IntelRag was established by the editor in 1998 as an online open learning classroom supporting course instruction. Since initial publication, the name and purpose have changed as online open learning models and methods evolved.
IntelRag serves as a research and support site. Included are special tools for calculating finance, production, distribution, facilities planning, and quality models.
Additionally, the website supports instruction and work-group labs for marketing management, consumer behavior, information systems, telecommunications, facility design, operations, distribution, and quality courses. Included are access to lectures, labs, exams, interactive spreadsheets, and database applications.
For security reasons, complexity of networks and software suites have increased to levels that require specialization in highly defined and controlled environments. Current and future networks will result in further division of knowledge, performance, and the ability to know or do-it-all. In every field of science, a similar story is unfolding. What the future holds is unknown. However, the dynamic of change has taken on a life of its own.
The independent learning environment is receiving support from the online community of universities, colleges, and independent organizations. They provide complete courses, programs of study, and research references as a public service.
Included are course syllabi, online textbooks, videos of classroom presentations, exams, and reference material. All of this for little, or no cost to the independent learner. See “Online Open Learning” in the footer, and the banners on each page.
The online open learning approach has become available for full-time employees to reach their objective of acquiring a professional degree, at their pace, without interfering in work or family life. As taxpayers, they are currently underwriting education and should, therefore, benefit without the typical cost of a residential degree.
Genesis for this online open learning website is a research report titled Graduate Business and Technology Management Curriculum: Changing Requirements and is like current STEM efforts. The objective was to compare and contrast program offerings by tier one universities and National University.
Outcome was a program design to meet the objectives of the aerospace industry integrated systems design and logistic engineering fields which many of National University active and retired military personnel were supporting.
National University represents early efforts to provide flexible education alternatives for military personnel. Founder of National University was Navy Captain David Chigos, Director of Training for the General Dynamics Corporation. Initial board members included several additional military officers from the U.S. Army and Navy services.
The objective was to provide an avenue for military personnel to obtain higher level education in a format that was compatible with service assignments and frequent transfers.
It was a battle ground with traditional accreditation systems, and the forerunner of short course completion times and online learning.
Today, National University is recognized as an outstanding private academic institution, second largest in the nation. National University has been blessed with leadership of Presidents from tier one universities rotating through the staff.
Academic foundation programs for the comparative study are:
Massachusetts Institute of Technology – University of California Berkeley – University of Southern California
Although an integrated business and technology systems approach had been utilized in the aerospace industry for decades, academia languished in providing such an approach, except at a few of the more research-oriented universities.
The question addressed was . . . how to develop and implement an integrated business and technology systems approach in academia?
Formatting and implementing a successful approach was accomplished by aligning and integrating requirements of several constituencies, stakeholders and policy organizations:
Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC),
American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB),
Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP),
Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc. (ABET),
Industry, academia, and government policy leadership. (Research Report)
Additional resources are lining up to support learning activities. They are provided by the American Council on Education (ACE), and the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP), which support independent learners in granting credit towards a professional degree.
Digital Portfolio Notes:
Students are encouraged to establish a digital portfolio identifying intended career objectives, educational, and professional accomplishments.
Portfolios can be useful when preparing resumes and responding to job announcements. Portfolios are recommended for academic, professional, tradecraft and volunteer personnel. Inclusion of professional society associations, seminars, papers, presentations, trade-craft education, work accomplishments and position assignments can be included.
Portfolios can be public, or kept private, to be presented when requested by the reviewer. Consider providing confidential information to the reviewer only upon personal request for a specific position opening, and during an interview.
Digital Vitae Notes:
IntelRag is the editor’s research website published in the free access of the internet for ease of use. As such, it also serves the function of an online digital portfolio and supplements the editor’s curriculum vitae.
For academics, a curriculum vitae is a short account of their career and qualifications for an open position. It is prepared and presented to a hiring review board for consideration. Personal information is provided when requested during the position opening interview.
From the first day as a student, throughout the many and varied academic and work-related experiences, entries reflect the path and changing objectives experienced. The digital portfolio and vitae are always kept up to date.