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Weaving MLK’s teachings throughout a class curriculum
Sheilamary Koch EducationTeacher Austin Crowder does not wait until MLK Day in January to present the work of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to his high school students. In fact, he introduces "Letter from a Birmingham Jail" when students return to the classroom in August. Crowder shares his own reasons for intentionally initiating his semester-long government course at a public charter school in South Memphis, Tennessee, with King’s letter. "I could easily start the class with 'British philosophy on governance,' which would be fine," explains Crowder. "But I think it's important for students to see that this class goes beyond its content."
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Bust these 5 bad work habits for good
Lisa Mulcahy Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementNew year, new you — that applies just as strongly in your work life as it does in your personal life. As a manager, you want to set a good example for your team members who take their cues from your work style and philosophy. Are you making this happen? If not, it's easier than you think to break bad habits that may be holding you back from doing your best work — and inspiring your staff to do their best work. Check out the following list of common behaviors you'll want to change.
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How story-sharing creates connections and empathy in organizations
Simma Lieberman Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementGrowing up in the Bronx before the internet, we spent a lot of our recreational time "hanging out" on street corners with other people telling stories. It’s how we got to know each other, and it kept us busy. Sharing stories built trust, connections and long-term friendships. When new people moved into the neighborhood everyone wanted to know their story. But when I entered the workforce, I remember my manager telling me on my first day, "Leave your personal life at home, and just do your job." That thinking is no longer the accepted norm as more organizations realize how important it is to build relationships inside the organization and to develop relationships with customers.
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If you only have one HR position, make it an HRBP
Catherine Iste Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementOne of the most common paths into HR is accidental. An ambitious employee takes on the task of general admin or reception. In the course of interacting with clients and employees, she becomes a trusted listener and learns a variety of perspectives on the business. Her ambition means she can get her normal work done and steps in to help others whenever she can. Fast forward 18 months and she is the de facto human resources person in an office manager role. As an HR professional, I believe this is where the system can breakdown. To maximize in-house talent and get the perfect blend of customized, progressive HR programs, make your one HR position an HR business partner (HRBP).
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Technology improves the consent agenda
Wil Riley and Bob Harris Association ManagementThe consent agenda is a tool to facilitate more effective board meetings. Adding technology to the concept improves ease of use and impact. In today’s fast-paced world, we must respect volunteers’ contributions of time and talents. It will be difficult to convene a quorum if directors feel the meeting wastes their time. It is especially problematic when so much of a meeting is used for reporting: listening, reading, discussing and approving. One wonders how the board gets to the essential business of mission and goals if reports consume most the time. A consent agenda may be the solution, technology may be the mechanism.
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3 steps to editing church website content
Mark MacDonald Religious CommunityPeople want to discover the information they’re looking for, when they need it, and in the easiest format preference possible. That’s why we’ve all grown attached to websites. We want some information and then quickly pickup our phones to find it online. But there’s nothing worse than getting to a webpage that has too much information when we only want a quick answer. In fact, most people only want a simple answer! Does your church website deliver more than the facts? Here are three steps to making your website content the size and structure that most people will enjoy.
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Is Instagram limiting the reach of your brand’s photos?
Emma Fitzpatrick MarketingYou’ve likely seen the latest rumor floating around Instagram. Users have been sharing photos that say something like this: "This is a test. Instagram has been limiting our posts, so only 7 percent of our followers see our posts. If you see this post, comment yes. This will improve our ranking." After all the funky changes to Facebook’s algorithm, do you need to worry about your Instagram content falling into a dark hole, too? Nope! You can exhale and let go of that anxiety.
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Building metacognitive skills with English learners: Part 2
Erick Herrmann EducationIn part one of this two-part series, we explored the topic of metacognition and the importance of building it into our instruction for English learners. By teaching students about metacognition, we can increase their awareness and help cultivate this skill in our students. In addition, by tapping students’ prior knowledge and linking to past experiences, we can help students to be more metacognitive and improve their learning skills. In this second part, we will look at additional instructional strategies that can be incorporated in your classroom.
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The difference between the internet of things and the industrial internet…
Joseph Zulick Science & TechnologyThe internet of things is one of the most controversial topics of the current generation. People on one side of the debate think that it will bring forward a more ecofriendly and connected society, whereas people on the other side of the debate insist that it will mean data security will go lacking. While the internet of things will forever create a divide between security and connectivity, one of its branches is becoming the new talk of the town. The industrial internet of things is an equally controversial, yet interesting topic. For those who don’t know the difference between the two, here is a guide.
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What happens after go-live?
Deborah Ike Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementYou've launched the new product or went live with the software upgrade. The team completed the mission. So, what happens next? Do you forget the work of the last several months and move on to the next project? That's the simplest thing to do since, after all, there's always another project to jump into. However, what about all the lessons the team learned along the way? You don't want to lose those and repeat the same mistakes with the next project.
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