Teaching Broad and Exposing Students to Specific Common Technologies

There is a bigger push in recent times to ensure college graduates are "work ready". This term means different things to different people. Work ready generally means that students are ready to start working in an entry level position as soon as they graduate. There are so many things to be learned during a short time span that colleges are unsure if they should focus on broad skills or on specific skills with their limited time.

First let us consider where a company's responsibilities lay and where the college's responsibilities lay. Colleges work on developing the broad sense of knowledge so students understand the field in which they are working. They may be able to implement common tools used in their fields but are unlikely to be able to keep up with all the different applications, tools, and other technology that change from year to year.



We may not want colleges to focus specifically on tools while neglecting theoretical applications. There are some tools that are used on a regular basis. If we focus too specifically on tools and not enough on broader understanding we may miss the mark and cause more difficulty integrating new tools as they come. New tools can be learned on the job throughout their careers but understanding their context is more important from a higher education function.

It is necessary to teach general broad skills that apply to all business within curriculum. According to the Association of Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (2013) it is important to ensure that students who are work ready have learned communication, teamwork, ethics and the integration of various business disciplines in order to successfully obtain their first jobs.

There is a balance that is needed. Colleges should teach the broad to create context for the specific. Specific common tools should be integrated into the curriculum and assignments to ensure familiarity of how to use these tools. Specific workplaces that utilize specialized tools will need to do their job and train. In this case, work ready means they understand the field of marketing and have a basic understanding of what tools they are most likely to encounter at work.

Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. (2013). AACSB assurance of learning standards: An interpretation (AACSB White Paper, No. 3). Retrieved from http://www.aacsb.edu/~/media/AACSB/Publications/white-papers/wp-assurance-of-learning-standards.ashx Google Scholar 

What to Look for When Purchasing a Horse

You never want to make a horse purchase without thoroughly looking at the horse. There are things you can do on your own during the initial visit that will help you determine if there is anything that is obviously wrong. During the second visit you will want to have an expert out there such as a veterinarian that can uncover the medical conditions of the horse.

Visit 1: Personal visit to talk to the owners, give the horse a look over for general quality, and check on the personality of the horse. You may also want to get up there and ride a little to ensure the horse understands basic commands.

Visit 2: A medical visit to ensure you are not buying a horse that has been neglected or has serious medical issues. The last thing you want to do is buy a horse you will need to spend thousands helping or worse...put down! Not all people are honest so having an expert check it out is helpful.

An excellent article on what you can check out.


http://animalscience.uconn.edu/extension/publications/thingstolookfor.htm

Hiking Rivers in the Winter-The Need for Nature

Sometimes you just need to get out of the house and enjoy nature. One of the beautiful things about the Upper Peninsula of Michigan is that you can be outside the small city within a few minutes. It is possible to go for little hikes on a lunch break if you so desire.

As humans I believe we are most at rest when we are near nature. It is what puts us at ease and helps our minds relax. Like many other animals we need greenery around us to feel comfortable because our historical development has been in nature and not in cities. Large cities only came onto the scene for most of us in the last 500 years.

Obtaining some of the benefits of nature can come from pictures on your office wall, a small garden in your back yard,  plants in your house, or eco vacations where you can see nature at its full beauty.

The little dogs name is "Chewy" who loves the snow as much as I do.

Flexibility after Weight Lifting-Yoga Routine

Muscles get tight after a heavy weightlifting sessions. Some trainers state that it is wise for body builders to stretch or do yoga at least three days a week. On your rest day (s) you should consider engaging in yoga, light walking, or other forms of activity that keep your blood flowing but still allows for significant rest. You don't want to be one of those guys/gals that get so tight they lose their range of motion and begin to rip muscles. Think of total health.

Your Brain Still Creates New Cells While Older-It's Important to Keep Learning

New research shows that even old brains can continue to create new cells. It helps lend to the argument that we should continue to use part of our time to read, study and learn new things. A healthy brain needs some practice and like a muscle should be worked out with intellectual stimulation.

Its easy to get into a rut and not study or learn anything after college. When we stop learning we also fail to keep up with changes in society. We stop mastering and understanding our environment. For some that might simply be reading a book while for others it may be more about attending different types of meetings

I have seen it over and over people just sort of get lazy in their lives. Come home from work and watch hours of numb tv without thinking much about anything. This study helps us understand why we should not let our brains go to waste when we can continue to learn and grow.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/older-adults-can-grow-new-brain-cells-study-finds/

Two Year Research on Plastic Sea Voyage Out of San Diego

Two San Diego Sailors are making their way around the world to study plastics in our oceans. The pollution is impacting the fish supply, habitats, and food for human consumption. Up to 50% of the pollution is caused by one time use plastics like forks. Their travels will take about 2 years.

I always thought that it would be a good idea, once my boat is ready, to take it down to South America and drag a net. Maybe obtain a research grant for a few months and slide along the coast where people come in contact with the plastics on a regular basis through swimming and fishing. Not sure if I will ever do it, or my boat would be ready for such a trip, but I always mulled it in the back of my head.

Trade War...Good or Bad?

A looming trade war with China is brewing. Will it be good or bad for the U.S. economy? That might depend on how you look at it. There will be those who feel it will hurt the U.S. economy and there will be those who feel it will help us. One thing is for sure if it starts....it will get worse before it gets better.

Hurt the U.S. Economy:

-Agriculture and manufacturing will be hit and lose sales.
-Fewer cheap products for consumers.
-More expensive raw materials.
-Regional encampment and conflict.
-Depressed stocks as companies sales decline.
-Isolationist ideas take hold.
-Constant conflict and underbidding by both parties fighting for markets.

Help the U.S. Economy:
-Find new markets and stop focusing on China.
-Chinese will be starved for our technology.
-Instead of investing in China companies may invest home.
-Companies may be forced to adapt and get better.
-New AI and digitization investments that reduce products.
-Increased patriotism.
-Mining more of our own natural resources.

In the long run it is possible that the U.S. may take a big hit in the beginning and adapt to the new market realities and improve its long run position. Yet that is anyone's guess. With all their facts and figures economists really don't know! They look to history to determine the future but they are often not one-for-one comparisons. It could be the death blow to our global supremacy that has been slipping or it could force us to get better and rejuvenate to a higher platform of existence.