JOIN USGlobalisation has redefined the configuration of management education across the globe. From the conventional textbook-oriented approach, management education has come a long way to incorporate innovative practices, thus broadening the horizons.
Modern teaching goes beyond classroom management to upfront explanations and testing. Therefore, it is important for a teacher to create the right conditions for effective learning to take place. Here are a few methods that teachers can implement:
*Keller plan: The fundamental viewpoint is that it is always healthier to completely comprehend part of the course than to moderately understand the jam-packed course. To ensure that everyone in the course understands the modules, some teachers make use of the Keller plan in their pedagogy. In the beginning, the teacher delivers one or two lecturers and gives the particulars of syllabi in each module and references to books, magazines and journal articles. A student then studies these modules in sequence and when he completes a module, he approaches the teacher for test. If the student clears the test, he proceeds to the next module; otherwise he studies the same module again.
*Z to A approach: This method attempts to explain the application part of particular notion first. The teacher should explain the application of a particular concept first and then explain the consequences of such applications. For example, in management, the concept ‘performance management’ is explained in a mode that the organisation gets extensive benefits out of using some techniques like pay, promotions, recognitions and awards. The teacher starts explaining what promotion is and explains what that specific theory in management is. Hence, the students can be motivated to learn positively.
*Role play: This method of teaching involves action, performance and practice. The students are advised to play the role of characters such as, the production manager, mechanical engineer, superintendents, maintenance engineers and the like. This method is mostly used for developing interpersonal interactions and relations.
*E-learning: A virtual classroom for management students employs special collaboration software to enable multiple remote learners using their computers to participate in live audio, video and visual discussions. This can be done through massive open online courses (MOOCs). Each learning sequence is composed of short videos interspersed with interactive learning exercises, where students can immediately practice the concepts from videos. The courses often include tutorial videos that are similar to small on-campus discussion groups, an online textbook, online discussion forum and can avail teaching assistants.
*Virtual economics: Virtonomics is a business simulation platform that allows its users to study the basics of management. It is a multiplayer game that allows players to interact with each other and also with a computer-controlled opponent. It is a turn-based game, and each turn lasts for a fixed length of time. Generally, turns are a day long, and for a regular player, the game requires one to invest 15 to 60 minutes a day.
*Project management simulation: This is an interactive activity that is frequently practiced as a group exercise. The objective of the simulation is to teach students the competencies that will help improve their performance. It confronts them with the situations and problems that arise in real world projects. They see the consequences of the decisions they make. Often the simulation is conducted by using softwares.
*Business games: This refers to simulation playoffs that are used as an educational tool for teaching business. Business games may be carried out for various businesses training such as general management, finance management and organisational behaviour among others. Simulations are considered to be innovative learning methods and are often computer-based.
(Gireesh is assistant professor, Siddaganga Institute of Technology, Tumakuru and Chetan is assistant professor, Kirloskar Instituteof Advanced Management
Institute, Harihar)