Developing & DeliveringMasters Degrees online: Developing andamp; Delivering Masters Degrees online Howard Ramsay Department of Management Science Roger Perman Department of Economics


Background: Background MSc in Operational Research Running since 1965 Steady at 30 students


Background: Background Distance MSc in Operational Research Funding from EPSRC to develop distance mode Launched in September 2003 Homemade VLE Premium Fee February 2006: PGC: 18 PGD: 4 MSc: 4 (three just finishing) CPD: 12 Operating at a surplus


Background: Background Open Learning MSc in Economic Management andamp; Policy Built on success of MSc OR Launched October 2005 Business plan required 10 students in year 2005-2006 Currently 21 students with further intake in April.


Technology: Technology Homemade VLE


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Technology: Technology Homemade VLE Investigation of WebCT Choice of Moodle – four reasons Single entrance point


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Technology: Technology Homemade VLE Investigation of WebCT Choice of Moodle over WebCT – three reasons Single entrance point – Class v Course Registering students Class codes Same degree, different mode 4. Student focus


Moodle: Moodle Open Source – www.moodle.org £450pa hosting


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Logistics: Logistics Library Athens Finance Fees, cashflow Registry Student ID IT Services DS details


Students & Strategy: Students andamp; Strategy Induction


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Students & Strategy: Students andamp; Strategy Induction Faces to names


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Students & Strategy: Students andamp; Strategy Induction Faces to names Cultivation of 'a class' Strategy of engagement tutor-student and student-student Administrative support Proactive support A 'presence' on-campus


Issues Along the Way: Issues Along the Way Keeping the class together Keeping tutors motivated 365 day support – technical and other Courses run through holidays Keeping site maintained, backed up andamp; stable


Feedback – MSc OR: Feedback – MSc OR


Feedback – MSc OR: Feedback – MSc OR


Feedback – MSc OR: Feedback – MSc OR


Feedback – MSc OR: Feedback – MSc OR What do you think the department does well? 'Commitment to the students. Individual attention to student's needs.' 'Communication and response times to student queries. The air of informality and friendliness while delivering the service. Preparedness to understand student predicaments.' 'Informing us of courses, keeping website up to date, answering individual questions and being there for the students.' What do you think the department needs to improve? 'Checking and reviewing the course notes for errors.' 'Sometimes there is a lag between comments posted by students and the time taken for staff to respond.'


Feedback – MSc EMP: Feedback – MSc EMP 'it just cannot be better, i am learning with enjoyment , and i can fully understand what roger means when he says that we are learning more than normal mode students , as i can see that with normal classes interaction and exposure is much less and i certainly wouldnt have leant this much going to normal classes on campus. to conclude, am very pleased with how things r going so far and am recommending on line learning to every one i talk to' Student,Oman. (and Strathclyde Business School graduate)


Feedback – MSc EMP: Feedback – MSc EMP 'I … discovered the flexibility of online learning which can be much more effective than turning up for a two-hour lecture at the end of a busy day in the office. I look forward to completing this course. I am definitely learning a lot!' Student, United Kingdom


Feedback – MSc EMP: Feedback – MSc EMP 'I am sure other courses will increasingly follow where you lead.' Wendy Alexander, MSP, Economist andamp; Member of Advisory Board


Developing & DeliveringMasters Degrees online: Developing andamp; Delivering Masters Degrees online Howard Ramsay howard.ramsay@strath.ac.uk Department of Management Science Roger Perman r.perman@strath.ac.uk Department of Economics