|
Training
and Education Detailed Case Study
Michigan
State University (MSU) in East Lansing, Michigan, asked us
to co-ordinate and develop an Internet-based Master's Level Certificate
in Facility Management. Beginning in 1999, these post-graduate
courses reached out to hundreds of students across Canada and
the United States, as well as South America, Asia and Africa.
All the students worked in virtual teams spanning the globe for
the duration of each course.
The
whole office has been involved in this world-leading enterprise.
- The
development started when Carroll Thatcher was selected as the
professor to develop and deliver the foundation course Facility
Management - Theory and Principles for a new Masters in Facility
Management Program at the University of Manitoba. Carroll delivered
the pilot of this course face-to-face in Winnipeg in June 1996,
with both Meredith Thatcher and Guy Thatcher as guest speakers.
- Carroll
then developed the foundation course of MSU's Master's Level
Certificate program: Facility Management: Theory and Principles.
Carroll delivered this course several times, and was the off-site
co-ordinator of the four-course program.
- Meredith
Thatcher has been a Teaching Assistant for another course in
the program, Facility Real Estate and Building Economics. She
was also a contributor to Facility Management, Theory and Principles.
- In
October 1999, Carroll was awarded the Distinguished Author Award
for Instructional Materials by the International Facility Management
Association (IFMA), for her development of Facility Management:
Theory and Principles
- Jean
Grant was involved in all aspects of the development of the
four courses, including writing, editing, proofreading, research,
and video editing. Jean worked closely with MSU's Virtual University
to co-ordinate the conversion of two of the courses from a text-based
format to an electronic format. She acted as a Teaching Assistant
for Facility Management: Theory and Principles.
- Guy
Thatcher developed Information Management for Facility Professionals,
which he delivered several times.
|
|
"Learn
-you will learn all sorts of information that can impact how
you work. You will change your paradigm. This is a wonderful
opportunity being offered to seasoned veterans and really
opens up new ways of doing and seeing things."
"The
material flowed smoothly and logically from one module to
the next and it was completely understandable. Overall this
class was excellent. I acquired useful information and have
a much better understanding of what needs to be considered
for making use of the overwhelming amount of information that
is available to a facility manager."
"Excellent
course. The biggest challenge that a facility manager has
today is how to bring to Senior Management's attention, the
added value and relevance that knowledge management has. And
I believe this course gives a lot of interesting tools in
order to do that."
|
|
|
