A snippet from the Business School Leaders Forum Session with AMBA and Instructure
Never before has it been more pertinent than now, that Business Schools adapt and adopt new technology and tools in order to continue running their courses smoothly. With various crises over the past two years, opting for blended learning formats, and jumping onto Zoom or GoToMeeting calls, have become the norm as opposed to an add on to face-to-face learning.
More than that, technology itself has changed – now more than a tool, it has become integrated with our daily lives, and influences the way we explore, consume, develop and share content with each other.
Consumers of information have three main criteria aligned with their expectations when it comes to content sharing: Relevance, Choice and Convenience. Business Schools, therefore, have to adapt their methods to meet these expectations of their students, with the help of several tools available for online teaching and learning. At the same time, Business Schools are expected to deliver the value and quality that is associated with these types of institutions. But how can Business Schools maintain their quality of courses with purely online or remote instruction? And how would an institution stand out or differentiate itself from other Business Schools, to maintain and grow their courses and students?
Over the years, Business School students have become accustomed to more than what is delivered in the classroom. Quality of content is important, but there is a further learning experience beyond the classroom. This includes things like the learning experience during the exchange between students with diverse and experienced backgrounds. It is these types of add-ons to the learning experience that adds to the value of a qualification specifically, at a Business School. Students at business schools expect more than content; they see pedagogies that include mentors; group work and brainstorming with peers and networking as an integral ‘given’ when they opt to study at a Business School. These connections are also expected to continue and grow outside of the course. That is just part of the expectation.
The role of technology in all of this
When taking a moment to take stock of experiences over the last two years, it is evident that online and remote learning can have its benefits as well as its disadvantages. The important question is, how can technology be used so that it does not simply mirror the class experience to the new learning environment. As mentioned earlier, it is of utmost importance that the value attached to all aspects of Business Schools (specifically quality of interaction and networking with peers, and discussions with experts) remain intact, despite distance or online learning.
The Canvas LMS team shared some of their thoughts at the AMBA Busines Leaders Forum on this dilemma (scroll down to listen to the full recording below). Many AMBA Certified Business Schools (Canvas Users) make use of their LMS and the tools available for discussions and forums. These tools provide a group of students from diverse backgrounds, an opportunity to weigh in on the same topic despite their time zone differences.
Examples of technology in action at Business Schools
Instructure has also seen how institutions make use of Canvas Studio to demonstrate soft skills through video content. The advantage of video delivered content is that students are able to watch the video as many times as they can and discuss videos in a group after having studied them.
Synchronous teaching methods have been adapted to suit the new learning environments too. Some educators no longer deliver a lecture in a one-way fashion, but now include open questions and answers sessions, and we have seen more regular informal connections via online chats.
The impact of COVID on technology and learning
In a sense, Covid has sped up the process of connecting online, blended and face-to-face learning in a more optimal way. It is up to Business Schools to embrace this shift, to find innovative ways to leverage all the tools a Learning Management System like Canvas LMS has to offer. And in the process to take hold of technology as an enabler in the management of education, to support lifelong learning.
But the question needs to be asked – how ready are Business Schools to do so? Instructure, the developer of Canvas LMS, teamed up with AMBA (Association of MBA’s) to generate a report that speaks to this extremely important issue.
More about the report:
As stated by Instructure in the report, “We know the theory – that technology can power a collaborative, self-directed learning environment in which students are able to develop new skills, apply knowledge and get better feedback – but more needs to be done to equip Business Schools with understanding about how technology can make a difference at a practical level.
Reports like this are an important step towards this goal, exploring how the industry is responding to the opportunities digital technology is offering and demonstrating how and why technology should be used in post-graduate education.”
Download this informative report here
Want to learn more about Canvas LMS? Get in touch with our GM of Canvas, Clare Reilly, today clare@eiffelcorp.co.za
Who is AMBA?
AMBA established that vision in 1967 and, in a volatile, uncertain world, it’s as relevant today as it was then.
We are committed to raising the profile and quality standards of business education internationally, for the benefit of Business Schools, MBA students and graduates and alumni, employers, communities and society.
*https://www.associationofmbas.com/about-us/
Who is Instructure?
The makers of Canvas, Instructure is an education technology company with a mission to elevate student success, amplify the power of teaching, and inspire everyone to learn together. *https://www.instructure.com/about
