Keeping Business in Business Education

I have long believed that the introduction of 'technology' (read that as the desktop computer) has interrupted Business Education. The lure of technology for its own sake has been too strong for many Business Educators. In some ways they have forgotten the Business end of Business Education.

Yes, businesses use all sorts of technology - virtual meetings, company blogs and websites, etc. When Business Educators delve into any one of those technologies for the sake of the technology and forgets to situate the technology in a business setting I feel they have lost sight of the Business in Business Education.

We do need to explore Second Life, and we do need to set up courses in Second Life. But a Business Educator explores Second Life to study and understand the business opportunities there. A Business Educator should set up courses on Second Life that teach Business content or prepares prospective Business Teachers. Setting up a course, anywhere, that teaches students how to use Second Life isn't Business Education.

I could make the same argument for a number of technology issues - online instruction, televised courses, computer based testing, etc., etc.

I know I am an old-timer and one might say that I haven't moved along with the times but I feel that our students have lost something when we teach them how to make videos instead of teaching them how to manage their money.

Having said that the subject area that I work in has recently changed its name from Business Education (EBUS) to Business, Media and Technology Studies (EBMT). This happened because I have been joined by a former Ph.D. student of mine and current colleague Alec Couros. Alec is brilliantly leading the way in the integration of technology into teaching - something which I feel needs to be done. It seemed a natural fit for Alec to join me in the subject area. Check out the course Alec is teaching this semester.

My students will now get what I hope will be the best of both worlds - actually three worlds - I hope they will become exceptional teachers, I hope they will become committed Business Educators and I hope they will become innovative users of the newest and best technology for the benefit of their own students.

The Future of Business Education

I have been concerned about the future of Business Education for some time now. Business Teacher Education programs are slowly disappearing both in Canada and the U.S. which begs the question of who will teach business subjects in the future. But perhaps more disturbing to me is that Business Education has morphed into an entity that focuses almost exclusively on the use of technology (not necessarily in a business setting) and on pre-employment preparation which leaves the 'general' education aspects of Business Education extremely neglected

For the last few years I have been working on a research project with Dr. Judy Lambrecht which explores issues facing business educators and I also sit on the Policy Commission for Business and Economic Education which addresses this issue.

I always believe in discussion and exposure of ideas and suggestions. That is one of the reasons I began this blog. Although I know a fair number of people read this blog the structure of blogs makes it difficult to enter into a dialogue.

To that end I have established a wiki. You can find it right here.

Below you can read my first entry to that wiki:

Welcome to a new wiki designed to encourage discussion concerning the future of business education.

I will admit my prejudices right now - I don't believe that Technology Education is equivalent to Business Education. I know that in order to learn about business students must confront technology as it is a powerful business tool. But I also know that there is a great deal more to Business Education beyond the technological tools used.

I also know that business education exists in many places - k-12 schools, technical and community colleges, universities and industry but I prefer to think about Business Education in terms of the work done in K-12 schools. Although we seem to have competition at the K-12 level it is not as profound as the competition faced by 'business educators' in other locations.

I'll also admit that as a Canadian I am not afflicted by the Perkins act nor by NCLB.

If you find this wiki somehow and would like to contribute (at this time this wiki is 'protected' which means you can only read, you can't post) contact me at cyril.kesten@uregina.ca and I will 'authorize' you.

Tell your friend and colleagues - the more input the better