The iPad And Higher Education

June 2nd, 2010

Reading time: 3 – 5 minutes

The iPad has been heralded as a game changer in the publishing, web and higher education industries. While it’s sleek look and interactive functionality brings media consumption to your lap, has it delivered on the hype? In regards to its impact on higher education the jury is still out. The device has sold more than 500,000 units in the U.S. and went on Canadian shelves in late May.

The iPad is still in the early adopter/innovator stage of the sales cycle, a stage that universities and colleges with rigid budgets are not. As a result there will be a natural delay. There are several additional downsides to the device that make it a hard sell. Listed below are some of the disadvantages making it difficult for applications in the Higher Education industry:

1) No camera – This eliminates the use of the device as a video conferencing device, an increasingly prevalent option for those participating in distance learning or professors who hold virtual office hours.

2) No multi-tasking – Only one program/application can run at one time. This is prohibitive when producing media or content. If someone were sitting on the fence about the purchase of the device thinking they could produce projects while using multiple applications then they would likely decide to get a laptop or netbook when learning of no multi-tasking.

3) No VoIP service – With most smartphones you can make VoIP calls through services like Skype. The iPad does not have this capability. VoIP calls are considerably cheaper and in some cases free, students could certainly take advantage of this savings, but not with an iPad.

4) No Flash compatibility – This is due to the fact that multi-touch devices are not compatible with Adobe Flash because of the MouseOver code. This normally does not present a problem because of the work arounds in place. However, many educational web sites, news sites, and science sites use Flash for videos, demos, and interactive activities and labs. Without Flash support, you can not use the iPad to access these features.

5) Storage limitations – The first generation iPad is available with a 16GB, 32GB or 64GB capacity.  Compared with laptops, netbooks and smartphones the iPad lies somewhere in the middle. For the same price or cheaper you can get a netbook with over 160GB. Depending on the intended use of the device, this is nota major issue.

6) Network Compatibility Issues – Following reports of three high-profile institutions (Cornell, George Washington and Princeton) other Universities are worried they do not have the bandwidth to support the devices and that their authentication controls see the devices as threats. Students may find that their wireless iPads have been blocked from accessing the network or they may sit idle until the IT infrastructure supports the device.

Do not count the iPad or Apple out yet. Making inroads into the Higher Education market has been the name of the game since supporting a Bill of Congress to give tax breaks for computer donations to schools in the 1970s. Lucrative partnerships with big players such as McGraw-Hill have made media publishers stakeholders invested in the future of their own industry. The future of the magazine, textbook and greater book industry is defiantly migrating to online platforms and e-readers. In the quest to take individuals away from their desks and computers and back to an experience that is closer to reading a book or magazine on a couch or a bus the iPad may be the answer. Attractive pricing models indicate the potential for significant market share and with future models likely to get cheaper as they add functionality Apple’s formula for success, re-defining product categories is seriously at work.

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The Business of Big Goals

May 18th, 2010

Reading time: 5 – 8 minutes

Whether you are a student pursuing an online degree, an athlete training for a competitive sport, or an author about to commit to that book you’ve always wanted to write, one thing is certain – you’ll need a plan. It takes considerable planning and effort to reach these milestones. I’m no competitive athlete, but I can draw on similarities in my experience writing a book and completing an online MBA.

Each of these endeavors requires a clear focus, just as a business starts with a mission statement, and from that focal point, develops a business plan. It’s one thing to want to pursue a graduate degree, or write a book – just identifying the mission doesn’t get you there. With each goal, it was important for me to think of a value proposition. Why is this mission important? Does that book or degree meet a genuine need? The question of value is most crucial in business decisions; it provides strategic clarity. A personal value proposition does too. In earning another degree you might be able to contribute more to the workplace and increase your chances for a promotion. In writing a book, an author may hope readers will find his work informative and entertaining. Of course there’s no guarantee that a degree will bring the desired promotion, or that a book will be a best seller. The net value of those efforts will be affected by competitive factors.

Each personal or business plan should include a competitive analysis. Ask questions like, “Who else will be competing at each rung on the corporate ladder?”, or “Who is writing similar books?”. Your plan may also include a marketing concept that encompasses your target market and contemplates pricing strategies, whether it’s in searching for a well-paying and top-rated employer or publisher. A financial plan is a must for business. Every online student and author could also use one. How will you pay the bills during the journey? Will the payback period be short or long? Will the return on investment be worth all the money and time? Money is an obvious motivator in any project, but it isn’t the only thing driving us to achieve. There is the personal satisfaction in completing the manuscript or degree, and in making that checkmark off the Bucket List. It is said “Money makes the world go round”, but it is intrinsic motivation that makes us want to make the world turn in the first place.

Online learning  offered me a unique world-wide interaction with people from a vast array of cultural and industry experiences, yet I quickly discovered that – as an online student – sometimes I felt as if I were left standing alone on an island. I wasn’t really stranded. The university would have responded to my S-O-S if I had sent one, but online learning required self-direction, perseverance and independence. These traits are also essential in writing a book. I soon realized that the self-imposed solitude between online classes, and between chapters, stimulated an inward-looking SWOT analysis. Considering strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats can shed light on any business case and also prompts productive personal insight. Knowing strengths and weaknesses enables a person or business to seize opportunities and mitigate threats. The thought process that goes with SWOT analysis is time well spent, and don’t expect the seclusion of author or online student to be the meditative solitude of a Buddhist monk or Tai Chi master. The student or author, frequently buried under the latest tonne of data, is often squeezed into sequester mode – as a survival mechanism. There is little time to spare while you make sense of it all. Then, once the assignment is completed, you can breath again, if only for a while.

Take time to breath! One thing I’ve learned studying online and writing a book is that a flexibility exists that you won’t find in bricks and mortar schools or in regular jobs. The Internet is changing business, education, and the news industry. My book is about the impact of these and other influences on the news business, and hopefully you’ll be reading it early in 2011. Working and studying online is cutting edge, and prepares us for an inevitable if still somewhat unpredictable future. Using collaborative online tools and software I was able to move to Ontario from Nova Scotia a few years ago without missing a minute of my web-based studies. Thanks to online communication through Skype, Facebook, Twitter and email, my book writing continued uninterrupted during a recent move back to New Brunswick. In a border less online environment – where we work doesn’t matter. Online access also gives us the freedom to choose when to work, whether it’s during the day like most people, or burning the midnight oil. It’s our choice – mostly – though achieving work-life balance isn’t always easy. Online study and writing tends to happen after full time job and family obligations.

Mountain climbers take time to recharge at intervals between base station and summit. Competitive athletes heal between strenuous events. Great businesses take time to celebrate at each major milestone too. I recall the great sense of relief after completing my final online course, and after handing my first manuscript to the publisher. Each time, I often found myself wondering what I would do with all that spare time! As you pursue your goals whether it be an online degree, writing a book, or taking on any other big personal project, I hope you also enjoy the sense of fulfilment on its completion. Celebrate, and savour the respite before planning your next venture.

This article was written by Andy Leblanc.

Andy has thirty years experience in news media, as a reporter, assignment editor and news director. He has covered and coordinated coverage of major historical events, from natural disasters to hot political issues. He holds a journalism diploma, a Certificate of Total Quality and Productivity Management, an MBA from Lansbridge University, and a certification as Project Management Professional. Andy taught broadcasting students at Conestoga College School of Media & Design, and serves as Treasurer of RTNDA Canada, the Association of Electronic Journalists. Now he is likely to be found dabbling with websites, thumbing tweets on his iPhone, or writing his next book.

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The Sustainability Continuum – The Corporate Path to Being Truly Sustainable

March 15th, 2010

Reading time: 4 – 6 minutes

There is a concept in the ‘World of Sustainability’ that speaks to the evolution of a business towards becoming sustainable called the Sustainability Continuum (yes, it sounds like something from Star Trek!).  I’m not sure if he coined the phrase, but it’s referenced in Bob Willard’s book, “The Next Sustainability Wave: Building Boardroom Buy-in” (New Society Publishers, 2005).

There are five stages to the Sustainability Continuum:

Stage 1 – The company is profit driven, cuts corners and tries not to get caught

Stage 2 – The company obeys laws but reacts to change when required.  Sustainability is given lip service.

Stage 3 – The company moves from defense to offense.  It realizes being proactive and community minded saves money and enhances reputation

Stage 4 – The company has re-branded and is committed to sustainability.  Product life-cycle and stakeholder benefits are key concepts.

Stage 5 – The company has a values based commitment to building a better world and is driven to improve the well-being of the company, society and the environment

Most organizations are in the Stage 1 – 2 range; somewhere between being “unaware” of their legal obligations and assuming that awareness of legal compliance equates to being sustainable.

The organizations that “get it” are those that recognize that corporate sustainability is not an annual report; it’s not about calculating your carbon footprint; it’s not what you do well or responsibly; it’s not a message nor a campaign or a product innovation.  They see sustainability as a process rather than a single event, phase, or goal.  Sustainability entails constant adaptation to changing circumstances—both risks and opportunities—in communities, institutions, markets, and, of course, the global environment.  Specifically, it requires a recalibration of how organizations produce an internal “good”—profitability— while aiming toward the creation of more and better public “goods” such as healthy ecosystems, thriving societies, stable nations, and productive economies.

Very few companies get to Stage 4, fewer still to Stage 5.  It requires the singular vision of a charismatic leader who generates energy, creates commitment and directs the organization towards new objectives.  An example of a company in this range is TOMS Shoes, who give away a pair of shoes to a child in need with every pair we buy.  But this is not typical of how organizations are structured.  Anyone who works with business management systems will tell you it starts with management commitment and a clear vision.  Because there is no single definition of sustainability, clarity in vision is usually lacking.  So the implementation process looks more like the figure above—there is an iterative process of analysis, strategy development, implementation, analysis, etc., that eventually leads to a vision.  When organizations can define their vision, they have arrived at Stage 3.

Getting past Stage 3 depends largely on the vision and strategy.  Rupert J. Baumgartner and Christian Zielowski describe it this way:  Some organizations develop a Visionary strategy that focuses on sustainability issues within all business activities.  They incorporate Sustainable Development in vision and strategy.  Competitive advantages are derived from differentiation and innovation, offering stakeholders unique advantages, where, for example new “product to service solutions” are introduced.  Management board has to choose the relevant strategy type and to develop the corporate sustainability strategy.  Some organizations choose a Transformative Strategy that interacts with the market and tries to change market conditions actively.  This strategy aims to create new market opportunities in the light of Sustainable Development.

To learn more about organizational culture and leadership requirements for sustainability, I suggest checking out the work of Edgar H. Schein.

This article was written by Glenn Keays MSc, CEA (SFM), EMS(LA), Senior Consultant, Sustainability Services, AMEC Earth & Enviornmental (www.amec.com)

A specialist in environment, natural resources and sustainability management with the Earth & Environmental division of AMEC Americas Ltd., in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Glenn has extensive experience in environmental auditing, program review and assurance; facilitation and training; carbon management strategies; development and implementation of environmental programs and management systems; and in development of strategic approaches to deal with environmental and sustainability issues.  Glenn has over 20 years experience as an environmental manager and consultant, is a certified non-financial auditor, and chairs the Atlantic Chapter of the Auditing Association of Canada.

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Public Speaking Tips

March 15th, 2010

Reading time: 2 – 4 minutes

More people are afraid of public speaking than of dying. A fear that extreme is debilitating and without a doubt will keep you from progressing in your career. However, with the right set of skills you can conquer your fear. Once you overcome your apprehension to speaking in front of others, the goal is to become engaging. The first part of the equation will require you to do some in-depth analysis, hypnosis and possibly finding your inner child. Once you can stand in front of others without trembling, come back here and read this post. The following are some simple tips that will make you more comfortable when it is time to solicit visitors attending a tradeshow, present quarterly sales projections to senior management or speak to an auditorium of shareholders.

Practice

Run through your presentation with your friends and family. Think about your audience and tailor your diction and presentation style to them. Try and visualize making the speech. Picture yourself confident with a clear, loud voice and your audience engaged and alert. It is important not to over practice. If you have planned every minute detail and make a minor mistake it will completely through you off your repeatedly rehearsed sequence. Concentrate the bulk of your practice on the introduction and the conclusion. It is very important to make a strong start and a memorable finish.

Prepare

Wear something you feel confident in. Get comfortable with the space you will be presenting in. Practice getting up out of your chair and moving to the front of the room. This will help, mistakes in the first 20 seconds can be especially disorientating. Take a public speaking course through or join a local Toastmaster’s chapter. Think of the questions that could arise from your topic, anticipate them and prepare responses. Doing this will avoid a situation where you are caught off guard. Familiarize yourself with the topic, outside the contents of your speech. This extra knowledge will enable you to field inquiries and feel more confident if one of your audience members is an expert. Test the equipment, make sure everything is in the right format flip through each slide and make sure the corresponding visual and auditory elements are working correctly.

Master Visual Aids

When presenting with slides or other graphics, charts, explanatory pictures, videos etc. keep it simple. The objective of using these elements is they will help you portray your message without you having to talk the whole time. They will hopefully highlight the big picture while you focus on the finer details.

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Stay Awhile, We Encourage It!

March 10th, 2010

Reading time: 4 – 6 minutes

International students represent 53.7 per cent of the student population in Canada at the undergraduate and graduate level. Concentrated in the provinces of Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia international graduate students pay approximately $15,500 a year in tuition and fees, a number three times that of nationals, according to the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS). Overall International students provided $6.5 billion dollars to the Canadian economy, generated north of $291 million in government revenue and created 83,000 jobs. “International students provide a significant boost to Canada’s economy. Their presence helps create thousands of jobs and generates billions in revenue. Our government will continue its efforts to promote Canada as the destination of choice for international students by enhancing outreach efforts at our missions around the world,” said Stockwell Day, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway. In 2008, the Government of Canada announced the launch of an ongoing branding campaign, entitled Imagine, aimed at attracting more international students. Reaching over 85 nations around the world the campaign capitalized on the ability of a Canadian education to open doors. Western countries such as Canada are premier destinations for International students. Recently the market has become more competitive forcing countries to create attractive legislation and programs to entice students not only to study but also to stay.

The 2008-2009 recession was a significant blow to the Canadian economy. According to a study conducted by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce the job market shed 189,000 jobs in 2009 with the majority lost in the manufacturing or goods producing industries (mining, forestry, oil and gas and forestry). Outside of recessionary pressure, a principal force with an adverse effect on the labour market is demographics. The population is aging and there is lower growth in the working age population to replenish them. In fact, in the last 30 years the working age population has slowed by more than a third with projections confident it will slow further.  This will put downward pressure on aggregate employment rate and create labour shortages in skilled trades and professional occupations.  Without the domestic reserves for workers the country must turn to immigration as an available pool of labour.

Immigration has long since been a source of growth for Canada. In the past five years it has relied on immigration for nearly two-thirds of the population growth and it is forecasted to account for almost 100 per cent of the net labour force growth in the next decade.  The goal is to attract and retain highly skilled workers with a responsive and proactive immigration system making Canada an employment destination. “Our ability to retain international graduates with Canadian qualifications, work experience and familiarity with Canadian society, will help increase our competitiveness and benefit Canada as a whole,” says Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration.

In an effort to train and retain, Canada has improved its work permit policies making it more attractive to stay in Canada after graduation. The updated Post-Graduation Work Permit can be applied to after graduation at either the undergraduate, graduate or doctorate level. Applicants do not require a current job offer and are free to work in any one of Canada’s 13 provinces and territories. It is valid for the term of your education to a maximum of three years, which is an extension to the previous two-year program. Applicants must have studied a full time program that was at least eight months long at a public or private post-secondary institution. Interested students must apply for the permit within 90 days of receiving graduation confirmation and have a valid study permit when they do so. Students are not eligible if they have participated in any scholarship program from Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) or Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). As an added bonus, recipients and their spouses/dependents living in Ontario may also be eligible for Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) coverage. Canadian work experience is a great way to kick start the career of any young graduate whether they intend to apply for permanent citizenship or return home.

In an international student orientated study conducted by the Canadian Bureau of International Education (CBIE) the single most highest factor for coming to Canada was the quality of the education and 95 per cent of the students said they think Canada is the place to reach their educational goals/potential. Backed by a marketing campaign with a global reach and a progressive work permit program Canada is successfully selling its brand to students from such countries as China, South Korea and Saudi Arabia. However, only a third of the students graduating from Canadian post secondary institutions stay in Canada to live and work. The other two thirds either return home to leverage their Canadian education or choose another country to live and work. With countries such as Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and France adopting more comprehensive strategies to retain their international students Canada will have to really sell the potential of the great white north.

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