Instructors using our simulations have several ways to gain insights into their students’ learning. Two key methods include analyzing comparative results and reviewing assignment responses. While these provide valuable glimpses into students’ understanding, an additional tool for evaluation comes at the end of the course: the Final Presentation.
We offer general guidelines for these presentations but leave much of the structure up to individual instructors to align with their goals. However, many instructors have asked for advice on optimizing this process. To help, we consulted a few seasoned users of our simulations and gathered their expert input.
For this blog post, we’ll highlight guidance from one instructor in particular: Frederick Lawrence. Fred teaches at Central Michigan University and brings extensive experience in marketing and supply chain from industry. He leverages this dual perspective to prepare his students for their future careers.
In the 15-minute video below, Fred outlines his approach to the Final Presentation for Entrepreneur, a simulation he uses in his “Functions of Retail Management” course.
Fred provides a detailed overview, but his students’ presentations generally follow this rubric:
1. Business Name and Target Market
Students must articulate their chosen market’s needs, desires, and interests, demonstrating a deep understanding of their audience.
Fred ensures that students cover the financial basics, an area that often induces anxiety. Key elements include:
4. Successes, Failures, and Key Takeaways
While these points are tailored to the Entrepreneur simulation, the principles behind them are broadly applicable across most of our simulations.
