How can professional academic programs respond to the skills needed in the modern workplace andcreate opportunities to bridge theory and practice? As the expression goes, “In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. But in practice, there is”. Can theory and practice be brought together in an online professional program? This presentation will discuss lessons from bridging theory and practice in an Online Master of Public Administration degree. Within this program, instructors have woven cases—such as the carbon tax legislation, the phoenix pay system, the duty to consult, and affordable housing—throughout courses as diverse as Public Policy Analysis, Economics, Statistics, Public Finance, and Governance and Administration. This presentation will share examples and experiences of cross-course integration of case studies, applied assignments, and practitioners in program development.
PRESENTED BY Martin Boucher
Martin Boucher is the academic lead for the online Master of Public Administration (online MPA) and plays a key role in the Governance and Entrepreneurship in Northern and Indigenous Areas (GENI) program.Martin has over ten years of experience in online learning, teaching, and development. Heis currently completing his PhD in Environment and Sustainability (SENS) at the University of Saskatchewan (USask), where his research focuses on socio-technical pathways to clean energy in Canada, the United States, and Sweden.
About the OnEd Network
The Online Education (OnEd) Network is a group of experts—and aspiring experts—working towards creating top-notch online courses for the university community. New technologies, approaches, and methods for online learning are continually changing how courses and programs can be taught. This OnEd monthly workshop series is part of a network at the University of Saskatchewan, University of Regina, and beyond. Our mission is to build capacity for online course development and create a network of faculty, instructional designers, and support staff that foster a collegial environment of motivated experts that develops excellence, best practices, and strategies in online programming and teaching.
For more information or the be added to the OnEd mailing list, please contact Martin Bourcher (martin.boucher@usask.ca) or Emmy Neuls (emmy.neuls@usask.ca).
Event Details
- When:
- Time:
- 09:00 AM - 10:30 AM CST
- Location:
- Delivered by Zoom - https://zoom.us/j/97552025590?pwd=d2QwWnd3eFU1ZTZ2UElBVis3NDFIQT09
- File:
- Download the event poster