Profile Story: Innovative Learning Solutions’ Membership with AACSB

 

Innovative Learning Solutions, Inc. and AACSB

Innovative Learning Solutions, Inc. would like to announce their new status in connection with The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. ILS has become a Sustaining Business Member of AACSB International.

Since 1916, AACSB International has provided a platform for schools to connect and resolve concerns that affect the business education curriculum. AACSB has continuously raised accreditation standards targeted at advancing the collegiate business education experience. The accrediting agency has over 650 member institutions in nearly 50 countries and territories. ILS is proud to support AACSB in its mission to advance the “quality of business education for both students and institutions”.

ILS will be exhibiting Marketplace® Live simulations and the Marketplace® Assurance of Learning Tools at the upcoming 2013 AACSB International Conference and Annual Meeting (ICAM). The conference will take place April 7^th through the 9^th in Chicago at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers. We invite all current and prospective instructors to visit us at Booth 306 in the Exhibit Hall. At this conference, Business Simulation Advisor Christelle MacGuire and Technical Support Specialist Sean Mullins will represent ILS. They will answer all of your simulation and assurance of learning-related questions.

Marketplace® Live Simulations and AACSB

Marketplace® and Marketplace® Live simulations can be complemented by a number of assurance of learning tools, including a Customized Objective Learning Assessment. ILS has created these tools to enhance your students’ educational experience and to provide your school with valuable accreditation data. Additionally, the reports generated from the assessment assist in the measurement of specific skills related to commonplace learning goals.

There are numerous benefits for using Marketplace® to assess a number of learning objectives. We have selected a few that are particularly emphasized in the newly released 2013 AACSB Accreditation Standards:

ENGAGEMENT

“…curricula facilitate and encourage active student engagement in learning. In addition to time on task related to readings, course participation, knowledge development, projects, and assignments, students engage in experiential and active learning designed to improve skills and the application of knowledge in practice is expected.” (AACSB Accreditation Standards 2013)

Our simulations provide a platform for students to apply knowledge, develop managerial skills, and experience business challenges in a risk-free environment.

STUDENT-TO-STUDENT AND STUDENT-TO-FACULTY INTERACTION

“…curricula will facilitate and encourage frequent, productive student-to-student and student-to-faculty interaction towards achieving learning goals. Successful teaching and learning demand high levels of interaction between learners, as well as between teachers and learners.” (AACSB Accreditation Standards 2013)

While working in teams, students are encouraged to discuss trade-offs, options, alternatives, and contingencies. The instructor can challenge the students’ thinking by questioning the strategy behind each tactical decision. These interactions come naturally in the realm of the simulation exercise. In such environments, the student learning can be assessed and measured. Adjustments can be made at the programmatic and curriculum levels to improve the quality of the students’ education.

VALUE OF LEARNING

“…educational programs are structured to ensure consistent, high-quality education for the same degree programs regardless of differences and changes in technology and delivery modes. This commitment to consistent high quality is especially important in light of pressures to shorten degrees and time for learning, interaction, and engagement in developing skills.” (AACSB Accreditation Standards 2013)

When overlaid with assurance of learning activities, Marketplace simulations can provide a comprehensive learning experience to your students. Rubrics for Executive Briefings, Business Plan, and Final Report presentations, our Customized Online Objective Assessment, Peer Evaluations, and the performance on the simulation (based on a Cumulative Balanced Scorecard) facilitate the assessment of both team-based and individual performance. The variety and practicality of activities allow for the achievement of a myriad of learning goals, including problem-solving and reflective thinking, student involvement and engagement, integration, data analysis, knowledge application, communication skills, instructor interaction and feedback, and so on.