Integrating sustainability within institutions of higher education can have a tremendous impact o... more Integrating sustainability within institutions of higher education can have a tremendous impact on students, faculty, and the larger community. Sustainability efforts also experience many barriers to implementation within higher education contexts. A change management perspective can help characterize these barriers and ways to overcome them. In this critical case study, we use a process model to examine the kinds of barriers Kennesaw State University (KSU) has faced regarding implementation of academic sustainability and to evaluate change drivers that can advance sustainability during a time of leadership change. The process model evaluates barriers and change drivers according to published frameworks, and provides a way for higher education institutions to identify the most difficult barriers, easily surmountable barriers, and areas where change drivers can have the most impact. At KSU, the process model identified the self-determination of middle-tier change drivers as the most ...
— With the promotion of online and interactive learning, instructors may be tempted to include ar... more — With the promotion of online and interactive learning, instructors may be tempted to include arbitrarily the latest technologies into their modules without considering the ramifications on students and their learning processes. Instead, we propose that online and interactive modules should be carefully designed using multiple levels of review to ensure clarity of instruction, ease of use of interactive components, and engagement of the students with the material and any related activities. This paper documents the process to design and improve an online module using an iterative process involving instructional designers, student pilot tests, and a focus group. Feedback from these constituents enabled instructors to optimize instructional design to maximize learning opportunities and achievement in online environments. Keywords—iterative design process; student focus group; interactive online modules; cognitive learning; human geography I.
New and useful technologies to improve agricultural production and the environment are still bein... more New and useful technologies to improve agricultural production and the environment are still being identified. Vetiver grass (Vetiveria zizanioides), widely grown for many decades and sometimes centuries in the tropics, has only recently become the subject of in ense study and experimentation as an alternative measure for soil and moistureconservation.
... testament to the palatability of vetiver for livestock comes from Southern Honduras where obs... more ... testament to the palatability of vetiver for livestock comes from Southern Honduras where observers say that vetiver is consumed by cattle year round (Proyecto Lupe, 1993). The issue of land shortages is one that has prominence in the tropics. Small farmers constantly seek for ...
... I wish also to thank the Tropical Conservation and Development Program for generous financial... more ... I wish also to thank the Tropical Conservation and Development Program for generous financial support. I am very gratehl to the following persons: Marianne Schmink, Peter Hildebrand, Nigel Smith, Edward Malecki, and my most competent research assistant, Paula Silveira. ...
Arguably, suburban areas—as geographic spaces—are becoming increasingly shaped by the influx of L... more Arguably, suburban areas—as geographic spaces—are becoming increasingly shaped by the influx of Latinos, their businesses, and their cultures. This study investigates the spatial distribution and temporal relationships of Latino-cuisine restaurants and Latino populations within a suburban context of the New "Nuevo" South. Census data, geospatial techniques (geographically weighted regression), and semi-structured open-ended interviews were used to determine where restaurant-based ethnic entrepreneurship has developed, both spatially and temporally, in Cobb County, Georgia, USA. Results show that in this suburban area, Latino-cuisine restaurants have become spatially clustered over time and that there is a moderately positive relationship between locations of restaurants and proportion of Hispanic residents. Our findings suggest that the Latino community parallels the spatial and economic characteristics of an ethnoburb, with the presence of geographically-diffused Latino population clusters and Latino-oriented businesses catering toward the dominant cultural identity of the region.
Over the last 20 years, the government of the small Caribbean island nation of Dominica has pursu... more Over the last 20 years, the government of the small Caribbean island nation of Dominica has pursued the development of ecotourism on the island. The hope is that this industry will promote dispersed economic development while providing environmental protection and cultural conservation. However, not enough has been done to determine whether or not the industry is achieving the desired results. To this end, this study explores the growth of the tourism industry on Dominica and shows that, while not perfect, ecotourism is providing some definite benefits to the island in this regard.
International Journal on Advances in Life Sciences, 2013
With the promotion of online and interactive learning, instructors may be tempted to include arbi... more With the promotion of online and interactive learning, instructors may be tempted to include arbitrarily the latest technologies into their modules without considering the ramifications on students and their learning processes. Instead, we propose that online and interactive modules should be carefully designed using multiple levels of review to ensure clarity of instruction, ease of use of interactive components, and engagement of the students with the material and any related activities. This paper documents the process to design and improve an online module using an iterative process involving instructional designers, student pilot tests, and a focus group. Feedback from these constituents enabled instructors to optimize instructional design to maximize learning opportunities and achievement in online environments.
Integrating sustainability within institutions of higher education can have a tremendous impact o... more Integrating sustainability within institutions of higher education can have a tremendous impact on students, faculty, and the larger community. Sustainability efforts also experience many barriers to implementation within higher education contexts. A change management perspective can help characterize these barriers and ways to overcome them. In this critical case study, we use a process model to examine the kinds of barriers Kennesaw State University (KSU) has faced regarding implementation of academic sustainability and to evaluate change drivers that can advance sustainability during a time of leadership change. The process model evaluates barriers and change drivers according to published frameworks, and provides a way for higher education institutions to identify the most difficult barriers, easily surmountable barriers, and areas where change drivers can have the most impact. At KSU, the process model identified the self-determination of middle-tier change drivers as the most important way to advance sustainable development in higher education institutions (SD in HEI) until new leadership emerges. The process model is iterative and modifiable, because the specific frameworks used in the process model may vary depending upon the needs of each HEI and stage of progression toward SD.
This paper presents the results of two independent studies that assessed the impact of writing as... more This paper presents the results of two independent studies that assessed the impact of writing as a learning tool in introductory-level geography courses. Student attitudes toward writing and their performance on exams were analyzed to determine the impact of writing for comprehension and application of geographical concepts. Student perceptions were mostly positive; however, there was no significant improvement in grades. As both students and instructors view writing as valuable for learning, these results underscore the need to develop alternative methods of assessment and additional studies to quantitatively determine the impact of writing on learning.
Numerous studies have shown both anecdotal and formal evidence of the benefits students obtain fr... more Numerous studies have shown both anecdotal and formal evidence of the benefits students obtain from doing writing activities in classes. Little formal discussion exists about how student writing in geography classes professionally affects faculty. In this article, focus shifts from student-derived benefits of writing in classes to faculty challenges and rewards for implementing writing in their classes. Based on the experience of participating in a Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC) Fellows program, the authors discuss how faculty overcame challenges and reaped the benefits of student writing in their teaching and scholarly pursuits.
Integrating sustainability within institutions of higher education can have a tremendous impact o... more Integrating sustainability within institutions of higher education can have a tremendous impact on students, faculty, and the larger community. Sustainability efforts also experience many barriers to implementation within higher education contexts. A change management perspective can help characterize these barriers and ways to overcome them. In this critical case study, we use a process model to examine the kinds of barriers Kennesaw State University (KSU) has faced regarding implementation of academic sustainability and to evaluate change drivers that can advance sustainability during a time of leadership change. The process model evaluates barriers and change drivers according to published frameworks, and provides a way for higher education institutions to identify the most difficult barriers, easily surmountable barriers, and areas where change drivers can have the most impact. At KSU, the process model identified the self-determination of middle-tier change drivers as the most ...
— With the promotion of online and interactive learning, instructors may be tempted to include ar... more — With the promotion of online and interactive learning, instructors may be tempted to include arbitrarily the latest technologies into their modules without considering the ramifications on students and their learning processes. Instead, we propose that online and interactive modules should be carefully designed using multiple levels of review to ensure clarity of instruction, ease of use of interactive components, and engagement of the students with the material and any related activities. This paper documents the process to design and improve an online module using an iterative process involving instructional designers, student pilot tests, and a focus group. Feedback from these constituents enabled instructors to optimize instructional design to maximize learning opportunities and achievement in online environments. Keywords—iterative design process; student focus group; interactive online modules; cognitive learning; human geography I.
New and useful technologies to improve agricultural production and the environment are still bein... more New and useful technologies to improve agricultural production and the environment are still being identified. Vetiver grass (Vetiveria zizanioides), widely grown for many decades and sometimes centuries in the tropics, has only recently become the subject of in ense study and experimentation as an alternative measure for soil and moistureconservation.
... testament to the palatability of vetiver for livestock comes from Southern Honduras where obs... more ... testament to the palatability of vetiver for livestock comes from Southern Honduras where observers say that vetiver is consumed by cattle year round (Proyecto Lupe, 1993). The issue of land shortages is one that has prominence in the tropics. Small farmers constantly seek for ...
... I wish also to thank the Tropical Conservation and Development Program for generous financial... more ... I wish also to thank the Tropical Conservation and Development Program for generous financial support. I am very gratehl to the following persons: Marianne Schmink, Peter Hildebrand, Nigel Smith, Edward Malecki, and my most competent research assistant, Paula Silveira. ...
Arguably, suburban areas—as geographic spaces—are becoming increasingly shaped by the influx of L... more Arguably, suburban areas—as geographic spaces—are becoming increasingly shaped by the influx of Latinos, their businesses, and their cultures. This study investigates the spatial distribution and temporal relationships of Latino-cuisine restaurants and Latino populations within a suburban context of the New "Nuevo" South. Census data, geospatial techniques (geographically weighted regression), and semi-structured open-ended interviews were used to determine where restaurant-based ethnic entrepreneurship has developed, both spatially and temporally, in Cobb County, Georgia, USA. Results show that in this suburban area, Latino-cuisine restaurants have become spatially clustered over time and that there is a moderately positive relationship between locations of restaurants and proportion of Hispanic residents. Our findings suggest that the Latino community parallels the spatial and economic characteristics of an ethnoburb, with the presence of geographically-diffused Latino population clusters and Latino-oriented businesses catering toward the dominant cultural identity of the region.
Over the last 20 years, the government of the small Caribbean island nation of Dominica has pursu... more Over the last 20 years, the government of the small Caribbean island nation of Dominica has pursued the development of ecotourism on the island. The hope is that this industry will promote dispersed economic development while providing environmental protection and cultural conservation. However, not enough has been done to determine whether or not the industry is achieving the desired results. To this end, this study explores the growth of the tourism industry on Dominica and shows that, while not perfect, ecotourism is providing some definite benefits to the island in this regard.
International Journal on Advances in Life Sciences, 2013
With the promotion of online and interactive learning, instructors may be tempted to include arbi... more With the promotion of online and interactive learning, instructors may be tempted to include arbitrarily the latest technologies into their modules without considering the ramifications on students and their learning processes. Instead, we propose that online and interactive modules should be carefully designed using multiple levels of review to ensure clarity of instruction, ease of use of interactive components, and engagement of the students with the material and any related activities. This paper documents the process to design and improve an online module using an iterative process involving instructional designers, student pilot tests, and a focus group. Feedback from these constituents enabled instructors to optimize instructional design to maximize learning opportunities and achievement in online environments.
Integrating sustainability within institutions of higher education can have a tremendous impact o... more Integrating sustainability within institutions of higher education can have a tremendous impact on students, faculty, and the larger community. Sustainability efforts also experience many barriers to implementation within higher education contexts. A change management perspective can help characterize these barriers and ways to overcome them. In this critical case study, we use a process model to examine the kinds of barriers Kennesaw State University (KSU) has faced regarding implementation of academic sustainability and to evaluate change drivers that can advance sustainability during a time of leadership change. The process model evaluates barriers and change drivers according to published frameworks, and provides a way for higher education institutions to identify the most difficult barriers, easily surmountable barriers, and areas where change drivers can have the most impact. At KSU, the process model identified the self-determination of middle-tier change drivers as the most important way to advance sustainable development in higher education institutions (SD in HEI) until new leadership emerges. The process model is iterative and modifiable, because the specific frameworks used in the process model may vary depending upon the needs of each HEI and stage of progression toward SD.
This paper presents the results of two independent studies that assessed the impact of writing as... more This paper presents the results of two independent studies that assessed the impact of writing as a learning tool in introductory-level geography courses. Student attitudes toward writing and their performance on exams were analyzed to determine the impact of writing for comprehension and application of geographical concepts. Student perceptions were mostly positive; however, there was no significant improvement in grades. As both students and instructors view writing as valuable for learning, these results underscore the need to develop alternative methods of assessment and additional studies to quantitatively determine the impact of writing on learning.
Numerous studies have shown both anecdotal and formal evidence of the benefits students obtain fr... more Numerous studies have shown both anecdotal and formal evidence of the benefits students obtain from doing writing activities in classes. Little formal discussion exists about how student writing in geography classes professionally affects faculty. In this article, focus shifts from student-derived benefits of writing in classes to faculty challenges and rewards for implementing writing in their classes. Based on the experience of participating in a Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC) Fellows program, the authors discuss how faculty overcame challenges and reaped the benefits of student writing in their teaching and scholarly pursuits.
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Papers by Vanessa Slinger