Monthly Archives: July 2017

by | Monday, July 31, 2017 · 5:29 am

The Top 25 TED Talks of all Time

Looking for something to watch this summer (besides the latest Game of Thrones)?

Nearly every college student and professor is familiar with TED Talks and its famous videos ranging from topics such as global business, happiness, medicine, technology, joy, workers, innovation, and much more. TED Talks are dedicated to ideas worth spreading. Have you ever wondered which ideas have been spread the most widely from all the years of TED Talks online videos?

Here is a list of some of the top 25 most-watched talks of all time:

  1. Ken Robinson – Do schools kill creativity?
  2. Amy Cuddy – Your body language may shape who you are.
  3. Simon Sinek – How great leaders inspire action.
  4. Brene Brown – The power of vulnerability
  5. Mary Roach – 10 things you didn’t know about orgasm.
  6. Jill Bolte Taylor – My stroke of insight
  7. Tony Robbins – Why we do what we do.
  8. Dan Pink – The puzzle of motivation
  9. Cameron Russell – Looks aren’t everything. Believe me, I’m a model
  10. Susan Cain – The Power of Introverts

What TED Talks videos make your top viewing list?

Group Activities and Discussion Questions:

  1. Show the TED site: https://www.ted.com/playlists/171/the_most_popular_talks_of_all?gclid=CKDpxJ39jtUCFcS4wAodisoNHw
  2. Select one of the top 25 videos that will appeal to the students.
  3. Divide students into teams and have each team select a topic to search on TED.
  4. Have each team select a video to show the class.
  5. Each team should prepare at least five questions for the selected video. The answers to the question are in the video. As students watch the video, they analyze and prepare answers to the questions for class discussion.
  6. Each week, a new team can present their video.

Source:  TedTalks.com

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by | Friday, July 28, 2017 · 5:24 am

Made in the USA?

It’s that patriotic time of year in the USA when citizens (and shoppers) show their support and pride in America. As could be expected, companies that advertise their patriotism can use it as a very effective marketing tool. After all, people want to be proud of their country and its accomplishments. But, what does it really mean when a company promotes its product as being “made in the USA?”

According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), if a product is advertised as “Made in the USA” then “all or virtually all” of the product must have been made in the U.S. But, what does “virtually all” mean?

Again, the FTC states that the product should contain no (or negligible) foreign content. This means that all significant parts and processing must be of U.S. origin and final processing must also take place in the U.S. (includes the 50 states, District of Columbia, and all U.S. territories and possessions). These rules also apply to products that might not explicitly claim “made in the USA,” but may use images or American flags or U.S. maps, such as stating “true American quality.”

Take a close look at companies that state “made in the USA” and make sure the claim in legitimate.

Group Activities and Discussion Questions:

  1. Poll students: What does it mean if a product advertises that it is made in America? What products make this claim?
  2. Show the FTC requirements: https://www.ftc.gov/tips-advice/business-center/guidance/complying-made-usa-standard and have students examine the requirements.
  3. Divide students into teams. Have each team search the Internet for products that claim to be “made in the USA” and examine if the claims are accurate.
  4. For products that do not make a full made in USA claim, what are other messages that could be made to clearly identify origins and processes?

Source:  Truth in Advertising

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by | Wednesday, July 26, 2017 · 10:23 am

Happy Birthday, iPhone!

While it might feel like smart phones have always been part of our lives, they are still relatively young in years. The Apple iPhone just turned 10 in June, and it’s interesting to look back and see how mobile devices have changed how people communicate and shop. What was once a high-tech oddity is now a permanent fixture in the average person’s life.

Consider how the iPhone and smart phones have changed the daily landscape.

According to Pew Research:

  • 77% of U.S. adults now own a smartphone
  • 51% of young adults’ homes contain 3+ smartphones
  • Smartphones are used for more than calling and texting
  • 51% of U.S. adults use smartphones to make online purchases
  • 20% of households below $30,000 income are smartphone-only Internet users.
  • 55% of smartphone owners get news alerts on their phones
  • 28% of owners do not use a screen lock to secure their phones
  • Ownership is climbing in developing countries, but there is a digital divide in ownership

How do you use your smartphone?

Group Activities and Discussion Questions:

  1. Poll students: What type of smart phone do they have? What age did they first get a smart phone? What was it like?
  2. Ask students to list 10 things that they use their phones for each day.
  3. Build a full list on the white board to review with the class.
  4. Show the research article from Pew: http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/06/28/10-facts-about-smartphones/?utm_source=Pew+Research+Center&utm_campaign=3a5800a955-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2017_06_22&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_3e953b9b70-3a5800a955-399503221
  5. Discuss the components of a situation analysis: company, general industry, trends, key competitors, technology, legal, etc.
  6. Divide students into teams. Have each team use laptops to do general research to answer the environmental factors above.
  7. What should smartphone companies do to adjust to these factors?

Source:  Pew Research

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