Michael incorporates real problems from the business world into his courses. He contacts former students, potential and current employers to get these problems. In the interview Michael defines the characteristics of good problems for use in a course. He uses Facebook to maintain connections with graduates and invite former students to give guest lectures. Students work in teams sharing laptops within the classroom. They develop individual solutions that are then combined into a group solution. Group members are randomly assigned to simulate real world work scenarios in which work colleagues cannot be chosen. Within the groups Michael assigns roles such as a team leader. These roles are rotated so every student gets a chance at each. Student groups present the results of their problems to the class and receive feedback from it. Michael uses simulations to immerse student in the operations of a fictitious company and discusses how this affects the dynamic within his classroom and how student learning has been affected.
Stony Brook University TLT website:
https://tlt.stonybrook.edu/FacultyServices/IiE/Lists/Show%20List/DispForm.aspx?ID=23&Source=https%3A%2F%2Ftlt.stonybrook.edu%2FFacultyServices%2FIiE%2FLists%2FShow%2520List%2FSelect%2520Show.aspx
