Integrated Literature Review of Information Technology Leadership in Higher Education: Implications for Total Quality Management

The current shortage of highly skilled employees across the country continues to be a concern for our higher education (HE) institutions. Information technology (IT) is used in a variety of ways to expand the reach of education, from distance education, simulation technology, Massively Open Online Courses (MOOCs), and more. Additionally, public HE institutions face flat and decreasing funding. IT departments are responsible for identifying transformational change opportunities, implementing technologies that expand the reach of our universities, and operating efficiently with flat funding. Therefore, identifying effective IT leadership practices to enable change and reduce costs is vital to success for modern HE institutions

Developing Intercultural Leadership Competencies through Virtual Reality: A Model Collaborative Research Design

Short Abstract: Our research team is designing, implementing, and evaluating the effectiveness of intercultural leadership learning interventions that utilize virtual reality technologies to help students develop empathy, curiosity, and openness. This research will offer polytechnic faculty another tool to strengthen learning by diverse audiences and a new research method for measuring learning. Full Abstract: This project provides a model for collaborative research across STEM and non-STEM disciplines that capitalizes on the theories, pedagogical approaches, and measurement tools that each offer. Our research team is designing, implementing, and evaluating the effectiveness of intercultural leadership learning interventions that utilize virtual reality technologies. While virtual reality has been frequently used to train individuals in scientific and technical skills such as military readiness, aviation maintenance, and surgery, the potential of this cyberlearning technology to facilitate the development of less technical but still critical skills such as leadership and cultural awareness has not been explored. In determining the appropriateness of VR as a cyberlearning technology to develop such skills and attitudes such as empathy, curiosity, and openness, this research will offer polytechnic faculty another tool to strengthen learning by diverse audiences and a new research method for measuring learning. Implications for the polytechnic community include: 1) synergy between sciences and social sciences, with their integration benefiting both; 2) the capacity to bring individualized experiential and reflective learning up to scale at a large institution; and 3) a deeper understanding of which technologies are the best fit both for learning and for the assessment of learning outcomes in this context

Advancing High School STEM Education: Implications for Engineering Technology

A novel STEM education approach focused on competency-based education was implemented in a college preparatory high school. This high school is intended to provide students access to a nearby higher education institution, with the intent of aiding the students in obtaining STEM based education. This program prepares the students to move into the university environment by encouraging faculty collaboration with the high school, coursework promoting creativity and problem-solving skills, and the use of case studies in classroom instruction. These case studies are grounded in real-life scenarios students can expect to encounter in a professional setting. This study focuses on the implementation of the program through the first-year experiences of teachers and administrators through semi-structured interviews. The results presented highlight study findings and shed light on challenges in establishing a student-focused STEM learning environment while exploring new pedagogies, developing an innovative curriculum, and teaching

NAVIGATING the Storm: High School Mathematics Teachers, the Common Core, College Readiness, and Quality Management Tools

AbstractClassroom teachers sit at the confluence of national and nationally-initiated state education policies that tie the standards of expected student success at each grade level to teacher effectiveness. However, many district-developed learning targets are loosly aligned with state standards. For high school mathematics teachers, this misalignment is further skewed by a mismatch with post-secondary mathematics placement exams. This research demonstrates how quality management tools and curriculum articulation strategies can help high school mathematics teachers prioritize these policy demands.Three major findings point to tools and policy changes to smooth a PK-16 curriculum sequence for students matriculating across disparate systems of learning

Cultural Diversity: A Case Study on Assessing the Present and Planning for the Future

Cultural Diversity Council (CDC) is a rural community-based nonprofit organization serving the counties of Chippewa, Lac Qui Parle, and Yellow Medicine in the Western Central Minnesota. According to the US Census Bureau (2000), the total population of these three counties is 32,235 with a total minority population of 1,151, which is approximately 3.57% of the total population (2000). The number of diverse populations in the area is likely to continue to rise. As such, there are increasing issues in the areas of housing, education, health care, banking and credit, socialization, recreation, language assistance, citizenship, legal advocacy, food, and spiritual issues. However, at present there are not adequate infrastructures to properly address such issues. Thus, the purpose of this study is to develop an understanding of the realities of people of color in these counties. The study further attempts to develop an understanding of the interactions of these diverse individuals and the community at large. The results of the study will also enable the CDC to better understand the social structures within the community in these counties; how the CDC can work with other community providers and networks to better promote and utilize the strengths of the residents; support their goals; and respond to the needs and issues that most concern them.Prepared in partnership with the Cultural Diversity Council by the Community Assistantship Program (CAP), which is administered by the Center for Urban and Regional Affairs at the University of Minnesota

Exploring Inclusion of Leadership Development into New Employee Orientations: A Proposed Approach from Army Leader Development

Regardless of industry, organization leaders recognize the need for a strong leadership pipeline and a culture of sustained leader development, and the U.S. Army is no exception. Beginning in basic training, Army leaders offer soldiers leader development training through various methods, including defining leadership expectations, providing experience-based developmental exercises, and offering self-development opportunities. The early introduction is part of a continuous leader development regimen engrained in military service, and—as a result—military veterans are often credited by employers for their leadership skills. This paper, through exploring Army leader development, proposes a framework for introducing leadership development during new employee orientations based on U.S. Army strategies. Though the proposed framework offers three leader development strategies for inclusion in new employee orientation, barriers exist which may impede successful application, and are discussed. Additionally, the authors identify three propositions and propose future research opportunities for integrating Army leader development in new employee orientations

Field Study of Appreciative Inquiry Method: Understanding and Supporting our Diverse Community.Category: Organizational Development, Planning and Evaluation

Conducted on behalf of Glendale Residents Organization. Supported by Neighborhood Planning for Community Revitalization, Center for Urban and Regional Affairs, University of Minnesota