Become an Expert August 31, 2008
Posted by thinkphd in : Miscellaneous , add a commentAs you know from my writings, I wear many hats…mom, teacher, employee, student, wife, blogger. I also wear a hat you may not know about - I am an expert over on AllExperts.com . You can ask a question of an expert in a particular genre like home/garden, real estate, hobbies, and money. The site purports to be the largest and oldest Q&A site on the Internet. In order to become an expert, you must apply and go through an elimination process.
I am an expert in Continuing/Adult Education and Distance Learning. I receive many questions, some of which are bogus but many are from individuals concerned with receiving a good solid answer. Over time, I have noticed that most of the inquiries now come from India. A number of Indian citizens are looking at getting an online education from schools in the USA. Some are mis-informed, thinking that every school has online programs. Although many do, I would not recommend them. Some ask how to get American scholarships to pay completely for college thinking there is a government program to pay for all college here in the USA - most of these questions come from those with undergraduate degrees. The reader knows that scholarship money for masters and doctorates is hard to come by! I also get questions about which type of program to choose based on the student’s other degree(s). Yes, many times that is plural degrees.
From USA students, I answer questions over and over about paralegal training. There is a particular school that advertises their program on TV. I receive many questions about that program, which by the way is not accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA). Less than 300 of the 1000 paralegal programs in the US are accredited. Coming in second are questions about medical transcriptionist schools.
Doesn’t it strike you odd that paralegal and medical transcriptionist questions are coming from citizens of this country, while questions about masters and doctorates are coming from another country?
MGT5002: Assignment 2 - “Follow the Leader” August 24, 2008
Posted by thinkphd in : MGT5002 , 1 comment so farI worked on assignment 2 again yesterday and it is almost complete. Over the course of the last week or two, I decided on a topic and started research in the NCU library. I printed out a number of journal articles and read them (of course!). This assignment is basically a “read the chapters, decide on a topic, write a 10+ page research paper.” Note that this is not a report - it is research. I take that distinction seriously and try to gather information from previous journal papers and develop a new combination of their research. I often find conflicting or poorly done research, or that from which conclusions were drawn without secure analysis. Generally, my References page is at least two pages long. In this paper, I actually take a disparate side from our text. There are statements in the text in reference to market follower strategies, such as, “Followership is often not a rewarding path” (Kotler & Keller, 2006, p. 361). Current research does not support this - in fact, a market follower often overtakes and eclipses a market pioneer! Kotler and Keller are partially correct in their assessment that “Many companies prefer to follow rather than challenge the market leader” (p. 360). The sticking point is that following is always a CHALLENGE to the leader because any competition is just that - competition.
The paper is done except for the introduction (which I always do last), proofreading and final touch-up. After that, we will see what Dr. Rose thinks about my research.
MGT5002 Marketing Management Assignment 1 August 18, 2008
Posted by thinkphd in : MGT5002 , add a commentI finished and turned in my first assignment for MGT5002. I am so far behind in this course! There are three assignments and one down, two to go. I have done the preliminary research for assignment 2 and will work on this now. I got a great grade on the first assignment so I suppose I interpreted the assignment correctly. I am always nervous when I have a new class and new instructor!
2008 Higher Education Summit: “A Test of Leadership” July 20, 2008
Posted by thinkphd in : Miscellaneous , 2 commentsThe US Secretary of Education Margaret Spelling delivered some interesting remarks at the 2008 Higher Education Summit, “A Test of Leadership,” in Chicago this week. Two comments in particular captured my attention:
“Is it acceptable that the financial aid system is so confusing, complex and inefficient, that many young people, and their parents, simply throw up their hands and walk away?” and “Simply put, higher ed must become more agile, transparent, and student-centered. ” (http://www.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2008/07/07182008.html).
I couldn’t agree more! So many of my students are discouraged by the volume of red tape associated with financial aid. In their end of course surveys, it is far to common to find negative comments about the FA dept or the process in general. I believe that education changes lives by creating a mindset of possibility. Higher ed expands our minds to think beyond today.
However, higher education is not for everyone. I do not want our government to hand out degrees or free money. I do believe that those who are ready for college and motivated to learn should have an affordable opportunity. Rather than grant money, I would like to see more scholarships based on apptitude, rather than financial status. The middle class family often struggles with the cost of education for their children - they make too much to be eligible for a grant. Achievement should be the basis for financial assistance.
Many people believe that education is a “right.” I do not. You should have to show your ability and desire to attend - rather than base everything on how much you or your parents make. I wholeheartedly agree with Secretary Spelling in her assessment that higher ed must become more “agile, transparent, and student-centered.”
FreeRice July 13, 2008
Posted by thinkphd in : Miscellaneous, Uncategorized , add a commentThe website FreeRice.com has two goals:
- Provide English vocabulary to everyone for free.
- Help end world hunger by providing rice to hungry people for free.
How do they do this? The website has a vocabulary game that offers a word and one-word definitions. You pick a definition and every time you get the answer correct, the organization or sponsor listed at the bottom of the page donates grains of rice. The words get progressively harder. If you miss a word, the word will be repeated later which enhances your learning. If you are an ESL (English as a Second Language) student, this is a great way to increase your vocabulary. Word associations are a fantastic way to learn language and enhance your own vocabulary.
The donated rice is distributed by the WFP (United Nations World Food Program). The WFP has distributed the donated rice to Myanmar, Uganda, Bangladesh and others. It takes about 19,200 grains of rice to equal 400 grams, which is the amount distributed per person by WFP.
Playing a free and fun game may not seem like much, but thousands are playing every day. Your winning “gifts” are combined with others’ and together we can make a difference in the lives of the hungry. Visit FreeRice.com today and play your part in reducing world hunger.
Leaving Behind the Talented July 5, 2008
Posted by thinkphd in : Miscellaneous , add a commentA recent article in the DeMoines Register entitled Professor: Don’t Leave the Gifted, Talented Behind by Megan Hawkins hit a nerve in me. Two of our children were “gifted,” but the programs in their schools left much to be desired. The programs were essentially opportunities for more field trips and exposure to depth in their subjects. They were able to use computers and one game they still remember was The Donner Pass. The students had to make decisions all along to get the party across the Pass. They also worked mind teasers and math problems. Even though the classes were for gifted students, none of the activities were challenging; they were more like enrichment than anything else.
My children also experienced jealously from other students because the gifted students were pulled from their regular classes on certain days of the week. All of the extra activities also were not funded by the school - parents of gifted students paid for the trips and materials. I was able and willing to pay, but I know that this was a hardship for some parents. Were some students not included in the program because they could not afford it?
I suppose the gifted programs were better than nothing. They gave my children greater access to the teacher as the classes were smaller. However, they were rarely challenged intellectually. The benefits may have been minimalized by the social stigma of differentiation. If the program could have been all day, every day, it would have given greater results. The children ended up doing very well in college and getting a good start on their careers. Would they have been able to do this without their gifted programs? I believe they would have been just as successful. The gifted programs helped with their boredom of school, which is common to those with high intellect.
In the 60’s when I was a child, there was no gifted program. My second grade teacher developed a program for the few of us who were doing well in reading. She sent us twice a week during reading time to a fifth grade classroom. We read with the fifth graders instead of our second grade classmates. I remember sitting in the big fifth grade chairs and reading stories that made more sense than those that I was reading in my class. By the time I was in the fifth grade I was reading everything I could get my hands on…..and bored (again) with reading class. Perhaps my lifelong reading and comprehension skills were the result of one creative teacher who tried to make a difference in her students.
The article reminds us that NCLB is an effort to bring underachievers up to a higher level. At the same time, it ignores the high achievers. Even the title of the law refers to “no child left behind”….but we consciously and purposefully leave behind talented students by not developing programs that make a difference in their lives.
Bit of a Break June 20, 2008
Posted by thinkphd in : Home , add a commentI’ve had a bit of a break from my studies during the month of June. My Marketing class technically begins July 1st. After getting all the way through MGT5012 with its difficult and time consuming assignments, I really needed a little break. I have started reading the chapters in the text but have not begun to write. I will not have an opportunity to start this weekend either - Son is flying in from Atlanta for a visit! I am very excited to see him and get some big hugs! We are ready to see him - it seems like it has been a long time…but it really hasn’t. I saw the children in May when Son graduated from college. But as a mother I never get enough hugs and kisses from my babies!
Goochland Farmers Market June 8, 2008
Posted by thinkphd in : Home , add a commentWe enjoyed our Saturday by making a visit to the Goochland Farmer’s Market. The market supports sustainability of the rural culture of Goochland County. The Center for Rural Culture organizes the market.
The market features local produce and hand made items. We visited the market several times last year but yesterday was our first visit this year. It was a very hot day hovering near 100 degrees but it was great to see so many neighbors out supporting the community. We purchased some vegetables and some goat cheese. Husband bought a buffalo steak and enjoyed talking with the buffalo farmer about hides. I bought some blue sodalite earrings and a rutile cabachon dug and polished by the craftsman, the Virginia Naturalist.
After visiting the market, Husband and I went to several yard sales and we each found some treasures. He bought some old tools and I bought some carnival glass. We were very hot by the time we got home. It was great to get out with my best friend!
Bonnie Tomatoes, Roses, and Dudley Lumber June 1, 2008
Posted by thinkphd in : Home , add a commentLast weekend we planted our little bucket garden with tomatoes and peppers. A bucket garden is like a raised garden, but uses buckets - the big paint buckets you can get at Lowe’s. The tomatoes are really growing well; the Bonnie Plant Farm ones are growing the best. Bonnie Plant Farm is from back home in Union Springs, Alabama. They came in the new peat pots which were very easy to use. The other non-branded tomatoes we bought do not look as good. It felt good to put in a garden using something from back home.
This weekend we planted two climbing roses on the new fence. Last summer we put in a fence around the yard and it needs softening up. These are pink “Climbing Queen Elizabeth” roses that I purchased at Wal-Mart for $6.00. They look very strong and one has buds on it.
Yesterday we also worked on adding lattice to part of our pool porch. The pool porch is lower than the main back porch and the 4′ vertical space between them was an issue with dropping things off the back of the porch and there was also the potential for falling. We added a wood lattice and framed it with 2″x4″s. When we set up the boards for sawing I saw the stamp on the lumber: Dudley. Could this lumber be from back home? Dudley Lumber is located in Salem, Alabama, and planes softwood lumber for decking and pallets. I have decided that yes, the lumber is from Dudley. It makes me feel better using lumber from pine trees back home in Alabama.
A Serious Offense May 31, 2008
Posted by thinkphd in : Career , add a commentOn Friday, I was notified that one of my employees was suspended for harassing another employee. I was stunned. This is serious and human resources is reviewing the case. The company has clear guidelines regarding these issues and we have all been through training. The employee made a very bad decision and now must suffer the consequences. My heart goes out to this person who clearly did not consider what the results of the actions would be. I am just sick about the embarrassment this person is experiencing and his/her fear of dismissal. This team consists of two people which also means that the other person on the team must pick up the slack.
Our actions everyday affect other people. We don’t realize it until something like this happens - and someone complains. There will be a terrible toll on the person, the team, the company and the victim. There may also be litigation down the road. As the manager, I am placed in a difficult situation…I support my employee but must also uphold the values and rules of my employer. I can only speak to inquiries about work contributions.
I have never experienced this with an employee. I just can’t believe this is happening to this person for whom I have a great deal of work-respect. A simple (but stupid) act has skyrocketed to become catastrophe.
