B-School to develop online course program By Karolyn Kokko Daily Staff Reporter Those in the business world who wish to continue taking business classes will soon be able to do so online soon. FT Knowledge, a division of the international media company which has holdings including the Financial Times and Penguin Books, and the University School of Business Administration announced Monday that they will be starting a pioneer program in which students who wish to take executive education courses online will be able to do this summer. "This is a wonderful opportunity to underpin our leading position in the multi-billion dollar global market for executive education, combining Michigan's reputation and academic expertise with our international infrastructure and interactive open-learning skills," said Pippa Wicks, FTK's chief executive officer, in a written statement. Executive programs are for individuals who currently hold jobs, but wish to take business courses, which can last from three days to four weeks. Some of the most popular business classes on campus, which will be available online, are Finance for Non-Financial Managers, Sales Management, Basic Management and Marketing for Non-Marketing Managers. Keith Decie, School of Business Administration communication director, said he hopes the program will achieve "high quality learning experiences that retains some of the most important aspects of the traditional classroom." Decie said the online classes' curriculum will include some of the activities often used in classrooms, such as group projects and interaction with faculty members. Also like the classrooms, there will be a limited number of spots available, to ensure quality interaction, he said. The number of students who may enroll in one of the courses will be limited to 50 people. Although Decie said the online programs will be designed to include aspects of traditional courses offered by the Business School, he added that the "faculty needs to adjust to the new mechanisms." Decie said he hopes faculty involved in the online courses will be able to bring what they learned and apply it to traditional classroom situations. While Decie said many will benefit from the online courses - particularly those who might not be able to take the University's traditional courses because of geographical restrictions - others feel the online courses may cause drawbacks. Brian Mickey, a Business junior said "I'd rather take a course where you can be with the professor face-to-face." Mickey added that he doesn't feel group projects will be as effective if the students can't work physically together. Decie said both methods have their own advantages and disadvantages. But overall he said that "technology is a great asset to the traditional classroom." communication director, said he hopes the program will achieve "high quality learning experiences that retains some of the most important aspects of the traditional classroom." Decie said the online classes' curriculum will include some of the activities often used in classrooms, such as group projects and interaction with faculty members. Also like traditional classrooms, there will be a limited number of spaces available to ensure quality interaction, he said. The number of students who may enroll in one of the courses will be limited to 50 people. Although Decie said the online programs will be designed to include aspects of traditional courses offered by the Business School, he added that the "faculty needs to adjust to the new mechanisms." Decie said he hopes faculty involved in the online courses will be able to bring what they learned and apply it to traditional classroom situations. While Decie said many will benefit from the online courses - particularly those who might not be able to take the University's traditional courses due to geographical restrictions - others feel the online courses may cause drawbacks. Business junior Brian Mickey said "I'd rather take a course where you can be with the professor face-to-face." Mickey added that he doesn't feel group projects will be as effective if the students can't work physically together. Decie said both methods have their own advantages and disadvantages. But overall he said that "technology is a great asset to the traditional classroom." Originally on page 1A in the 1-26-2000 issue of the Daily.