SAM ADVANCED MANAGEMENT JOURNAL

How Implementing a New Course Framework Positively Impacted Student Perceptions of Learning During the Pandemic

Mary Lebens

DOI:

Citation: Lebens, M., (2022). How implementing a new course framework positively impacted student perceptions of learning during the pandemic. SAM Advanced Management Journal, 87(2),50-60.

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic upended face-to-face instruction for college campuses in the spring of 2020, leaving professors scrambling to engage students in a new online environment. Although the popularity of online courses was on the rise even before the pandemic, students typically are less engaged and motivated in the online classroom. This article examines developing a new online framework in the midst of the pandemic to positively impact students’ perceptions of learning in a business analytics course. The schedule and structure for the online course are discussed, as well as the resulting student perceptions of learning after engaging with the new framework. The primary considerations in developing the course framework were supporting student flexibility and technological equity to buffer the stressors of the pandemic. The course framework and rubrics are provided to allow faculty to adapt them for their own courses. The method for gathering data was a nationally standardized course evaluation survey, conducted anonymously by third-party provider IDEA. The survey results demonstrated student perceptions of learning under the new course framework were extremely positive. The implication of this finding is this course framework could be broadly implemented to improve student perceptions of online learning, in business courses and beyond.

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