How Business Faculty Can Use Interactive Tools and Hands-on Learning to Integrate Cutting Edge Topics Into Online Courses

Presenter:

Sean Stein Smith, Assistant Professor, Department of Economics and Business, Lehman College

Abstract:

This presentation and session will focus on two topical areas that are of interest to faculty, students, and administers alike – developing robust online courses and integrating cutting technology tools such as Blockchain into online business courses. Building on research and publications by the presenter in the Journal of Accountancy and other freely available practitioner publications, this session will be broken down as follows. The first component of this session will highlight the importance of using video tools, including but not limited to VoiceThread, to help create an engaging and ongoing  dialogue between faculty and students, and amongst students themselves.The second part will touch on how faculty members, specifically those in the business discipline, can start integrating cutting edge topics such as Blockchain, artificial intelligence, and cryptocurrencies into their online courses. Integrating such topics, especially ones that are evolving as rapidly as these, can be difficult, but does not have to result in large expenditures, or be thought of as an impossible task. Leveraging freely available resources, including those supported by IBM and other leading technology organizations, encouraging students to participate in hands on learning opportunities, and creating a conversation about connecting these sometimes abstract ideas to concrete business cases will be discussed.