Trying Something Old?: Incorporating the Dodd-Frank Act into Modern Efforts to Eliminate Workplace Sexual Harassment

The recent exposure of public figures such as Harvey Weinstein and Bill Cosby show that current measures taken to curb sexual harassment in the workplace have not proven to be enough. It is, then, important and worth exploring Acts from different sectors that have proven effective and then applying the provisions from those Acts to address this issue. This Note will explore the Dodd–Frank Act and pick out the provisions that have potentiality to be adopted and applied in addressing sexual harassment in the workplace. “It is common sense to take a method and try it. If it fails, admit it frankly and try another. But above all, try something.” Franklin D. Roosevel

Trying Something Old?: Incorporating the Dodd-Frank Act into Modern Efforts to Eliminate Workplace Sexual Harassment

The recent exposure of public figures such as Harvey Weinstein and Bill Cosby show that current measures taken to curb sexual harassment in the workplace have not proven to be enough. It is, then, important and worth exploring Acts from different sectors that have proven effective and then applying the provisions from those Acts to address this issue. This Note will explore the Dodd–Frank Act and pick out the provisions that have potentiality to be adopted and applied in addressing sexual harassment in the workplace. “It is common sense to take a method and try it. If it fails, admit it frankly and try another. But above all, try something.” Franklin D. Roosevel

Self-Directed Learning Management System: Enabling Efficacy in Online Learning Environments

A traditional learning methodology known as self-directed learning (SDL) is used in this study as a foundation to design a learning management system that can help students improve their abilities to self-manage and monitor their overall learning activities and performances. Such capabilities have been shown in past research as being critical to success in on-line learning environments. While research has demonstrated that SDL skills exist to a degree in all learners and their competency levels can change, this study investigates whether students’ SDL abilities can improve as a result of using a designed personal learning system, Self-Directed Learning Management System (SDLMS). SDLMS is aimed at enabling students to be more proactive in planning, organizing, and monitoring their course activities. The features of SDLMS are designed based activities that are deemed critical according to literature on SDL and its related fundamental concepts. Initial results of an exploratory study indicate that while learners feel it is very important to manage their online learning activities, they do not have a comprehensive systematic process. Study participants strongly agree that they would benefit from a tool that empowers them to actively interact and collaborate with others, tracks various course-related tasks, and measures milestones as a means to provide a self-monitoring mechanism to achieve learning goals

Evaluating Open Source Applications to Support Online Learning

Many online learners are facing challenges despite the reported growth in enrollment, and research shows that self-discipline and management of learning activities are key characteristics to succeed. The ability to self-direct learning activities can lead to improved learning experiences. In an effort to improve self-directed learning, various open source applications are evaluated for their functional attributes and capabilities. The applications being assessed include a course management system, wiki, and weblog. The goals of this study are to identify a set of open source applications that are suitable for a collaborative environment, and to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of each application towards proactive learning. Based on the outcomes of this planned study, an assessment will be made as to how each application enables and facilitates self-directed learning activities. Additionally, a set of criteria will be established for empowering learners as self-directed individuals. Based on this study, instructors and administrators can be better informed to make appropriate decisions amongst the many open source applications available for learners

Black Homelessness in Los Angeles

Throughout American history, Black people have experienced disproportionate amounts of racism, inequity, and lack of resources. This systemic lack of resources and disparities contribute to an overall lack of individual economic development. These factors were further emphasized following the COVID 19 pandemic, which, increased the separations between others. At the start of the Reconstruction Era, the recently freed enslaved faced homelessness as they left plantations penniless with nowhere to go. They were met with both de facto and de jure segregation codified through restrictive covenants, deed clauses that restricted the sale of property to Black people (Cite). Today, Black people still face disproportionate rates of homelessness, a few hundred years removed from emancipation. In Los Angeles specifically, Black people make up only nine percent of the total population yet represent forty percent of the total homeless population in LA. This is particularly relevant because Black people are more likely to experience certain risk factors such as economic hardship and mental illness due to systemic racism, and these risks are likely elevated by experiencing homelessness. The present study investigates whether there has been a noticeable change in the number of homeless people in Los Angeles from the perspective of commuters through survey techniques. The sample consists of responders aged 16-52 who currently live in Los Angeles County. The questionnaire was distributed through Qualtrics and participants will be asked to report on the demographics (age, race) of homeless individuals in their community. This investigation is important because an effective solution to homelessness requires understanding the intersections between race and class

Understanding the Building Certification System: A Need for Accreditation Reform

The building and construction industry makes a major contribution to the New South Wales (NSW) economy, with an annual input of 7.6% during 2010 that is projected to rise to 8.4% in 2020. Irrespective of the sector’s growth potential, it is experiencing a severe skills shortage across a range of professions including building certification. Interestingly, the certification sector and the regulatory environment in which it operates is yet to receive rigorous attention in academia and industry. In the context of NSW, the role of the accredited certifier is multifaceted and involves confirming that building work complies with environmental planning controls and the National Construction Code. The Building Professionals Board (BPB) is the statutory body responsible for accrediting these professionals. The BPB is partnering with the University of Newcastle to ameliorate the current skills shortage through the development of an evaluation instrument regarding: certifiers seeking to upgrade to a higher level of accreditation but who do not have a recognised qualification and/or are unable to obtain the practical experience relevant to progression; and associated professionals who, although not accredited, wish to become a certifier but lack the recognised qualifications and/or experience.The proposed evaluation instrument will incorporate a mix of current technologies and approaches to address the current and likely future demographics of certifiers, and their preparedness to engage with and access novel IT technologies. This paper introduces the current certification environment and the technologies proposed to structure the evaluation instrument. Keywords: Key Words: construction, building surveying, accreditation, education, assessment.

Visual function and color vision in adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

AbstractPurposeColor vision and self-reported visual function in everyday life in young adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) were investigated.MethodParticipants were 30 young adults with ADHD and 30 controls matched for age and gender. They were tested individually and completed the Visual Activities Questionnaire (VAQ), Farnsworth-Munsell 100 Hue Test (FMT) and A Quick Test of Cognitive Speed (AQT).ResultsThe ADHD group reported significantly more problems in 4 of 8 areas on the VAQ: depth perception, peripheral vision, visual search and visual processing speed. Further analyses of VAQ items revealed that the ADHD group endorsed more visual problems associated with driving than controls. Color perception difficulties on the FMT were restricted to the blue spectrum in the ADHD group. FMT and AQT results revealed slower processing of visual stimuli in the ADHD group.ConclusionA comprehensive investigation of mechanisms underlying visual function and color vision in adults with ADHD is warranted, along with the potential impact of these visual problems on driving performance

Exploring Factors That Influence Students’ Behaviors in Information Security

Due to the ever-increasing use of the Internet, information security has become a critical issue in society. This is especially the case for young adults who have different attitudes towards information security practices. In this research, we examine factors that motivate college students’ information security behaviors. Based on the concept of fear arousal in the presence of a threatened event, a well-founded theory known as Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) is adopted in the research model. Social norms and habit factors are integrated to the model as a means to assess students’ behaviors of information security. A survey of 202 responses is used to test the designed model using structural equation modeling to analyze relationships among variables. Results indicated that students are very motivated to practice information security if they perceive high levels of severity, response efficacy, response costs and self-efficacy. Their intentions, however, are not affected by perceived vulnerability or by social influence. Our findings suggest that PMT is a valuable model for predicting students’ attitudes towards information security and that their motivation is influenced by education in security awareness and understanding severity of such issues

Higher Education Institutions and Work-Based Learning in the UK: Employer Engagement within a Tripartite Relationship

Higher education institutions (HEIs) in the UK are increasingly engaging in work-based learning. The tripartite relationship between the HEI, the employer and the employee is viewed to be of great significance in work-based learning, not only in the initial stages of procurement of a contract, but also in designing and delivering the programme to meet the employer and employee needs, and those of the HEI, to make the programmes successful. This paper is based on one theme related to a larger EU-funded project on work-based learning leading to qualifications. Based on in-depth interviews at a post-1992 university in the UK with a range of staff including executive, senior management, managerial, teaching and administrative staff, we focus on this theme, to analyse employer engagement from the perspective of the HEI. We recommend strategies to enhance the tripartite relationship for the benefit of those involved and to improve policy and practice in the field. These include a strategic approach to work-based learning and regarding it as an integral part of higher education activity rather than a supplementary pursuit