Tuesday, June 18, 2019

Using Social Media to be a More Effective Leader in the 21st-Century Classroom

Dr. Michelle Post
Subject: There lies an intersection or a “sweet spot” between social media, an effective leader, and the 21st-century classroom. Each sphere separately does not lack for research in the body of knowledge; however, when combined to create the “sweet spot” the knowledge is limited. Social media is no longer a nice to have; instead, it is a must use or lose out. For a leader to be effective, he or she must embrace the use of social media, and this includes the classroom. The world’s population has become digital citizens, and 54% of that population are social media users. This workshop proposal offers a glimpse into each sphere before postulating the importance of using social media to become a more effective leader in the 21st-century classroom.  

Dr. Michelle Post Bio: Dr. Post has taken her 30+ years of business design, system engineering, and information architecture and combined it into her role as a Certified Social Media Strategist and a Social Media Systems Engineer™. As part of Dr. Post’s life mission, she knows every person is uniquely gifted and she hopes to help them use those gifts to make a lasting impact on our world. Dr. Post is passionate about helping businesses to start where they are, with what they have, and do what they can. Each request for social media help leads Dr. Post on a journey to find what a business already has in place, analyze how they are using it, learn where they want to go, and then provide simple strategies and solutions for their long-term business and social media success.  

Dr. Post offers teaching, training, coaching, consulting, and speaking on subjects as diverse as social media, leadership, generations in the workplace, and technology in education. Dr. Post is Founder/CEO of The Post Institute: Center for Life-Long Learning. She is an award-winning Teacher, Leader, Speaker, and a Fellow of the Beta Phi Scholarly Society at Exeter College, University of Oxford, England. Dr. Post has been a 3-time guest on The Networking Diva Hour and has appeared on Colorado’s Best Morning Show. 

 Dr. Post LinkedIn Page: http://linkedin.com/in/michellepostphd 


Wednesday, February 13, 2019

Ashford Faculty Win Creative Scholarship Sabbaticals


A special thank you and congratulations to Ashford faculty Sabbatical Winners. We received many high quality submissions this year, but unfortunately we could only select a few. Each of the winning faculty members were selected by college so we can support each area of study. The sabbatical offers a break from teaching courses to better focus on important professor scholarship and research.

Please welcome…..

College of Health, Human Services, & Science                                                 

  • Dr. Clair DeCristofaro – Cholesterol Management.
  • Dr. Sandra Rebeor – A Community Workshop for Caregivers affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder. 

 College of Liberal Arts

  • Dr. Mathew Laubacher – “The Right Kind of Stuff:” Collectors and Collection in United States during the Golden Age of Natural History.

 College of Education

  • Dr. Kathleen Pierce-Friedman – A Study of Teaching in Isolation and the Effects on Self-Efficacy for Instructors in the Online School Setting.
  • Dr. Maureen Lienau – Continuing research on resources and services for AU students facing housing, food, and other insecurities. 

 Division of General Education

  • Dr. Chris Lorkowski – Two chapters for a mid-level philosophy of religion text entitled Atheism Considered.
  • Dr. Cheri Ketchum – The impact of video-based feedback on student satisfaction and performance and faculty workload and gratification. 

Forbes School of Business & Technology™

  • Dr. Murad Abel –Market Alignment of Student Skills.

 

Wednesday, January 30, 2019

Celebrating Heritage: Tourism and Festival in Panama


Dr. Janni Pedersen (Right Blue)
Abstract:

Humans mediate their past and present through the presentation of cultural heritage and identity to self and others: this may be observed in the intersection of tourism, cultural heritage, and political economy. In Panama, tourism has become a larger part of the country’s economy over the last decades and this growth is forecast to continue (WTCC, 2017).  A collaborative ethnographic study in the towns of Parita and Santo Domingo, provinces of Herrera and Los Santos, during the 2016 Corpus Christi celebration and 2017 Patron Saint celebration, sought to understand the intersection of cultural heritage with the local economy and perception of tourism.

Studying the host community in two early or “under-developed” heritage tourist spot in

the neoliberal sense (Scher, 2011) provides the opportunity for a comparative analysis of the visions of vendors, visitors, officials and performers in the communities for the sharing of cultural heritage and how this forms a foundation for thoughts on further tourism development. The Panamanian government identified tourism as a key-area in its 2015-2019 strategic plan (Strategic Plan of Government, 2015-2019); however, further investment may carry with it concerns for the protection of intangible cultural heritage and community autonomy as culture becomes commodified (Kirtsoglou and Theodossopoulos, 2004). The results show a desire for more tourists, but the reasons between the two cities diverge, from the assumed economic benefits to a desire for sharing cultural heritage. This divergence is closely related to how the cultural heritage is mediated and presented through the festivals and associated celebrations.

Link to Research:  https://www.anthroaction.com/

Celebrating Heritage: Tourism and Festival in Panama. Annual Meeting of Southwestern Anthropological Association, Fresno, California, May 2018.

Author Bio:
Dr. Janni Pedersen, the chair of Ashford University’s Cultural Anthropology program, has been with Ashford University since 2012. She earned her doctoral degree from Iowa State University, where she taught courses in both biological and cultural anthropology, as well as philosophy. While in Iowa, she conducted research with language trained bonobos (a form of chimpanzee) at the Great Ape Trust of Iowa. Her research interests now encompasses behavioral studies of the apes residing at San Diego Zoo and ethnographic studies of festivals and tourism in Panama. She blogs about anthropology and her research at https://www.anthroaction.com/ .

Dr. Pedersen is a native of Denmark. Before moving to the U.S. to work on her doctoral degree, she worked at an internet marketing agency in Brussels, Belgium. She serves on the board of the Southwestern Anthropological Association and as the Ashford Research Fellow for the College of Liberal Arts.

Thursday, December 20, 2018

Professors Bill Davis, Dr. William Woods and Dr. Murad Abel Present Learning Research at ADEIL Conference



A Busy October for These Professors!  
Forbes School of Business & Technology Professors
Presented Active Learning Research at Three Academic Conferences. 
Bill Davis, Dr. William Woods, and Dr Murad Abel presented their ORCS Research Presentations at the 2018 ADEIL Conference held at the University of Wisconsin – Madision, the 2018 QM Connect - Quality Matters Conference held in St. Louis, and presented and recorded their presentation for the 2018 Ashford University TLC.

Title of Presentations:
2018 ADEIL Conference: “Student Perceptions of Active Learning in Online Classrooms”

2018 QM Connect: “Which Active Learning Methods Do Student’s Perceive to Increase Their Active Learning and Satisfaction.”

2018 Ashford University Virtual Teaching and Learning Conference: “Students Perceptions of Active Learning.”

Abstract:  

Active learning is the process of doing, observing, and dialogue with oneself and others. These sessions all present and consider active learning methods, strategy, learning styles, and the active learning methods students perceive to increase their learning and satisfaction.

Our Hypothesis / Research Questions: 

H#1: We believe active learning theory offers effective methods to further student learning and educational satisfaction. 

R#2: The Our question we look to answer: Which active learning methods do students perceive to increase their learning and satisfaction? 

Purpose of Research: To determine student perceptions of active learning methods in the online modality, and to assess which active learning methods are preferred by students. We look to add to the wealth of knowledge concerning active learning with attention given to the online modality.

Presentation Example: Link to Research:
2018 QM Connect https://www.qualitymatters.org/sites/default/files/presentations/%232%20QM%20Quality%20Talk%20Sessions_FINAL_Davis_Woods_Abel_10_10_18.pdf

Author Bio: All Professors are in the Forbes School of Business & Technology


Wednesday, December 12, 2018

The “We” Concept for Organizational Growth & Generational Impact


Folashade Oyeyemi AKINYEMI (PhD)
Title: The “We” Concept for Organizational Growth & Generational Impact

Abstract or Description: Man’s continuous quest for fulfillment and greatness is innate and part of who we are. We set goals and aim high but often ignore some vital components that make the achievements worthwhile. And more often, we get submerged in our individual aspirations and live like nothing else matters but eventually, only a few really get fulfilled and safely reach the shore.

If only we could be more conscious of the fact that we are not self-sufficient, acknowledge benefits of working together, and imbibe the team spirit, then we would have more outstanding success stories and be fulfilled.

We need to constantly remind ourselves of the fact that nobody ever makes it alone. We need each other. We're all part of the global network, and connected in one way or another. And, we would achieve greater things together that we could never achieve apart.

Short Biography: Akinyemi Folashade Oyeyemi is a Researcher and Lecturer at the Institute For Entrepreneurship & Development Studies (IFEDS), Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria. She has a Ph. D in Business Administration with specialty in Entrepreneurship & Sustainability from the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.

Monday, September 17, 2018

The Investigation of Preferred Learning Styles of Persons Living with Dementia



Summary of Research:

Dr. Debra Stewart
Understanding and gaining cooperation during personal care of a resident with dementia can be difficult especially when there are language barriers and cognitive deficits concerning comprehension of object and situation. When a caregiver such as certified nursing assistance attempts to help a resident with activities of daily living (ADLs), it can be difficult and time-consuming to accomplish even the simplest task because of the patient’s understanding of the process and the resistive behaviors that are often a result of confusion.

The learning styles inventory is an evaluative tool used by the participants in the study who are certified nursing assistants to establish the preferred learning styles of patients in their care. The study revealed important information concerning the determination of the preferred learning styles of persons with dementia. The research provided critical data in determining if ADLs, when designed around the learning styles, have a greater acceptance rate with fewer resistive behaviors. Also, the study was an essential addition to research concerning understanding a patient’s learning styles and presenting care based on that information to promote greater patient acceptance and nursing unit productivity.

Depending on the nursing assistant’s training the nursing assistant may use the same techniques of engagement for every resident in their care. The one-size-fits-all approach may not be appropriate for every resident and be a less than productive use of nursing assistants’ time. The research examined if knowing the preferred learning styles of persons living with dementia resulted in greater cooperation and unit productivity.
Biography:

Dr. Debra Stewart has completed her Ph.D. from the University of the Rockies and has worked in long-term care for over 25 years. She is an Advisory Board member for both the Mental Health Technology Program and the College for Lifelong Learning at Sinclair and is also a certified Vital Life Community Consultant through THW Design. She also serves as an online academic distant learning specialist for Hondros School of Nursing. Debra is a pre-approved instructor for NCCAP. Dr. Stewart’s most recent research titled Caregivers’ Attitudes and Beliefs about Pain Medication Administration was published in ProQuest.
Presenting author details
Full name: Dr. Debra Stewart
Twitter account:
https://twitter.com/DebraSt36044546
Linked In account:
linkedin.com/in/dr-debra-stewart-26b95022