Postgraduate Courses at ABS

The Online MBA Learning Experience

Central to the online MBA is the development of a learning experience responsive to individual needs which encourages the active participation of students with tutors and with each other.

The university virtual learning environment, RGU:Campus Moodle provides interactive facilities allow students to expand their ideas via electronic forums and communications tools.

Discussion forums, group email and computer mediated communication technologies (such as Web Conferencing Software, Interact Web Broadcasting/simulcast technology and Skype Internet Telephony and Conferencing software) are available via supplement workshops.

This permits group study, discussion and presentations equivalent to the full time on−campus classes. The online library, annotated PowerPoint presentations, recorded lecture materials and eBook resources provide the same learning resources as an on−campus student.

The delivery of educational content constitutes however, only a small part of the online campus experience. Online community groups, communication tools and discussion forums enable students to:

Communicate with each other and their tutors
Share ideas, debate issues and explore concepts
Reflect on the contributions of others and consider critically their own position prior to posting a response to the group
Participate in a few live lectures as they occur on the full-time course
Enhance the learning experience for all involved.

Online learning is learner centred, enabling the student to assume responsibility for their own learning. The course applies a group centred model of learning so that learning will be a social activity. In this way, learning will not be static, but will reflect the dynamism of learning communities. This will facilitate amongst students greater cognitive development, critical thinking and the discovery of new knowledge rather than that experienced when learning alone.

Participation in team work is an essential and compulsory component of the learning experience and an integral part of many assessments.

Support for Online Learning

Online study provides considerable flexibility. The distance learning mode of the MBA degree has all the facilities of the full-time study mode plus some additional resources.

The first of these is the study guide for the module that explains the resources available, the learning approach and any special requirements or deadlines. The module is divided into learning topics that directly reflect the taught syllabus. Each of these topics has a number of additional resources for the distance learner:

Topic notes providing a commentary on the topic that replicates the lecture material
Annotated PowerPoint slides of the on-campus lectures
Where appropriate, an audio or talking head PowerPoint summary of key learning points (usually about 10−15 minutes) or complete video of the lecture (this may be broadcast live on some occasions)
where available, an eBook chapter or digitised reading or hyperlink to such a resource
individual and group activities that are facilitated by asynchronous and synchronous communication technologies, and
an online support module.

In addition, the online tutor engages with teams and individuals through the asynchronous discussion forum, group email and individual confidential email, which are the key resources to support online interaction.

MBA Support Module

To prepare students for the online learning experience an online support module has been specially developed. This module covers induction and ongoing support that a student requires to proceed with MBA study.

Delivery is integrated around the E-book:
Cameron S., 2005. The MBA Handbook - Skills for Mastering Management. 5th Ed. Edinburgh: Pearson Education.
(Students are given access to this module one month in advance of beginning the course.)

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