Lecture #3

Wrap up Lecture

Your final meeting with the students should probably focus on what has been gained by participating in the Marketplace experience. At Tennessee, we draw a few key slides from the introductory lectures and the strategic planning lecture and relate them to the student's experience. Specifically, we restate the purpose of the simulation and how it should have helped them to fill in the gaps of business school education. Also, we review the reasons why faculty around the country favor simulations and how the student's own experience with the Marketplace should have supported these observations. We also reconsider the sources for student discomfort and point out how they should now feel more comfortable with these aspects of business. Next, we review the process for strategic planning and observe that the students should now be more comfortable preparing a coordinated attack on the market and competition. Finally, we point out that they should have found the learning experience to be more stimulating and practical than conventional classes.

You might think of the first lectures as a promise to deliver a high quality learning experience. The last lecture then is a reflection on the degree to which the learning objectives were realized. At Tennessee, we tell the students during the first lectures that we will ask them on the last day to evaluate the course, simulation and instructor based upon how well we have delivered on our promises. On the last day, after we review our promises and relate them to individual events, teams, and students, we ask the class to evaluate the course.

This format of making a promise and then reviewing how the simulation experience delivered on that promise has been very successful in helping students to appreciate the value of the exercise. With few exceptions, they forget the workload and frustration and focus on what they personally gained. Years later, they will come back and want to talk about the experience, how much they enjoyed it and how they benefited form it.

To preview the slides for this lecture, click here.

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