Gihan S. Edirisinghe, Maria A. M. Trindade, Lan Luo
{"title":"Game changer: Cloud-based classroom interactions powered by Google Sheets","authors":"Gihan S. Edirisinghe, Maria A. M. Trindade, Lan Luo","doi":"10.1111/dsji.12316","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/dsji.12316","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The COVID-19 pandemic forced instruction into remote formats, rendering active learning efforts in business classrooms infeasible. In response, we adopt a novel model for interactive classroom activities by hosting classroom games on Google Sheets, the free and widely used cloud-based spreadsheet application. First developed for a synchronous Zoom class during the COVID-19 pandemic, this approach was integrated into face-to-face courses in two countries. Due to its instructional flexibility, minimal need for resources, and tendency for student acceptance, using Google Sheets for classroom interaction has far-reaching educational applications beyond the pandemic era. To illustrate this approach, we introduce three operations and supply chain management activities created on Google Sheets: the Virtual Assembly Line (VAL) activity, the Just-in-time Game, and the Dice Game. An in-depth examination of implementing these activities in the classroom offers practical insights into the benefits of utilizing cloud-based classroom games in teaching. Furthermore, a comparison of test results between students who played the game and a control group showed significantly improved learning outcomes. We also discuss how this approach could foster active learning adoption in environments traditionally less conducive to such practices, such as remote instruction and large enrollment classes.</p>","PeriodicalId":46210,"journal":{"name":"Decision Sciences-Journal of Innovative Education","volume":"22 3","pages":"197-211"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2024-04-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141967496","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Christina Churchill, Scott J. Warren, Kimberly S. Grotewold
{"title":"Changes to business faculty perceived skills with online teaching tools and educational practices: The pandemic effect","authors":"Christina Churchill, Scott J. Warren, Kimberly S. Grotewold","doi":"10.1111/dsji.12317","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/dsji.12317","url":null,"abstract":"<p>In the spring of 2020, universities worldwide closed their campuses and transitioned their face-to-face courses to remote teaching with educational technologies due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This unprecedented transition to online instruction created a unique learning environment for students and faculty. Our case-based, qualitative study explores the perceived skill level changes of professors who implemented (with minimal training) online educational technologies to deliver business courses at a business school in the southwest United States. Business faculty completed a Likert-scale survey instrument that used the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization's (UNESCO) teacher competency framework, which includes digitally communicating with students, delivering asynchronous material, delivering synchronous classes, using the learning management system, and providing digital assessments and feedback (2018). Study outcomes indicate that instructors’ perceived skill sets in most topics grew due to the adoption of online educational technologies at the onset of the pandemic. Further study might focus on determining the long-term implications of the growing integration of educational technology on business faculty instruction in both online and face-to-face classrooms.</p>","PeriodicalId":46210,"journal":{"name":"Decision Sciences-Journal of Innovative Education","volume":"22 3","pages":"122-137"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2024-04-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/dsji.12317","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141968338","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on business students’ future preference for online courses","authors":"Denise Stanley, Sinjini Mitra","doi":"10.1111/dsji.12314","DOIUrl":"10.1111/dsji.12314","url":null,"abstract":"<p>This study analyzes students’ future preferences for online business courses based on responses from a spring 2021student sample from a California public regional university. The timing of this research takes advantage of the COVID-19 “sudden disruption” that provided a unique opportunity to examine factors (including challenges specific to COVID-19) that affect student choices about course delivery modality. Academic background, remote-learning experiences, and mental health significantly impacted future course enrollment decisions. Study results provide insights for both university administrators and faculty who will need to plan curriculum in the challenging postpandemic higher education setting.</p>","PeriodicalId":46210,"journal":{"name":"Decision Sciences-Journal of Innovative Education","volume":"22 3","pages":"180-196"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2024-04-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140713532","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Teaching information flow in supply chains: A role-playing game using TagScan","authors":"Xiaojia Wang, Rickard Enstroem","doi":"10.1111/dsji.12315","DOIUrl":"10.1111/dsji.12315","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Information flow is one of the three main flows of supply chains. It is an abstract concept that can be challenging for students to grasp in its entirety. This article describes a role-playing game for teaching the topic of information flow in an undergraduate supply chain management course. The game allows students to simulate receiving and fulfilling customer orders by playing five roles within a manufacturing company. Students use <i>TagScan</i>, an augmented reality barcoding and logistics system launched by a technology company in western Canada, to track information throughout the game. Pre- and postsurvey results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed game in helping students visualize abstract course concepts and understand the types of information being tracked, the available information transmission technology, and the dynamics of information flow in a supply chain. Students were actively engaged in this in-class activity and responded positively to the learning-by-gaming experience.</p>","PeriodicalId":46210,"journal":{"name":"Decision Sciences-Journal of Innovative Education","volume":"22 4","pages":"245-259"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2024-04-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/dsji.12315","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140716160","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Blockchain technology in the supply chain management classroom: Proof of Attendance Protocols","authors":"David Dreyfus","doi":"10.1111/dsji.12312","DOIUrl":"10.1111/dsji.12312","url":null,"abstract":"<p>This research demonstrates a method to introduce blockchain technology in the classroom based on the Proof of Attendance Protocol (POAP). A blockchain is a digital distributed ledger with the potential to improve transparency and trust between parties. Businesses are testing, piloting, and deploying blockchain technology across their organizations, and students show growing interest in the technology. This teaching brief proposes an exercise that uses POAPs, nonfungible tokens (NFTs) associated with an event, to help students understand blockchain technology within supply chain management contexts. Instructors can use the exercise for various purposes: as incentives for behavior the instructor wishes to encourage (such as attending class) or as prizes for games. The exercise also includes a glossary of blockchain-related terms to introduce the language of this industry to students. Student surveys showed a significant change in their knowledge of blockchain technology, specifically, a 41% increase in understanding of how blockchain technology may benefit supply chain management and a 35% improvement in the ability to explain blockchain technology to others. This brief concludes with resources to create and distribute POAPs for courses and other settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":46210,"journal":{"name":"Decision Sciences-Journal of Innovative Education","volume":"22 4","pages":"260-269"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2024-03-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/dsji.12312","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140253014","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Teaching location planning with the center-of-gravity method using real cities and distances","authors":"Jason M. Riley, Kevin Sweeney","doi":"10.1111/dsji.12311","DOIUrl":"10.1111/dsji.12311","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Facility placement is of strategic importance to most organizations as a well-placed distribution center minimizes delivery costs and reduces fulfillment lead times, thus improving customer service levels. Because organizations value the location planning process, this teaching brief offers an exercise that analyzes the planning process using the center-of-gravity algorithm, a service area map, and real-world constraints. The objective of the exercise is to identify two locations within a service area that minimize total network distribution costs. Our exercise is intended to complement standard course content and support instructors developing curricula for undergraduate operations management and supply chain management courses. Student-based survey results indicate that the assignment enhanced classroom engagement and helped students better understand the complexities of location planning.</p>","PeriodicalId":46210,"journal":{"name":"Decision Sciences-Journal of Innovative Education","volume":"22 2","pages":"106-116"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-02-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139777275","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Management students create art: A novel approach to introducing supply chain ethics","authors":"Amy David","doi":"10.1111/dsji.12310","DOIUrl":"10.1111/dsji.12310","url":null,"abstract":"<p>This article details an art assignment given to undergraduate management students in an introductory supply chain management course. Students were asked to choose a supply chain ethics issue, create a work of art that responded to the issue, then write an artist's statement that discussed the thought process and choices made in creating their artwork. The majority of students submitted art that was creative, relevant to supply chain ethics, and well executed. Survey results reveal that students were in agreement that the assignment was more enjoyable than a comparable written assignment. In addition, students’ understanding of ethical issues in supply chain management increased through both the creation of their own art and interactions with the art of their peers. This novel approach to teaching ethics in supply chain management addresses shortcomings in current approaches to business education and helps student build a strong foundation for ethical decision-making in their future careers.</p>","PeriodicalId":46210,"journal":{"name":"Decision Sciences-Journal of Innovative Education","volume":"22 2","pages":"99-105"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-02-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/dsji.12310","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139790764","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Student engagement in synchronous online learning: Effectiveness of camera and chat/vote engagement methods","authors":"Reynold E. Byers, Craig R. Carter, Yimin Wang","doi":"10.1111/dsji.12309","DOIUrl":"10.1111/dsji.12309","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The advent of the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the need to conduct synchronous online instruction in which students and faculty were distributed geographically but aggregated digitally onto a single screen on a computer. This approach will likely persist into the future. Thus, a better understanding of how engagement approaches can be adapted to the synchronous online teaching environment is critical for future success. This research presents an experiment-based investigation into the effectiveness of two often-debated engagement approaches, namely, the camera-on and the vote/chat approaches in a synchronous online learning environment. We found that using individual engagement methods, such as requiring cameras to be on or using the vote and chat functions to elicit student responses, improves learning outcomes. Surprisingly, the combined use of these methods hinders student learning, and they perform no better than the control group where no specific engagement methods were required. We posit that the reason for this result is that too much engagement increases total cognitive load to a point where it is detrimental to learning.</p>","PeriodicalId":46210,"journal":{"name":"Decision Sciences-Journal of Innovative Education","volume":"22 3","pages":"138-157"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2024-01-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139601067","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"ChatGPT and Python programming homework","authors":"Michael E. Ellis, K. Mike Casey, Geoffrey Hill","doi":"10.1111/dsji.12306","DOIUrl":"10.1111/dsji.12306","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Large Language Model (LLM) artificial intelligence tools present a unique challenge for educators who teach programming languages. While LLMs like ChatGPT have been well documented for their ability to complete exams and create prose, there is a noticeable lack of research into their ability to solve problems using high-level programming languages. Like many other university educators, those teaching programming courses would like to detect if students submit assignments generated by an LLM. To investigate grade performance and the likelihood of instructors identifying code generated by artificial intelligence (AI) tools, we compare code generated by students and ChatGPT for introductory Python homework assignments. Our research reveals mixed results on both counts, with ChatGPT performing like a mid-range student on assignments and seasoned instructors struggling to detect AI-generated code. This indicates that although AI-generated results may not always be identifiable, they do not currently yield results approaching those of diligent students. We describe our methodology for selecting and evaluating the code examples, the results of our comparison, and the implications for future classes. We conclude with recommendations for how instructors of programming courses can mitigate student use of LLM tools as well as articulate the inherent value of preserving students’ individual creativity in producing programming languages.</p>","PeriodicalId":46210,"journal":{"name":"Decision Sciences-Journal of Innovative Education","volume":"22 2","pages":"74-87"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-01-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139525709","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Teaching virtual presentation with a theory-based feedback intervention: An experiential class project for the postpandemic era","authors":"Tuvana Rua, Zeynep G. Aytug","doi":"10.1111/dsji.12307","DOIUrl":"10.1111/dsji.12307","url":null,"abstract":"<p>This study draws from feedback intervention theory and professional communications theory to present a versatile, experiential class project to develop and improve students’ virtual communications and presentation skills by combining hard and soft-skill development, multisource feedback, and self-reflection. After successfully using this class project for four semesters, data were collected from six graduate classes (<i>N</i> = 145) to assess the project's effectiveness and students’ perceptions. Positive student feedback, control group–trained group comparisons, and the trained group's Time 1–Time 2 performance comparisons provide supportive evidence for the effectiveness of the project as a valuable learning tool in helping students develop virtual communication and presentation skills. As companies and institutions across industries continue to utilize virtual work arrangements, this project will be a useful tool for preparing students for the postpandemic digital business world.</p>","PeriodicalId":46210,"journal":{"name":"Decision Sciences-Journal of Innovative Education","volume":"22 2","pages":"88-98"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2023-12-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139141206","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}