on hydrogen fuels as a backup source. During combustion, the hydrogen combines with oxygen, which eventually generates energy that is capable of powering the vehicle. In 2000, BMW successfully demonstrated this technology by publicly carrying people in a fleet of 15 sedans powered by hydrogen internal combustion engines across a particular neighborhood in Germany (Australian Academy of Science, 2001).

Fuel cells, on the other hand, are like batteries that are capable of triggering an electrochemical reaction between oxygen and hydrogen that eventually turns to electricity. However, unlike regular batteries which accumulate electricity, hydrogen fuel cells produce electricity as the car moves. Major carmakers like Anuvu, Honda, etc. are more inclined to use fuel cells in view of the fact that they are cleaner than the internal combustion engine route, which burns fuel in the engine. Moreover, fuel cell engine is more efficient on hydrogen than internal combustion engine. The same amount of hydrogen can power fuel cell vehicles at least twice as longer than a modified internal combustion engine (Australian Academy of Science, 2001).

Costs of Having Hydrogen Cars
At present, the price of hydrogen fuels being sold by industrial gas suppliers roughly cost 10 per kilo. However, hydrogen fuels produce two to three times mileage when compared to a gallon of gasoline. By 2015, the Department of Energy is aiming to lessen the cost of hydrogen fuels at around 2 to 3 per kilo (Love to Know, 2009). In terms of engine conversion, the current cost is likewise somewhat expensive. Most conversion for Hummer cars start at 60,000, pickup trucks at 99,995, and cost of Shelby Cobras run about 149,000 (Llanos, 2004). For Ford trucks, vans and other luxury SUVs, the cost of hydrogen internal combustion engine conversion normally ranges between 30,000 and 80,000, while fuel cells engine conversion for pickups and vans can costs between 99,995 and 149,995 (Llanos, 2004). Considering the environmental and health benefits obtained in using hydrogen cars, the aforesaid costs are unquestionably a very small price to pay.

Hydrogen Cars vs. Other Hybrid Cars
Unlike many of the green cars and other hybrid cars available on the market today, hydrogen cars are the only type of cars that present the assurance of zero-emission technology (Hydrogen Cars Now, 2009). Obviously, not like fossil-fuel burning cars that emit different sorts of pollutants such as nitrous oxide, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and microscopic and ozone particulate matter, the only byproduct from hydrogen cars is water vapor (Hydrogen Cars Now, 2009). Although other green and hybrid cars have addressed the concerns of greenhouse gases emissions, only hydrogen cars guarantee zero emission of noxious wastes. According to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the conversion from fossil fuel powered cars to hydrogen powered cars would eliminate more than a billion tons of greenhouse gases into the environment every year (as cited in Hydrogen Cars Now, 2009).

United States
There are already a number of hydrogen cars running on the road today. In European Union, Japan, and California, several hydrogen cars are being used as fleet vehicles. In the United States, an increasing number of car companies are now selling hydrogen vehicles. Industrial gas dealers are likewise selling hydrogen in cylinders that range from 1 to 20 per kilo to facilitate the fuel needs of these environment-friendly vehicles (Llanos, 2004). However, as of the moment, there are only a few hydrogen filling stations operating across the globe. In fact, California, which has the most hydrogen stations in the United States, currently has only 13 stations, although it is planning to establish 170 more stations by the end of 2010 (Llanos, 2004). Moreover, the government is still carefully sorting out the most excellent ways to store, distribute, and produce hydrogen cars.

Future of Hydrogen Cars
While other types of alternative fuels can be stored, trucked, and piped in the existing system for gasoline, the nature of hydrogen will necessitate a whole new fuel distribution infrastructure (California Fuel Cell Partnership, 2009). As a result, consumer distribution system as of the moment is still not in place. Moreover, the durability and expensive cost of hydrogen cars, the cars incapacity to amass large amounts of hydrogen fuel, and the lack of a carbon-free method of generating the hydrogen are making the widespread availability hydrogen cars even more unattainable. Accordingly, it is expected that hydrogen cars will not make a significant impact on petroleum use, carbon emissions, or greenhouse gas emissions within the next decade because of the absence of the aforesaid indispensable requirements for hydrogen cars to operate across-the-board. Nonetheless, despite these current inadequacies, many experts are still hopeful that in the near future, hydrogen operated vehicles will become a full-fledged transportation system all over the world (California Fuel Cell Partnership, 2009).

Conclusion
Technologically and ecologically, hydrogen is the most sensible fuel right now for automobiles. However, hydrogen fuel does not go off free in nature it must be manufactured through fuel cells and converted internal combustion engines. In view of this, experts believe that the mass production of these cars will only start within the next decade. In fact, as of the moment, automakers are still carefully sorting out the most excellent ways to store, distribute, and produce hydrogen cars. Nevertheless, automakers are continually pushing for the development of hydrogen cars because they believe that unless society deviates from current dependence on fossil fueled cars, the problems associated with fossil fuels will certainly not be eliminated. When hydrogen powered cars become the status quo, people will certainly reduce their reliance on fossil fuels, accomplish lower prices at the fuel pumps, and be able to decrease the release of greenhouse gases that are causing climate change.