Www.bournemouth.ac.uk Using ‘real’ tasks and real organisations to improve student learning and...

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Using ‘real’ tasks and real organisations to improve student learning and motivation

Miguel Moital, PhDSenior Lecturer in Events Management

Pearl Morrison, MBADemonstrator in Events Management

7th AEME Events Management Educators ForumUniversity of Huddersfield, Huddersfield, 18-19 June 2009


Structure

• Context

• Process

• Content

• Outputs

• Outcomes - feedback


Context

• Leisure Product (Event innovation)• Level C unit• Several challenges:

• Balance between academic rigour and real case practice

• Teaching innovation and creativity• Working in groups

• 5 seminar groups (+-30 per Sem Grp)


Context

“Change in behaviour resulting from experience”

“Students learn what they do, not what tutors do”


Process

• 2 stage assignment• Consultancy report - 1st Term - 20%

• Group presentation – 2nd Term - 20%

• Both are group work (groups of 5-6)


Content - Consultancy report

• Students visit the allocated organisation

• The overall objective is to convince management (1) that the company should develop new events and (2) about the business potential of the type of event students propose to develop. • By identifying the company’s current market situation

and the gap in the market place.

• 3000 word report


Content – group presentation

• 15 min presentation + 10 min discussion

• An executive briefing to the management of the company

• To make a ‘business case’ for the new event they have developed for the company. • By following the New Product Development process.

• The presentation follows a ‘Dragon’s Den’ style – the manager attends.


Output

• Consultancy report• Thorough reports• Use of various sources of information• 62% - no fails

• Group presentation

• Innovative ideas – praised by managers• Strong business cases• Professional approach to presentations• 61% - no fails• More engaged/enthusiasm


Outcomes – evaluation of experience

• Focus groups (seminar group level) at the end of stage 1

• Email feedback from managers

• Online questionnaire (completed by 51% of the 202 students taking the unit)

• Informal feedback and tutors’ reflections


Outcomes – evaluation of experience (Focus group)

• Satisfaction of completing a consultancy report• Relief/satisfaction/pride• Learning some of the theories/model (applicable

in the real world)• More motivated by a real organisation than an

‘imaginary one’• Feedback: ‘A chance to be creative’• ‘Challenging, interesting & worthwhile’• Useful, stressful & educational’


Outcomes – evaluation of experience (managers)

• Impressed with the effort made by students

• Found it worth the investment in time – many volunteered to do it in the future

• Showed excitement about some of the business proposals (some ideas are likely to be implemented)


Outcomes – evaluation of experience (questionnaire)

Extremely helpful

Quite helpful

Slightly helpful

Not helpful

Having a real organisation 55.3% 38.8% 5.8% 0.0%

Access to detailed information via the information packs

55.3% 34.0% 8.7% 1.9%

Extremely Quite Slightly Quite Extremely

Challenging 21.4% 52.4% 19.4% 3.9% 1.9% 1.0% Unchallenging

Useful 21.4% 43.7% 29.1% 4.9% 0.0% 1.0% Useless

Satisfying 9.7% 18.4% 25.2% 25.2% 12.6% 8.7% Frustrating

Easy 0.0% 6.8% 30.1% 31.1% 26.2% 5.8% Difficult



Skills SA A U D SD

Ability to work in groups 19.4% 62.1% 13.6% 3.9% 1.0%

Oral communication skills 21.4% 60.2% 13.6% 4.9% 0.0%

Written communication skills 11.7% 49.5% 28.2% 10.7% 0.0%

Presentation Skills 23.5% 63.7% 9.8% 2.9% 0.0%

Overall evaluation SA A U D SD

Overall I feel I learned a lot from this experience

22.3% 59.2% 10.7% 6.8% 1.0%

The assignment made the unit more interesting

22.3% 39.8% 28.2% 7.8% 1.9%

Assignment will help to perform job better

19.4% 47.6% 25.2% 7.8% 0.0%



Feedback (Group presentations) SA A U D SD

Learned from other groups' presentations 9.7% 69.9% 12.6% 6.8% 1.0%

Learned from tutors' comments to my presentation

16.5% 61.2% 14.6% 7.8% 0.0%

Learned from tutors' comments my other presentations

10.7% 59.2% 20.4% 7.8% 1.9%

Managers’ comments helped me to identify where the group performed well

29.1% 59.2% 6.8% 4.9% 0.0%

Managers’ comments helped me to identify where improvements were needed

28.4% 58.8% 8.8% 3.9% 0.0%


Outcomes – evaluation of experience – other key points

• Understand the relevance (and usefulness of theory)

• Student rep feedback at CCM very positive

• Fairer marking – less variation resulting from one organisation per seminar group

• More manageable (tutors know the organisation and can advice accordingly)

• Tutors enjoyed the experience and also found it challenging!


Thank you

Any questions?

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