UNICON Study: Mobile Learning Offers Growing Opportunities for Executive Education Programs Around the Globe


Minneapolis, Minnesota (PRWEB) January 12, 2012

New research from UNICON (International University Consortium for Executive Education) reveals that many business schools across the globe have untapped opportunities to provide innovative executive education learning programs facilitated by mobile technology. The UNICON report, ?Going mobile in executive education,? is based on research conducted by UNICON member Ashridge Business School in the United Kingdom. It analyzes the potential impact of mobile technologies on the executive education learning landscape around the world. The report looks at mobile learning, and how portable technologies — smartphones , PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants), handheld computers and personal media players — can support and extend the reach of teaching and learning.

The report finds that some learning providers are embracing mobile learning and developing new approaches to learning. Included in the report are detailed case studies of: Abilene Christian University (USA), The Open University (UK), Ashridge Business School (UK), Harvard Business School (USA), Seton Hill University (USA), IMD (Switzerland), EPIC, (UK), and Skill Pill, University of Cape Town (South Africa).

While the research highlights examples of innovative applications of mobile learning in business schools, universities and the private sector around the globe, it concludes that many more executive education providers today could be maximizing the vast potential of mobile devices for learning.

?The future of executive education is about choice and personalisation. Our survey makes clear that providers should not wait for the industry to settle,? said UNICON Chairman Bill Shedden, who also serves as Director of the Centre for Customised Executive Education at the Cranfield School of Management in Bedford, England. ?Our recent State of the Industry survey also found that while many executive education providers are moving cautiously, they have begun experimenting with technology and ? in many cases ? are taking more technology initiative than clients expect or demand. In other words, executive education clients look to university-based providers to help them understand what new technology is important.

?The global nature of businesses and the growing capabilities of powerful mobile devices mean that adopting new technologies in learning is essential to continuing to attract clients in the competitive executive education market,? Shedden continued. ?UNICON is dedicated to helping its members learn more about how to effectively adopt new technologies and to remain industry leaders in university-based executive education programs around the globe.?

Mobile technology can help provide executives with pre- and post-course support, and the latest mobile learning applications can extend their access to a multimedia-rich education. It also provides a means for participants to stay connected with one another as professional resources after a program ends. Other benefits of mobile learning identified by the report include:

?????Just enough? learning ? highly applied, easily digestible learning for busy executives.
?????Just-in-time? learning ? convenient, flexible and relevant learning at the exact moment learning is required.
?????Just-for-me? learning ? learning can be accessed via mobile devices in many different ways, which means that there are opportunities for it to appeal to many different learning styles.
????Mobile devices can facilitate collaboration. SMS texting reminders, knowledge sharing forums and ?ask a question? forums enable and enhance interaction between participants and instructors.

Research Fellow at Ashridge Business School and UNICON report co-author Dr Carina Paine Schofield noted, ?Advances in mobile technologies and high levels of mobile phone penetration are changing the way that learning is being adopted and used in educational contexts, and it has evolved into more than e-learning with a phone. Mobile learning offers easier access to learning materials so students can be more productive with their time. It empowers executive education providers to serve up learning in multiple formats ? audio, visual or text ? to suit individual learning styles.?

Ashridge Business School was one of the first executive education providers to establish an online learning resource. Its online learning platform, Virtual Ashridge, lets students home in on certain interests and choose a style of learning that fits their personality without information overload: some may want to listen to an audio file or read text, while others may want to take part in an online discussion.

Director of Learning Services at Ashridge Business School Tony Sheehan said: ?Mobile learning offers a powerful opportunity to introduce learning on demand. It allows individuals to connect to executive education at a time that suits them and in a way that can support current business challenges. Learners are no longer dependent on the classroom, as mobile devices allow learners to connect in times of reflection ? a long train journey, a daily commute ? where the mind is alert and open to new insights.

?During these times of austerity, mobile and e-learning tutorials also provide a cost- and time-efficient way of educating staff that avoids the travel and accommodation costs of off-site courses,? Sheehan added.

About UNICON

Founded in 1972 as an association of executive education program directors, UNICON has evolved from an informal common-interest group into an incorporated non-profit consortium committed to advancing the field of university- and business school-sponsored executive education. Membership is composed of nearly 100 educational institutions from the Americas, Europe, Asia and Africa.

UNICON is committed to the principle that academically based executive education provides a combination of thought-leadership at the highest levels of rigor, masterful learning environments and practical application that cannot be replicated by non-academic providers.

The organization sponsors and conducts research studies that bring to the forefront this unique value of business-school-based executive education. It also provides industry/operational knowledge and networking opportunities for members through conferences, workshops, research, benchmarking, website, newsletters, job postings, discussion boards and forums and other activities.

The UNICON report, Going mobile in executive education: how mobile technologies are changing the executive learning landscape, was written by Dr. Carina Paine Schofield, Trudi West and Emily Taylor of Ashridge Business School.

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Christmas Star Events Proven and Explained by Researcher Using Nasa Astronomy Computer Programs

Zanesville, OH (PRWEB) December 10, 2011

Irene Worthington Baron used over sixty NASA astronomy computer programs to search skies of 2,000-years ago for evidence and proof of the Christmas star. The author reports confirming each discovered birth announcement of Jesus Christ by using multiple astronomy computer programs.

The titles of the NASA computer programs used by the author are listed in the illustrated book, Unraveling the Christmas Star Mystery, at the URL: http://www.irenebaron.com, and at the end of this press release.

Ms. Baron stated, ?Just because a spectacular celestial event occurred in the dawn sky of 2,000- years ago did not mean it was part of Jesus Christ?s birth announcement. The event had to have the correct associated symbolism that was used by ancient priests, astronomers, astrologers, and cosmologists referring to the birth of the new and most powerful God to be born in the universe.?

The author correlated interpretations of celestial symbols and symbolic events used by the star watchers of Christ?s time with the actual events as they occurred in the dawn sky. The difficulties she encountered during the research are included in the book.

Readers will find text references of the ancient symbolism in the book correlated with endnotes that are listed by chapter. References are listed in the newly published digital book, Unraveling the Christmas Star Mystery, at the URL:http://www.irenebaron.com, and at the end of this press release.

According to Ms. Baron, there were ten major, celestial events announcing the birth of Jesus Christ, the last being the position marker over Bethlehem. The events created what she considers to be the greatest birth announcement in the history of mankind.

Individuals using astronomy computer programs are invited by the author to verify the celestial events she discovered. In her book she identifies each event by day, hour, month, and year.

It has become common knowledge that the star watchers of 2000-years ago studied the sky at dawn. Participating individuals must therefore set the time of their searches to dawn in the time zone of Bethlehem.

It is common knowledge to current astronomers that ancient astronomers, astrologers, priests and cosmologists used symbols and symbolism to interpret star movements prior to the Babylonians of 4,000-years ago.

The movements of the stars and planets in the heavens are precise and mathematical. The author therefore concluded that the ancient star watchers, well versed in mathematics and astronomy, were able to make predictions of star movements years in advance. Ms. Baron stated it is logical to conclude that having advance knowledge is what enabled the entourages of wisemen/magi/astronomers/priests, and their support personnel, ample time to travel from their homelands to Bethlehem in Judea to pay homage to the new God and become, perhaps, the first gentiles to worship Him.

Ms. Baron learned the details concerning the ancient interpretations of symbols and star movements by using abstracts, books, papers, and periodicals concerning ancient history and archeology including studies of ancient writings, wall carvings, art, astronomy, and historical artifacts. As stated earlier, these references are included at the end of this press release. A few examples of the resources identifying the symbols and symbolism of the ancient astronomers, astrologers, and cosmologists and their interpretations include:

Archaeoastronomy and the Roots of Science by E. Krupp, AAAS Selected Symposium 71. Westview Press.

The Norton History of Astronomy & Cosmology by J. North, published by the W.W. Norton & Company.

Echoes of the Ancient Skies: The Astronomy of Lost Civilizations by E.C. Krupp, published by Harper & Row Publishers.

The Reports of The Magicians and Astrologers of Nineveh and Babylon with editor R.C. Thompson, published by Luzac & Company.

The author reports from her research that the spectacular birth announcement events began in July of that eventful year when the ancient ?wandering star? gods Venus, Mars, and Jupiter were closely lined up in the dawn sky. At opposition, they had their full faces brilliantly illuminated like neon signs. Symbolically, astronomers were being asked to pay attention for what was to come. From that point on, significant and spectacular symbolic events happened rapidly.

The author found the ancient dawn sky gods moved in unique ways to help create the impressive Christmas star events. According to her research, each celestial event provided further symbolic evidence that the new God being born on Earth was destined to become the most powerful God of the Universe.

Ms. Baron stated, ?The ancient star watchers were probably shaking in the sandals when they interpreted the phenomenal and spectacular events. The predicted birth of the greatest God in the universe was probably, to them, the biggest event to ever happen on Earth.?

According to her references, the ancient priests and astronomers assigned different attributes to each of the ?wandering stars,? including Saturn. Their various symbolic beliefs concerning the Moon god of knowledge and their all powerful Sun god of creation are also discussed and referenced in the book.

Using references to verify her findings, Ms. Baron explains the specific celestial symbolic interpretations of ancient civilizations including the Akkadians, Asians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Chinese, Egyptians, Mespotamians, Persians, and Sumerians.

The digital book was written and illustrated by the author to enable persons ages twelve and older to understand the information presented. Astronomy knowledge needed to understand the birth announcement events is explained in an easy to comprehend format.

The digital book, Unraveling the Christmas Star Mystery, is available from major electronic book sellers such as the Amazon Kindle Store, Barnes & Noble eBooks, and the Sony Reader Store.

One reviewer reports:

Unraveling the Christmas Star Mystery is a thorough, accurate and spellbinding account of the Christmas star phenomenon based on numerous NASA computer programs, Biblical passages, historical records, illustrations on ancient monuments, coins, and legal seals dating back three thousand or more years. The scientific data with ancient observations and beliefs form a precise explanation of the birth of Jesus and the associated phenomenon of the Christmas star. This text is a good source of information for the scholar, teacher, and population in general. Recommended highly for Biblical Scholars.

H. Lewis, M.D.

Ms. Baron currently resides in Ohio.

Additional information may be found on her Web site: http://www.irenebaron.com.

She will be glad to answer astronomy questions related to her research. She may be contacted through the email address: irenebaron(at)irenebaron(dot)com.

The public domain, astronomy computer programs were sent to the author by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration education library. She used their computer programs to discover, verify, and report the astronomy events listed in the digital book: Unraveling the Christmas Star Mystery. The computer program titles include:

????Adjust Right Ascension & Declination for Precession

????Altitude Azimuth

????Altazimuth Calculator ? Interpolator

????Angular separation ? Two Stars

????Calendar

????Calendrics

????Close Encounters

????Comet

????Coordinates: Moon & Planets ? Any Date

????Conjunction

????Dynamic Planet Orbit Plotter for different Solar Masses

????Elongations & Transits of Polaris

????Ephemerides

????Ephemeris

????Ephemeris computer

????Equinoxes & Solstices

????Galilean Satellite Positions

????????????????Great Circle Distance

????Julian Day & Calendar Interchange

????Lunar Eclipse/Umbra

????Lunar & Solar Eclipse Calculations

????Mars: Next Opposition & Data

????Messier and NGC Catalogs

????Moon: Eclipses for Any Year

????Moon Finder

????Moon: Phases for Any Date

????Moon Phase Program

????????????????Moon Phases

????Moon Plotter for Phases/Locations

????????????????North Sky: A Computerized Star Chart

????Northern Star field

????Observer

????Planet Coordinates

????Planet Data

????Planet Finder

????Planet Grand Tour

????Planet Locator and Solar System Simulator

????Planet Orbits

????Planet views

????Precession

????RA & DEC ;Moon & Planets ? Any Date

????Retrograde Motion of Mars

????Rise/Set/Transit & Star Time

????Satellite Passage

????Solar Eclipse #1

????Solar Eclipse #2

????Solar System Orrery

????Solar system: Rise Transit Set

????Spirografix ? True Path Plotter

????Star & Nebula Locator

????Summing Stellar Magnitudes

????Sun Azimuth & Maximum Altitude

????Sunrise/Set

????Sunrise/Set Version #2

????Sunrise Sunset, Dawn & Dusk

????Sunrise/Sunset/Sun locations

????Text

????Time Dilation

????Time: Local Mean == Sidereal

????Times of rising and Setting of Mercury and Venus For Any Date

????Twilight times: any Location

????Ursa Star Time

????Year Sunrise/Set & Twilight Calculator

????Zodiac Sunsigns

She also used the purchased computer program TellStar ? Your Computer Graphics Window to the Universe distributed by Spectrum HoloByte.

The author used over ninety abstracts, books, papers, and periodical references to determine the symbols and symbolic interpretations used by the ancient sky watchers. Endnotes correlate references to the text. The references are listed alphabetically below:

Abell, G.O., Morrison, D., Wolff, S.C . Exploration of the Universe. Saunders College Publishing. Philadelphia. 1987.

Alter, D., Cleminshaw, C.H., Phillips, J.H. Pictorial astronomy. Crowell. New York. 1974.

Aveni, A. Empires of Time. Basic Books. Harper Collins. New York. 1989.

Avi-Yonah. M. Introducing Archaeology. Cassell. London. 1973.

Bacon, E. Archaeology: Discoveries in the 1960?s. Praeger Publishers. New York.1971.

Bailey, J. The god-Kings & the Titans: the New World Ascendancy in Ancient Times. St. Martin?s Press. New York. 1973

Begley, S. The Christmas Star. Newsweek. D. 30. 118: 54-5. 1991.

Binford, L.R. In Pursuit of the Past: Decoding the Archaeological Record. Thames and Hudson. New York. 1983.

Brecher, K., Feirtag, M. Astronomy of the ancients. MIT Press. Cambridge.1979.

Caes, C.J. Studies in Starlight: Understanding Our Universe. TAB Books, Inc. Blue Ridge Summit. 1988.

Calvin, W. How the Shaman Stole The Moon. Bantam Books. New York. 1991.

Camp, L. Great Cities of the Ancient World. Doubleday & Co., Garden City, New York. 1972.

Carmody, D.L. The Oldest God: Archaic Religion Yesterday & Today. Abingdon. Nashville. 1981.

Castiglioni, M., Chatterjee, S. P., Gerlach, A. C., Koeman, C., Libault, A., Thackwell, D., Voskuil, R., Watanabe, A.Rand McNally: The International Atlas. Rand McNalley & Company. Chicago. 1969.

Ceram, C.W. Hands On the Past. Alfred A. Knopf. New York. 1966.

Chaisson, ZE., McMillan, S. Astronomy Today. Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. 1993.

Champdor, A. Babylon. Elek Books. London. 1958.

Charles-Piccard, G. Larousse Encylopedia of Archeology. G.P. Putnam & Sons. New York. 1972.

Clark, D.H. The Cosmos From Space. Crown Publishers. New York. 1987.

Cleere, G. Stargazing Notes for April 1988. News! From the Naval Observatory. Pp. 1-2. 1988.

Cleere, G. The Moon and Sun. News! From the Naval Observatory. P. 1 1988, June.

Cleere, G. The Beginning of spring. News! From the Naval Observatory. Pl.2 . March. 1989.

Cleere, G. Leap Second Coming. News! From the Naval Observatory. P. 2. October. 1989.

Conenau, G. Everyday Life in Babylon & Assyria. W.W. Norton & Company, Inc. New York. 1966.

Cottrell, L. Lady of the Two Lands: Five Queens of Ancient Egypt. Gobbs-Merrill Company, Inc. Indianapolis. 1967.

DeYoung, J., Hildton, J. ?Star of Bethlehem.? Sky & Telescope. April. 73. 357-358. 1987.

Dixon, R. Dynamic Astronomy. Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs. 1989.

Dreyer, J. A History of Astronomy from Thales to Kepler. Heath. 1953.

Dunn, R., Abrahamse, D., Davison, G., Farmer, E., Garvey, J., McNeill, W., Schillings, 3D., Victor, D. A World History: Links Across Time & Place. McDougal, Littell & Company. 1988.

Emiliani, C. The Scientific Companion. John Wiley & Sons. New York. 1988.

Evans, D. The Wrong Way Comet and Other Mysteries of Our Solar System. TAB Books.l Blue Ridge Summit. Pennsylvania. 1992.

Frazier, K. Solar system. Time Life Books. Morristown. 1985.

Fairservis, W. Jr. Egypt, Gift Of The Nile. MacMillan Company. New York. 1963.

Gilbert, C., Ed. Larousse Encyclopedia of Archaeology. The Hamlyn Group. Norwich. 1972.

Glutting, s. ?The Moon.? News! From the Naval Observatory. P. 1. March. 1990.

Grant, M. The History of Ancient Israel. Charles Schribner & Sons. N.Y 1984..

Hamblin, D.J. The First Cities. Time Life Books. New York. 1973.

Hammond Historical World Atlas: Volume One, Volume Two. Hammond Inc. Newsweek.1971.

Hapsgood, C.H. Maps of the Ancient Sea Kings. Turnstone Books. London. 1979.

Hawkins, G. Beyond Stonehenge. Harper & Row. New York. 1973.

Hawkins, G. Mindsteps To The Cosmos. Harper & Row. New York. 1983.

Hawkins, G. ?Stargazers of the Ancient World:. Yearbook of Science & the Future. Encylopaedia Britannica. Chicago. 1975.

Hicks, J. The Persians. Time Life Books. New York. 1973.

Hay. J. Ancient China. Henry Z. Walch, Inc. New York. 1974.

Hodges, H. Technology in the Ancient World. Alfred A. Knopf. New York. 1970.

Holy Bible, People?s Parallel Large Print Edition, King James Version and The Living Bible. Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Wheaton. 1981.

Hoyle, F. Astronomy. Doubleday & Co., Inc. Garden City. 1962.

Huber, R.V. The Bible Through the Ages. Readers Digest. New York. 1996.

Kraeling, E. Rand McNally Bible Atlas. Rand McNally & Company. New York. 1952.

Kramer, S. & Editors of Time Life Books. Great Ages of Man: Cradle of Civilization. Time Inc. New York. 1967.

Krupp, E. ?Ancient Watchers of the Sky.? 1980 Science Year. World Book Science Annual. Chicago: World Book ? Childcraft International. 9B-113. 1979.

Krupp, E. Archaeoastronomy and the Roots of Science. AAAS Selected Symposium 71. Westview Press. Boulder, CO 1984.

Krupp, E.C. Echos of the Ancient Skies: The Astronomy of Lost Civilizations. Harper & Row Publishers, Inc. New York, New York. 1983.

Krupp, E. Skywatchers, Shamans & Kings. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. New York. 1997.

Lamsa, G.M. Holy Bible From the Ancient Eastern Text. HarperCollins Publishers, New York. 1968.

Lehner, E. Symbols, Signs & Signets. Dover Publications, Inc. New York. 1996.

Ley, W. Watchers of the Skies. Viking Press. New York. 1969.

Lyons, A. PredictingThe Future. Harry N. Abrams, Inc. New York. 1990.

MacQuitty, W. Abu Simbel. G.P. Putnam?s Sons. New York. 1965.

Mahdy, C. Mummies, Myth and Magic in Ancient Egypt. Thames & Hudson. Spain. 1989.

Margueron, J.C. Mesopotamia. Nagel Publishers. Geneva. 1965.

Medford, Ron. Satellite Laser Ranging System To Be activated At U.S. Naval Observatory?s Station in Miami. News! From the Naval Observatory. Pp. 1-2. March. 1988.

Mendelssohn, K. The Riddle of the Pyramids. Praeger Publishers. New York. 1974.

Meyers, E., & Strange, J. Archaeology, the Rabbis, and Early Christianity: The Social & Historical Setting of Palestinian Judaism and Chrtianity. Parthenon Press. Nashville. 1981.

Miller, R. (Ed.). The Complete Gospels: Annotated Scholars Version. Polebridge Press Book. Harper. San Francisco. 1994.

Molnar, M. ?The Coins of Antioch?. Sky & Telescope. January 1992. 37-39. 1992.

Molnar, M. The Star of Bethlehem. Rutgerts University Press. New Brunswick. New Jersey. 2000.

Moore, P. Astronomers; Stars. W. Norton, New York. 1989.

North, J. The Norton History of Astronomy & Cosmology. W.W. Norton & Co., New York, N.Y. 1995.

Pasachoff, J. Journey Through the Universe. Saunders College Publishing. Orlando. 1994.

Paul, John II, His Holiness Crossing The Threshold of Hope. Alfred A. Knopf. New York. 1995.

Pickering, J. Asterisks. Dodd, Mead & Co. New York. 1964.

Ronan, C. Lost Discoveries. Bonanza Books. New York. 1976.

Ryan, K. ?What Would You Like to Know?? Catholic Digest. 58. 3. Pp. 126-7. 1994.

Rubincam, D. ?Does an Ancient Jewish Amulet Commemorate the Conjunction of 2 B.C.?? Skeptical Inquirer. 17. 78-80. 1992.

Sagan, C. Cosmos. Random House. New York. 1980.

Scarre, C. Smithsonian Timeslines of the Ancient World. Dorling Kindersley. New York. 1993.

Schaefer, B. ?Heavenly Signs.? New Scientist. December 21/28. 48-51. 1991.

Schafer, E.H. Editor. Great Ages of Man; Ancient China. Time Life Books, New York. 1967.

Showker, K. Fodor?s Egypt: 1984. New York: Fodor?s Travel Guides. 1983.

Sinnott, R. ?Computing the Star of Bethlehem?. Sky & Telescope. December. 72. 632 ? 635. 1986.

Snow, T.P. Essentials of the Dynamic Universe, An Introduction To Astronomy. 2nd Edition. West Publishing. St. Paul. 1987.

Social Science Staff of Educational Research Council of America. The Human Adventure: Ancient Civilization. Allyn & Bacon, Inc. Boston. 1975.

Stephenson, F., Clark, D. ?Ancient Astronomical Records from the Orient?. Sky & Telescope. 53. 2. 84-91. 1977.

Talcott, R. ?A Burst of Discovery: The First Days of Supernova 1987A.? Astronomy. Vol. 15. No.6. p.90-95. 1987.

Thomas, G. Rediscovering Christmas. Tidings. Nashville. 1954.

Thompson, R.C. editor. Volume II. The Reports of The Magicians and Astrologers of Nineveh and Babylon. Luzac & Co. London. 1990.

Thompson, R. C. editor. Luzac?s Semitic Text and Translation Series. Volume VI: The Cuneiform Texts. Luzac & Co. London 1990.

Thuan Trinh Xuan The Secret Melody and Man Created the Universe. Oxford University Press. New York. 1995.

Waters, T.R. Planets: A Smithsonian Guide. Macmillan. New York. 1995.

Weiss, N. Sky Watchers of Ages Past. Houghton Mifflin Co. Boston 1982.

White, J. Ancient Egypt: Its Culture and History. Dover Publications. New York. 1970.

Who?s Who In the Bible. Pleasantville NY: Readers Digest Association, Inc. 1994.

Wilkinson, R. Symbol & Magic In Egyptian Art. Thomas & Hudson, Ltd. London. 10, 17, 20, 23, 29,66,158. 1994.

Wilson, C. Starseekers. Doubleday & Company. New York. 1980.

Wilson, D. The New Archaeology. Alfred A. Knopf. New York. 1975.

Worlds Last Mysteries. New York: Readers Digest. 1978.

Zim, H., Baker, R. Stars. Golden Press. New York. 1975.

Zimmerman, L. Heads & Tales of Celestial Coins. Sky & Telescope. 89. 3. Pp. 28-29. 1995.

Ms. Baron attributes her success to numerous pastors who permitted access to their personal books and church libraries. She highly appreciates the helpful reference librarians at John McIntire Public Library in Zanesville, OH who obtained numerous books from other libraries at her request. The extensive library of the Zanesville Art Center was also utilized as was the Internet.

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