Exploring critical issues in event planning through a group research and jigsaw presentation project

As event planning degree programs and courses continue to grow in popularity (Lamond & Platt, 2016), educators and scholars advocate for curriculum that complements the teaching of vocational skills with the study of theoretical and contextual material (Getz, 2002; Whitelaw & Wrathall, 2015). Incorporating perspectives from the field of critical event studies (CES) can help students better understand the societal impact of their operational decision making. This paper provides a case study of a group assignment that uses CES perspectives to examine critical issues in the industry. Students were able to make connections between topics, discuss the complexity of the issues, and consider next steps they could take as event planners. The majority of students felt that, in particular, the jigsaw style of presentations facilitated this kind of learning.