Online Learning Tips from MSCM Students

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has quite literally changed the meaning of the word, classroom. As classes have had to shift online, student perspectives and actions have had to change as well, to allow them to succeed in their new virtual classrooms. Here are some online learning tips from the current Masters in Supply Chain Management (MSCM) cohort.

Staying Engaged

Though at times it can be tempting to turn your camera off in a Zoom class and just passively pay attention, according to MSCM student—Jack Brunell and probably most experts in learning, that is not the way to go.

Jack’s top tips for staying engaged include taking paper notes and limiting outside distractions. “I always do paper notes because it is much more conducive to paying attention.”

He also recommends viewing engagement as a spectrum. “People say well, you can either be perfectly engaged or particularly disengaged, but I’m really hesitant about thinking that way because it really is sort of a spectrum.”

One class that Jack really enjoyed staying engaged in this past summer quarter was Probability and Statistics (SCM 501), taught by Senior Lecturer of Operations Management, Issariya Sirichakwal.

“He [Lecturer, Sirichakwal] did a brilliant job of organizing and doing it. Everything was really well put together with pre-recorded content, reading assignments, and live sessions,” Jack elaborates.

Networking over International Waters

For MSCM student, Liya Cao learning in the time of COVID-19 means dealing with the extraordinary circumstance of tuning in for online classes at the Foster School of Business in Seattle, from Mainland China. Due to delays at international embassies and the challenge of moving during a pandemic, some students have elected to join the MSCM cohort remotely from around the globe.

Remote telecommuting is one thing that online classes allow for that in-person classes cannot. Determined not to miss out on any experience, however, Liya still networks with her fellow classmates and professors.

“In real-time, in the real world we have to invite people to chat over coffee or something and you would have to pay attention to schedules, but now everyone is virtual and most people work from their homes,” Liya explains. “And if all you want is fifteen minutes to talk, it’s just super easy.”

Networking has truly never been more convenient!

Happy Hours

While MSCM student Sarah Iacolucci enjoys the flexibility that online learning gives her as a full-time student and employee, she is intent on still building relationships with her cohort. To do this Sarah and her team members have implemented after class happy hours.

“Happy hours after class are just really easy and we’ve also done socially distant picnics,” Sarah elaborates.

Just Keep Learning

Sarah also points out that there is no better way to learn about real life supply chain disruptions, than by experiencing once yourself like the vast effects of COVID-19 on everything around us.

She looks forward to further exploring this notion in her autumn quarter classes such as Negotiations for Supply Chain Management (SCM 501) and Managing Supply Chain Projects (SCM 521).

Ultimately, even if online classes and Zoom lectures have shifted the learning modality, the most important thing is that our students are still learning and moving forward.

Apply today, and join our next cohort!