Facebook is all the rage. Everyone I know has a Facebook account.  It's no wonder everyone under the sun seems to be doing studies about Facebook and how it is impacting our culture, education, social habits, and consumer spending. In relation to education, The Chronicle of Higher Education references multiple reports in this article including a recently published study in The Journal of College Student Retention that found a connection between the likelihood of Facebookers returning to their initial college after their freshman year. 

While little if any academic impact is noted, it turns out that using social media like Facebook helps students connect, meet friends, and find a place to fit.  This phenom translates into a stronger support system resulting in students staying in school longer.  While all don't admit to being social creatures and may have a "solitary" learning style, the latest findings echo everyone's need to "belong".  Connection gives us identity and draws us to finish what we started when we have others cheering us on.

Facebook: The New Retention Tool?

Thinking Smarter (formerly eToolsAlert) August 2010
Do you want to THINK SMARTER?  Do you want to work SMARTER, NOT HARDER?  Our new monthly newsletter is designed to help you make minutes count. It is our new commitment to you.  Organizing your data and giving it back to you in a format that empowers you to make an informed decision.  Let's start THINKING SMARTER together! What is Your Learning Style? Have you ever taken the learning styles component of SmarterMeasure learning readiness indicator?  Based on the 7-multiple intellegences model, the learning styles section helps you discover how you learn best, what makes you tick, and what the world looks like through your eyes.  Over the past decade SmarterMeasure has evolved from client input and analysis of the data received.  Based on this feedback we are modifying the learning styles section.  The rationale for our enhancements include needing to improve the variability of the existing three-point by using a bipolar, four-point scale, the wording of some questions because two constructs were measured in a single question, along with multiple requests to decrease the length of the assessment. The important dates are listed below.  For more details about the change click here. As of September 1, 2010 - an optional 21-item instrument will be available to all clients.  This abbreviated version still measures each of the seven learning styles.  The questions are measured on a 4-point scale. As of October 15, 2010 - the 35-item instrument will be slightly modified with improved wording of some questions and the scale will be shifting from a 3-point scale to a 4-point scale. As of October 15, 2010 - all new test taker groups created will default to the 21-item instrument in the learning styles section.  However, you may manually choose the 35-item instrument by following the instructions below. SmarterMeasure Survey Says... Recently we sent out a survey to all of our SmarterMeasure administrators to get input on how to improve our support for users.  The survey sought input regarding a virtual user's conference, adding a contact directory, good practices webinar, and shared implementation plans, among others.  A brief synopsis of the results is listed below-take a look!  If you haven't responded yet, there is still time.  Click here and answer the short 8 question survey.  We value your feedback and are committed to providing you with the resources that best meet your needs as SmarterMeasure clients! A majority of responders said they would be interested in an Annual Virtual User's Group Conference. Another very popular idea was to add a "best practices" list to the admin panel resources tab.  About 75% of responders agreed that a shared contact directory would be helpful and said they would like to be included in it.  Almost 95% of responders stated they would possibly, probably, or definitely attend a free annual best practices webinar.  Adding a users' group meeting onto a widely attended conference appealed to about 70% and the most popular conferences were Blackboard World, Sloan-C, and eLearning-ITC. Stay tuned to learn more about how we plan to implement some of the most popular ideas! FREE Webinar-SmarterMeasure Webinar - Using Disaggregate Mode Tuesday, September 14th, 2:00-3:00 pm CST This webinar is designed for current clients who use SmarterMeasure and are interested in learning more about how to use the disaggregate mode which is now available to all clients.  This webinar is for you if you are concerned about the length of SmarterMeasure, would like more flexibility for each section, or if you are interested in separating out the sections of SmarterMeasure. Register today for this FREE webinar! FREE Webinar-Managing Information for and About Faculty Tuesday, September 21st, 2:00-3:00 pm CST Do you have questions about how to manage your faculty information more efficiently?  Would you like to learn more about how to collect faculty credentials, accomplishments and activities and make the data more meaningful?  Are you interested in evaluating a faculty member’s readiness to teach online classes?  If you answered yes to any of these questions, this webinar is for you! Join Dr. Mac Adkins from SmarterServices and L.K. Williams and Scott Wymer of Data180 for this FREE webinar to learn about specific tools that will assist you in managing information for and about faculty in the most efficient way!  Join us on Tuesday, September 21st, 2:00-3:00 pm central for the SmarterServices webinar and learn more about solutions to your challenges. If time allows, we will also be asking for input about ways your school has overcome these challenges.  Register today for this FREE fall webinar!    Did you miss out on our FREE summer webinar - Tools for Scaling your Distance Learning Program? Don't worry, you can access the archived session here.   Case Studies Are you currently using one or more of our products?  Would you like your school to be in the "spotlight"?  Periodically we highlight one school's case study in our monthly or quarterly publications. Case studies are important because they give the school free advertising and also provide ideas to other users about how they can improve implementation of our services.  If you are interested, please contact our VP of Marketing & Operations, Julie Owen, at julie@SmarterServices.com.  Some schools may be concerned about "unauthorized endorsements".  However, our case studies are written to report the factual account of your school's product usage and are not solely meant to advertise a school's endorsement of the product.  The process is easy and begins with a basic questionnaire.  The final case study is approved by all parties before being published in various locations including web, print, and collateral.	August Issue:  What is your Learning Style? SmarterMeasure Survey Says FREE Webinars Case Study SmarterServices Gives Back Ideas to Improve SmarterMeasure  SmarterServices Gives Back This month we heard about a group of our soldiers in Iraq putting together a 10K run to boost morale.  Requesting prizes, we gladly mailed a box of frisbees to give away.  Recreation is a great way to unwind. Do you have a great idea to improve SmarterMeasure? We want to hear from you!  We have just launched an official form that allows all SmarterMeasure admins to suggest new features.  Just click here and give us your ideas.  Select items will be chosen for future upgrades.  Tell the World you "Like" SmarterServices Follow us on Twitter! FREE SmarterMeasure Training Series Do you need some training on the administrative features of SmarterMeasure?  We provide bi-monthly 30 minute - FREE training sessions to all current clients.  To view a calendar of opportunities and register, click here.
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Thinking Smarter

Now available to all current clients is SmarterMeasure in disaggregate mode.  To learn more about how it works, register for our free webinar. 

FREE SmarterMeasure Training Webinar

Over the past decade the SmarterMeasure Learning Readiness Indicator has evolved based on client input as well as our analysis of the data received.  Based on this feedback some revisions are being made to the learning styles section of the assessment. 

RATIONALE FOR THE ENHANCEMENTS:

·         Many schools are concerned about the length of the assessment so an abbreviated version is desired.

·         The variability of the existing three-point scale used to measure learning styles can be improved by using a bipolar, four-point scale.

·         The wording of the existing instrument can be improved because two constructs are mentioned in a single question in some instances. 

WHAT CHANGES?

1. As of September 1, 2010, an optional 21-item instrument will be available to all clients. This abbreviated version still measures each of the seven learning styles. The questions are measured on a 4-point scale.
2. As of October 15, 2010, the 35-item instrument will be slightly modified with improved wording of some questions and the scale will be shifting from a 3-point scale to a 4-point scale.
3. As of October 15, 2010, all new test taker groups created will default to the 21-item instrument in the learning styles section.  However, you may manually choose the 35-item instrument by following the instructions below.
       Login to the SmarterMeasure admin panel.
       Click “Manage Account”   
       Click “Admin & Test Taker Groups”
       Click the test taker group that you’d like to modify
       Scroll to “Tool Order” and under Learning Styles, select Higher Ed 35 item. 

WHAT STAYS THE SAME?    

1. The resulting score report for both the 21 item and 35 item instrument
2. The way the dominant learning style is presented on the test search and export screen
3. Data export process and results
4. All current test taker groups that were previously set to 35-item instrument
    

NOTABLE IMPROVEMENTS - In consultation with our psychometrician, in addition to reducing the number of items from 35 to 21, we also made the following improvements to the learning styles assessment.

1. Item selection – To identify the twenty-one items to remain in the assessment a random sample of 39,000 records were pulled of persons who had completed the learning styles assessment over the past three month period.  Means and standard deviations were calculated for each of the thirty-five items.  Two of the five items per learning style with the lowest mean and broadest standard deviations were identified for deletion.  The rationale is that the items with the lowest mean and broadest standard deviations were the least indicative of a person with that learning style as dominant.

2. Parallel statements - Items were rephrased so that they all begin with “You. …”

3. Expanded scale - The scale was increased form a three point scale to a four point scale.  There are seven learning styles being measured on the scale.  The prior version measured each of the seven types with five statements.  In this revised version of the instrument each of the seven learning styles is measured with three items.  To accommodate for the reduced number of items the three-point scale was increased to a four-point scale.  The research literature on personality inventories indicates that a bi-polar (even number of items on the scale) is preferred over a scale with a mid-point (odd number of items).  Using an odd-numbered scaled with a mid-point persons are likely to choose the middle or neutral option.  But with a four-point scale they have to choose an option on the positive or negative side of the scale. 

4. Item clarity – Some of the prior items were stated in such a way that more than one idea was being presented in the statement.  All statements have now been revised so that only one idea is communicated in each statement.

5. Item order – To ensure that items on the assessment were not grouped by learning style the statements are arranged alphabetically.

Improvements to Learning Styles Section of SmarterMeasure

According to John P. Kotter's article "Why Transformation Efforts Fail", there is a science to effectively managing major change.  Kotter lists eight stages of creating major change and how to make them work.  In today's world of fast-pace business it is crucial that we are equipped to handle the rapid change that continues to drive the direction of many industries. 

1. Establish a sense of urgency - If it is important then make it a priority!
2. Creating the guiding coalition - Get people together who have the authority to make things happen and let them do their job!
3. Developing a vision and strategy - Know where you want to go!
4. Communicating the change vision - Don't leave those who are expected to "change" in the dark!
5. Empowering broad-based action - Remove obstacles that can't hamper involvement and results!
6. Generating short-term wins - Small wins keep players motivated!
7. Consolidating gains and producing more change - Promote, hire, and develop those who can make the change happen!
8. Anchoring new approaches in the culture - Implement accountability system and hold everyone to the appropriate standard!

Effectively Making a Major Change