As educational institutions prepare for the end of the fall semester, they foresee lost days due to weather conditions, and with that, their very reputations as institutions are put in jeopardy, as well as the education of the disciples is placed second, definitely not the message we want to pass along to the individuals we want to employ at some of the most traditional of the institutions, for instance:

The USPS (United States Postal Service)’s motto has been:

“Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.”

Logistics (to commercially deliver commodities and services to clients) is some of the most basic needs of individuals (retail approach) and institutions (wholesale approach).

If higher education institutions’ response to weather conditions continue to be missed days, to be determined if students will have replacement of lost classes or not, depending again on the weather, then:

– What type of message is to be passed along to students and society as a whole?

Are we to stay home when heavy rain and snow get on the way? The answer seems obvious, for many of us, there are no alternatives. We can only try to embark into the unsure public/private transportation system we have available, or, take no risks and call it in.

Many institutions (professional rather than academic) have instituted “work-from-home”  alternatives.

Schools are still far from this workplace reality, and that is shame on educators. Of course this alternative would not be sufficient in the case of lab classes, for instance. But for many other classes, sciences classes included, a few days in a semester working from home would be a great opportunity for caretakers to work along with their dependents.

The question that remains is: If educators cannot trust their pupils will produce in their absence, then how can the prospective employer trust those very individuals not to slack off when the boss is not around?

If education has a purpose, and that is to train someone to acquire a skill for a particular trade, than it fails to prepare individuals for some reasons. One would be the gap between the time between when students learn of a particular skill that is already phased out in the market, and when they hit the market, with outdated knowledge.

Another is the ability to replicate work conditions as to best prepare individuals for the workplace. Some of the characteristics of the  workplace have not been replicated successfully in educational environments, such as today’s standards for tardiness / punctuality and attendance – which are as old as the Victorian age – to say the least.

So, if we all agree that students should be responsible for their education, as well as workers, that they should be responsible for their own growth, personal and professional, then we should all agree that we as individuals may sometimes be late or not able to show for an appointment, due to weather or not, and that an alternative (this already exists, it is just not a norm) should be made available for people to be “officially present” even when they are not physically present.

In the case of CUNY, a pilot for RFID in students’ IDs is already in process. Students IDs as a requirement to enter the school grounds has been a requirement for a few years, and several electronic turnstiles have been placed in the schools, so that way the administration has been able to collect a great deal of data on students attendance.

Measuring attendance in real time is easily achievable, and the benefits to all stakeholders is clearly visible, as well as the negative consequences such as the loss of privacy that would come with student’s behavioral hegeist.

Changing the educational system so that it is prepared for students to work independently and from home if needed be, that is hopefully not far away.

Pablo Grossi

11.20.2014

Chapter Quizzes

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

5 things successful people do each morning
Posted by Amanda Augustine

November 03, 2014 @ 01:05 PM
Set yourself up for success each day by adopting these highly effective habits.

According to Inc. Magazine, morning people have been found to be more proactive and more productive. But what exactly do they do to set themselves up for success?

Here are five habits successful people have developed to start their days on the right note.

They wake up early
Many successful professionals and political figures, from Square CEO Jack Dorsey to the U.K.’s former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, believe in an early start to the day.

If you’re a self-proclaimed night owl, consider taking this seven-day challenge set by Fast Company’s Rachel Gillett. Click on the following link to find out what happened when Rachel and her readers woke up ‘insanely early’ for one week.

They make time to exercise
Exercising, even for as little as 30 minutes each morning, can make a world of difference throughout your workday. In fact, when you exercise in the morning, your metabolism gets triggered and remains elevated for hours, helping you feel energized throughout the day. Carve out time in the morning, before your workday begins, to get in your workout.  Can’t be bothered with the gym? Check out this 30-minute workout from Health.com.

They eat a healthy breakfast
This one should be a no-brainer by now. Scientists and successful professionals alike have been lauding the benefits of a good breakfast for decades. Breakfast provides the nutrients and energy needed to jump-start your day after fasting for six to ten hours overnight. Willpower is also at its highest in the morning, so choosing a healthy breakfast sets the tone for the decisions made during the rest of the day. Strapped for time? Prep your food the night before, and try out one of these 34 healthy breakfasts for busy mornings.

They meditate
According to the Huffington Post, meditation helps lower stress levels, improve cognitive functioning, creative thinking and productivity, and can even improve your physical health. Because of this, many corporate leaders are finding that meditation helps them deal with the stress and pace of their high-pressure roles. Cisco System’s Chief Technology and Strategy Officer, Padmasree Warrior, told theNew York Times that meditation “is like a reboot for your brain and soul.” By taking a few minutes to meditate each morning, you can set your mind and body up for success during the rest of the day. Check out this list of top meditation apps for your iPhone or Android to learn how to get started.

They visualize their day
Benjamin Franklin had it right: “If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.” [TWEET] Successful people tend to be notorious list-makers and planners. Spend a few minutes in the morning mapping out the rest of the day, and which projects are most important to complete. Prioritize these and get them done early in the day when your willpower is still high. Think about how this day fits into your larger goals in life, and visualize what it will be like to get there. Realizing your larger life goals helps keep your motivation high as you perform your least-favorite tasks.