Author: amandabickell

amandabickellhttp://amandabickell.wordpress.comMarketer - Teacher - Life Long Learner I love my job! I teach Marketing and Organizational Behaviour in undergraduate programs at Kwantlen Polytechnic University in BC. I consider myself a learning coach. My role in the classroom is to create an engaging learning environment where students are excited about their journey of discovery in the business world. Here I chronicle my coaching approach, share resources, and engage with students & colleagues. The views and perspectives I present here are purely personal, and don't necessarily reflect those of my university. If you are a "coach" too, feel free to borrow what you find here. Let me know how it works for you.

KMA Movember at Kwantlen

KMA Movember Flyer

My classrooms have been invaded by mustaches!  I’m realizing what an impact failing to shave can really have.  Beards, yes we occasionally see those, but the mustache is not really a typical fashion statement for students these days.  This week had me doing several double-takes to process the new look to so many familiar faces.

It is clearly Movember, and this year, the KMA is bringing Movember to Kwantlen in a big way.

  1. They have a registered Movember team on ca.movember.com – You’ve got to check them out.  I think Jayme’s sporting the best look myself but … You do not have to be a member of the KMA to join, they invite everyone at Kwantlen to participate.
  2. A MovemBEER themed social/pub night, to celebrate the end of the month, is being held on November 30th at 7pm. Last night to sport the cookie duster!  Details can be found on the KMA Facebook page.
  3. Speaking of cookies … Movember bakesales will be on both Surrey and Richmond campuses on November 21. On the Surrey campus, a table will be setup in Main building from 10am-3pm. At Richmond, a table will be set up in the rotunda from 10am-2pm. Movember inspired cupcakes will be for sale with proceeds going to the Movember cause. There will be mustache photo ops at both locations too!
  4. Last but not least, Movember wristbands are for sale and once again,  proceeds go to the Movember cause. They are only $1 each, (I got mine on Wednesday – thanks Sukhvir) It would be great if everyone could support this initiative, as it doesn’t cost a lot for the wristband, plus, according to the what I’ve been told, ” it’s cool”!

Thanks in advance for everyone’s support.  I can hardly wait to hear the results of their efforts for this great cause.

Kwantlen’s President needs a BBAMM student

Just in from the Office of the President … This looks like a fantastic opportunity.  It doesn’t involve a lot of hours, but will give you an excellent experience point for your resume.  It will also look good on scholarship apps etc. Sounds like a perfect job for those of you wanting to work at something meaningful, but also remain dedicated to your studies.

Essentially, they are looking for someone to be the story writer/strategist for the President’s social media persona.  Details are in the attached pdf of the job posting  Student Assistant Job Description Office of the President. You’ll have a great shot at as the position is only open to Kwantlen students.  If you are interested you are asked to email your resume to sandy.kuzyk@kwantlen.ca.

 

How Should Kwantlen Be “Transforming the Ivory Tower”?

I’ve been fascinated with the potential of Canada’s post-secondary education systems since I began investigating it in 2005.  Interestingly, I was at the beginning of my journey through postgraduate study, at the start of my MBA.  I was teaching at an Ontario college and a full-time student.  Course after course, assignment after assignment required me to apply the business concepts under study to my organization.  What an eye opener.

In 2007 James Cote and Anton Allahar published “Ivory Tower Blues: A University System in Crisis”.  Much of what I’d concluded in my study was reflected here.  If you haven’t ventured across it already, you’ll find it a fantastic background for consideration of the Globe & Mail’s more recent look into the post-secondary situation.

Transforming the Ivory Tower: A case for a new postsecondary education system is a compilation of videos, articles, statistics and interactive polls that make the argument that the current postsecondary system is failing us.  This despite the world leading percentage of Canadians that are postsecondary graduates.

Kwantlen has recently asked its staff, faculty and students to share their suggestions, opinions, and visions for the university’s strategic future.  Frankly, I think Kwantlen is already on the right track in many ways.  Many of the complaints raised on the Globe & Mail site, and in the Cote/Allahar book are already addressed at Kwantlen.  For example:

  • As a polytechnic, our students graduate with practical skills and are job ready.  Almost all classes in the marketing program involve working with local businesses on real marketing issues.
  • Our classes are capped at 35 students and students do get direct instructor time.  By mid-terms I know most of my 140 students by name.
  • Our focus as a teaching institution provides time and resources to develop teaching as well as research.  Allowing us to take the time necessary for continuous improvement helps to keep teaching current.

And yet, perhaps these two sources provide some context for consideration of our future directions.  Surely with this head start we can lead the innovation that higher education desperately needs.

How do you think we need to transform Kwantlen?  What is spot on?  What needs to be updated, and quickly?

KMA – Students are the best part of the BBAMM

I always believed it, but now I’m even more sure, the students are the best part of the BBAMM!  Over the summer a handful of brilliant and dedicated BBA Marketing Management students have worked with faculty advisors (Thanks Raj and Bob), coordinated with the BCAIM and made the KMA – the Kwantlen Marketing Association, a brilliant thing to behold.  And I thought I was busy this summer!

They’ve set up their social media spaces – Facebook, Twitter, YouTube…

They’ve formalized their organization and registered with the Kwantlen admin.

They’ve secured sponsorship from the BCAIM.

They’ve recruited and pulled together a fantastic launch team.

They’ve been all over it at new student orientation.

And they’re just getting started!

They’re taking over the BBAMM speaker’s series and planning great events like industry tours, socials (of course!), case competitions and a host of other fantastics.  One year into the new BBA program and look how far they’ve come.

If you’re a student, and you’re interested in marketing, contact them to get involved.  You don’t have to be in a marketing program.  Maybe you’re in Kwantlen’s acclaimed Entrepreneurial Leadership,  PR or Graphic Design for Marketing programs? Maybe you’re in an totally unrelated program and just want to know how to market in your field. Maybe you took a communications or marketing course and would like to try your hand at a few things.  If you are interested in marketing – check them out.

If you’re an employer, and want to hire these “get it done” professionals, well you know where to find them.  Selfishly though, and for the sake of my job security, let them graduate first though, OK?

Adding a Twitter Block to Your Moodle Site

It is a beautiful Labour Day Weekend and like many of my colleagues, I’m so excited about the new term that I’m spending it “jazzing up” my plans and course sites.  (Come on people, based on the email this weekend I know I’m not the only one! 😉 )

I’ve had a request for the instructions on Adding a Twitter Block to Your Moodle Site like this one:

Click the Adding a Twitter Block to Your Moodle Site link to see how you too can work the HTML magic.

Markup & Margin Math – A video tutorial

In the MRKT1199, Introduction to Marketing classes for the summer semester, it is the time of the term when markup/margin math hits the schedule.  These are fundamental calculations that every marketer needs to master, and yet can cause a lot of headaches for students.

Many, many years ago my office partner at St. Clair College in Windsor, ON taught me this little mnemonic to help me teach the concepts.  Check out Markup & Margin Math – A video tutorial to see his work.

 

Access Copyright – Our “Burning Platform” moment?

The Access Copyright agreement currently being considered by Kwantlen’s leadership has been on my mind of late.  In a world that is becoming more and more open, where does this traditional approach to the protection of scholarly intellectual property fit?  Does it? A TED Talk inspired me to take a side on this one.  Access Copyright – Our “Burning Platform” moment?.