The Lincoln International Business School (LIBS) Simulation Marathon project, launched in May 2024, was designed to enhance teaching and learning in the Lincoln International Business School (LIBS) and was facilitated by the College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities Teaching & Learning Innovation Fund 2023/24. This project was planned to contribute to the improvement of key areas in the NSS around teaching and learning, particularly challenges of making subjects more engaging.
Two student partners were asked to complete several business simulations which varied in subject and length and their feedback informed the design of this project. Students identified which simulations might work well in a lecture setting, the subjects where simulations would be most appropriate, and identifying potential problems that students might have in using the different digital platforms.
The project focused on introducing simulations in the following modules of the programme: People and Global Organizations, Organizational Strategy, Innovation, Creativity and Change. The objectives were to provide a safe environment for students and staff to engage with simulations and to demonstrate the effectiveness of this method in teaching.
To achieve this, staff training workshops were organised (online and face-to-face) to support the use of simulation tools with over 30 staff attending. Approximately 252 students were engaged with simulations as part of their coursework. Since the launch of the project, several colleagues have been inspired and started to integrate simulations into their teaching. This has increased student engagement and understanding of theoretical concepts.
The second part of the project focused on organizing a half-day event to further encourage the use of simulations. This event aimed to engage a broader audience and demonstrate the practical benefits of simulation-based learning.
The success of this event was evaluated through a comprehensive survey, which gathered detailed feedback on students’ experiences throughout the entire project. The survey asked participants to reflect on their engagement with the simulations, the effectiveness of the learning tools, and the overall impact on their understanding of the course material.
The highest average responses from the survey indicated that participants found the business simulation provided interesting options and choices, was enjoyable, and perceived as effective in developing skills for adapting to new situations. Almost half of the students (44%) who took part in the project positively evaluated their experience and in particular one commented “The business simulation gave me a thorough understanding on planning, positioning and expanding a new business”.