THE VOICE

Sharing ideas and advancing the world of higher education.

The Voice has been published in printed form for over 30 years and has now transitioned to this web-based electronic format. Donald A. Moore, Past Co-Editor of Voice, the author of "Low and Slow - liaison pilot's life of experiences” was a driving force behind its content for many years. Now with a new editorial team, we transition to this web-based format to continue to provide a forum for academic exchanges of ideas and keep you informed about current trends affecting educational practices and policies as well as new technologies in academia.

 In this issue:

A Global Competition Phenomenon in Higher Education?
Dr. Laura M. Portnoi

Competitive forces linked to the neoliberal market economy are evident throughout the global higher education sector, such as corporatization and academic capitalism, increased cross-border provision of higher education, competition for international students and scholars, quality assurance mechanisms, and use of world rankings. However, the question remains regarding whether these trends combine to form a global competition phenomenon. In other words, is there a uniform phenomenon that impacts all countries around the world? In this article, the author explores this central question after providing an overview of five key competitive forces in higher education. ...and  more

Mathematics: The Future is Green
Dr. Bori Mazzag  

New research – at Humboldt and beyond – highlights how the spread of wildfires, the restoration of native trout populations and climate change can all be understood on a deeper level using sophisticated mathematical techniques.   Why is mathematics useful  (and perhaps even necessary) in the study of the environment?  I explore this question through specific examples. 
...and more

Enhanced instruction in the classroom
Dr. Tieli Wang 

A major challenge for science educators is to find effective teaching methods that promote active learning in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) courses. The traditional teaching approach often encourages students to undertake courses passively and makes it difficult for them to play an active role. Cooperative learning method have been shown to be one of the effective teaching strategies developed, in view of the fact that the design is governed by research on how students learn. The cooperative learning strategies were used to create a learning environment in STEM classroom that encourages students to take a central role in their own learning experience. In this learning environment, the courses will be taught to have students work in pairs and in groups of four persons to complete a task together. The evidence suggests that the students’ achievements in STEM courses and attitudes toward science in general are enhanced by cooperative learning method.   ... and more

Cybertourism as a Readily-Available Tool to Benefit Faculty, Students, and Universities
Van Ajemian, J.D. 

This short paper outlines the availability of, and possible uses for, a concept called “Green Travel”, whereby Webcams and hand-held devices are interfaced with a specified Web site and used advantageously by faculty and students to provide live, interactive video to people off-campus, thereby enabling faculty and students to fulfill one or more course and / or university goals.  Additionally, Green Travel offers the option to monetize different uses so as to augment income for course and / or other expenses. ... and more

The Interactive Whiteboard – a  second revolution in teaching tools?
Tony Dalessio
GST Technology Cerritos, California

The interactive whiteboard is not just another classroom technology. It is the first digital technology device designed specifically for teaching and learning where students and instructor can be interactively engaged.  It  has the potential to radically alter the way we learn and facilitate the integration and use of all other digital technologies – hardware and software [1].  Just as the blackboard is credited with revolutionizing education, the interactive whiteboard may well be seen as the 2^nd revolution in teaching tools for learning. and more