Global Change Teacher's Guide
Global change is a relatively new area of scientific study using research from many disciplines to determine how Earth systems change, and to assess the influence of human activity on these changes. The Global Change section of the Teaching Packet consists of an introduction and five activities. In teaching these activities, four themes are important: time, change, cycles, and Earth as home.
Charles Darwin's Tree of Life Animation A wonderful animation of evolution - the tree of life - narrated by Sir David Attenborough. It shows how microscopic cells (the "seeds of life") evolved to become insects, fish, reptiles, dinosaurs, birds and mammals.
1 A revolution in schools The school we are in today will not be the school we are in tomorrow. This is especially apparent when the government's Extended Schools and Every Child Matters agendas for English schools are added to the mix, together with remodelling and the changes to the 14 – 19 phase. For details of the bursar's key role in this process visit Bursar's role in remodelling [accessed 26 January 2007].
Admittedly, there is no ‘one size fits all’ business manager (or bursar) role. The position a
Creating Value within the Nonprofit Sector
This course introduces managers and other professionals working in the nonprofit sector to Value Based Management. The course attempts to establish a common framework for how nonprofit's and non-governmental organizations can apply Value Based Management in such areas as Strategic Planning, Resource Development, Leadership, and Performance Measurement. Course Level: Intermediate - A good understanding of business concepts is useful for fully understanding this course. A review of other Short Cou
Evaluating Financial Performance
This course provides a clear and concise overview of specific ratios that are used to measure financial performance. Performance areas covered include liquidity, asset management, profitability, leverage, market value ratios, and comparative analysis. The objective of the course is to provide the user with ratios that can be useful in measuring and monitoring financial performance in conjunction with a set of financial statements. Course Level: Beginner - The course is designed for persons with
Managing Cash Flow
This course provides a concise overview of concepts related to the management of cash flows. Some of the principles taught in this course include measurement of cash flow cycles, cash flow forecasting, and short-term financing. The purpose of this course is to introduce principles and practices related to managing cash flows. Course Level: Beginner to Intermediate - No prior knowledge of cash flow management is required although some understanding of financial management can be helpful. Recommen
Strategic Planning
This course provides an overall understanding of how to do a strategic plan. The course outlines the entire strategic planning process. The purpose of the course is to teach participants how the strategic planning process works. Course Level: Beginner to Intermediate - No prior knowledge of strategic planning is required. Recommended for 2.0 hours of CPE. Course Method: Inter-active self study with audio clips, self-grading exam, and certificate of completion.
Creating Value through Financial Management
This course describes how traditional accounting and financial functions can create higher market values for an organization. Course content includes specific measures for creating and measuring value, such as Economic Value Added and Residual Cash Flow. Course Level: Intermediate to Advanced - This course deals with advanced topics in financial management and the user should have a good understanding of financial management prior to taking this course. Recommended for 2.0 hours of CPE. Course M
Management of Capital
This course provides an overview of concepts related to how to manage the capital of an organization. Course content includes the calculation of cost of capital, how to select the right mix of capital, and how financial markets work in raising capital. Course Level: Beginner to Intermediate - No prior knowledge of capital management is required although some understanding of capital management will be helpful. Recommended for 2.0 hours of CPE. Course Method: Inter-active self study with audio cl
Leadership
This course compiles some of the best thinking on leadership, outlining a framework for developing and measuring leadership effectiveness. Level: Intermediate - Some managerial experience is useful since some of the concepts relate directly to management effectiveness. Recommended for 2.0 hours of CPE. Course Method: Inter-active self study with self-grading exam, and certificate of completion.
Process Improvement
This course provides an overview of various tools and techniques you can use for improving a process. A brief introduction on Capability Maturity Models, Six Sigma and Lean is included as part of this short course. Level: Intermediate - Some analytical knowledge and experience is helpful in fully understanding all of the concepts presented in this course. Recommended for 2.0 hours of CPE. Course Method: Inter-active self study with self-grading exam, and certificate of completion.
Mergers and Acquisitions (Part 1)
This course is the first part of a two part course covering the merger and acquisition process. Part 1 describes the overall process, types of mergers, the legal process, important federal regulations, and due diligence. The purpose of the course is to provide the user with a solid understanding of how the merger and acquisition process works. Course Level: Intermediate - Some prior knowledge of business and reporting relationships is useful for a complete understanding of topics covered in this
Capital Budgeting Analysis
This course is designed for users with a working knowledge of capital budgeting who want to improve their current practices. The course focuses on three stages of capital budgeting analysis. The purpose of the course is to introduce new concepts and ideas that will improve capital budgeting; such as option pricing and post audit analysis. Course Level: Intermediate and Advanced - Since this course goes beyond traditional capital budgeting analysis, it is recommended that users have an understand
Mergers and Acquisitions (Part 2)
This course is the second part of a two part course covering the merger and acquisition process. Part 2 describes valuation concepts, financial analysis, the valuation process, post merger integration, and anti-takeover defenses. The purpose of the course is to provide the user with a solid understanding of how the merger and acquisition process works. Course Level: Advanced - This course deals with advanced topics in finance and the user should have a solid understanding of cost of capital, for
Competitive Intelligence (Part 1)
This course provides a basic overview of how competitive intelligence works, including analytical techniques and counter-intelligence. The course describes specific methods for conducting competitive intelligence. Course Level: Beginner to Intermediate - No background of the subject matter is required although a general business background is recommended. Recommended for 2.0 hours of CPE. Course Method: Inter-active self study with self-grading exam and certificate of completion.
Going Public
This course provides an outline to how a private company goes public through an Initial Public Offering or IPO. The course describes different phases and critical issues that a company must address for a successful IPO. Several supplemental materials are posted for this course - Plain English Handbook from the SEC, Prospectus Example, and other materials. Course Level: Beginner to Intermediate - No prior knowledge is required to complete this course. Recommended for 2.0 hours of CPE. Course Meth
Financial Planning and Forecasting
This course outlines the process for effective financial planning, including where to start, what types of budgets to prepare, and how to make budgeting a value-added activity. The objective of the course is to provide guidance for the user on how to do financial planning. Course Level: Beginner and Intermediate - The overall concepts are designed for beginners while the specific ideas on how to improve budgeting are applicable to both beginner and intermediate users. Recommended for 2.0 hours o
Balanced Scorecard
This course provides a step by step guide on how to build a balanced scorecard. The course describes the development process and includes examples of actual balanced scorecards. Supplemental materials, such as excel spreadsheets, are also available. Course Level: Intermediate - An overall understanding of business and strategic planning is useful for fully understanding this course. Recommended for 2.0 hours of CPE. Course Method: Inter-active self study with audio clips, self-grading exam, and
Managing Projects
This course provides a good overall understanding of how to manage projects. The course includes an overview of the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) developed by the Project Management Institute. The course also includes a quick outline on Earned Value Management and touches on a few advanced topics such as Enterprise Architecture. Level: Introduction - No prior knowledge is required; however some business experience will help in understanding some of the concepts. Recommended for 2.
