22
Competency Development in the Blended and Online Business Learning Environment of the MBA Program at UMUC Faculty Assistants make a difference! November 2007

Competency Development in Blended and Online Business

  • Upload
    terry34

  • View
    725

  • Download
    0

Embed Size (px)

DESCRIPTION

 

Citation preview

Page 1: Competency Development in Blended and Online Business

Competency Development in the Blended and Online Business Learning

Environment of the MBA Program at UMUC

Faculty Assistants make a difference!

November 2007

Page 2: Competency Development in Blended and Online Business

Contributors

• Jacob Krive, MBA, MS, Faculty Assistant

• Lee Ann Graul, MBA, Faculty Assistant

• Jomarie Bliss, MBA, MS, Faculty Assistant

• Jane Ross, PhD, Program Director

Page 3: Competency Development in Blended and Online Business

Outline

• Faculty Assistant role

• FA / Faculty relationship

• Competency based learning

• Competencies

• Challenges / solutions

• Practical application

Page 4: Competency Development in Blended and Online Business

Practical application of Faculty Assistants

to foster Competency Development

Page 5: Competency Development in Blended and Online Business

Faculty Assistant Role

• FA as “first line” in student contact:– Close monitoring of student performance– Assist with linking competencies to assignments– Help students construct their own learning– Timely completion of effective assignments– Questions or problems with assignment

deliverables– Effective team work– Guidance for working/writing at graduate level

Page 6: Competency Development in Blended and Online Business

Faculty Assistants / Faculty Team

• Open communication and teamwork

• Faculty Assistants: value and integral role– Instructors and Faculty Assistants maintain

transparent communications – Work together in student support– Course Manager updated on any issues

Proactive stance is best. Prevent problems!

Page 7: Competency Development in Blended and Online Business

Competency Based Learning

• MBA Program

• Students

• Instructors

• Faculty team

• Competencies

Page 8: Competency Development in Blended and Online Business

Competency

“a knowledge, skill, or attitude that enables one to effectively perform activities of a given occupation or function to the standards expected in employment”4

International Board of Standards for Training and Performance Instruction (IBSTPI)

Page 9: Competency Development in Blended and Online Business

Competencies

• Ethical leadership 

• Teambuilding skills

• Communication skills

• Critical thinking

• Technology fluency

• Executive decisions

• Decision making

• Systems thinking

• Diversity/Cross-cultural perspectives

• Information literacy/research skills

Page 10: Competency Development in Blended and Online Business

Competency Selection• Multiple sources

– State, University, Faculty team including Executive in Residence and Faculty Assistants

• MBA program Faculty bring worldwide experience to competencies needed in this global era

• Competency-based curriculum is continually enhanced through faculty feedback, new research, and consultation with industry leaders 1

Page 11: Competency Development in Blended and Online Business

Competencies

• Why are competencies needed?

• Link “real life” and assignments– feedback from business community– bridge studies and professional

development – stimulate self reflection and assessment– business needs people who are able to

apply these critical skills on the job

Page 12: Competency Development in Blended and Online Business

Competency Characteristics

• Competency Based Instruction – Competency goes beyond skill acquisition

• Reflects knowledge base and its application

• Content-Specific Competencies– Different management skills are needed3

Page 13: Competency Development in Blended and Online Business

Acquired skills,abilities, and knowledge

Developed in the learning process

Traits and CharacteristicsTraits and Characteristics

Skills, Abilities, and Skills, Abilities, and KnowledgeKnowledge

CompetenciesCompetencies

DemonstratioDemonstrationn

Assessment ofperformance

Foundation5

Integrative Learning

Experiences

LearningExperiences

Page 14: Competency Development in Blended and Online Business

Challenges / Solutions• Diverse student base characterized by range of

student preparedness and abilities • Students often do not understand competency-

based learning and importance of competencies • Faculty may not understand competency-based

teaching and learning nor how to apply it• Faculty Assistants are vital in bridging the gaps

Page 15: Competency Development in Blended and Online Business

Challenges / Solutions

• Inexperience (of faculty and students) in applying competencies to course assignments, discussions, and professional development- Thinking, Planning, Application, Improvement

• At the course level, this is reflected in quality of student work, summaries, and wrap-ups

• Faculty Assistant involvement is critical to process improvement and their value increases each term

Page 16: Competency Development in Blended and Online Business

Challenges/Solutions

• Connect diverse student-faculty body in an online environment– Use of technology

• Example: Elluminate to connect student and faculty around the world

Page 17: Competency Development in Blended and Online Business

Practical Application

• Competencies foster continuous reflection

• Term-long team case study provides opportunities to practice competency development in relatively risk-free situation

• Experiences of MBA program alumni

Page 18: Competency Development in Blended and Online Business

Practical Application

• Enhanced learning

• More self-knowledge

• Contributes to professional development

• Fosters ‘thought leadership’

• Real-life experience

• Student examples of competency value

Page 19: Competency Development in Blended and Online Business

Value of critical thinking competency applied in my work - Barbara Jones, AMBA 606

“I had been trying, literally, for months, to spend some time with our CFO to present some critical insurance proposals. It was incredibly difficult to schedule time with him, and I finally asked for a maximum of 30 minutes. I had to present months of research and proposals, but I did it by creating a bullet-format Executive Summary listing challenges and possible solutions, as well as a corresponding table.

Finally, I included a three bullet recap of my recommended solution. The meeting was over in well under 30 minutes and I had his full support.

Later he called, complimented me, and thanked me for distilling the facts down to manageable bits of information.

I just wanted to let you know that the Executive Summary skills we have practiced this semester can indeed serve us well in our careers.”

Page 20: Competency Development in Blended and Online Business

Lessons Learned and Discussion

• Competency development in blended and online business learning environments is hard work for faculty and students alike

• Practical application in competency-based teaching and learning is enhanced by Faculty Assistants working with students and instructors

• Discussion - we welcome your views!

Page 21: Competency Development in Blended and Online Business

References1. Waner, K. K. (Dec 1995). Business communication competencies

needed by employees as perceived by business faculty and business professionals. Business Communication Quarterly, 58 (4).

2. Brown, W. S. (Fall 1998). Power of Self-Reflection through Epistemic Writing (business students evaluating their education). College Teaching  p135(1).

3. Chyung, S.Y., Stepich, D., & Cox, D. (2006, Aug/July). Building a competency-based curriculum architecture to educate 21st century. Journal of Education for Business, 81(6), 307-314. Retrieved September 22, 2007 from Education Full-Text Wilson Web database.

4. International Board of Standards for Training and Performance Instruction. (2005). Competencies. Retrieved September 22, 2007 from http:// www.ibstpi.org/ competencies.htm.

5. National Center for Education Statistics. (2002). Defining and assessing learning: Exploring competency-based initiatives (NCES 2002-159). Retrieved September 22, 2007 from http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2002/2002159.pdf.

Page 22: Competency Development in Blended and Online Business

Competency Development in the Blended and Online Business Learning

Environment of the MBA Program at UMUC

Faculty Assistants make a difference!

November 2007