Merrick School of Business Statement of Values for Online Teaching and Learning
Adopted by the Merrick School of Business Faculty Senate Mar. 14, 2018
The Faculty of the Merrick School of Business put forth the following values as being integral in our online courses and programs.
I. We value the artisan approach to course creation, reflecting the unique content of MSB programs and the nature of our students.
Our history has helped to determine our strength. Merrick School of Business faculty are encouraged to use multiple pedagogical and teaching tools that best meet the needs of today’s students.
We create content in a dynamic, evolving environment. While we may “borrow” freely available content, it is integrated into our own unique, faculty-driven instruction.
II. Within our courses, Merrick School of Business faculty expect to see and work in a flexible environment, enforcing the principle of academic integrity. MSB faculty believe that personal integrity promotes substantive learning, validates the recognition of scholarly achievement, and enables effective cooperation and collaboration by demonstrating respect for the work of others.
MSB faculty support teaching and learning in a safe environment where discipline and professional goals guide the approach to ensuring academic integrity in each course.
In some instances, student collaboration is expected and encouraged; in other instances, the online platform allows uniquely individual challenges to each student. In still other instances, a specific approach may be needed to promote academic integrity in a given course
III. Students are learners and co-creators they are not retail customers. Our true customers are the stakeholders in in our students’ future careers.
This value is also reflected in the Merrick Code of Conduct, which identifies the importance of student preparation, participation, and communication as well as the expectation of similar behavior on the part of MSB faculty.
IV. Each online course is an asynchronous learning community that allows students time to absorb, ponder, integrate, and apply the elemental learning goals of the course and the overarching program learning goals. Students will have opportunities to exchange ideas and values within these courses in a cohesive, collegial manner as an orchestrated group.
Along the asynchronous path, MSB faculty value a clear statement of coursework expectations to promote full and deliberate student engagement. Students should never be surprised or face unreasonable and/or unnecessary changes.
We provide learning activities that promote the achievement of known learning objectives for individuals and for groups of students.
V. MSB Faculty value prompt, regular communication.
- Faculty to student
- Student to faculty
- Student to student
VI. MSB faculty practice quality assurance.
- Faculty are fully prepared to teach online.
- Content and pedagogy are driven by learning objectives.
VII. Content coordinated across same (B.S.B.A. core, MBA core) course sections reflect learning objective-driven pedagogy and content supporting program goals.
VIII. MSB faculty strive to deliver a high-quality and meaningful experience to each student. Supporting the implementation of practices and strategies leading to the attainment of these goals, MSB faculty need to consider appropriate class sizes, given technology and Learning Community participant characteristics.