Efficacy of Reflection Journals for Student Learning in an Online Environment

Across eight online classes, students were required to write a one-page meaning-making reflection after each week of class. This was an opportunity to critically evaluate new information learned that week, tie it to course materials and analyze how the information helped in becoming a better professional. The reflections were instructed to be free of jargon and not overly technical. The aim was for the students to continually build knowledge from week to week (i.e. a living document/diary), have a record of their thoughts, feelings, attitudes and ah-ha moments at the end of the term, as well as to give the instructor insight into student learning processes and the impact of components of the courses. These reflection exercises were met by students with wide-spread attentiveness and interest after the initial learning curve of how and why “diary-style” reflection journals were useful as a pedagogical instrument. The instructor also discovered the rich, casual and meaningful dialogues on learning were powerful tools for monitoring and adapting the course to meet and exceed stated student learning outcomes

Transformative potential of a short-term mission trip experience

With the United Nations World Tourism Organization forecasting 2 billion international tourists by the 2030 there is something to consider. A volume of travel to such a scale means an opportunity to harness the tourism industry to bring people closer to Jesus. This exploratory paper begins an exploration of Christians travel experiences and transformative impacts of those experiences through interactions with other Christians. Using data from a group text messages and a personal journal, this paper presents how one specific trip type - short-term mission - influences the ‘exchanged life’ first posited by the missionary Hudson Taylor in the 1800s. Further, there is a discussion of the theological connection between experiential tourism and transformation with foci on biblical passages - Romans 12:2 and 2 Corinthians 3:18. The paper concludes with consideration of how transformative outcomes, for both individuals and those they interact with during these trips, may draw them closer to God

Project Slope - Analysis of the performance of the lunar orbiter 1 and 2 imaging systems Final report

Lunar Orbiter 1 and 2 imaging system evaluation based on reconstructed photograph qualit

Promoting Corporate Philanthropic Efforts through Social Media

Corporations face the challenge of creating awareness of corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts while avoiding the appearance of being overly self-congratulatory or self-serving. The low cost and less obtrusive format of social media may make it a useful communication option for creating awareness of philanthropic activities. Content analysis was used to examine how three types of social media (Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube) were used to provide information on corporate philanthropic activities. Forty corporations from the Fortune 100 were sampled to address three research questions. The first two research questions pertained to the availability of social media tools and the specific locations of access to those tools. Results revealed 82.5% of the 40 corporations provided links to at least one social media platform and 22 provided at least one type of link to at least one type of philanthropic activity. The third research question examined how social media platforms were used to report the eight types of philanthropy identified by Kotler and Lee (2005). In all, 140 philanthropic activities were reported. The most frequently reported types of philanthropic activity included donating cash (n = 72, 51.40%), donating products (n = 27, 19.30%), donating services (n = 15, 10.71%), offering grants (n = 13, 9.29%), and awarding scholarships (n = 5, 5.71%). Other types of philanthropy were infrequent. Results suggest these social media platforms offer a viable option for brief reports of philanthropic activities

Resorts, Resilience and Retention Ater the BP Oil Spill Disaster of 2010

This study attempted to quantify intention to return to a vacation rental along the Florida/Alabama Gulf Coast. Compounding this was the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill disaster. We examined the intention to return to a vacation rental (nontraditional whole-ownership condominium resorts), as well as investigated marketing/retention efforts following the oil spill disaster and data on tourists’ trends over the summers of 2010 – 2013 via bed tax data. Data on tourists\u27 trends since the oil spill provided inference on the resilience of resort tourism in the area. Qualitative interviews with key informants of property management companies allowed analysis of customer retention efforts. Bed tax data in the region indicated strong growth from 2010—2013. Customer intention to return was most strongly influenced by proximity and amenities. Retention efforts after the spill focused on targeted messaging that built social capital values of trust and networks, thus improving resilience and moderating the customer perceptions of oil spill impacts in the region

Model-Based Systems Engineering Pathfinder: Informing the Next Steps

In 2016, the NASA Engineering and Safety Center established a model-based systems engineering (MBSE) Pathfinder. The primary motivations for establishing the MBSE Pathfinder were to advance the Agency's applications of MBSE and capture lessons-learned to inform the next steps. The MBSE Pathfinder had four teams working in parallel for eight months on different topics of interest to NASA. The teams were encouraged to learn, and use creativity and innovation in their system modeling. The results were captured via reports, webinars, and a knowledge capture meeting. The approach taken for the MBSE Pathfinder was very successful in providing a number of lessons-learned for NASA and for other organizations considering MBSE or pathfinder efforts, and in building a very strong and collaborative user community

The effect of service excellence training: Examining providers\u27 patient experience scores

Previous research and applied work has shown that communication-based training has the potential to impact important outcomes for healthcare organizations. Our institution developed and deployed Service Excellence, a communications-focused training, in our large academic cancer-focused healthcare system. In this study, we investigated whether patient experience improved for those with care providers who completed Service Excellence, as measured by Press Ganey Provider Experience surveys, and whether the effect of Service Excellence training depends on employee engagement. Results indicated that participating in Service Excellence training positively impacts perceptions of patient experience, and that the impact of the training is stronger for providers with low engagement as compared to providers with high engagement. Findings suggest that communications-based training can be an effective mitigation strategy to assist even those low engaged physicians with displaying the expected behaviors for positive patient interactions. Implications for healthcare organizations are discussed, including the rationale for motivating providers to attend such training. Experience Framework This article is associated with the Policy & Measurement lens of The Beryl Institute Experience Framework. (https://www.theberylinstitute.org/ExperienceFramework). Access other PXJ articles related to this lens. Access other resources related to this lens

Executive Summary of Ares V: Lunar Capabilities Concept Review Through Phase A-Cycle 3

This Technical Memorandum (TM) was generated as an overall Ares V summary from the Lunar Capabilities Concept Review (LCCR) through Phase A-Cycle 3 (PA-C3) with the intent that it may be coupled with separately published appendices for a more detailed, integrated narrative. The Ares V has evolved from the initial point of departure (POD) 51.00.48 LCCR configuration to the current candidate POD, PA-C3D, and the family of vehicles concept that contains vehicles PA-C3A through H. The logical progression from concept to POD vehicles is summarized in this TM and captures the trade space and performance of each. The family-of-vehicles concept was assessed during PA-C3 and offered flexibility in the path forward with the ability to add options deemed appropriate. A description of each trade space is given in addition to a summary of each Ares V element. The Ares V contributions to a Mars campaign are also highlighted with the goal of introducing Ares V capabilities within the trade space. The assessment of the Ares V vehicle as it pertains to Mars missions remained locked to the architecture presented in Mars Design Reference Authorization 5.0 using the PA-C3D vehicle configuration to assess Mars transfer vehicle options, in-space EDS capabilities, docking adaptor and propellant transfer assessments, and lunar and Mars synergistic potential