Blurring Reality-Based Learning One Virtual Classroom At a Time

Context As we develop students to become future leaders in the world we have this assumption that the learning we provide is sufficient to breed success. What we are missing in the education process both on-ground and online is providing a level of reality to the process. We educate from a text and in some cases the instructor posses little or no experience to provide that reality to the education process. There has been extensive writing on the subject of providing reality-based leaning in the classroom. The LEAP National Leadership Council (2007) noted that today's college students need to be able to take their degree and apply it in an increasingly complex world. The Council notes the following areas of critical learning outcomes that students must be proficient in: • Inquiry and analysis • Critical and creative thinking • Written and oral communication • Teamwork and problem solving • Ethical reasoning and action • Foundations and skills for lifelong learning The LEAP National Leadership Council, (2007) "challenges the conventional view that liberal education is, by definition, ‘non-vocational'" (p. 3). The ability to integrate and apply learning from the course room to the real world is critical. One of the key principles that is outlined by the LEAP National Leadership Council is the ability to connect knowledge with choices and action. This prepares students for real-world situations by providing appropriate problem-based learning in the classroom. Students who are engaged in the classroom and have the opportunity to practice real-world applications can be better prepared to navigate the increasingly complex world they will face upon graduation. Problem "Business education is of limited use if it holds onto the concepts and practices of an earlier business and educational era" (Horsley, 2009, p. 1). Horsley (2009) noted that effective modern business education must foster the students' ability to develop a diverse set of skills including such skills that often considered ‘soft skills' like communication, creative thinking, embracing diversity, negotiation, and teamwork. Skills that are commonly referred to as ‘hard skills' that students must master include the ability to integrate knowledge into practice in the workplace, the ability to enhance product delivery, and the ability to provide superior customer service. Horsley (2009) noted that the ability to create courses that focus on work-based outcomes, problem-solving abilities, evaluation of information, and dealing with uncertainty is a key focus for today's business educators. This type of focus can often be difficult for educators to embrace as it encompasses a different perspective from traditional learning. The traditional basics for the course outcomes must be there; however, more effective business education must also add a dimension for students that allows for problem-based learning in an active setting. This will allow students to not only learn those basics but provide them with the opportunity to apply them in real-world settings in the safety of a classroom laboratory. Approach The business classroom will be the focus for the change that must occur to increase the level of applied learning for students to become viable candidates for positions in many of the critical areas of organizations globally. Problem-based learning, or reality-based learning, is an educational method that is gaining popularity in both traditional and online classrooms. Simply defined, reality-based education provides for individuals to learn and apply concepts in a setting that provides realistic scenarios with skilled educators who can impact the individual's performance allowing application of real-world decisions. This activity allows for constructive review of how the individual student performed and can prepare for the next encounter in the scenario. The focus of this innovation is to develop classes that will provide for the reality-based learning in an online virtual world. With a number of new technologies, developing a classroom based on a real life business environment is possible utilizing video conferencing technologies. In today's business environments there is the virtual team and or virtual organization. Most employees live around the country and around the world. The objective is utilize embedded technology in the online classroom or utilize free emerging video conferencing technology to enhance the virtual experience presents opportunities for real-world experience. Results The significance of apply reality-based learning to an online environment is the application is can provide endless approaches to endless business functions. As an example Marketing presents opportunities to establish a small team to work on specific issues surrounding a campaign. They meet regularly via video conferencing with the Vice President of Marketing to discuss solutions. In this role the Vice President provides direct challenges to the team. The debrief process results in a clear visual of how they respond and increasing their recognition of challenges they have as a team and an individual. As defined by the LEAP National Leadership Council (2007) students will walk away with the same active skills online as they would face-to-face, a proficient in: • Inquiry and analysis • Critical and creative thinking • Written and oral communication • Teamwork and problem solving • Ethical reasoning and action • Foundations and skills for lifelong learning The results from this virtual interaction will enhance each students' to apply this learning in their current business and prepare them to meet their future career goals and speak from experiences based on the activities is the course room. Conclusion Blurring the face-to-face classroom experience into an online environment creates a point of strength for online programs. By provide experiential learning students can apply in reality, versus taking a change on theory. Lastly, the opportunity to enhance learning by providing real political applications increases at a higher level the success of students to recognize situations real-time versus after the fact. Success is about learning practical applications in a real setting and providing memorable Skills.