Non-Academic Elements of Higher Education: Can Online Foster Ethical Development and Networking?

Non-Academic Elements of Higher Education: Can Online Foster Ethical Development and Networking?

Cynthia L. Corritore, Ph.D.College of Business

Creighton UniversityOmaha, NE

cindy@creighton.edu

Cynthia L. Corritore, Ph.D.College of Business

Creighton UniversityOmaha, NE

cindy@creighton.edu

Education - more than just contentEducation - more than just content

➡Ethical component

- in world of post-Enron, WorldCom, Arthur Anderson, Banking crisis

- more than 90% of corporations have made ethics and ethical behavior one of their top priorities (Murphy 2003)

Education - more than just contentEducation - more than just content

➡Networking component

- Think of the connections you will make with other students and important speakers and faculty (Harvard University, 2009)

- it’s who you know, not what you know (unknown speaker)

About usAbout us• Creighton

University is in the Jesuit system

• College of Business in vibrant local business community

• New online graduate business program (finance professionals)

Strategies1. employ structured online virtual experiences

for Masters in Financial Analysis Program

2. utilize existing student social networking systems in new context of the program

3. incorporate successful strategies from Online Pharmacy PhD Program for ethical student development

Timeline

Networking Networking • create a virtual place

that students can meet in, work in, connect in, socialize in.

• interact with

- other students

- faculty

- business alum

- business persons from community

Networking Networking • develop social network

systems for program that fits current use set of students

• interact with

- other students

- faculty

- business alum

- business persons from community

Stage 1• lease space in academic social setting within

Second Life

- neighborhood important

- create relaxed environment with learning spaces

• find a contractor to develop the space

• survey current CFA students about current social networking usage

Stage 2• develop the SL space

- landscape - ambiance?

- outdoor furniture, signage and layout

- media-enhanced widgets

- party planning

- create artifacts (give-away t-shirts, etc)

• develop social network systems as indicated by survey

Stage 3• run an SL pilot with real graduate students

• run social network pilots with real graduate students

- use Contextual Design to identify problems

- create/locate instructional video snippets to address problems

• refine as needed

Stage 4Stage 4• CFA student

orientation to SL

• CFA faculty orientation to SL

• Host two events

- Meet and Greet at beginning of term

- Social Basketball Game Get-Together

Stage 5Stage 5

• Evaluation Survey

• Suggestion box

Progress to dateProgress to date• Currently at Stage 2

- space leased

- contractor hired and working

- survey being administered

• Investigating streaming a live Creighton University basketball game

Next step?Next step?• Ethics component

- implement second as students have a required Business Ethics course in the meantime

Supported by Creighton University Department of Information Technology

Supported by Creighton University Department of Information Technology