Title: C³: Cross-Course Collaboration in a distance learning environment

Authors: Peggy D. Lee, Diane H. Parente

Addresses: Penn State Great Valley, Management Division, 30 E. Swedesford Road, Malvern, PA 19355, USA. ' Penn State Erie, Sam and Irene Black School of Business, 5091 Station Road, Erie, PA 16563, USA

Abstract: A typical goal of the capstone course in an MBA programme is integrating prior coursework. Serendipitous scheduling of Strategic Management and an elective in Operations Strategy for a near-captive audience allowed the instructors to develop an innovative and tightly integrated conclusion to the MBA programme taught entirely in a distance-learning environment. The instructors faced two instructional challenges: 1) video conference technology has been less than optimal as compared with traditional delivery; and 2) programme integration and close coordination between the two courses were essential. Course assessment involved using mid- and post-semester surveys, two |one-minute papers|, and a post-semester focus group discussion.

Keywords: operations management; strategic management; operations strategy; distance education; distance learning; team teaching; course collaboration; MBA; video conferencing.

DOI: 10.1504/IJIOME.2006.009170

International Journal of Information and Operations Management Education, 2006 Vol.1 No.2, pp.117 - 124

Published online: 07 Mar 2006 *

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