A Great MCM Summer Residency 2011

Today marked the end of the summer residency of the Master of Communications Management. We had a blend of the first-year students and the upper-year students as well. What a fantastic group of professional communication leaders from across Canada. I taught MCM 739: Understanding Social Media Publics and my good friend and colleague, Dr. Terry Flynn taught MCM 741: Crisis Management.

The course was an absolute joy to teach. Interacting with leading communications pros from across Canada, brainstorming new strategies, studying the latest technologies and cutting edge case studies is a joy for me in my various incarnations as professor, researchers and PR practitioner. We covered both theoretical and practical approaches to online community-building, architecture and design theory, socialnomics, the business of influence, and social media measurement in my class. Fascinating, stimulating discussion. We even did a full-day crisis management simulation.

I find I learn as much from the students as they do from me. An all-around enriching experience.

Now we will pick it up in our on-line tutorials until we reconvene in October! I can’t wait for the first tutorial. I know the students are excited too.

The MCM is an executive education program for seasoned professional communicators (five years experience, minimum) which is taught through a distance-learning model and very selective about both admissions and in-program standards. Students come to campus for a week, during which they take two courses, one in the morning, from 8:30-12:30, and the other from 1-5. All classes are taught at the Ron Joyce Centre at McMaster’s Burlington Campus. Gourmet breakfasts and lunches are provided. As well, we organize networking opportunities and a chance to meet the program alumni. This year, our networking evenings were held in the beautiful and elegant surroundings of Peller Estates Winery in Niagara-on-the-Lake, and Stonehouse Restaurant in Burlington.

Giving a speech in honour of colleague and friend, Dr. Terry Flynn.

 

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