Users can log-on from any location and at any time using a computer at home or at work. The OUBS introduced CMC as integral part of course learning and communication on its MBA entry course for graduate or professionally qualified managers. It takes a year of part-time study. B800 acknowledges that students come to it with a variety of management backgrounds. The course seeks to provide a creative environment, where mangers pool their different skills within group work, a considerable challenge for a distance taught course.
Computers play an important role as a learning and communications medium.
Managers use them for financial modelling and analysis, a business simulation game, and the focus of this paper - for online computer conferencing and communication with students. The advent of CMC offers a new method to add to OUBS s teaching approaches to enhance the exchange of views and knowledge within tutorial groups and expand the opportunity for group learning. It has the more immediately visible advantage of administrative enhancements and contact and exchanges between tutors and between, student s tutors and the course team. The online area adds a new dimension in the creation of a learning community . B800 was also the first course in the OUBS to use FirstClass conferencing platform.