It's February!!!

With Valentine's Day fast approaching, we're spreading the love... love for our School Island family that is. We are especially grateful for your incredible suggestions. Because of you, School Island continues to be the best study experience around. In this newsletter, learn about our latest features/updates. Also in this newsletter, learn about a new trend - global education.

New Features / Updates

For Teachers

Reclassify Assignments

The Reclassify Assignment option, found on the Short Answer and Flash Card Edit Assignment pages, allows Teachers to change the course associated with the assignment. This can be particularly useful when the questions you include in the course do not reflect the course associated with the assignment. All assignments are categorized to a School Island course, regardless of the original source of the questions you have included. Since students select assignments based on the associated course, be sure to select the course most closely associated with the questions.

Correct -On-Retry scoring on the Teacher's "Assignment (All)" Report

Accessed from the Teacher's Reports page, the Assignments (All) Assessment Report allows you to specify how questions that have been answered correctly on the retry are scored.

• No credit

• Half credit

• Full credit

On the page displaying the results, select the desired Correct-On-Retry Scoring value then click the Refresh button. The page redisplays with scores reflecting your selection.

International Differences

Introduction

International blunders can be costly... or at the very least downright embarrassing.

Consider advertising blunders...

Corporations who are eager to market their products around the globe advertise internationally. However, sometimes they get into trouble as they fail to take into consideration language and cultural differences when creating their advertising. Consider...

• In Mexico, Chevrolet's Nova meant "no go"; definitely not something you wish convey when marketing a car.
• In China, Pepsi's "Come alive with the Pepsi Generation" jingle was translated into "Pepsi brings your ancestors back from the grave". 
• In Germany, Clairol introduced their "Mist Stick" curling iron only to find out that "mist" is slang for manure. Not too many people had use for the "manure stick". 
• In Africa, Gerber sold baby food using the same packaging as in the US - with the beautiful baby on the label.  Unfortunately, it was later learned that African companies routinely put pictures on the label of what's inside a package since most people there cannot read. Oops! 

Shake Hands or Bow Down?

• In Japan, a slight stoop signifies respect and humility, which is very important to observe when having appointments with the Japanese. In addition, there are different levels of bows with corresponding meanings.
• In Italy, shaking of hands is acceptable when saying bonjour or bidding ciao.
• In the United States, males do not get on their feet when a female enters or leaves a room. They do not even kiss a woman's hand because it is reserved for royalty.
• In Thailand, the conventional manner of welcoming a person is by placing both hands together in a prayer position at the chin and bending over in a certain angle. The higher the hands, more elevated regard is shown.

Gift or Bribe?

• In Japan, exchanging presents conveys the depth and strength of a commerce relationship and usually given at the first meeting. When receiving something from them, it is also expected that the gift will be shared in return.

• In Germany, gifts are rarely exchanged. Small finds are already appreciated, but expensive ones are not generally observed.

I'm OK, Are You OK?

• In the United States, the infamous OK sign means good.
• In Brazil, the OK sign is a symbol for money carrying with it a vulgar connotation.
• In France, the OK sign suggests zero.

Other Gestures

• In England, sitting with the ankle resting on the knee is considered inappropriate. Instead, legs are to crossed with one knee on top of the other.
• In England, patting at the shoulder and putting an arm around a new acquaintance is also a no- no.
• In Thailand, it is offensive when an arm is placed over the back of the chair when a person is sitting.
• In Ethiopia, holding out the palm and repeatedly closing the hand indicates come here.

Name Calling

• In France, United Kingdom, and Denmark, titles before the first name are used. For example: Mister or Madam is highly suggested.
• In Germany, first names are seldom applied.
• In Thailand, first names are used to address one other while surnames are reserved for very formal events.
• In Belgium, French-speaking individuals are addressed as Monsieur or Madame while Dutch-speaking individuals are addressed as Mister or Miss.

Source: Talk About International Blunders
 

Quick Links

Trends in Global Education

The following are some leading global education websites:

• American Forum For Global Education

• Global Schoolnet Foundation

•  I*EARN (International Education And Resource Network)

•  Intercultural E-Mail Classroom Connections (IECC)

•  KIDLINK

• KidSource

•  United Nations Cyberschoolbus

•  World Wise Schools (WWS)

As a member of the School Island family, this is your newsletter. If you have any comments, ideas for future newsletter articles, or suggestions for a School Island product feature or enhancement, please send them to support@schoolisland.com. We would love to hear from you!