How to Encourage Student Engagement in Online Classrooms

Online classrooms are an increasingly popular modality in higher education. Because online informational channels are completed in a virtual world it can be difficult to connect with students in a way that is meaningful. Despite its difficulty this connection is a vitally important aspect of encouraging student success in terms of retention, satisfaction, and learning.

Engaging students is about trying to connect with them on a personal level and this can be difficult if you are not standing face-to-face with them and have enough interaction to learn about their interests. Even though it may require new skills the online modality does provide a sufficient platform to engage students on a personal level.

Read Student Profiles:

Students love to talk about themselves, what is going on in their lives, their pets, and their experiences. Reading through their profile will provide an elevator snap shot of the student and how they want to be seen by others in class. Refer back to these profiles and try and find ways to bring in their experience or interests when corresponding.

For example, a student who worked as a clerk might learn better when the professor gives appropriate examples. Another student may have a few dogs and corresponding or providing related material that discuss pet stores, breeding, dog supplies, etc… will certainly spark the student’s interest more than a boring worn out story problem.

Read Between the Lines:

The only real way to assess student learning is to investigate what they currently understand. This requires paying close attention to discussion conversation  and reading between lines to form a model of their understanding. Offering information and discussion that furthers their model that bridges gaps in knowledge is beneficial.

Because students are still learning how to communicate fully in written form it may take additional effort to put together the pieces to grasp their true understanding. Try and take where they left off and push their understanding with appropriate questions. Students will notice the extra effort and signalling that their education is important and they should spend additional effort on it.

Address Students as Individuals:

Students like to be treated as individuals. Sometimes it is beneficial to address the entire class while at other times you will do better using the student's first name. The more often you can personalize your feedback, questions, and greetings the more it tells the student they matter. Personalization in turn helps the student feel as though they are getting one-on-one consideration.

Provide Substantive Feedback:

Feedback offers an opportunity to connect with students that are seeking to improve upon their skills. The professor becomes the authority and guide which has an impact on student perceptions of guidance. Feedback is another method of helping students find importance with their coursework and put additional effort into it.

Treaties that Foster Economic Growth and American Values

Treaties determine what type of international commercial activity is likely within a country. The design of these treaties can determine the access to raw materials, investment opportunities, and export opportunities. Countries like the U.S. can develop stronger treaties that are more advantageous to an export market while ensuring that American values are important to partnering countries.

Developing countries are regularly looking to attract investment. Investment money is used to fuel their economies, fill government coffers, and create a connection to a larger world. Because of America’s strong economic position it has the capacity to create more advantageous treaties (Chikere Azubuike, 2013). The value of these investments puts the U.S. in a better bargaining position than the other country(s).

This position of power is not necessarily a bad thing. When done well it can help the U.S. fuel its economic hubs for greater development. Such hubs rely on natural resources and international supplies to fuel new product development and manufacturing. Ensuring that treaties consider the needs of these Hubs helps create jobs and encourage higher levels of local economic activity.

As with all negotiations the position of power often determines the terms and agreements of the two parties. Having an advantage in negotiation can help ensure that the right pressure points are being used that determine the outcome of negotiations. That power can help U.S. located firms obtain the resourced they need to grow and create jobs in the local economy.

Treaties are not all about economics and resource obtainment. Treaties can also promote human rights and values (Choudhury, 2009). In this case, solid treaties can also help ensure that American values are considered in business dealings. Such legal frameworks help orientate supplier nations to U.S. interests and perspectives which can further the spread of fundamental American values.

The development of strong American treaties that help turn bi-lateral trade agreements into a wider multi-lateral framework to ensure the anchoring of resources to economic hubs can help foster American interests. Each supplier nation is provided access to sell supplies to the U.S. while obtaining investments into the development of those supplies. The end result is a more efficient and well-developed economic hub that can obtain resources at a lower cost.

Chikere Azubuike, E. (2013). The place of treaties in international investment. Annual Survey of International & Comparative Law, 19.

Choudhury, B. (2009). Democratic implications arising from the intersection of investment arbitration and human rights. Alberta Law Review, 46 (4).

Call for Papers: Globalization of Capital Markets: Implications for Firm Strategies

The increasing integration of global capital markets now makes it easier for firms to access capital outside of their home countries. Firms access international capital markets through a variety of means such as initial public offerings (IPO), seasoned equity offerings (SEO), cross-listings, depository receipts, special purpose acquisition companies (SPACS), shelf offerings, private equity and other informal equity capital channels. Firms can also access debt resources outside their market through bank loans, and foreign bond issues. Finally, cross border flows of venture capital (VC) continue to increase rapidly. The objective of this Special Issue will be to explore the challenges firms face in capital markets beyond their domestic boundaries, be it equity, debt, or VC markets.

SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

The deadline for manuscript submission is May 15, 2015. Manuscripts should be prepared in accordance with Journal of International Management’s Style Guide for Authors:

http://www.elsevier.com/journals/journal-of-international-management/1075-4253/guide-for-authors and submitted through the Journal’s submission website.
To ensure that all manuscripts are correctly identified for consideration for this Special Issue, it is important that authors select ‘SI: Globalization Cap Markets’ when they reach the “Article Type” step in the submission process.

A paper development workshop will be held at the 2015 Academy of Management conference in Vancouver. Final Drafts are due February 28, 2016. Please direct any questions regarding the Special Issue to Igor Filatotchev (Igor.Filatotchev@city.ac.uk), Greg Bell (gbell@udallas.edu) and Abdul Rasheed (abdul@uta.edu).

http://www.journals.elsevier.com/journal-of-international-management/call-for-papers/globalization-of-capital-markets-implications-for-firm-strat/

Why Advocate for the Simplification of the American Tax System?

Tax reform is a leading issue that will be hotly discussed in the next few years. America’s resurgence affords opportunities to make important adjustments to government functioning and spending that can improve opportunities for long-term growth. Now is not the time to fall into a trap of complacency only because the economic position of the U.S. is improving. Reforming the tax system helps both businesses and citizens understand their tax situations and create more trust with government. 

Depending on what perspective a person comes from will determine whether or not they are an advocate of tax reform. Many times these differences are created based upon demographics. For example, a person making $40K a year will have a different perception than someone making $500K a year.  Simplification offers an opportunity to put them both on the same playing field. 

Corporations and individuals will also have different perspectives. Corporations will desire to lower their liabilities which are good for business and society while individuals may want to lower their own tax expenditures allowing them to spend the savings and further economic growth. Both positions have merit and would likely be served by tax reform. 

The Average American Perspective

The tax code is complex and dissatisfaction with how government is spending American tax payer money has always been a contentious issue. Tax reform affords an opportunity to be more transparent with the average American who may be wondering what happens to all that money and whether or not the tax burden is unfairly falling on their shoulders. 

People are naturally distrustful of things they don’t understand. Almost no one understands the tax system and this includes accountants as well. Taking individual tax information to three different accountants results in three different answers. A simplified system will allow individuals to save their money and file on their own without the need of expert help.

The Business Perspective

Businesses also get bogged down by complex corporate tax rates. Taxes are a complex and hotly political issue but ultimately create a risk for business. Companies that want to invest in the U.S. will need to hire expensive attorneys and analysts to determine their tax liability on projected projects. This creates a significant risk for businesses that would be able to make better projections with a simpler tax code. 

A complex tax code also encourages political mischief and crony capitalism. Complex systems are partly the result of politics. Interested stakeholders put pressure on politicians to create tax breaks, incentives, and loop holes that help a few powerful entities over the needs of others; the more complex the system, the more opportunity for political hanky panky. Keeping the tax system simple also keeps it transparent.

The tax structure is likely to become a big issue over the next few years as both political parties try and make some sense out of government spending and revenue generation. Tax reform is one of the issues that can lead to some level of agreement even though each party has their own particular take on the subject.  At present the discussion is only just starting and a viable plan should be developed that can move through the legislative process.

Ground/ Online Adjunct Business Faculty

Application Instructions 

Any open adjunct faculty positions for our Online Learning programs will be posted at www.HigherEdJobs.com. Search by Location, Institution, then Florida Institute of Technology. When a position is posted and applications are reviewed, qualified candidates will be contacted to set up a telephone interview. Should you be chosen for a position, you will be required to submit official transcripts, an I-9 form (employment eligibility), and a W-4 form. 

Teaching Responsibilities 

The course content will be fully developed beforehand. However, the adjunct faculty will facilitate all aspects of instruction, including mentoring and monitoring student progress, fostering communication and collaboration, guiding and evaluating student project work and other assignments, and responding to individual student requests/queries and similar functions. Since courses will be taught online, adjunct faculty can be based at any location with a reliable high-speed internet connection. 

http://online.fit.edu/faculty/recruitment.php