Online Project Management Course Attracts Distance Learners

“The clients of marchFIRST are expecting higher standards on engagements, recognizing and demanding demonstrated competence in the management as well as the technology. Often clients are asking for experienced and certified managers for all our projects."
- David Loofbourrow
Learning Alliances Manager
marchFIRST

As indicated by David Loofbourrow, project management is fast becoming a necessity for businesses and corporations. Project managers are being required to not only manage projects, but also to facilitate relationships between the project team and the customers, and balance competing demands among scope, time, cost and quality.

In an age where technology is dominant, it is no surprise that many prospective project managers are pursuing their education with the help of the World Wide Web. With more than 1 million students plugged into virtual classrooms today (Forbes Magazine), numerous institutions have transformed traditional classroom courses into enhanced online learning opportunities for people pursuing an education in a non-traditional fashion.

University of Wisconsin Learning Innovations (UWLI) has succeeded in doing just that with the creation of a Project Management program in collaboration with University of Wisconsin-Platteville. By leveraging more than 100 years of UW distance education experience, UW Learning Innovations has developed these and numerous other online learning opportunities for students.

“Being in the consulting field, it’s very difficult for me to attend classes at physical locations," said Subrata Roy of Chicago, Senior Consultant for marchFIRST and student in Product Management Techniques I (PM 701). “Since this program seemed to have the basics of management and is also taught on the Internet, which I can access from anywhere, I decided to take it."

Designed by UWLI and UW-Platteville, Project Management Techniques I (PM 701), tackles issues surrounding project scope definition, plan development and execution, sequencing, scheduling, and collection and dissemination of project-related information. For many students, learning this information with the ease of accessibility was a large draw.

“Even when I’m on project in California, I can read at my own time," added Roy.

“We wanted to design a program that would fill the educational and development needs of working professionals and deliver it in a way that would transcend the boundaries of place and time," commented Donna Perkins, UW-Platteville Project Management Program Director. “Judging from the comments I get on a daily basis from people in the program, as well as those who are considering it, I'd say we're on the right track.

“Many people call me just to verify that this is a complete graduate degree, that they can earn all the credits at a distance, that the program is based on the Project Management Body of Knowledge, and that UWP is an accredited institution," Perkins continued. “When I respond ‘yes’ to all their questions, they answer with ‘wow’ – that’s when I know that we've hit on the combination of content and delivery design that they're seeking."

According to Perkins, PM 701 includes an evaluation component that allows the students to track their work. In addition, the instructor is able to follow individual progress via various homework assignments, projects, and required group sessions. The collaboration gives the students a sense of community, providing each individual the opportunity to participate actively in the course through an online group setting.

“It was nice hearing the different ways project managing was done in different companies," said Mike Roegner, Tooling Manager at Rayovac and student in the Project Management course. “It’s nice to know how it is used in your own shop, but educational to know how it works in other venues."

Roegner also agreed that the accessibility of an online course was beneficial.

“I liked it enough to take the next course in the sequence," said Roegner. “(Having the program online) was the only way I could justify getting my masters."

Since this was a new degree program, UWLI instructional designers worked together with UW-Platteville faculty for the design and development phases of the program. This program is unique not only because of its online attraction, but also because UW- Platteville is the only institution to offer a Masters in Project Management developed with an asynchronous, web-based format. There are only three other institutions that offer this degree via distance learning but none of them offer it completely over the Internet.

“I felt like a pioneer of sorts," said Roegner. “It was a learning experience for everyone."

Project Management is an increasingly popular field among professionals with backgrounds as varied as engineering, business and accounting. PM 701 “students" feel that training in project management is a beneficial learning experience that applies directly to their current careers.

“Project Management 701 provided me with a greater understanding of the project management discipline, which I have since applied to my current position," said Paul Hauschen, HR Administration Manager at CUNA Mutual in Madison. “The class was challenging, in-depth, and most importantly, convenient."

Hauschen, like others, enjoyed the freedom of learning online. “Project Management 701 delivered education where I needed it – at home."

The Project Management program offered by UW-Platteville also includes classes in human resources, quality, financial and marketing management. The MS in Project Management (MSPM) is a web-based program designed to satisfy the needs of students wishing to pursue a degree while remaining employed. The program is open to anyone with a bachelor's degree and the desire to learn about project management. It will provide professionals with a convenient, practical, quality program that will allow them to develop the new skills that are needed in managing today's workplace while earning credits that lead to an advanced degree.