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Syrian officals ordered to leave, a Cabinet committee for foreign worker agreements and possible change to online betting laws, Tim Lester reports.

ONE Liberal MP says Tony Abbott's view of his continuing deep personal unpopularity is that he is in ''a two-horse race and you've just got to beat the other horse''.

In the latest Newspoll his satisfaction rating has fallen to 31 per cent, his lowest ever; his dissatisfaction level rose to a new high of 60 per cent. Julia Gillard has 30 per cent satisfaction and 60 per cent dissatisfaction. Despite Labor trailing 46-54 per cent, she leads as better PM 40-37 per cent.

Rebecca Huntley, a director at Ipsos, which conducts focus groups, says the general feeling about Mr Abbott is that ''there is a question mark over his head - what kind of prime minister would he be?

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What's not to like ... Tony Abbott Photo: Andrew Meares

''They still see him as John Howard's pugilistic minister with a potential for volatility.'' But given his disciplined performance and the government's problems, she expects voters to ''quash any niggling feelings of doubt about him'' at the election.

Nielsen pollster John Stirton says Mr Abbott polarises people. ''Conservative voters think he's a potential saviour for the nation. Everyone else isn't quite so sure.

''His 'take no prisoners' style has had Labor spooked from day one and his reward has been a healthy opinion poll lead for the Coalition. But this has come with a cost, or at least it has reinforced his negative image.''

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The mystery that is Abbott's unpopularity

Video will begin in 5 seconds.

Syrian officals ordered to leave, a Cabinet committee for foreign worker agreements and possible change to online betting laws, Tim Lester reports.

ONE Liberal MP says Tony Abbott's view of his continuing deep personal unpopularity is that he is in ''a two-horse race and you've just got to beat the other horse''.

In the latest Newspoll his satisfaction rating has fallen to 31 per cent, his lowest ever; his dissatisfaction level rose to a new high of 60 per cent. Julia Gillard has 30 per cent satisfaction and 60 per cent dissatisfaction. Despite Labor trailing 46-54 per cent, she leads as better PM 40-37 per cent.

Rebecca Huntley, a director at Ipsos, which conducts focus groups, says the general feeling about Mr Abbott is that ''there is a question mark over his head - what kind of prime minister would he be?

Advertisement: Story continues below

What's not to like ... Tony Abbott Photo: Andrew Meares

''They still see him as John Howard's pugilistic minister with a potential for volatility.'' But given his disciplined performance and the government's problems, she expects voters to ''quash any niggling feelings of doubt about him'' at the election.

Nielsen pollster John Stirton says Mr Abbott polarises people. ''Conservative voters think he's a potential saviour for the nation. Everyone else isn't quite so sure.

''His 'take no prisoners' style has had Labor spooked from day one and his reward has been a healthy opinion poll lead for the Coalition. But this has come with a cost, or at least it has reinforced his negative image.''

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Abbott popularity hits new low, alongside PM

FRED WOODCOCK

Canterbury heptathlete Rebecca Wardell remains confident she will qualify for the Olympic Games despite the bar being raised by training partner Sarah Cowley.

Cowley achieved the New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) qualifying target of 6050 points with a personal best 6135-points performance in Gotzis, Austria, last weekend.

The 28-year-old's feat means Wardell, 34, must now achieve the Olympic A standard mark of 6150 points over the seven track and field events at two upcoming meetings in Europe.

"It does mean that I will have to do an A standard to be assured of a place on the team. If I now do a score between standard (6050) and the A (6150) then the selectors will have to choose just one of us," Wardell said from the training base in Switzerland she shares with Cowley, Olympic and world shot put champion Valerie Adams and Kiwi decathlete Scott McLaren.

Wardell has not competed in a heptathlon since surgery to repair a stress fracture after injuring her left leg at the Delhi Commonwealth Games in 2010.

But the 33-year-old is upbeat about her chances of making the cut for London.

"I always had 6150 as my target taped to my wall as I knew Sarah was in good shape in the New Zealand summer so it would have been crazy for me to set my sights purely on achieving 6050. Sarah's score in Gotzis doesn't change my focus as I do think I can achieve the A standard in Ratingen [Germany] on June 14 and 15 or at French champs on July 7-8."

Wardell said 6150 was only 42 points more than her personal best (6108) set in Ratingen four years ago.

"I am a better athlete now than I was back then," she said. "The key, as always for me, will be to stay in one piece!"

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Heptathlete Rebecca Wardell sure of qualification

Peter Dazeley | Photographers Choice | Getty Images

Until now, legal requirements for corporations focused on one goal: profits. Today, benefit corporations add the legal duty of companies to achieve profits while also focusing on socially responsible activities also known as Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

Start-up businesses and existing small businesses would be well-served to adopt a benefit corporation structure. Companies that seek to establish sustainable principles as part of their business and marketing strategy and, more importantly, their corporate DNA, are positioned for long-term success.

As former CEO of Patagonia and now a professor at Pepperdines Graziadio School of Business and Management, I know first-hand the benefits of integrating socially minded principles into the core of a business. Patagonia was the first company to sign up for benefit corporation status in California; a corporation in which passion and social responsibility have helped build a successful business. Patagonias success is predicated on ensuring that the core principles of environmental stewardship and corporate social responsibility are implemented into every product.

With sustainability as clearly more than a trend, there are a few things businesses should keep in mind when looking to establish a company built for long-term success.

Register as a benefit corporation from the beginning: Establishing a company as a benefit corporation allows the business to embed socially minded goals in the company and maintain that foundation through efforts to raise capital. Creating brand loyalty must mean a loyal commitment to these goals. Historically, companies had opportunities to get a certificate to highlight their commitment to social benefits, but there was not legal protection from investors or executives that wanted to shift the companys direction. Now, with benefit corporations, investors will be investing in a company that has socially minded principles embedded through law.

Do not lose sight of standard business practices: Establishing a goal to improve the environment or your community can be all encompassing. Businesses must make sure you establish solid business practices in your company to ensure success. This means ensuring that you produce a high-quality product or service. In order to maximize profits, socially minded goals must be carefully married with a high quality product or service to truly achieve brand loyalty.

Look to executive education programs: These are valuable as talent sources for prospective employees with skills that can help you maximize profits while attaining your social and environmental goals. Beyond Grey Pinstripes, a program run by the Aspen Institute, compiles information about innovative full-time MBA programs that are leading the way in the integration of issues concerning social and environmental stewardship into the curriculum. In 2009, Beyond Grey Pinstripes collected data from 149 business schools in 24 countries and found that the number of elective courses per school that feature some degree of social, environmental or ethical content has increased over time: In 2009 it was 19 courses per school, up from 12 courses per school in 2005.

In fact, the model I teach, Socially Environmentally Ethically Responsible (SEER) Business Strategy, aligns fully with the intent of the benefit corporation. CSR is one of four macro-values the organizations must embrace in order to achieve the aims that the benefit corporation classification is meant to aspire. By applying an integrated strategy encompassing a quality product or service, financial strength, corporate social responsibility and environmental stewardship, business can and will drive profitability and positively impact society.

Research and real-life examples make it clear: Entrepreneurs looking to start a new business or an executive looking to maximize profits while doing good, have greater odds of achieving success through a benefit corporation designation. Having an emotional connection a heart-felt occurrence that organically evolves over time will provide concrete financial benefits that will help companies grow over the long-term.

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Social Responsibility Builds Long-Term Success: Opinion

The Homestead 4-H Shooting Club had some success at a recent state competition.

In addition to many of its members shooting personal best scores, several kids also earned individual honors.

The club consists of youths ranging in ages from 7 to 19 years. Club coach Mike Jochum said the Beatrice squad had more individuals competing in the state event than any other club in the state.

We had many, many kids go up there and shoot their personal best, Jochum said. Which is great to see. To see them go up into that environment where youre up against 148 different gunners across the state -- and perform at that level was great.

The club's BB gun shooting team took second place in the shooting event and finished first on the written test that consists of gun knowledge and gun safety.

Because the BB gun team finished in the top three overall, they qualify to shoot in the National Daisy BB gun match in Arkansas later this summer.

Garrett Hier, 8, won an individual first place honor in the kneeling competition and registered a score of 92, which is a state record for his age group.

His brother, Ben Hier, won first place in five events in the 11-12 year old division.

Andy Buhr won a state championship in the sporter air rifle competition, winning in all four positions.

The air rifle sporter team, comprising Buhr, Rachael Schoenrock, Tyler Parthemer and Ben Heir, also won a state championship.

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Aiming for the bullseye

Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYb1ATb5fEQ

28-05-2012 18:25 As online learning continues to expand, how does the distance learning model impact the way we think of and deliver student services? In this episode we talk with SNHU Director of Student Success Matt Thornton about the role and reality of delivering these services, exploring and answering these key questions: What are the needs of the distance learning student? What is the role of community building, both inside and outside the LMS? How can data help us build a more efficient student services system? How is tutoring being deployed for online students, and who are some key players in this space? What are the overall biggest challenges facing student services and academic advisors?

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Student Services in a Distance Learning World - Video

Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuq912CpEvc

29-05-2012 10:11 From WNPR on October 19, 2006 Years ago, there was a stigma about distance learning...late night TV ads conjuring up fly-by-night degree factories. The sense was that bypassing a "real" college experience was more of a "dodge" than a decision. But as the internet has grown, the number of students learning online has boomed. Some schools, like the ubiquitous University of Phoenix have risen because of a demand for online education. And, traditional brick and mortar schools have gotten into the business - with traditional classroom professors giving more and more of their lecture time over to the digital classroom. But what's lost in the exchange? When classes don't convene in a classroom - is a basic connection missing? Does learning at a distance keep us arms length from a real education? We're talking with Ed Klonoski, director of Connecticut Distance Learning Consortium, and Dr. Merle Harris, President of Charter Oak State College. The Distance Learning Consortium provides the infrastructure for online learning in the state, and Charter Oak is one of the many schools now providing an online education.

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The Rise of the Internet Classroom - Video

Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjauCLuI0d4

29-05-2012 14:58 Federal mandates requiring access for students with disabilities pre-date the existence of online learning. How it all plays out in the virtual world is becoming clearer, as a spate of lawsuits and federal directives begin to shape our practice and, hopefully, drive our decision-making in a proactive manner. With this workshop you'll understand the issues faced in assuring online accessibility, as well as the dangers in ignoring those obligations when building an online learning presence. Participants learn how to assess their school's current accessibility status and uncover steps to enhance that access.

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Disability Access and Online Learning Sloan-C Workshop Introduction - Video

Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QP_VYALFhyI

29-05-2012 16:34 2012 Learning Enhancement Center - LEC - Connects Innovation in Teaching Award: The Innovation in Teaching Award is designed to encourage faculty to implement new ideas in the classroom. In a community of learning, we all learn from each other—from teaching mentors and from fellow faculty who reflect on and continually seek teaching strategies that promote deeper and more engaged learning. Exemplary Online Course Award: This award recognizes faculty who use online learning technology effectively by exhibiting best practices for designing engaging online coursework.

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2012 LEC Connects Awards - Video

For a select group of students attending Washington University Law School, classes will be no farther away than a laptop.

On Tuesday, the Washington University Law School announced an online master's degree program in U.S. law, reported Tamar Lewin of the New York Times. Partnering with 2tor, a higher education technology syndicate, the program is "perhaps the earliest partnership between a top-tier law school and a commercial enterprise," Lewin wrote. There are pros and cons to this experimental model, he added.

This program, similar to other online education initiatives at Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, boast convenience, replication and, most advantageously, affordability. Mark C. Taylor at Bloomberg reported, "This reconfiguration of courses gives students more freedom and creates the possibility of decreasing the time necessary to complete a college degree, thereby lowering the cost of a college education."

While the program is reputable, it is not yet equivalent to a traditional law degree, according to the article. "About a dozen states allow some Master of Law holders to qualify for the bar exam, but in New York, those with master's degrees are not eligible if they earned the degree online," Lewin wrote.

But "with the advent of online degrees," Gayle Murphy, senior executive of the California committee of bar examiners, observed, "those guidelines might be revisited," reported Lewin.

According to Mary Carmichael at the Boston Globe, this "burgeoning movement" is getting an endorsement "that may have an even greater impact (than expansion): rigorous evidence that the computer can be as effective as the classroom."

On Tuesday, Ithaka S+R, a nonprofit technology company, will release a new study supporting online learning. The study "compared two versions of an introductory statistics course, one taught face to face by professors and one mostly taught online with only an hour a week of face time. Researchers found students fared equally well in both formats on every measure of learning. The only difference was that the online group appeared to learn faster," Carmichael said.

Bloomberg reported on another study showing that "in 2009, about 29 percent of college students took at least one course online; by 2014, that number is projected to increase to 50 percent. Much of this growth has been driven by for-profit schools, but in the past couple of years, traditional colleges and universities have designed their own programs in an effort to increase tuition income without expanding the physical plant. It remains to be seen whether this financial bet will pay off."

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Higher education moves online