Keith J Connell, MBA, PhD (ABD) --- Design. Create. Communicate.

  Photo by  佳叶 范  on  Unsplash If you’re a student navigating online learning, you already know that studying from home has both advantages and challenges. While digital classrooms offer flexibility and convenience, they can also make it harder to stay motivated, connected, and mentally healthy. The truth is, your mental health matters just as much as your grades. Understanding how to protect your well-being in an online learning environment is an important part of your success as a student. Why Online Learning Can Feel Mentally Exhausting At first, the idea of attending class from your bedroom or kitchen table might sound ideal. No commute, no sitting in crowded lecture halls, and more control over your schedule. But over time, many students start to feel isolated, stressed, or burned out. Spending long hours in front of a screen can cause fatigue. Not seeing your classmates or instructors in person can make it harder to feel connected. If your home environment is n...

  Photo by  MD Duran  on  Unsplash If you’re a student reading this, you’re preparing for a job market unlike any generation before you. By the time you graduate, many roles you will apply for may not even exist today. Technology is advancing rapidly, industries are transforming, and new career paths are emerging every year. While this may sound overwhelming, it’s also exciting. The key is not to focus on training for a specific job title, but to develop skills that make you adaptable, curious, and ready for change. Why the Job Market Is Changing So Quickly New technologies like artificial intelligence, automation, and machine learning are changing how companies work. Jobs in areas like data science, digital content creation, clean energy, and virtual reality are growing, while other roles are being reshaped or phased out. Global events like pandemics, climate change, and geopolitical shifts also affect which industries expand and which ones struggle. Employers today...

  Photo by  Andrew Seaman  on  Unsplash Storytelling has always been central to human connection. Long before written language, people shared experiences, taught lessons, and built community identity through narrative. Today, storytelling continues to shape how we understand the world and each other. In social movements and advocacy work, storytelling is emerging as one of the most powerful tools for change. It offers a platform for marginalized voices to be heard and fosters understanding, empathy, and action within public discourse. The Power of Lived Experience At the heart of storytelling for social change is the idea that lived experience carries authority. Traditional systems of knowledge production have often privileged academic research, policy papers, and data-driven reports. While these forms of knowledge are important, they can miss the human realities behind the statistics. Lived experience brings nuance and emotion to complex issues. For individuals and ...

  Photo by  Tran Mau Tri Tam ✪  on  Unsplash In an era of globalization, digital connectivity, and increasing student mobility, today’s classrooms are more culturally diverse than ever before. Educators are not just teachers of content—they are facilitators of cross-cultural dialogue and navigators of identity, language, and worldviews. This growing complexity calls for a skill set that goes beyond traditional teaching competencies. One of the most essential of these skills is cultural intelligence. Cultural intelligence (CQ) refers to the ability to relate to, work with, and effectively teach people from different cultural backgrounds. For educators, developing CQ is not simply an asset; it is a responsibility. This article explores why cultural intelligence matters, how it transforms the learning environment, and specific strategies teachers can use to foster inclusivity and engagement in culturally diverse classrooms. Understanding Cultural Intelligence: More Than...