Focus Manifesto

Amir

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Metrics vs. Outcomes in the Learning Environment

Business influencers love to bandy about terms like ‘metrics’ and ‘KPIs’. The terms themselves are just words and phrases. What is meant by them is more important. For example, consider metrics in a learning environment. How do metrics compare with outcomes?

A metric is essentially a standard of measurement, according to the Merriam-Webster online dictionary. Applying metrics to the learning environment requires coming up with something to measure. You might measure the number of learners who complete a training program. You might measure the quality of the program by its cost, ROI, or efficiency.

But what about outcomes? Shouldn’t the outcome of a training program be the most important metric of all? If it’s not, you have to wonder why you are training at all. Outcomes in a training environment are eerily similar to outcomes in healthcare.

An Entirely New Metric

The implementation of the Affordable Care Act a decade ago ushered in a transition from the fee-for-service healthcare model to one based on outcomes. The federal government got involved by tying Medicare reimbursements to quality of care. When optimal outcomes are not met, reimbursements are reduced.

The point of all of this is to say that our healthcare system has traditionally been less about patient outcomes and more about metrics. We have not been measuring the success of our system by how well patients are treated, or how often hospital readmissions are avoided. Rather, we have been measuring in terms of revenues, profits, and costs.

Measuring success based on outcomes is an entirely new metric. It is the right metric for healthcare inasmuch as the best possible patient outcome should be the moral and ethical priority. Healthcare is about patients first and foremost.

The same truth can be applied to learning. Whether you are talking about college degree programs, vocational learning or corporate training, the whole point of learning is to produce an actionable outcome. It is to produce skills and knowledge that can be applied in the real world.

Outcome-Based Learning Looks Different

Just as outcome-based healthcare looks different, so does outcome-based learning. A learning platform designed to produce the best possible outcomes does not worry about checking off boxes or completing coursework for the mere purpose of doing so.

Fulcrum Labs Adaptive 3.0 learning platform is an excellent example of what outcome-based learning looks like. The platform is heavily focused on outcomes with a strong emphasis on self-direction and self-remediation, with the support of a one-on-one-type “coach.” Learners are encouraged to engage with content and prove proficiency, while the system provides them with optimal challenges, in their individual learning “sweet spot,” in real time.

Making it all work are artificial intelligence and hard data. The latter allows the platform to adapt in real time so that it remains in line with learner needs and abilities. The former drives the latter and allows both learning facilitators and administrators to make better decisions, based on actionable data.

Measurements Without Meaning

A learning environment that is not outcome-based still has to be based on something. Unfortunately, this is where many of the meaningless metrics come into play. Data that has no value outside of populating a spreadsheet is used to measure the success of static training programs that accomplish very little.

In such cases, you effectively have measurements without meaning. A company might track the total number of employees who complete a given training program for the purposes of meeting ISO requirements. But if those employees have not learned anything actionable, it doesn’t really matter how many have completed the training.

Outcome-based learning is all about results. Real-world outcomes are the only metrics that really matter in the end.

 

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3 Tips For Picking The Right Rug For Your Space

While a lot of modern homes and home design involves a lot of hardwood or tile floors, there’s still a need for some warmth and softness through the use of strategically placed rugs. However, many people feel intimidated by bringing rugs into their space.

So to help ensure that your financial investment into rugs isn’t wasted on something that you don’t actually love, here are three tips for picking the right rug for your space.

Embrace Color

According to Jackie Dishner, a contributor to HGTV, area rugs are a great way to play with colors and texture in a space. In fact, by picking a rug that you want to incorporate into a space before you bring in other design elements, you may find that it’s easier for you to pull your whole room together.

In addition to this, Dishner shares that by putting a busier rug in a small space, you can give off the illusion that the space is actually much bigger than it actually is. Just make sure, however, that you keep any design elements that are on the rug within easy visibility. This means that if the main part of the pattern is being covered up by furniture, you might want to rethink how that rug is placed within your space in order to get the most out of it.

Best Practices For Size

For many people, it can be hard to know what size of rug you should get for the space you have available in your home. While you don’t want to get a rug that’s too small and feel out of place, you also don’t want to bring in a rug that’s going to overwhelm your space.

To find a happy medium here, Eleanor Busing, a contributor to Apartment Therapy, shares that, for an area rug, you should get a size that fits within the seating area. This means that, ideally, all of the sitting furniture should be on the rug. If only the front legs of your furniture fit on the rug, that’s usually fine. But when you put your feet down on the floor, they should be sitting on the rug, not only the actual flooring.

Consider Cleaning And Maintenance

There’s more to picking the right rug for your space than just what the rug looks like in the space. In addition to this, you’ll also want to consider what you’re investing as far as cleaning and maintenance goes.

According to Lauren Flanagan, a contributor to The Spruce, flat-weave rugs are going to have less maintenance and are easier to clean. If you have a rug that’s a high-pile or particularly ornate, you’re going to have a harder time cleaning and maintaining it. You should keep this in mind when picking what kind of rug to bring into which areas of your home, as high-traffic areas should generally have a lower maintenance rug placed there.

If you have a space that you want to place a rug in, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you pick the right rug for that area.

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How To Use Social Media For Your Business Success

Most people use social media networks to stay social and keep in touch with friends and family. Studies revealed that there are at least 3.2 billion people using socialmedia platforms. Thus, marketers, business owners, and producers see the gold mine in using these social media networks as a tool to reach a broader audience worldwide.

Here is a guide on how to use social media for your business:

  • The Right Platform

There is no shortage of social media platforms on which to create a presence and share your content. Focusing and sharing your content on the right platform or platforms is crucial to your business success.

When determining which platforms to use, you need to consider your business and your customers. It is important that you create a presence or account on social media sites that your target audience uses in order for them to easily connect with you.

Also, you need to consider which platforms best fit your services of products. For instance, a video production agency can boom well with YouTube.

  • Increase Following and Engagement

Social media should be, well, social. And that does not only apply to those who only use the platforms for fun. Organizations and businesses also need to be interactive and encouraging interaction and engagement.

You will need to post content that your followers will want to read or see, ask questions, repost, like, and comment on other users’ posts.

Alternatively, you can consider hiring social media marketing agencies such as the LosFamos to increase your following and engagement and boosting your social media presence.

  • Offer Value

Perhaps the most important way you can use social media for your businesses is providing value to your followers. You need to create something that your audience and followers will find useful and valuable.

It could be something that makes them laugh, tells them something they did not know before, entertains them, or offer a solution to their problem. This aspect of social media platforms is what attracts the right customers to your organization, making people want to follow you and help your content spread, ultimately increasing your chance for sales and profits.

  • Addressing Problems

We all want to receive positive feedback on our services and products. Unfortunately, there will always be setbacks and issues. And social media platforms are great tools to help ease or addressing such issues about your company.

You can engage with the person and publicly apologize if needed. You can also offer to solve the problem over a direct message. This way, people can see that you are responsive and you care a lot about user satisfaction.

  • Drive Traffic To Your Site

Social media is a powerful tool that can help drive traffic to your e-commerce store. So, if you have an online store, you can also scale your business pretty quickly by using, for instance, Facebook targeted advertising in order to drive more traffic.

With this, you can market to them in a way that urges them to buy and that is achieved by targeting the right people with the right offers.

 

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Essential Facts Concerning Online Slot Games

The most popular online games on the internet are slot games. It is considered as the most exciting games to play and is seen as a fabulous way to pass time and make money if you are lucky enough. The advantages of playing slot games online are numerous. The main advantage that attracts a player to engage in online slot games is the convenience factor of it. Playing slots in online casino websites involves a person to have access to a computer and proper internet connection. You can play the game from the comfort of our own house and do not require to spend money on traveling to gaming centers.

Try out free slot games:

On the internet you will get a number of websites delivering you the chance to play online slots absolutely free. This is a prominent option as you can try out the no deposit casino games without investing any money and also learn how to play the game. As a result you will become strong enough to play with real money in online casino websites.

Playing online slots:

You might assume that playing a game of online slots is complex but in reality it is not and can be played by beginners also. However, if you have never played before it is suggested to try the games for free first, and then once you have gained experience then prefer playing with real money. Most online casino websites will deliver you the instructions on how to play the game.

What are the odds of winning the game?

Slots truly rely on luck besides skill. Losing and winning depends on how lucky you are. The outcome of every spin is already randomly decided by a computer or machine through a random number generator device installed hence everyone’s odds of winning in a slot machine games are approximately the same.

It does not make a difference what time of day you play, what you play or where you play as the odds of winning will remain identical for all the players.

 

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Short Selling Shares: An Introduction

The trading of stocks and shares can be as straightforward or as complex as the trader desires. In some cases, you don’t even need to own the underlying asset to be able to interact with the market and potentially make an exciting profit. Short selling is a technique that falls into this category. In this article, we will introduce the approach and explain how it works so you can decide whether to try it for yourself. We’ll also define stock CFDs and their purpose.

How Does this Apply to the Market?

Short selling, where borrowed stock is sold, is where the seller only deals in what they have purchased themselves. The term refers to the borrowing of stocks or shares from their owners and then selling them. The aim of the short seller is to wait until those have reduced in value, then buy them back and return them to their owner, profiting from the difference.

What Are Stock CFDs?

One significant aspect of this tactic are stock CFDs, or contract for difference”. These contracts are agreements surrounding the exchange of the difference between values, rather than the exchange themselves. By entering into a CFD, a trader can profit from stocks and shares at any time – whether their current value is high or low – and will not usually have to pay stamp duty on those profits.

Why Do Shareholders Lend this Way?

Short sellers will commit to a transaction that they believe are likely to drop in value, allowing them to make a profit on the assets they borrow. However, if it was as simple as that, wouldn’t the lenders of those – the individuals who actually own them – be likely to make a loss as the result of this practice?

There is, in fact, a little more to it. In order to borrow, short sellers are generally required to pay a fee to their owners. The borrowed stocks are then likely to continue accruing interest until they are returned to the lender. This means that if the person is unable to buy those stocks back quickly (for example, if their value skyrockets), the lender may be able to benefit from the interest.

Is it a Good Idea?

While the technique can be very lucrative and can help traders to reduce the duties they are required to pay, it is also quite a risky strategy. There is a likelihood that the stocks you have borrowed will rise in value which would be great if you owned them. However, because those assets are not truly your own, you can only make a profit if you are able to sell them at a high price and then re-purchase them at a lower price. You may also find yourself paying a considerable amount of interest to the lender in the interim.

However, it’s often the case in many financial practices that when you take sizeable risks, you’re more likely to receive sizeable returns – as long as the cards fall in your favor eventually. If you can afford to take a chance, this strategy may enable you to achieve a significant return.

 

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How To Take Care of Electric Bike Tires

If you take care of your bike, it will take care of you. While this saying might not go viral, or even catch on, it is true nonetheless. A number of the components on your mens electric bike are there to keep you safe. These features include brakes, mirrors, pedals and of course tires. It’s always a good idea to have your bike professionally maintained by expert mechanics. Special attention should be paid to the tires, since this is one piece of equipment that can leave you stranded. Most electric bikes come with relatively wide tires to give you comfort and stability. To get the most out of your tires, follow these helpful tips:

  • Inspect for wear and tear every hundred miles or so
  • Make sure the tires are properly inflated
  • Avoid hazardous objects in your path
  • Keep track of the number of miles you have ridden
  • Replace when the tread is thin or frayed

If you ride a lot, at some point you will probably have a flat. If possible, carry a spare tube and learn how to change a tire. If you don’t see yourself doing this, always carry your phone and have someone available in case of trouble.

Electric Bikes for Women

Selecting the perfect electric bike is a fun and easy process. It all begins with finding the right bike for your style of riding. Knowing what your goals are for riding, how many miles you hope to go, what your favorite surface is are good questions to ask. There are several different styles of women’s electric bikes for sale and one should be just right for you. If you want to go far and fast, a bike with a larger motor on it might be appropriate. If, however, you plan on shorter rides, you could be happy with a less powerful motor. The next step is finding the ideal fit for your body size. Some bikes will better accommodate specific heights and weights. From there, many bike styles offer a choice of attractive colors including black, cream, coral, teal, navy and white. Finally, you will want to add the most valuable accessories to get the most out of your rides, whether you are headed to the neighborhood park or exploring for away from home.

Electric Bikes for Sale

It is also easy to buy electric bike online. Each bike has detailed information on all of its best uses and the body size the bike is designed for. This provides a clear path to getting the bike that is perfect for you. You also get free shipping on bikes and a 90-day period (which begins the day you receive the bike) to make sure the bike is just what you wanted. This is backed up by a free return policy. You will also get a generous warranty to protect you from bike defects. Assembly instructions are included in a PDF file or by video, or you can take the bike to a nearby bike shop for professional assembly. The right electric bike should provide you with years of enjoyment and miles of exploration.