Master of Business Administration (Financial Services)

Appendix 7.2.2 Academic Community and online learningIntroductionThe MBA (FS) is offered through a “blended learning” approach. Blended learning isdefined as including a distance/online component complemented by a face-to-faceintensive of 3-5 days in length.Expertise and resources to support the delivery method and to ensure theireffectivenessThe MBA (FS) distance/online component is delivered using the Blackboard LearningSystem (BLS). Dalhousie University has considerable expertise in training facultymembers in beneficial practices around this System, which is managed by systemsprofessionals in order to ensure that the version of BLS in use in any academic year is“reliable, sufficient and scalable.” Furthermore, there are two units whose mandatesrelate directly to the provision of “accessible technical assistance for students andfaculty.” Integrated Learning Online (ILO)(its.dal.ca/services/other_services/ILO/index.html) offers both training and support. Inaddition to expert support from ILO staff, the MBA (FS) program’s online component isvery ably supported by designated staff in the Centre for Advanced ManagementEducation (CFAME). The mandate of this unit within the Faculty of Managementincludes the support of faculty and students in the MBA (FS) program. Students cancontact their CFAME expert at any time to receive timely assistance with any aspect oftheir online experience. In addition, budgetary provisions are made each fiscal year toreplace, update and maintain the “appropriate hardware, software and other technologicalresources and media” at Dalhousie generally and in the Faculty of Managementspecifically. The institutional unit that oversees all hardware and software is InstitutionalTechnology Services (its.dal.ca/index.html), a well-established “central services” unitthat provides integrated service, with designated staff in each Faculty.Understanding and scholarship about distance and blended learning has increasedsignificantly over the past ten years, through the publication of monographs (e.g.,Handbook of blended learning: Global Perspectives, local designs.) as well as scholarlypapers in journals relating to higher education. Dalhousie’s Centre for Learning andTeaching (learningandteaching.dal.ca/) has a physical and digital library of materialsreflecting this scholarship for the use of faculty members and teaching assistants. Inaddition, the Centre for Learning and Teaching supports research at Dalhousie relating toexcellence in learning and teaching, including online course delivery.Online delivery methods contribute to and enhance the creation of academiccommunity among students and between students and facultyThe MBA (FS) adheres to the beneficial practices accruing from published andinstitutional research in the following ways:• Students and faculty members use a wide array of the interactive learning toolsavailable through BLS, depending on the subject content of the particular course(e.g., Management Skills Development / Human Resources, or Accounting).These tools relate to communication as well as information delivery. For example,students may hold group meetings online, either synchronously or145