Case 2: A Lecture Free Curriculum in Sport Management
Dr Matthew Nicholson and Associate Professor Russell Hoye from the School of Sport, Tourism and Hospitality Management, together with the Online Teaching Support Unit at La Trobe University, have developed a multimedia DVD, which links the theory and practice of sport management for first year University students and supports a lecture free curriculum.
Key Issues: Engaging students with dynamic resources that connect them to the world of work.
The approach: Matthew and Russell structured a course which aimed to engage the digital generation of students, by providing an alternative to the lecture-based model. They constructed a media rich resource, a multimedia DVD, with a Faculty grant and support by the Online Teaching Support Unit. The DVD covered 10 topics, and included introductory ‘conversations’ and video interviews with senior managers.
The unit was structured around active engagement by students, and was based on three features:
- Students are introduced to each topic via the principles section of the DVD
- Students consult the applications section of the DVD, viewing the manager perspectives and linking theory with practice. Students undertake a weekly activity for assessment.
- A dynamic workshop (tutorial) program in which the students consolidate and extend their knowledge by tackling problems, cases and scenarios in an environment that develops their teamwork.
This first year unit was designed to provide engaging and stimulating learning resources to students who were comfortable with information technology, without the constraints of a learning environment structure based on lecture and set readings.