Harnessing asynchronous and synchronous educational technology to impact graduate success: a Maritime Industry, post pandemic experience

The Maritime Industry is a networked industry; with participants from different national, ethnic, religious, cultural and linguistic backgrounds, presenting rich opportunities to design for graduate success. Throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic, Educational Technology (ET) was utilised to replace traditional delivery. Post Pandemic, employers want work-ready graduates, whilst Universities target student recruitment and retention.

This presentation focuses on harnessing asynchronous and synchronous ET to simultaneously teach distance and on-campus cohorts. The skills required for working in this diverse industry, such as teamwork, decision making, problem solving and conflict resolution are practiced through authentic activities.

A brief example of strategies addressing stakeholder needs follows: The prerecorded Lecture (asynchronous) is on the Learning Management System and accompanied by ereadings. Students watch the Lecture before class. Distance students remotely join the on-campus class (synchronous) via Zoom. Resources target graduate relevant activities with many students already employed in the industry. The class provides an interface to apply concepts and skills. The result is a workshop rather than a traditional tutorial class, with interactive teaching allowing in-depth discussions, impromptu and informal verbal presentations, building confidence and skills in a relaxed and coordinated environment. James et al. 2014 identify this as a flipped classroom. To consolidate flipped classroom activities, facilitated online asynchronous discussion is designed into summative and formative assessment, encouraging industry relevant conversations. The outcome is perseverance which builds resilience. Our graduates become industry champions. Sometimes they are responsible for recruitment and in-turn target current students. This presentation focuses on harnessing ET and nuanced conversations fostering a work-ready graduate in the ‘new normal’ of curriculum delivery.