Textbooks are produced by publishing companies in order to answer the demand of an educational system. The textbook system assures that there will be standardization in terms of academic content that will be imparted to the students, which will aid in the facilitation of learning. Likewise, modern textbooks may be traced to efforts of our forefathers, centuries ago to preserve and compile knowledge acquired through the years.
Demand for textbook is a bit different than other products found in the market. Just like pharmaceuticals, textbooks are sold indirectly to end users. Usually, end users do not get to choose their own textbooks; it is the teacher who gets to choose the best textbook that will fit best the purpose. Thus, publishing companies or authors themselves find time to contact academic institutions in general and teachers in particular to persuade them to use the textbooks they are offering.
However, textbooks have an inherent trait; they can only be used within a particular period of time for a specific student. It only contains prescribed academic content which serve as prerequisite for future studies. After an academic or curricular period, they may no longer be useful to the person who originally purchased it. In order to avoid the problem of having a large pile of textbook, students has a very convenient option – that is to sell back textbooks.
Students can sell back textbooks through the help of the academic institution. Teachers have the power to recommend which textbook to use for a particular class. Some of them work hand in hand with the publishing companies, to readily answer the demand. After a particular academic period, students have the option to sell back textbook to the bookstore, usually at half the original price. As we all know, brand new books come with a higher price. The books should however be still in good shape and saleable to future users. Also, some campus libraries buy textbooks from students for redistribution and resale for the next semester.
Others take the option of selling the textbooks to their fellow students. The demand for textbook, provided that it is of the same edition or no revisions have been done yet, is constant for a particular period of time, thus students may go but new ones come in. Transactions are direct and convenient, and sellers should connect directly to buyers.
There are also online resources and websites that may be utilized to sell back textbooks. As opposed to direct sales, these websites get to match the sellers and buyers, thus making the transaction almost automatic. The sellers should wait for order from their buyers. Other online markets, however, buy books from students with the objective of selling them at higher price in the future.
During these difficult times, students should find practical ways of helping out ease the economic tension. Instead of letting the pile of textbooks to grow larger and larger every semester, they should find a way of putting them into good use in the most economically efficient manner.
TRiPS Army: setting example to citizens in travel risk management
The Army has a safety arm that assists or helps soldiers and their loved ones, as well as ordinary citizens to evaluate impending risks and suggest feasible solutions in order to prevent damage to life and property.
The United States Army, in particular, has different branches that deal with accident safety and risk management. These branches may give a particular focus on accident prevention and preparedness. They usually conduct programs and seminars that communicate the importance of readiness should an accident come. They are likewise in charge of evaluating why a particular accident occurred. Prevention of loss campaigns are also done as well as Army Training and Safety Programs. One particular tool that these branches use is the TRiPS Army, otherwise known as Travel Risk Prevention System.
Travel Risk Prevention System is a tool for planning travels that is automatic by nature. TRiPS Army enables open communication lines between higher ranking officials and their men before travelling using a private vehicle. The evaluations done by TRiPS Army are very effective, it has already helped in preventing numerous accidents.
TRiPs Army utilize the composite risk management. This teaches everyone the process of logical thinking. It does not dictate a single framework of how to deal with risks and accidents. Only the foundation, in the form of basics is laid out, and different scenarios are recognized. There are different ways of dealing with risks. In a nutshell, composite risk management identifies the hazards that need to be controlled in order to protect the army and the citizens.
A loop-like process is used for risk preparedness. It is continuous, sustainable, practical and repeatable. First, identification of problem areas is important in the evaluation of risk. Dangers, potential or otherwise, should be evaluated to point out the degree of risk that may be faced in that particular place. Jurisdiction should be established should the time risk is to be confronted, and being in the position of power, decisions on how to face the accident should be made. Whenever possible, risk should be purged out of the system. Lastly, for the sake of future facilitators, documentation should be made. This documentation should contain results and discussion, as well as recommendations on how to improve the methods used.
As we all know, accidents can cause economically adverse effects, legally impeding changes, and physically damaging consequences. We should be able to minimize the risk at hand and maximize all the opportunities in doing so. There are several ways of managing risks. Some include dodging the risk, passing on the risk to the more capable, or meeting the risk head on. Priorities should be set. We should first deal with the risks that are most likely to affect us first. In any case, what’s important is the capability to adjust to any situation and the proper mindset.
Reduction of damage to life and property may be prohibited if we take action. As ordinary citizens, we should be able to learn from the examples set by our TRiPS Army, which uses a very sophisticated yet a very practical set of methodology in dealing with impending risks and threats.
