>> Linked & Connected with "Anchor" Courses >>
Power of Learning & Networking via Anchor Courses: How Social Connectedness Can Better Our Future
By Walter Rodriguez, Ph.D., P.E.
”US counties with more geographically dispersed social networks are generally richer and better educated, with higher life expectancy and greater social mobility.“ (Cao, R. et al., 2017, after Bailey, M. et al., 2017)
While I directed a university institute in Southwest Florida, my team and I connected USA faculty with European companies seeking to learn more about USA business practices & technologies. Conversely, we linked Southwest Florida students seeking to understand business & technology in Europe (for instance, SAP, etc.). To this effect, we developed online “anchor*” courses in collaboration with European institutes (i.e., SGMI, etc.) [The founding dean of my college used to call this “the second circle model” for connecting universities & industries.]
For over two decades, we have maintained those learning & networking relationships. And continue developing new online anchor courses relevant to both the Southwest Florida region and companies around the World.
I have witnessed how our former students (now executives) have been employed by those international companies and continue connecting from remote and geographically dispersed locations. That’s part of the power of learning & networking via Anchor online courses.
*Anchor Courses
How does it work?: Once course participants complete their "anchor" course, we continue providing access to the learning materials & discussions for as long as they want to connect with their peers and the instructor via LMS, and more recently, LMS & Zoom.
Why do that?: This allows participants to stay connected & engaged with the course content. And more importantly, continue learning from the interaction with the new learners added to the course. [Yes, we keep the previous participants (now executives and technical professionals!] These lifelong learners benefit from the course revisions and stay up-to-date. Further, online anchor courses facilitate continuing education and certifications required by rapidly evolving knowledge & work demands around the globe. And it fosters hiring opportunities.
Learners continue the discussions, even when we don't check daily on the system (i.e., Canvas LMS). It's gratifying to learn from my former students working in the field. Learning goes both ways; I genuinely love teaching and learning, which is one of the many reasons.
References
Bailey, M, R Cao, T Kuchler, J Stroebel, and A Wong (2017a). “Measuring Social Connectedness.”
Cao, R. et al. (2017). “Social connectedness: Measurement, determinants, and effects. Social connectedness: Measurement, determinants, and effect.”