In today's fast-paced and constantly connected world, having access to education anytime, anywhere has become increasingly important. This is especially true for students pursuing an MBA or similar graduate degree, who often have demanding careers and other commitments that make it difficult to attend traditional classroom-based courses.
Oklahoma University’s (OU) asynchronous courses allow students to complete the MBA degree program’s requirements on their own schedule. However, producing an asynchronous course can be a complex and challenging task, especially when the content is technical and difficult to convey. This is where NextThought came in, with its knowledge and skills in the fields of learning design and instructional technology.
OU wanted to update the asynchronous course for quantitative analysis, which is a notoriously complicated subject. NextThought's learning designer worked collaboratively with the quantitative analysis professor to establish a course outline, determine learning outcomes for each module, write scripts for short video lectures, create assessments, and expand upon concepts via other learning modalities (ex: group discussions). The resulting learning program was streamlined for nontraditional students — people learning differently than the often younger, less overscheduled students many courses are designed for.
The amount of original content was trimmed down and reallocated into other modalities to promote student engagement and comprehension of the material. The learning designer added and organized all of the course materials within Canvas (OU’s learning management system, also known as an LMS) to ensure an effective learning experience.
“Over the last couple of months, I benefited tremendously from the help, support, and expertise of the amazing Staff members at NextThought. Among them, however, Ashley [learning designer] offered outstanding help and support, and she generously shared her thoughts and advice with me.”
Saleh S. Tabrizy
Associate Professor, OU
By working together, the professor and learning designer were able to create a course that was both technically sound and accessible to students. The lecture videos were clear and engaging while the additional resources such as discussion questions helped to reinforce the students’ understanding of the material. The Quantitative Analysis course at OU provided students with a flexible and convenient way to complete their studies while still having access to expert knowledge and support.
Ensure the Success of Your Own Ansynchronous Course
If you're looking to offer a fully online, asynchronous course for your institution, consider working with a company like NextThought that specializes in learning design and technology for higher education. With its expertise in these areas, NextThought can help you create a course that is both effective and accessible to students, helping them to achieve their goals and succeed in their careers.
VIDEO: OU MBA Asset Examples

NextThought team
Our mission... To constantly explore innovative ways to rethink education. We engage learners, build community, and deliver value. We will always go above and beyond standard learning solutions, providing perfectly-tailored educational experiences for our clients and their audiences.
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