Today’s College of Business students are comfortable with digital devices and with forms of study that are much different from those of earlier generations of students. Laptop computers and smart phones are as common as pens and notebooks.

Dr. Brian Gibson’s classes in supply chain management make use of this technology in ways that blend the traditional classroom experience with techniques used in distance learning. This hybrid approach has produced significant advantages for his students and their professor.

In essence, Gibson’s students receive an electronic textbook. His lectures are available to students at any time. The lectures are prepared in video form, using various graphic devices to illustrate key points. Students are expected to view the lectures and take a graded quiz on the material before each class.

This creates accountability for students, Gibson notes, but also leads to better preparation, which makes class time more productive. Students can begin in-class activities and interactive discussions more quickly.

Students also have an additional study tool for test preparation, Gibson says, because they can more easily review previous lectures before exams.