Teaching business skills using simulated practice firms
TAFE NSW VET Pedagogy Project, Part C of Phase 1
WORKPLACE LEARNING - ASSESSMENT CASE STUDIES | Bev Luke, Northern Territory University, Northern Territory
The Practice firm has quality graduands with theoretical and practical experience. They have skills in communication and problem solving as well as work ethics developed through realistic learning opportunities.
Bev Luke
Training Packages
Business Services (BSB01)
Learning Environment
Teaching of Certificate I, II, III, IV and Diploma in Business Studies at a multi sector campus (TAFE/University) through a simulated Practice Firm (virtual company) plus an operating practice firm developed with local business.
Teaching Approach
A virtual operating company in near-real work business environment employs students. Strategies include virtual employment/salaries, employment contracts, job descriptions, promotional opportunities, trading (online/email/fax etc) online banking etc. All aspects of operational business are experienced by the students except sending/receiving real products/money.
The NTU practice firm is connected to other national and international networks of practice firms to allow 'inside' trading. Other strategies include organising Mini Trade Fairs. This process involves students from other disciplines including some degree students from marketing, IT, and finance who help develop a customer complaints section; procedures manuals, accounts. This strategy provides a point of integration for VET and Higher Education students.
Assessment is completed on-the-job in the practice firm. Student orientation activities such as initial skills testing are provided upfront to ensure support is provided for NESB and Indigenous students for literacy/numeracy help.
Bev and her colleagues have established other NTU companies and agencies in Alice Springs, Darwin and Katherine which also link with the Australian Network of Practice Firms. All companies interact with each other including students attending practice firm conferences in Australia, Germany and elsewhere.
Evaluation Methods
A range of evaluation methods are used that focus on the learner identifying their own performance within a working environment. These include benchmarking activities for students with other practice firms nationally and internationally, weekly staff meetings to resolve issues and provide feedback (in this case the students are the staff and run the meeting according to mandatory assessment requirements). A director’s (teacher) report is provided at each meeting and a weekly evaluation form is completed by all members to ensure satisfaction and effectiveness of the program.
Positive Difference to Learning
Only three years ago, Bev had 12 students at Certificate II level, but by changing the delivery mode there are now 70 students involved in the course. All other enrolments have increased substantially. Another positive outcome is that the faculty acts as an employment broker for students. Employers now ring TAFE first before advertising for employment positions.
Implementation of this teaching approach has expanded and the faculty is setting up more practice firms across the NT and is now exploring a 'whole of Government' practice firm in an indigenous community. Local businesses are partnering with the faculty to allow 'staff' (students) to complete work experience in real workplaces and also undertake additional tasks on their behalf.
See Also
Case
Studies Innovative and Excellent Practices in VET Teaching and
Learning 2003 (426 Kb) are also available
as one downloadable file.
