{"id":19,"date":"2020-09-09T09:28:00","date_gmt":"2020-09-09T13:28:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/?p=19"},"modified":"2020-09-22T12:24:05","modified_gmt":"2020-09-22T16:24:05","slug":"poole-college-of-management-pivots-to-explore-new-opportunities-during-covid-19","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/poole-college-of-management-pivots-to-explore-new-opportunities-during-covid-19\/","title":{"rendered":"Poole College of Management Pivots to Explore New Opportunities during COVID-19"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Caroline Barnhill<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the world faces a public health crisis and a faltering economy, Poole College of Management recognizes that the mission to \u201cthink and do\u201d is more important than ever. That conviction has driven Poole to make significant inroads in providing online learning opportunities that keep students engaged \u2013\u2013 without compromising on interaction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the onset of COVID-19, various digital platforms allowed instructors nationwide to shift their course content online quickly. Still, many educators struggled to maintain the same quality of instruction that they provided inside the classroom. Higher education, in particular, which relies heavily on discussion to facilitate learning, faced enormous challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n

<\/div><\/div>\"\"Play Video<\/title><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/a><\/div>
The video showing a day in the life of a Poole student during COVID-19 was recorded on the first day of classes, Aug. 10 before NC State moved all undergraduate classes online.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n

Though Poole hasn\u2019t been immune to these obstacles, it has looked to them as opportunities for further growth. Bringing energy and thoughtful discussion to the virtual space can be difficult, but the challenge to do so has led Poole to be all the more intentional about building interactive classrooms.<\/strong> Poole\u2019s faculty and students alike have approached COVID-19 the same way they approach every challenge \u2013 as an opportunity to learn, pivot and innovate.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Enhancing Delivery of Online and Hybrid Courses<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

To encourage interaction with course content and application to real-world issues, while also prioritizing the safety of students, Poole is continually working to develop new delivery methods for curriculum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To this end, Poole brought on Beth Shepherd at its first director of instructional design<\/a>. Previously the online program manager for the Jenkins MBA Program, a top-ranked program nationally, Shepherd brings a wealth of knowledge to the table \u2013 particularly during a time when alternative delivery methods are needed most.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The strolling professor statue dons a protective mask during the Covid-19 (covid19) pandemic in the summer of 2020. Photo by Marc Hall<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Already, Poole has had great success in the virtual space. In June, the Jenkins MBA Program held its Raleigh Residency Program<\/a> online and facilitated personal connection for participants. And Poole\u2019s new Virtual Thought Leadership Series<\/a>, which provides an opportunity to hear from faculty about relevant research driving business innovation, sold out its inaugural event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, the Jenkins MAC Program is well positioned for distance learning, as it launched an online MAC<\/a> platform last fall. Designed specifically with working professionals in mind, the online format was created to offer the same quality and curriculum as the on-campus program \u2013 which is good news in the age of COVID-19.<\/p>\n\n\n