I have supported the use of the latest business technologies since my time as a systems engineer in refining and petrochemicals. Technology is an enabler of transformational learning, and I use technology to accomplish learning goals that are important to prepare students for their respective careers.
In teaching I have used the following LMS technologies:
Blackboard – I have used Blackboard for over 25 years in courses both at ACU and Arizona State. In total, I have developed and/or used over 70 blackboard courses in operations, information systems, programming, e-commerce, economics, energy management and Core courses at ACU and 10 courses in accounting and e-commerce at ASU. I have also used Moodle to develop and teach an IT course.
Canvas – I have developed Canvas sites in every course I’ve taught since its adoption in 2015. Before that time, I piloted the use of Canvas during its development phase that began in 2013. Because Canvas is a cloud-based application, there is always something new to suggest or learn when using this LMS.
Virtual Learning – I developed a hybrid course in Managing Information and Technology Resources that utilizes a virtual learning simulation of a real company. This course was offered for 3 semesters and integrated with Blackboard as the LMS.
Teleconferencing – I have used Webex, ZOOM, GoToMeeting, Collaborate, and Canvas’ Conferencing application to create a virtual collaboration space in all ERP courses, E-Commerce, and Managing IT Resources. These applications are used to hold virtual meeting times when classes cannot meet face to face (e.g., there are no snow days on the Internet) and to create a shared facilitator environment between the instructor and students. This use has been instrumental in supporting students who travel regularly, particularly those involved in sports, and other ACU sponsored events.
ERP simulation – this application has been used to simulate a business environment for distributing and manufacturing product in functional teams. Using this technology, students with accounting/finance, marketing, business management, IT, and other majors can collaborate to maximize outcomes for key performance measures (KPIs) such as company value, gross margin, profit margin to target overall profitability by managing inventory and marketing costs. Using this environment, students are exposed to logistics, manufacturing and retail industries, learning how to work as professionals in a business community.
SAP ERP and SAP S/4 HANA – this technology is used to teach IS and IT students the complexity of enterprise systems. Students function as end users as they learn the use of ERP systems in business and/or as developers as they learn to configure enterprise systems as business analysts or IT support personnel. The HANA development platform using an in-memory, columnar database which is recommended for large-scale analytics applications. The S/4 HANA instruction is key for our students, since SAP is phasing out its support for all prior versions in 2025. This preparation will provide many job opportunities for students with this exposure.
Mobility – I encourage the use of mobile devices in class by using laptops, iPhones, iPads and other mobile devices for in-class exercises and to ensure currency in business activities. I enter into a contract agreement with students at the beginning of each class to reduce the affects of distracted misuse of mobile technologies to help students learn to manage technology in the work environment. All devices are used with enterprise technologies to review integrated data sources in real time to respond to customer inventory requests and to make dynamic pricing decisions. In 2011, I worked with an undergraduate researcher in mobile application development for enterprise applications, which was and still is on the leading edge of UX/UI development. In the Spring of 2018, I introduced students to the Mendix Platform, which was suggested by an ACU Board member, and assigned students rapid development lab time to quickly create innovative mobile applications.
To encourage responsible use of technology in class, we discuss the need to develop a level of maturity and faithful use of business resources in class before they enter the business environment. I employ a proactive approach to resource management by holding students accountable for rules of use both in class and in the lab environment – see representative sample of a technology use agreement here.