Learning presence

Greetings from the Austrlaian National University where I am in a reading group discussing “Learning presence: Towards a theory of self-efficacy, self-regulation, and the development of a communities of inquiry in online and blended learning environments” by Shea and Bidjerano:In this paper we examine the Community of Inquiry framework (Garrison, Anderson, & Archer, 2000) suggestingRead… Read more »

If you research asymmetric war, use the NCTC WITS system

The work of the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) is important and, because of the need to protect our nation’s information sources and advantages over international terrorists, criminals and other malicious actors, is not discussed much in the open. But there are things you can learn about NCTC by review of reputable sources. The most importantRead… Read more »

Ecotile Anti-static and Cable Management Flooring

Tim Hopcraft just dropped in some samples of Cable Management Flooring from Ecotile. He also showed me anti-static interlocking floor tiles. I was interested in using these for a learning commons, so that the cabling for computers could be changed easily.Normally carpet tiles would be placed over the recycled plastic panels which cover the cables.Read… Read more »

I Survived the PMF Assessments – Part 1

*** The blog below was originally posted on February 22, 2011. *** I am a second year Master of Public Policy candidate at American University in Washington, D.C. I decided to apply for the Presidential Management Fellows this year because it’s a great opportunity to work for the federal government and get 160 hours ofRead… Read more »

One Size Does Not Fit All for Section 508

Within the domain of Section 508 there are many misconceptions. One notable misconception is the thought that if the language works for one solicitation it will work for all. We see many cases where Section 508 language is cut from one solicitation and pasted to another. This approach is like trying to fit a squareRead… Read more »

Florida gov gets earful over proposed cut to drug monitoring system

Over the last few days, Florida Gov. Rick Scott has been a subject for conversation among some of his fellow governors. Following news of Florida’s rejection of $2 billion in federal grants for high-speed rail, governors from Connecticut, New York, Rhode Island and Maryland sent letters asking US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood for those funds.Read… Read more »

The Retirement vs. College Savings Smackdown!

Goal: Find a smart strategy for retirement and college savings. 4 Steps to Saving Responsibly: 1. Save 3-6 months of debt payments and other critical expenses. 2. Accelerate payments of high-interest debt so that the total debt you owe is decreasing every month, even if only slightly (meaning you are paying more than the financeRead… Read more »