ERIC Number: EJ770885
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2003-Dec
Pages: 23
Abstractor: Author
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1049-4820
EISSN: N/A
Network-Based Business Simulation Activities in Technical Professional Education
Vescoukis, Vassilios C.; Retalis, Symeon; Anagnostopoulos, Dimosthenis
Interactive Learning Environments, v11 n3 p169-191 Dec 2003
For a long time on-the-job training has been considered as the single point of contact of technical education with the real world job market. Indeed, traditional on-the-job training activities are of great educational value and complement uniquely any classroom-based learning activity. However, it has been observed that several obstacles arise when integrating on-the-job training with traditional learning and that new network-based tools can be used to improve the situation. Following this concept, in this paper we introduce a network-assisted educational structure for business simulation activities which can be considered as an alternative or a complement to on-the-job training activities in technical professional education. Business Simulation Activities are based on the execution of business scenarios in a controlled educational environment with support by network tools. A simulation of the real world business environment is created and virtual companies are established in order to participate in a virtual marketplace using network-based learning support and aiming to provide on-the-job experience without the shortcomings of traditional on-the-job training. An operational structure, network distribution, implementation issues, as well as some experience from a pilot implementation of the concept, are presented in this paper. (Contains 3 tables and 6 figures.)
Descriptors: Technical Education, Educational Environment, Professional Education, On the Job Training, Education Work Relationship, Social Networks, Case Method (Teaching Technique), Technology Integration, Technology Uses in Education, Computer Simulation, Instructional Development, Courseware
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A