Thomas Edison State College mentor Dr. Tami Moser and dog Patrick.

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Meet a Mentor: Tami Moser, PhD

Bringing online courses to life

If you have ever navigated an online course, you might get a sense of the work behind its construction.

Dr. Tami Moser, who mentors courses for the School of Business and Management's graduate-level programs and also assists in the structure and development of the School's online courses, said she finds that work a challenging, albeit rewarding, experience.

"Course development is really fun for me," said Moser, who has had a hand in building out a number of courses in the School's ever-expanding suite of programs.

Moser, who works closely with College staff in bringing online courses to life, noted that from course concept to launch, the focus remains on learning objectives.

"Beginning with the infrastructure, I work closely with the deans and assistant deans and also collaborate with instructional designers," said Moser. "We all work through the generalized structure of modules, topics, course descriptions, learning objectives and, later, incorporate elements of the textbook. In its final phase, the new course goes up for approval before the College's Curriculum Committee. Once those basics are in place, we work on practical details like composing assignment questions."

Moser became acquainted with TESC through the dean of the School of Business and Management, Dr. Michael Williams. Williams served as a former chair on the dissertation committee that reviewed Moser's submission while she was a doctoral candidate at Capella University.

"Tami is a model scholar-practitioner and our School of Business and Management is fortunate to have her," said Williams. "She is a seasoned industry professional, effective mentor and proven leader whose professionalism serves as an exemplar for our students and her colleagues."

Moser's academic trajectory includes Bachelor of Liberal Studies and Master of Public Administration degrees earned from the University of Oklahoma and a Doctor of Philosophy degree earned from Capella University. She is currently enrolled in the Doctor of Behavioral Health degree program at Arizona State University.

She said her ability to relate to online students comes from her own academic journey. "I completed my Doctorate in Philosophy degree in organization and management online, never seeing a professor or classmate in-person, while tackling complex material," she said.

At the College, the graduate-level courses Moser mentors include, Leadership, Vision and Strategic Planning (MSM-620); Organizational Research (ORR-510); Marketing Management (MKM-560); and Change Management (MAN-415). She noted that the School's graduate-level degree programs are strongly practitioner focused. As such, the background of many TESC students is often compatible with the framework.

"The distinction between traditional college students and our adult learners is that the latter can more readily apply the theoretical components in their courses to real world experience," said Moser. She encourages students to synthesize their work experience with the curriculum tools and models presented in their courses. "For example, their assignment might be to identify a change initiative in their organization that did not go well and identify why it may have failed," she said.

Having taught and taken classes herself in traditional settings as well as online and developing courses for both, Moser is convinced that online students cultivate a deeper level of education.

"Overall, what online students often derive from the experience are stronger writing and communication skills than their counterparts," she said. "Our students are not spoon fed nor do they expect to be. Their self-motivation sets the tone in our courses and often defines the learning. Online learning fosters a different level of internal motivation and problem-solving initiative."

Outside of TESC, Moser is an associate professor of Pharmacy Administration at Southwestern Oklahoma State University and editor-in-chief of the university's Administrative Issues Journal. She is also owner of Moser Analytics in Weatherford, Okla., state chair for the Oklahoma Women in Higher Education and is involved in ongoing scholarly research projects, new curriculum development and conference presentations.

Off the clock, Moser loves to read. "It has served me well in my profession, and I never gave up reading fiction even when working on my doctorate degrees," she said. "It really helps with creativity and it's a nice break." Her two dogs, Ginger, a 50-pound Standard Poodle, and Patrick, a 50-pound Chow and Golden Retriever mix, make sure she gets plenty of fresh air. Family members who live close by serve as a constant source of support. "My parents live nearby and have been greatly supportive of my educational endeavors," she said.

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