Title: Meeting the challenges of the new business universe through virtual collaborative learning

Authors: Owen P. Hall Jr.; Mercedes McBride-Walker

Addresses: Pepperdine University, 24255 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu, CA 90263, USA ' Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio, 44106-7235, USA

Abstract: The world of virtual collaborative learning is now becoming the new norm throughout higher education in general, and at schools of business in particular. Under growing pressure from the business universe, business educators are in the process of radically altering the content and delivery of management education. Today, the business community is looking for web-savvy, problem-solving graduates who can immediately contribute upon joining the firm. To meet these and related financial issues, many schools of business are increasingly turning to the web as a vehicle for enhancing student learning opportunities and outcomes. Faculty engagement in this new learning zeitgeist is essential. The purpose of this paper is to highlight how virtual collaborative learning can be used to prepare students to meet the challenges of an uncertain job market and to outline strategies for implementing this revolutionary learning process throughout the management education community of practice.

Keywords: virtual collaborative learning; VCL; social media; management education; implementation strategies; Web 2.0+; haptics; heutagogy; business schools; higher education; e-learning; online learning; electronic learning.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSMILE.2016.079492

International Journal of Social Media and Interactive Learning Environments, 2016 Vol.4 No.3, pp.239 - 253

Received: 15 Jan 2016
Accepted: 01 Apr 2016
Published online: 29 Sep 2016 *

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