Thoughtful piece by Francesca Di Meglio in Business Week on business schools using online simulations with students: "Virtual Workplaces in the Classroom." With students who've grown up gaming - and clever technology available, the B-schools are introducing simulations for hands-on learning. (Click for "Business Education, Enhanced with Technology," a slide show showing how simulations, complete with photos of students using them - kudos to folks who put this together).
Mindful that this could lead to isolation with students sitting at their computers instead of getting together to discuss the classic B-school icon, the case study, the schools are addressing that too:
Simulations aren't capable of replacing case studies just yet, though. Critics point out that having students work on a computer isolates them and does not provide enough interaction with other people, something a manager has to be able to do successfully. Case studies are also easier and cheaper to develop...
So developers are starting to create case studies and simulations to be used in combination. Harvard Business School Publishing, known for its case studies, recently launched its first online simulation on pricing, and this spring is planning to unveil an online simulation on service and operation management designed to go hand in hand with one of its best-selling case studies.
Both and. Together and apart. Virtual and face-to-face. Always makes me happy when organizations pay attention to the two. Our old saw on this:
Isolate to concentrate, congregate to collaborate.
