In our changing world, college graduates need a new set of skills in order to be successful in jobs that may not exist yet. In particular, the ability to work on a team and with diverse people are important as jobs become more collaborative and as our country becomes more diverse (Hugh & Jones, 2011). This case study examines an innovative approach to teaching organizational behavior grounded in Kolb’s model of experiential learning (Kolb, 1976) and features of problem-based learning (Rossano, Meerman, Kesting, & Baaken, 2016). Specifically, the class uses a student-centered approach that is scaffolded across the semester by having student teams create and remain part of an authentic simulated start-up business and includes continual reflection of their experience.

Data comes from surveys of 151 undergraduate students across six semesters taken after course completion. Results indicate that the top skill students report they developed through this course is the ability to work on a team. This is statistically significantly higher than any other skill students reported they developed, t (139)=-4.88, p<0.001[1]. The next highest skills developed through the course include ability to work with diverse people and understanding oneself.

Qualitative analysis of students’ open-ended responses parallel quantitative findings. In addition, students stated that the course helped them develop an understanding of business in the real world. The paper will fully outline the design of the course, how the course elements impact engagement, and the skills as reported by students and desired by employers.

 

References:

 

Hughes, R. & Jones, S. (2011). Developing And Assessing College Student Teamwork Skills. New Directions for Institutional Research, 140(1), 53-64.

 

Kolb, D. A. (1976). Management and the Learning Process. California Management Review, 18 (3).

 

Rossano, S., Meerman, A., Kesting, T. & Baaken, T. (2016), The Relevance Of Problem-Based Learning For Policy Development In University-Business Cooperation. European Journal of Education, 51(1), 40–55.

 

 

 

[1] Paired samples t-test is between working on a team and the next highest skill