Polytechnic Summit 2013

1. Polytechnic Summit 2013 Lessons Learned: Teaching an Online Graduate Level Course in Business Operations at Wentworth Institute of TechnologyProfessor Cindy Stevens, Jack Blaisdell

2. Lessons Learned: • Master of Science in Construction Management • Operations Management- MGMT820 • Hybrid Course • Only on-line offering in the program • Three Cohorts taught to date

3. Lessons Learned: • Course Components • Homework • Tests • Weekly Discussions • Book Review • Final Team Project

4. Lessons Learned: • Observations • Each Cohort seemed to have its’ own personality • Many years of work experience • No work experience • Most students don’t seem to see themselves as on a management track

5. Lessons Learned: • Discussions, Tips, Comportment • Discussion instructions asked that responses be from the point of view of they as managers • Discussions began- “Management needs to….” or “I don’t understand why management doesn’t……..” • Tips and tricks section for extra credit- some cohorts did not use or did not help one another • Overt rejection of the on-line learning concept versus in class experience

6. Lessons Learned: • Comportment and Communications • Unprofessional conduct, attitudes, and communication • Discussions aren’t tweets • Unexpected amount of complaints regarding difficulty of course • Lack of respect and self discipline in completing assignments • Lack of maturity • Possible cheating

7. Lessons Learned: • Learning Style • Most students from an experiential learning background • Industry is primarily visual and tactile • We are asking that they work on more abstract ideas • If they see it they can deal with it, if they touch it they can duplicate or improve on it.

8. Lessons Learned: • Learning Style • The closer a discussion problem approached a physical or visual issue, the better students performed • The more abstract and virtual the problem became, the more difficulty they had identifying and addressing the core issue and offering appropriate solutions

9. Lessons Learned: • What is required to increase the chance of student success and elevate thinking? • One cannot assume that students, young or old, understand the different and additional demands of on-line learning. Far more energy is wasted by instructors dealing with student on-line “drama” than they would in a classroom environment.

10. Lessons Learned: • What is required to increase the chance of student success and elevate thinking? • Instructors and program administrators need to understand the potential pitfalls and employ actions at the outset to set a level of expectation and context to fully realize on the promise of virtual learning.

11. Lessons Learned: • What is required to increase the chance of student success and elevate thinking? • Minimum amount of field/work experience is a must • Need to understand that in a virtual course they must take the initiative • Create a tutorial for successful on-line learning • Communications etiquette • Preferred and appropriate communications • Sample discussion responses

12. Lessons Learned: • What is required to increase the chance of student success and elevate thinking? • Improve discussions • More synchronous • Become more collaborative and find opportunities to “teach” each other based on relevant experiences • Practice the opportunity to communicate professionally • Encourage the option to disagree respectfully with a point of view

13. Lessons Learned: • What is required to increase the chance of student success and elevate thinking? • Fill in the blanks • The course doesn’t cover every aspect of operations or issues to encountered as a manager • Ask the industry expert-required each week from at least one student

14. Lessons Learned: • What is required to increase the chance of student success and elevate thinking? • Team up • Construction is a team game, use each others strengths. • Be a leader -help those not getting it • Manage time and resources better for final project • Look for and practice opportunities to add value

15. Lessons Learned: • Summary • Operations management is at the heart of running a successful business. As on-line Master degree aspirants, students must be prepared experientially, have appropriate quantitative and communications skills, be mature, self-starting, and willing to work with others. • The institute and instructors must provide the environment to help students understand the context of management and hold students responsible for the rigor they will encounter in industry.