Virtual vs. Actual: The New Age of Supply-Chain Education

When it comes to teaching the complexities of supply-chain management, is digital learning as effective as the traditional in-class experience? Actually, it's a little late to be asking the question. ''Virtual'' teaching experiences are becoming increasingly common in all areas of education. And they deliver some real benefits. Supply-chain professionals looking to hone their skills don't have the time to physically attend classes. In fact, some of the world's largest companies are relying on remote learning to improve their executives' leadership skills. But are there trade-offs to be considered? Can a professor really interact in a meaningful way with multiple students in a virtual environment? We address these questions in this episode with two guests: Alan Todd, founder of the digital learning platform CorpU, and Steve Tracey, executive director of the Center for Supply Chain Research at Penn State. They offer some surprising observations about the ability of students of all ages to absorb knowledge through digital media. In the future, says Todd, ''all higher education will be blended learning.''