Key Challenges of On-Line Education in Multi-Cultural Context

In meeting the ever-growing educational needs of culturally diverse student populations, universities and colleges still seek to maintain high quality standards, both for in situ and on line education. Despite the latter's reportedly high effectiveness potential, online degree courses tend to have low students' persistence and satisfaction rates. In this pape, r we examine the role that students' and instructors' national cultures play in the way individuals learn at a distance. We argue that students' individual culture dimensions may prove influential in achieving overall learning outcomes. The key complexities for students involve understanding the instructor's role in a socio-constructivist approach, adapting online collaborative learning and acquiring academic skills. These can become crucial barriers to effective online learning. No less a challenge is presented by online distance education for instructors. Academic institutions' managements have high expectations in terms of utilizing up-to-date teaching techniques, enhancing competitive edge and maximizing cost-effectiveness. Thus, the teaching staff is expected to play an increasingly essential role in the new environment. We conclude that instructors have to develop strategies to motivate, support and counsel students with the aim of facilitating the students' on-line learning experience. This implies that teaching staff have to acquire new skills and competences vital for multicultural online education. Robert Kennedy College, whose experience is reflected in this paper, shares much of the issues of other institutions aiming to utilize distance online learning, but has the advantage that it was set up from the start as an online institution. (C) 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd

Acercamiento existencialista al drama La noche de los asesinos de José Triana. El papel de la ‘mirada’ en las relaciones intersubjetivas

The influence of existential philosophy in the Cuban literary production that blossomed after the 1959 Revolution has been little studied by scholars so far. This is probably due to the presence of other philosophical theories, such as American Pragmatism and the positivism of Cuban philosopher Enrique José Varona, or because many professors of philosophy from the University of Havana migrated to the United States after 1959. It seems certain, however, that the initial euphoria over the new social and political environment in Cuba meant that authors were reluctant to accept existential schools of philosophy and their accompanying pessimism. Nevertheless, there are some post-revolution Cuban literary productions that display existentialist aspects. One of these is the play La noche de los asesinos by José Triana, in which it is possible to see how the gaze of the other robs us of our inherent freedom and causes us to deprive ourselves of our existence

The role of on-line education: a practical view

В статье рассмотрен практический опыт он-лайн-преподавания, который с успехом может быть использован в дополнение к традиционному академическому образовани

Urban Improvement: A Public-Private Partnership Strategy

This study developed a conceptual framework for managing Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) in urbanised areas for improvement of the business environment

La relación entre la causalidad implícita, la memoria de trabajo y la distancia anafórica durante el procesamiento de pronombres en adultos mayores

175 p.En este trabajo se estudió la relación entre la memoria de trabajo (en función de la carga cognitiva concurrente y la distancia anafórica), la causalidad implícita y la edad durante la resolución anafórica pronominal en adultos mayores, específicamente en 90 sujetos desde 50 a 88 años, distribuidos en 3 grupos: adultos medios (50-59 años), adultos mayores jóvenes (60-69 años) y adultos mayores ancianos (70-88 años). Se realizó un análisis intergrupal para verificar la relación de las variables estudiadas con la edad, y luego un análisis intragrupal para verificar la relación de las variables con el desempeño en resolución anafórica. Los resultados del análisis intergrupal indican que la resolución anafórica tiene una fuerte relación con la edad, encontrándose diferencias significativas entre los rangos de 60-69 y 70-88 años. Con respecto a la causalidad implícita, no se observó relación con la edad en estímulos con causalidad tipo 1 ni tipo 2. La carga cognitiva concurrente sí evidenció una relación con la edad, en su condición sin carga (entre los grupos 50-59 y 60-69 años), al igual que la distancia anafórica en la condición de distancia lejana (entre los rangos de edad 60-69 y 70-88). En relación al análisis intragrupal, se encontró una fuerte relación de la causalidad implícita, la carga cognitiva y la distancia con la resolución anafórica en el grupo total, en el grupo de 50-59 y en el grupo de 70-88 años. Los hallazgos demuestran la relación existente entre la causalidad implícita, la carga cognitiva concurrente y la distancia anafórica con el rendimiento en la resolución anafórica de pronombres en adultos, corroborando en alguna medida hallazgos anteriores en sujetos adultos jóvenes (Martínez, 2004). Palabras claves: anáfora pronominal, causalidad implícita, adultos mayores. /ABSTRACT: This study investigated the relationship between the working memory (according the concurrent cognitive load and the anaphoric distance), the implicit causality and the age during pronominal anaphoric resolution in adults, particularly in 90 subjects from 50 to 88 years old, distributed in 3 groups: adults (50-59 years old), seniors (60-69 years old), and elderly (70-88 years old). An intergroup analysis was carried out to verify the relationship between the variables studied with the age, and then an intragroup analysis was done to verify the relationship between the variables with the performance in anaphoric resolution. The intergroup analysis outcomes showed that anaphoric resolution has a strong relationship with age, yielding significant differences between the groups of 60-69 and 70-88 years old. About the implicit causality, no evidence on relationships with the age in both the stimulus of causality type 1 neither type 2 arose. The concurrent cognitive load evidenced a relationship with the age, in its condition without load (between groups of 50-59 and 60-69 years old), like the anaphoric distance in the condition of far distance (between the groups of 60-69 and 70-88 years old). Regarding the intragroup analysis, it was found a strong relationship of the implicit causality, the cognitive load and the distance with the anaphoric resolution in the entire group, the group of 50-59, and the group of 70-88 years old. These findings demonstrate the existence of a relationship between the implicit causality, the concurrent cognitive load and the anaphoric distance with pronominal anaphoric resolution in adults, corroborating previous findings in young adults (Martínez, 2004). Key terms: pronominal anaphora, memory, implicit causality, aging

Public-Private Alliances: A Documentary Case Study of Strategies of Urban Restoration

The study developed a conceptual framework for managing PPPs in urbanized areas and documented experiences of sample partnerships, and effective communication strategies. This study used a case study approach and a descriptive research. Content analysis was used to create a matrix table. In general, an average public-private partnership was initiated by the private sector

The Impact of Systems Thinking as a Construct of Organizational Learning on Competitive Advantage in Kenya’s Oil Marketing Sector

Introduction: Systems thinking has emerged as the convergence point between sciences, a fundamental way of interpreting nature and mastering the ever increasing complexity of the products of human intelligence. Objective: This study aimed to determine the impact of systems thinking as a construct of organizational learning on competitive advantage in Kenya’s Oil Marketing Sector. The latent aspects of competitive advantage; organization agility, innovation, barriers to entry, mass customization and inimitability (difficulty to duplicate) were investigated against the independent variable. Methodology: The research design was explanatory, non-contrived and cross-sectional study on Kenya’s oil marketing sector. A sample size of 425 was drawn from oil marketing companies that had a market share above 1% according to the Petroleum Institute of East Africa. Structured questionnaires were used as the data collection tool. Correlation, regression and SEM model were used to analyze the study findings. Findings: The study found that systems thinking significantly predicted competitive advantage which indicated rejection of the null hypothesis. Keywords: Organizational Learning, Systems Thinking, Competitive Advantage, Oil Marketing Sector

The Impact of Mental Models as a Construct of Organizational Learning on Competitive Advantage in Kenya’s Oil Marketing Sector

Introduction: Despite the growing popularity of organizational learning (OL) and its constructs, the concept remains complex and vague for researchers as well as managers. Mental models are inherently difficult to study and several methods have been developed that essentially document a mental model in the form of a mind map or concept diagram. Objective: This study aimed to determine the impact of mental models as a construct of organizational learning on competitive advantage in Kenya’s Oil Marketing Sector. The latent aspects of competitive advantage; organization agility, innovation, barriers to entry, mass customization and inimitability (difficulty to duplicate) were investigated against the independent variable. Methodology: The research design was explanatory, non-contrived and cross-sectional study on Kenya’s oil marketing sector. A sample size of 425 was drawn from oil marketing companies that had a market share above 1% according to the Petroleum Institute of East Africa. Structured questionnaires were used as the data collection tool. Correlation, regression and SEM model were used to analyze the study findings. Findings: The study found that mental models significantly predicted competitive advantage which indicated rejection of the null hypothesis. Keywords: Organizational Learning, Mental Models, Competitive Advantage, Oil Marketing Sector

A Profile of Latina Leadership in the United States: Characteristics, Positive Influences, and Barriers.

Latinas face obstacles achieving proportionate representation in significant leadership roles. This research aimed to identify characteristics unique to Latina leaders that represented shared values and beliefs of Latinas, and to understand positive factors and obstacles associated with Latina leadership in the United States. Survey responses from three hundred thirty-five Latinas and four interviewees from across the U.S. suggested that there are forty-three characteristics an effective Latina leader should possess. Four essential characteristics identified were: creative, good listener, optimistic/positive, and passionate. The forty-three characteristics were categorized into five groups of similar characteristics to synthesize what study participants believed were essential characteristics of Latina leaders. The categories were: high integrity, marianismo, new Latina, transformational leader, and visionary. Pursuing the attributes of these five leadership categories will help Latinas who aspire to become leaders understand what it takes to be a successful Latina leader, identify their strengths and weaknesses, and enable them to create a plan of success for themselves. Furthermore, study participants noted factors of positive influence on Latinas. Six crucial positive influencers identified were: successful educational attainment, participating in leadership training, possessing self-confidence, having role models, religious influence, and family influence. Study participants also noted factors which can be obstacles for Latinas. Four critical obstacles identified were: lack of mentors, lack of opportunities, cultural obligations, and family obligations. Literature about Latinas and Latina leadership is limited. There is an urgent need for research about the topic(s). This study was one step towards understanding the dynamics of Latina leadership in the U.S

Prólogo: Prevenir, proteger, resolver: reflexión sobre el Plan de Acción PR20

Al final del Plan de Acción PR20 trienal, aplaudo los importantes logros alcanzados por los Estados y otros agentes, y confío en la continuidad de nuestro compromiso compartido para fomentar la protección de los derechos de los desplazados internos