Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Recognize diversity, build unity - a leadership skill

 
"Diversity is God's creation, Unity is God's glory."  This is a quote from one participant in a Supervisor Survival Skills Workshop, S. Sudan, recently sponsored and led by SIL International. 
Whether missionaries, church leaders, business, education, or development workers in sub-Saharan Africa -  all are well acquainted with issues of diversity.  Issues include such things as multiple ethnic groups with long histories of inter-tribal relations, rural migration to urban centers, vastly differing educational and social backgrounds, differing religious backgrounds and commitments, and individual differences.   "Diversity" may have a different flavor in other regions of the world than in the USA. The challenge in any location is to celebrate diversity, while building unity.  What knowledge, what skills, and what attitudes does a leader need to do this well?  A very partial list might include at least the following:
  1. A good understanding of self.
  2. The ability to listen actively.
  3. The ability to dialogue.
  4. Setting vision, strategies, and goals.
  5. Defining roles and responsibilities, building accountability.
  6. Flexibility and comfort when the "target" must move.
  7. Understanding how people learn and how people change.
  8. Patient drive and passion. 
    What characteristics would you add to this list? Comments are welcome! 
 

Thursday, March 21, 2013

What is an online course really like at OHCC

Frequently Asked Questions 

1. Am I on my own to do this? No, every course is led by a qualified and experienced instructor who will interact with you on your work and assignments.

2. Do I have to be in the course room at a set time each day? No, you work on your course at any time of the day or night. You will have a schedule of activities and assignments to help you keep on track. Just keep up with that and you are good to go!

3. How do I access all the materials for the course? When you enroll in a course you will be able to see if any textbooks are required. If so, full information is given on how to get these materials. In the course, all lectures, video or audio clips, Power Points, etc. are available in the course room. You do not have to search on the Internet for these materials.

4. How do I find my "course room"?  All Oak Hills online courses are hosted on a specific course website. Once you enroll, you are given a user name and password to access that course site. In your course you will see your grade book (to track what you have done and the instructor's assessment), activities, a forum for communicating with other students and your instructor, a way to email your instructor or fellow students, and more. It is all in one spot!

5. How much do I need to know about computers to take an online course? If you can do email, use a text program like WORD to type papers, move around in your document and check your spelling and grammar, you can learn the ins and outs of doing an online course. In general, it will take you about a week to feel comfortable in the online course room. When you do have a problem, there is always the "HELP" button to get assistance!

6. How much time will it take? Online courses are college-level academic courses. When you do your work is more flexible, but you still do need to commit to do some quality study time if you want to excel. The time will vary by student, but you should count on 8-9 hours/week or more for each 3 credit course.

7. How do I know if I am cut out to be an online learner? Some people make better online learners than others. But not for some of the reasons you might suspect! It is not because you need "people contact" -- the online courses can still be very interactive with the instructor and other students.  You have to make the decision to communicate! Online learners do need to manage their time, be motivated to get into the online course room, be able to read and write with some comfort and be proactive about learning. We have a "Readiness for Online Learning" assessment that you can take. Just contact us as oakhills.edu under Adult/Online.

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

5 Things Students Can Learn through Group Work

 Reposted from Faculty Focus, March 20, 2013    Five Things Students Can Learn through Group Work
By Maryellen Weimer, PhD
I often get questions about group work. Recently, the question was phrased like this: "Can students learn anything in groups?" And, like faculty sometimes do, this questioner proceeded with the answer. "I don't think my students can. When they work in groups they have no interest in doing quality work. Whatever the first person says, they all agree with that and relax into a social conversation."

Standing opposite the experience of faculty members like this one is an accumulation of research that strongly supports students learning from and with each other in groups. There's research and analyses of group learning now reported in virtually every discipline. Here are five things students can learn in groups, all well-established by a wide range of empirical analyses.
  1. They can learn content, as in master the material. Whether they are working on problems, answering questions about the reading, or discussing case studies, when students work together on content, they can master the basics. The reason they learn is pretty straightforward, when students work with content in a group they are figuring things out for themselves rather than having the teacher tell them what they need to know.
  2. They can learn content at those deeper levels we equate with understanding. I just highlighted an article for the April issue of The Teaching Professor newsletter which reported that the explanations students wrote to justify a chosen answer were stronger after just seven minutes of discussion with two or three students. When students are trying to explain things to each other, to argue for an answer, or to justify a conclusion, that interaction clarifies their own thinking and often it clarifies the thinking of other students.
  3. They can learn how groups function productively. In order for groups to function productively, students must fulfill individual responsibilities. Productive group members come prepared, they contribute to the group interaction, they support each other, and they deliver good work on time. In order for individuals to function productively in groups, they have the right to expect the group to value their individual contributions, to address behaviors that compromise group productivity, and to divide the work equitably among members.
  4. They can learn why groups make better decisions than individuals. Students can see how different perspectives, constructive deliberation, questioning, and critical analysis can result in better solutions and performance. If students take an exam individually and then do the same exam as a group, the group exam score is almost always higher because students share what they know, debate the answers, and through that process can often find their way to the right answer.
  5. They can learn how to work with others. Group work helps students learn how to work with people outside their circle of friends, including those who have different backgrounds and experiences. They can even learn how to work with those who disagree with them, and others they might not "like" or want as friends.
Now, it is absolutely true that students don't learn any of these things just by being put together in groups. Student attitudes about group work are often negative and that's because they've been in lots of groups where they didn't learn anything other than the fact they don't like working in groups. Much of the group work used in college classrooms is not well designed or well managed. But when group work is carefully constructed and when teachers help students deal with those group dynamic issues that compromise group effectiveness, students can learn the content and the skills listed above.

It would also be nice to be able to end this post with a reference of a comprehensive review of research on group work. I don't think that piece exists. Research that documents that students can learn these five things is so scattered across the disciplinary landscape that finding it all and then devising some way to quantitatively compare the results is all but impossible. But just because the findings aren't organized or integrated does not diminish what has been documented time and again in study after study. Students can learn from and with each other in groups.

Friday, March 15, 2013

Transition, Change, Learning


 Seven -- is often cited for the number of career changes that someone might be expected to make during a lifetime.  Upon investigation, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (http://www.bls.gov/nls/nlsfaqs.htm#anch41) states:

"The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) never has attempted to estimate the number of times people change careers in the course of their working lives. The reason we have not produced such estimates is that no consensus has emerged on what constitutes a career change."

While the average number of career changes is unknown, we do know that all people will face times of uncertainty, struggle, and planned or unplanned change.  Many transition points are natural junctions in life -- childhood, adolescence, young adulthood, middle career/family age, older adult, retirement. These transition points are often accompanied by the need and opportunity to learn.
The child of God learns to have confidence in God's leading at points of change and to view these as opportunities to prove his faithfulness. We learn to ask, "What is my part now in God's plan?"

Oak Hills Christian College provides higher education opportunities to Christians in transition. Online education programs can help adult learners step up to their future with confidence. New career, new ministry opportunities, second career, "finishers" -- whatever and wherever God leads,  Oak Hills online is there to help with solid biblical studies, ministry and leadership courses, and general studies courses from a Christian perspective.

Monday, March 11, 2013

Win the Battle of PROCRASTINATION



 You made the decision to finish your college degree through an online program. You love the flexibility, the freedom to not travel to or live on campus, the ability to pursue your interests. You started your first course with every good intention. But now, you face failure once again.

It’s not that you aren't smart enough! It is just so hard to get around to studying. Your life is busy! And so you fall into one of the primary reasons why students fail… procrastination. Every day that passed when you didn’t get around to doing coursework was built upon past days like an ever growing burden on your back. It is like the author William James stated, “Nothing is so fatiguing as the eternal hanging on of an uncompleted task.”

What can you do to battle procrastination, especially as an online student?
1.      Ask a person that you know and love to help. Seek motivation, accountability and advice from a friend. Learning rarely happens in isolation.
2.      Schedule your priorities, not just events. Decide how important your college program of study is to you and build it into your schedule.
3.      Break down your schedule into parts. Get an overview of the whole course. Schedule projects into small do-able parts. Take into account times when you know you can’t work on studies, and plan a solution.
4.      Decide what time of day works for regular study.
5.      Reward yourself for goals met. Have something to look forward to with each project/mini-project done.
6.      No cheating! Don’t do what you love to do, if you haven’t meet your goal.
7.      Don’t stay down. So you failed… your down… will that be where you stay?

It may seem easy to hide as an online student. Remember though that many in the college and in your life want you to succeed and live up to your potential and your goals. Reach out!

Thursday, March 7, 2013

When Soft Skills are Vital Skills in the Workplace

 As reported in the March 4, 2013 Academic Impressions: Daily Pulse (http://www.academicimpressions.com/daily-pulse), a recent survey by The Chronicle of Higher Education and American Public Media's Market place found that half of employers have trouble finding graduates who are qualified to fill positions in their company.  In particular, " they feel that bachelor's-degree holders lack basic workplace proficiencies, like adaptability, communication skills, and the ability to solve complex problems" (emphasis added).

A recent student graduate from Oak Hills Christian College testified that at Oak Hills, "I learned to think for myself." Students learn how to think, and not just what to think. As a private Christian and non-denominational college, Oak Hills is committed to building educational experiences where students grow in their critical thinking skills, communication skills, and understanding of principles for service. Employers attest to the quality of persons they see in Oak Hills graduates.

Oak Hills Adult & Professional Studies and online programs continues the tradition at Oak Hills of commitment to the personal and professional growth of students.  Exploration of issues from a biblical perspective, dialog, and skill development are all in focus in online programs.  This commitment to the whole person is one reason why a private Christian college education just makes plain good sense.

Friday, March 1, 2013

Finish an OHCC Degree/Continuing Ed at OHCC

Finish an OHCC Degree

OHCC offers former students the opportunity to complete any current OHCC degree via online courses . Students who left the college over two years ago and who were near completion of a degree may complete their degree online whenever all needed courses are available. Students must have completed over 50% of their original degree. In most cases, this program will be most feasible for former students who were in or near their final year.

The normal online tuition rate will apply. Online tuition in 2013-2014 is $350/credit. Students will be eligible to apply for financial aid.

Anyone interested in finishing their OHCC degree via online courses should contact the Director of Adult & Professional Studies in order to establish a transcript review and receive information about this program.

Continuing Education at OHCC

In keeping with the mission of the college to provide biblically-centered higher education, Oak Hills offers online courses in a wide range of academic disciplines, including biblical studies, business, general studies, humanities, and psychology. These courses may be used for professional development, personal enrichment, or in preparation for some specific aspect of ministry.

Individuals who would like to take an online course for credit but who may not have the need for a full degree program may apply to the college as a Continuing Ed. Student.


The college offers online courses for academic credit to those who are not seeking a degree at 50% of the normal online tuition. If at a later date, the student would desire to apply these courses toward a degree, the difference in tuition would need to be paid.

Continuing education tuition in 2013-2014 is $175/credit.