USING STUDENT JOURNALS TO ENHANCE LEARNING FROM SIMULATIONS Developments in Business Simulation and Experiential Learning, Volume 25, 1998 USING STUDENT JOURNALS TO ENHANCE LEARNING FROM SIMULATIONS David B. Taylor, University of Waikato ABSTRACT This paper describes how student journals can be used to enhance the learning experience of participants in simulations. The philosophy behind student journals is outlined and some guidelines are given for faculty who have not previously used journals as an assessment tool. Finally some student reaction to using journals is provided. INTRODUCTION As a teacher of marketing strategy I have always been somewhat frustrated by the relatively limited range of the traditional methods of assessment / evaluation. Typically, these have included case studies, developing marketing plans, preparing industry analyses, etc. While all the previously mentioned methods have very commendable uses. in my view they do very little to encourage the students to reflect on the material covered in class and link that to what is happening in the “real world”. BACKGROUND The marketing strategy course in question is a final year course which is part of the Bachelor of Management Studies degree at University of Waikato. The course is built around two distinct elements, a study of marketing mistakes using Hartley (1995) and participation in a marketing strategy simulation, BRANDMAPS (Chapman 1996). I was introduced to the idea of journals at a New Zealand Marketing Educators Conference some years ago. Peter November from Victoria University of Wellington, presented a paper on using journals in his marketing class. Peter talked about wanting students to learn and discuss the discovery process they were going through in his course (see November, 1996). REFLECTION The word “reflection” appears frequently in the literature relating to journals. Boud et al (1985) define reflection as "an important human ability in which people recapture their experience, think about it, mull over it and evaluate it”. Reflection in education is not new, Dewey (1910) pointed out that all genuine education comes through experience and that reflection can assist in this process. REFLECTIVE LEARNING AND JOURNALS Writing has been found to be a useful method for assisting the development of reflective thinking. Batts and Wilkes (1993) believe that the use of journals can bridge the gap between theory and practice and can also assist in the learning process because keeping a journal helps students to write and by writing one learns. WHAT IS A JOURNAL? The dictionary definition of “journal” includes "a daily record of occurrences” and “a personal record of experiences and reflections". It is the latter definition while I wanted to follow not the former. To break the ice I suggest that in their first entry they should “introduce” themselves (interests, ambitions, etc). 154 Developments in Business Simulation and Experiential Learning, Volume 25, 1998 I have found that this fairly straightforward entry gets students to start writing reasonably soon. Areas which I mention are worthy of consideration include: what worked and what did not seem to work? Group dynamics. Comments on the marketing mistakes: what would they have done in the situation? examples of similar mistakes in New Zealand linkages to other courses what are they learning. JOURNALS: SOME OPERATIONAL GUIDELINES Several writers have pointed out that because journal writing is relatively unstructured, students like to know they are on the ‘right track’. To achieve and also to counter the “if it’s not worth anything why bother?” brigade, the journals are marked about three weeks into the semester but a relatively small weight is attached. Reasonably detailed points are made on the journals which provides direction for the future. To encourage fairly regular entries, I bring a date stamp to class each week and this provides an opportunity to have journals stamped on a fairly regular basis. Journals are very interesting to mark. I tell the class that I am looking for evidence of linkages between what they are covering in class discussions, the simulation, what is happening in the world around them, and what they are thinking. As well as linkages I am looking for analytical comments and insights on their decisions and results in BRANDMAPS. STUDENTS’ VIEWS ON JOURNALS Students were asked to compare journals to other forms of assessment. By a large majority. students reacted very favourably. The learning aspect of journals was mentioned frequently. Most students seemed to enjoy keeping the journal once they overcame the initial challenges. Typical of many comments were “made me more interested in the course and could relate the concepts to the real world". “Too often in courses students just cram for essay, tests, etc. and end up learning very little. A journal acts as a good tool to get an overall feel of whether or not a student is actually learning anything.” “I have never done a journal before at university. I think they should be part of many more courses, they are a good mechanism for learning more about yourself as well as plotting what you have actually learned and achieved along the way.” CONCLUSION I have found that journals are an excellent complementary learning and assessment tool when using a simulation. If you believe that academics should be concerned with “learning" and not “teaching” and by definition those of us who use simulations belong to the former, I recommend journals are worthy of serious consideration. REFERENCES - Available on request 155 Table of Contents Volume 25, 1998 Marketing Goes to the Movies Bringing Experiential Learning to a Principles of Marketing Course Investment Analysis Application Using In-house Spreadsheet Models SugarCoated Statistics: An Exercise for the First Day of Class Improving Undergraduate Student Involvement in Management Science and Business Writing Courses Using the Seven Principles in Action Establishment and Funding for Interuniversity / Multidisciplinary Student experiences The Prospects of Creative Teaching: A Discussion with Patricia Sanders The Simulation and Classroom Assessment Techniques Developments of Management Skill Assessment Games as Instruments of Assessment: A Framework for Evaluation The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Business Curricula Threshold Solo Competitor: A Management Simulation (V1.0) a Windows-Based. Play Alone, Total Enterprise Simulation and Assessment Instrument Toward An Understanding of One's self-concept Total Enterprise Simulations and the Internet: Improving Student Perceptions and Simplifying Administrative Workloads The Expatriate an Assignment Orientation Game An Expatriate's Nightmare: An Experiential Exercise in Coping with Overseas Assignments Analyzing Experiential Exercise: Using the Scientific Method for Problem Solving The Second Component to Experiential Learning: A Look Back at How ABSEL has handled the Conceptual and Operational Definitions of Learning Predictive Models of Learning: Participant Satisfaction of Experiential Exercises in Business Education Accelerating Moral Development through Use of Experiential Ethical Dilemmas Ethical Dilemmas to use with Business Simulations to Teach Ethics The Class Approach in Behavioral Simulation in a Business Policy/Strategic Management course: A Progression toward Greater Realism An Exploration of the Emergence of Process Prototypes in a Management Course Utilizing a Total Enterprise Simulation How Organizations Are Improving Their Performance Utilizing Electronic Commerce: Examples From The Internet The Market Access Planning System (Maps): A Computer-Based Decision Support System For Facilitating Experiential Learning In International Business An Excel Workbook For Student Planning And Interface With A Simulation Game Design Of Multi-Media Based Pedagogy For Leadership Training Panel Discussion On Using The Internet For Courses Valuing And Enhancing Teaching: Sharing Tips Via The Web The Buddy Project: A Semester Long Project Aimed At Developing An Appreciation For Diversity Enhancing The Excitement And Learning Retention In The Classroom: The Power Of Magic The Supervised Management Internship: A Job Or Learning Experience Team Ware™ An Online Moderated Class Discussion Facility And Beyond A Neophyte Distance Educator's Experience Learning Management By Practicing Management: A Report Of Significant Student Service In 1997 Integration Of Academic And Service Learning: Students' Perceptions About Its Effects And Outcomes The Value Of Incorporating A Service Learning Component Into Course Content: A Presentation And Roundtable Discussion Business Games Teach: Thoughts on the Sources of Conflicting Conclusions on their Effectiveness Antecedents Of Learning In The Simulation: A Replication Using Student Journals To Enhance Learning From Simulations Technological Change And Intertemporal Movements In Consumer Preferences In The Design Of Computerized Business Simulations With Market Segmentation Integrating The Marketing Curriculum Using Collaborative Learning Teaching Time Management In A Sales Program: The Application Of A Computer Simulation Game Adapting Interactive Computer Simulations For Content Based Esl Instruction Multimedia And Student Expectations Synthesizing Data For Media Simulations Composing A Team Health Promoting Behaviors-A Decision Making Exercise Does it really Work? An Application of the Group Interaction Framework Administering the MIT Beer Game: Lessons Learned A Paperless Economy? Instructing Students on the Aspects of Successful Electronic Commerce Maximizing Learning Gains in Simulations: Lessons from the Training Literature Observing General Ability in a Total Enterprise Gaming Simulation FReach Teach: A Computer-Based System for Teaching Advertising Media Planning An Integrated Business Instruction System An Experiential Exercise you can Tinker With Experiential Exercises or Computer Simulations? Cash Flow Statements: Are They Important in Business Simulations? Holistic Cognitive Strategy in a Computer-Based Marketing Simulation Game: An Investigation of Attitudes Towards the Decision-Making Process Barnga: A Game on Cultural Clashes The Many Faces of Culture: Understanding Country and Corporate Culture Students' View of the Use of Business Gaming in Hong Kong Assessing General Management Interest What is the Future of Business Gaming? Starting a Small Music Trivia Business Exercise and Other Innovative Icebreakers An Integrated Approach to Behavioral Skill Development Career Focus: A Student and Business Learning Experience The Use of Concept Mapping in Teaching Strategic Management An Experiential Approach to Developing Mission Statements Business Games in Brazil-Learning or Satisfaction A Simulation within a Simulation: Job Layoff's and Emotional Reactions