Collat management professor Scott Boyar, Ph.D., has been recognized with the 2023 Provost’s Transformative Online Course Award (TOCA) for engaging online students.
The TOCA acknowledges online classes that develop an engaged community through inventive teaching. One award is given each year to a UAB course—developed by a full-time faculty member—that exemplifies best practices and innovation in online education.
Boyar received the award for MG 302—Management Processes and Behavior, an introductory management course that covers the four functions of management: planning, organizing, leading, and controlling.
“I’m trying to engage students in the learning process and create an engaging learning environment where they can thrive,” Boyar opens a new website said.
The course was certified by Quality Matters (QM) in 2023. QM is a leader in quality assurance for online education and has received international recognition for its peer-review and continuous improvement processes.
Boyar worked hard to streamline MG 302’s design to make it more organized and intuitive for students in Canvas. A key element of the course is how it structures and gamifies student engagement using Microsoft Teams.
“I want students to engage, but I also want them to enjoy the process of learning,” Boyar said.
Students earn points the more they engage with their peers on Teams and answer other students’ questions. More points means they move up levels in a gamified structure, and at the end of the course, they are awarded bonus points toward their final grade based on their engagement “level.”
“It provides the ability for them to be as engaged as they want to be,” Boyar said. “The bonus gives them a sense of accomplishment and meaningfulness, plus they’ve been a great help to their fellow classmates.”
The course also supports team activities and builds other skills employers are looking for in new hires.
“One component requires students to complete a report and a video presentation of that report,” he said. “We see this all the time in the professional world with management or HR having to create a video presentation reporting information to others inside and outside of their organizations. Our students record their presentations, then upload it so that other students can review and provide feedback. They learn both by doing their presentations and also by critiquing others.”
The recognition that has come with earning the TOCA has been a career highlight for Boyar.
“It’s a wonderful acknowledgment,” he said. “I feel like I’m making a difference. I’m creating a place where students can find meaning in their education and enjoy connecting with other students.”
Boyar will facilitate a virtual presentation to faculty and staff on Friday, March 1 from 9 – 10:30 a.m. The Zoom presentation will highlight both course design and technology integration that enhances the online student experience.