Monday, May 09, 2005

ExecutiveZen

ExecutiveZen
Cranfield are launching two ICT-related initiatives that meet our perception of our client’s needs. These are the Knowledge INTERCHANGE, and CranfieldOnline.com. Both are intended to operate in the territory outlined above – the INTERCHANGE of institutionalised/educationalised executive education and situationalised/practitioner-oriented learning. For both projects the use of technology is placed secondary to the learning requirements of the delegate/corporate. This intent is in line with Cranfield’s adoption of the title networked learning as the appropriate categorisation of learning mediated via ICT, as distinct from the more limiting title of e-learning, which serves to foreground the role of technology. Networked learning employs both technological-oriented networks (the Internet, ICT in general) and social networks to fulfil its aim of creating new knowledge and learning opportunities relevant to our client.


The Knowledge INTERCHANGE – will be launched in September 2005 at Cranfield’s Management Development Centre (CMDC). Situated overlooking the CMDC’s suite of lecture rooms, executive education delegates within the Knowledge INTERCHANGE will be able to access dedicated management knowledge resources, a wireless lounge, knowledge creation, media and coaching areas. The Knowledge INTERCHANGE will be an environment for clients to assimilate Cranfield’s latest thinking on issues related to management. It is a place where faculty and delegates will converge to jointly create new knowledge & valued learning for themselves and their organisations. Integral to the Knowledge INTERCHANGE are the services provided by the Library & Information Service at Cranfield, a key partner in the project. Networked technology allows us to open a window on the world’s knowledge and ideas, giving the ability to present executive development clients with a wealth of learning materials available 24x7 from anywhere in the world. Structured around four main themes, ‘paths’ will lead learners to interesting and relevant content, including research and analysis on global economies, markets and companies, in addition to books and journals on all aspects of business and management. Evolving from recommended reading for modules, assignments and projects our clients can delve more deeply into a topic area, looking for further materials on the same subject or linking to related topics. Technology supports such serendipity - the chance discovery of a document or idea that might represent completely new ways of thinking around a business problem.
The Knowledge INTERCHANGE plans to be both a physical and a virtual space. We are designing an online learning experience that actively engages users, whether they are on-site at Cranfield, accessing from home or the office. Such spaces imaginatively bring objects, text, images and people together to create virtual learning communities around management thinking at Cranfield and beyond. In this way the Knowledge INTERCHANGE lays a bridge between Cranfield University and our clients; the expert practitioners in industry, providing guidance and support in implementing management learning.
CranfieldOnline, like the Knowledge INTERCHANGE, is work-in-progress. It is the umbrella online environment which includes the Knowledge INTERCHANGE and all Cranfield programme-related web portals for both graduate academic (MBA, MSc, DBA, PhD) as well as open & customised executive education programmes.

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