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Showing posts from June, 2013

Social Interaction and Content as Pathways to Paying Customers

Companies are seeking to find ways to draw in customers in a data rich environment. With lots of free content there must be something that differentiates sites to create income streams. Content alone is limited but content with social interaction develops engagement and eventual purchases. By developing social networking, group interaction, and constant new information sites can turn passive users into paying customers. Social computing and networking has taken a more important function in business networks. Social computing power has transferred from organizations to individuals who desire to, “manifest their creativity, engage in social interaction, contribute their expertise, share content, collectively build new tools and disseminate information” (Parameswaran and Whinston, 2007, pp. 753).  It is a process of collaboration and social building.  Commitment to a site and its content is important for overall engagement. Organizational commitment theory indicates that

STEM Fields and Immigration Opportunities

STEM Fields are science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The new immigration bill would allow foreign students with Ph.D.s   from American Universities to obtain a green card while students with a Master’s Degree in the STEM Fields can petition for one. This helps in drawing in science related students that can further American interests in developing the nation and economy.  Americans ranks 31 st in science which means the foundations of innovation is very low when compared to other industrialized countries. Understanding how higher education and opportunities for those with the right skills is necessary to put their efforts to work in a positive and beneficial way. The immigration bill is part of this process of attracting candidates that can contribute the most to the economy. The advantages to the program is that some of the world’s best and brightest minds become attracted to the nation and can find a way to use their new degrees in a way that will contribut

The Causes and Prevention of Student Plagiarism

The issue of plagiarism is of great concern to many colleges and faculty members. Plagiarism entails the use of someone’s work without giving proper citation and credit to the author. It is a theft of intellectual property. Instructors can be preventative or punitive when dealing with plagiarism. According to Robert Insley in his publication Managing Plagiarism: A preventative Approach, there are a number of ways to deal with such issues.  The author indicates that there are primarily three reasons why a student would plagiarize. This includes 1.) doing so without knowledge they are doing it; 2.) not managing their time well and rushing papers, and; 3.) taking the easy way out despite having time and knowledge. To prevent plagiarism requires an understanding of whether they are knowledgeable, not managing time, or really don’t care about plagiarism.  The author discusses team projects and how they can be adjusted to avoid plagiarism. The same concepts apply to individual p

Report Argues for the Encouragement of a Liberal Arts Education

A report entitled The Heart of the Matter by the Commission on the Humanities and Social Sciences indicates that liberal arts is necessary to encourage stronger national leadership that focuses on the overall development of social, communicative, and cultural knowledge. It indicates that such skills create a more adaptive workforce that can manage their own affairs. They argue that the humanities and social sciences are a critical aspect of national and international development through greater awareness.  China is attempting to copy the American system of education and expand their humanities and social science related offerings. As they begin to expand their programs the fear is the U.S. is beginning to focus too narrowly on career oriented fields. Without a general understanding of how human society operates there is a problem with rounding out careers and decisions.  Three goals are outlined in the report:    1       -Educate Americans in the knowledge, skills, and

Could New Water Desalination System Transform Regions?

Technology and research are two best friends that go on long strolls together to solve the world’s problems. Researchers have discovered a method of desalinating water without the use of a cumbersome filtration system. Dr. Richard Crooks from the University of Texas and Dr. Ulrich Tallarek at the University of Marburg developed an idea of using electricity in small channels to remove salt.  Inside of the little chip are two channels with an electrode connected to it. With three volts of electricity it turns the chloride ions into neutral chlorine which further enhances the electric field. In turn the ions move down one channel and the fresh water moves down the other. The laws of physics requires a neutral electromagnetic field which forces ions into a smaller channel separating it from the main water supply. The end product is water that can be used for growing or drinking. According to the United Nations about a third of the population lives in areas that are already wa