Recent Articles
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Supporting student success through industry outreach
Sheilamary Koch Education"I learned early in my career that I alone did not bring enough to the table to ensure the success of my students," explains Mark Smith, an industrial arts teacher at Reed-Custer High School in Illinois. "I needed to develop relationships with people outside the education system that are passionate about educating the next generation of skilled employees." In addition to the six classes he teaches, Smith actively markets the work his students do — successfully bridging the gap between the classroom and industry. Over 20 years of consistent outreach has certainly paid off.
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Delivery services in multiple sectors are getting a boost during the COVID-19…
Linchi Kwok Food & BeverageThe impact of COVID-19 has been devastating and will continue indefinitely. It is no longer a question of whether the coronavirus pandemic will cause a global economic downturn. It is now about how much the economy will shrink. The coronavirus will probably change how people shop, travel, and work for years. People will likely rely more on delivery services. Such demand will help boost delivery businesses even when everybody is having a tough time fighting the pandemic.
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Addressing the tech skills gap at K-12 level
Bambi Majumdar EducationThe COVID-19 pandemic and its social distancing consequences have taught us that online education and soft skills will be integral parts of education going forward. As schools rapidly switch from classrooms to e-learning modes, students are learning how to interact and collaborate on projects that they would do in person. At this point, no one is sure how long the quarantine will last, but schools are focused on continuing education efforts and coming up with innovative ways to keep students engaged. Touching upon areas like soft skills and encouraging an exploration in computer education makes for a great start.
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How blockchain works in the food industry
Gail Short Distribution & WarehousingWhile blockchain technology is usually associated with bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, today some companies in the food industry are beginning to implement this tool to increase transparency, trust and consumer safety while reducing waste. Every transaction along the supply chain is recorded on the digital ledger, time stamped, given a code or "hash," and linked to the blockchain. All parties on the network — growers, wholesalers, distributors and retailers — can read the data in real time and add their own updates.
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Demonstrate strength in uncertain times
William D. Pawlucy and Robert C. Harris Association ManagementNow is the time to demonstrate strength, leadership and strategy. Members expect to hear confidence and solutions from their association. Associations have always been resilient during wars, recessions and crisis. Boards and staff should portray a positive, "can-do" attitude. Position the chief elected officer and executive director as primary, trusted communicators for the sector. Convey an authentic, reassuring message for members about steadfastness.
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Drive-in theaters: A blast from the past
Dave G. Houser Recreation & LeisureWith coronavirus (COVID-19) sweeping across the country, life in America is undergoing dramatic change as the populace comes to grips with the scope and seriousness of the pandemic. What's worse, the vast majority of entertainment and sporting events have been canceled or postponed to some uncertain date in the future. But there is at least one somewhat virus-proof solution to getting out of the house for the evening: going to a drive-in movie.
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Tips on secure remote working during the coronavirus outbreak
Daniel Markuson Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementThe coronavirus has triggered the world's biggest work-from-home experiment. Millions of people have been asked to self-isolate to stop the virus from spreading. Entire regions in China and Italy were put under full or partial lockdown. With the virus spreading, major companies in the U.S. and Europe, including Facebook and Amazon, are also asking employees to stay at home. The current situation has reignited the discussion on the effectiveness and security of remote work.
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Small businesses search for solutions amid crisis
Kevin Reynolds Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementWith each succeeding daily briefing from White House and governors’ offices across the country, small businesses are taking more and more of a blow. As sweeping new safety measures are enacted to curb the coronavirus pandemic, businesses have been left to wonder what comes next. A business environment that was very recently reaching 50-year-lows in unemployment, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, is now teetering on the edge with the economy grinding to a halt.
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As COVID-19 spreads, the future of medicine is quickly becoming the medicine…
Tammy Hinojos Medical & Allied HealthcareAs the world continues its collective efforts at waging war against the rapidly spreading coronavirus, a handful of health tech devices and telemedicine tools are in the spotlight like never before. Many are being fast-tracked and called up to the front lines to be the tip of the spear in the coronavirus pandemic. For example, MedWand can listen to your heart and lungs, measure respiratory rates and blood oxygen levels. Originally forecast to receive FDA approval in late summer, the device is now under consideration for emergency use authorization by the FDA.
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Avoidable struggles: Willpower stacking and dour expectations
Howard Margolis EducationFor struggling learners (SLs), success is often difficult. In many cases, their difficulties emanate from our views of teaching: Here’s an all-too-common example: "Just tell them what they need to know. Then let them practice. Correct their work. When necessary, keep telling them to focus and try harder. Then move on. We’ve got a lot to cover." When done repeatedly, this view undermines critical aspects of motivation and learning.