April 2007   An e-zine snapshot distributed by L+EARN to ignite, affirm and sustain post-secondary learning.  Read more at www.lplusearn.com  

In this issue:
     • Teach Less To Learn More: Free Webinars
     • Join L+EARN at CCA
     • Incentives for Today’s Admission Representatives
     • A Fool With a Tool is Still a Fool
     • Disruptive Educational Technology
     • Study Calls for Critical Boost in U.S. Degree Attainment Levels
     • Puzzle of the Month

 
Teach Less To Learn More: Free Webinars

Starts: Apr 16, 2007, [Mon] 02:00 PM Eastern (EDT) Ends: Apr 16, 2007, [Mon] 03:00 PM

Learn to retain students through fun, interactive, experiential classroom experiences. A learning focus using accelerated learning techniques guarantees results by creating an environment that maximizes learning and encourages on-going application and learning. This presentation offers suggestions for the successful implementation of accelerated learning in both course design and interactive delivery of classes. More info: http://sas.elluminate.com/site/external/event/description?instance_id=6809

Also available – previous presentations that have been recorded:
     • Leadership Alchemy
        http://sas.elluminate.com/site/external/event/description?instance_id=5903
     • Retention is Reasonable
        http://sas.elluminate.com/site/external/event/description?instance_id=6809

The presenter, Lou Russell is president and CEO of L+EARN, a consulting and training company focused on improving school results. Lou and her staff deliver learning experiences that are fun, flexible, fast and measurable. She focuses on recruitment, retention, and interactive learning.

Join L+EARN at CCA

Watch for the May and June issues for free learning opportunities at the annual Career College Association conference in New Orleans in June.  Lou Russell will be speaking on Accelerated Learning and Improving Recruitment / Admissions.  Come to the sessions and booth to learn how learning can be fun AND fast AND measurable.

Incentives for Today’s Admission Representatives

Due to the diversity of today's workforce, plaques, fancy watches and annual President's Club trips are being supplemented with newer and more creative incentive and recognition strategies. Here are the trends influencing why companies are bucking the tried-and-true methods and products to reward and recognize workers:

Multigenerational Workforces: Younger generations aren't as impressed with the incentives that their older counterparts were awarded. In fact, they probably crave the opposite. "What they really want is time off so they can spend it with their families," says Dianne Durkin, president of The Loyalty Factor. As a result, rewards like weekend getaways for the family—versus, say, a company picnic—are becoming more popular. In addition, "this is a saving generation," Durkin adds, which means incentives that build up a nest egg, such as additional contributions to a 401K program, are greatly appreciated.

Continuing Education: Many employees would rather use their company's incentive budget toward rewards that help them advance personally and professionally. The opportunity to attend educational seminars, professional conferences, personal skills workshops and after-work classes—for personal or professional pursuits alike—prove employers are invested in their employees' growth and development.

Lifestyle Differences: Personal preferences in travel and experiential rewards are beginning to boom. Now, "it's not just about getting golf clubs, it's getting to take lessons, too," says Paula Godar, director of performance strategy for Maritz Incentives. "Or it could be swimming with dolphins or attending car-racing school." Godar notes that experiential rewards cross generational boundaries, too. "Baby boomers still want to try out [new experiences]."

Corporate Culture Influences: Recognition programs these days are not simply a way to say thanks; they are also emerging as a way to acknowledge when staffers are living out corporate cultural values. "There's awareness in Gen Y that they want to find meaning in their work. Recognition programs are being used as a way for the company to drive mission and values." Smaller-scale incentives are being offered through points programs to help reinforce corporate culture. "Companies might reward for things like good collaboration, having a customer focus, or going above and beyond," says Theresa Thomas, a relationship manager for Hinda. "Or it can be for specific behaviors, like putting products in your presentations, multiple product sales, or a great close."

Training and Development: How motivated salespeople are is due in part to how they have been treated from the time they were hired, says Howard Stevens of HR Chally Group. For instance, "Did they get the right training from the start, or was it three or four months before the next training program was offered?" he says. Ongoing coaching, mentoring and training, even for A players, is also key. "In the past companies spent more time with B's and C's, but now they realize A's are craving attention".

L+EARN offers training, coaching and mentoring.  Check out our offerings at www.lplusearn.com or contact lou@lplusearn.com for more info.  Read more at http://www.managesmarter.com/msg/content_display/publications/e3i4c9971cdfb34b2e62eb53980af36323c

A Fool with a Tool is Still a Fool

Just sending someone to a quick generic training class or buying them a new software tool rarely improves performance.  Check out the whole article by Lou Russell at http://www.insideindianabusiness.com/contributors.asp?id=906.

Disruptive Educational Technology

Indiana University unveils its 3+1 program, targeting 2 year graduates from other colleges all over the nation.  How do you compete?  Check the whole article at http://www.insideindianabusiness.com/LeadershipIndiana.asp?ID=75&Detail=True

Study Calls for Critical Boost in U.S. Degree Attainment Levels

The U.S. needs to increase the number of people receiving a bachelor’s or associate degree by 37 percent over current attainment levels if it desires to have 55 percent of the adult population with a college degree by the year 2025, Jobs for the Future reports. The nonprofit organization predicts 55 percent will be the level of degree attainment for some of the top performing countries in 2025. To remain competitive, the U.S. must use this figure as a target.

The study illustrates the increasing demand for a highly educated workforce in the future, and how other countries around the world are rapidly increasing the segment of their populations who are obtaining associate and bachelor degrees. In 2005, this percentage in America was 37.4 percent, ranking the U.S. eighth behind Belgium, Canada, Ireland, Japan, Norway, South Korea and Sweden.

The study contends that state policymakers and education officials need to fix the problems of access, quality and productivity in higher education. It provides the flowing recommendations:
     • Align curriculum requirements between educational institutions to minimize repeat course-taking;
     • Increase productivity by concentrating on core academic areas and reallocate funds from 
       inefficient academic areas;
     • Streamline the transition of students from high school to college;
     • Promote timely degree completion, perhaps with incentives; and,
     • Redesign programs to improve results while reducing costs.

Hitting Home is part of a multiyear initiative funded by the Lumina Foundation for Education called the Making Opportunity Affordable project. The study is available at:
http://www.jff.org/download.php?file=HittingHome.pdf&KC_PubID=335

Puzzle of the Month: Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?

Send your answers to these questions from a fifth grade aptitude test and you will win fabulous merchandise, even if you are not smarter than a fifth grader…

1. The team ______________ play baseball.
    a. did not want to
    b. refusing to
    c. thought about
    d. loved to

2. The Second Continental Congress chose _______________ to lead the Continental Army.
    a. John Adams
    b. John Hancock
    c. Benedict Arnold
    d. George Washington

3. What is 1285 rounded to the nearest hundred?
    a. 1290
    b. 1280
    c. 1300
    d. 1200

4. Which is the correct way to close a letter?
    a. Yours Truly.
    b. Yours truly,
    c. Yours Truly:
    d. Yours truly

5. Which layer of the earth do humans actually live on?
    a. core
    b. crust
    c. mantle
    d. none of the above

Lou Russell, President

L+Earn

www.lplusearn.com