Compose a 3 page paper with the following components:
1. Discuss the role of Return on Investment (ROI) in education
2. How does ROI impact educational leadership of
1. development of policy?
2. strategic planning?
3. Refer to the Dunlop (2016) and Smith & Knapp (2019) articles and discuss the different models and components considered to calculate ROI
4. Identify and discuss one challenge of implementing ROI as a basis for policy decisions
1. How would you overcome this challenge as an educational leader?
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Title: The Significance of Return on Investment (ROI) in Education Leadership
Introduction
Return on Investment (ROI) has become an increasingly relevant metric in the field of education, guiding decision-making processes and resource allocation strategies for educational leaders. This paper explores the role of ROI in education, its impact on educational leadership in policy development and strategic planning, as well as the different models and components used to calculate ROI based on the works of Dunlop (2016) and Smith & Knapp (2019).
Role of Return on Investment in Education
ROI in education refers to the assessment of the effectiveness and efficiency of investments made in educational programs, initiatives, or interventions. Educational leaders utilize ROI as a tool to measure the outcomes and benefits derived from investments in education, whether in terms of financial returns, student achievement, or societal impact. By evaluating ROI, leaders can make data-driven decisions, prioritize investments that yield the highest returns, and optimize resource utilization to enhance educational outcomes.
Impact of ROI on Educational Leadership
Development of Policy
ROI plays a crucial role in informing policy development within educational institutions. Educational leaders rely on ROI analysis to assess the cost-effectiveness and potential impact of proposed policies or initiatives. By evaluating the expected returns against the investment costs, leaders can make informed decisions about resource allocation, program implementation, and policy prioritization. ROI analysis provides leaders with evidence-based insights that help align policies with organizational goals and student needs.
Strategic Planning
In strategic planning, ROI serves as a guiding principle for educational leaders to set objectives, allocate resources, and monitor progress towards achieving desired outcomes. By incorporating ROI considerations into strategic planning processes, leaders can identify high-impact initiatives, allocate resources efficiently, and track the performance of investments over time. ROI analysis enables leaders to assess the sustainability and long-term benefits of strategic decisions, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities and mission.
Models and Components for Calculating ROI
Dunlop (2016) and Smith & Knapp (2019) present different models and components used to calculate ROI in education. Dunlop emphasizes the importance of considering both financial and non-financial factors when calculating ROI, such as student outcomes, teacher effectiveness, and community engagement. Smith & Knapp propose a comprehensive framework that includes input costs, outcome measures, and stakeholder perspectives to evaluate the return on educational investments. These models highlight the multidimensional nature of ROI in education and the need to assess both quantitative and qualitative impacts.
Challenges of Implementing ROI as a Basis for Policy Decisions
One significant challenge of implementing ROI as a basis for policy decisions in education is the complexity of measuring intangible outcomes and long-term impacts. Educational initiatives often have multifaceted goals that may not be easily quantifiable or directly attributable to specific investments. Measuring the ROI of programs related to student well-being, social-emotional learning, or community engagement can be challenging due to the subjective nature of these outcomes and the time lag involved in observing their effects.
Overcoming Challenges as an Educational Leader
To address this challenge, educational leaders can adopt a holistic approach to ROI analysis that considers a range of indicators beyond traditional metrics. By incorporating qualitative data, stakeholder feedback, and longitudinal studies into ROI assessments, leaders can capture the full spectrum of program impacts and outcomes. Engaging stakeholders in the evaluation process, fostering collaboration with research partners, and leveraging data analytics tools can also enhance the accuracy and comprehensiveness of ROI calculations. Ultimately, by embracing a balanced approach that combines quantitative rigor with qualitative insights, leaders can overcome the challenges of implementing ROI as a basis for policy decisions in education.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Return on Investment (ROI) plays a vital role in shaping educational leadership practices by providing a framework for evaluating the effectiveness and efficiency of educational investments. By leveraging ROI analysis in policy development and strategic planning, educational leaders can make informed decisions, optimize resource allocation, and enhance educational outcomes for students. Through a comprehensive understanding of different ROI models and components, as well as proactive strategies to address implementation challenges, leaders can harness the power of ROI to drive positive change and promote excellence in education.
