Virtual Business. Virtual History. Simulations for Education - Virtual Business - Sports - Stories

Virtual Business - Sports Sets A New Standard For Educational Materials
Jack L. Gallegos, Ph.D., Marketing Teacher, Englewood High School, Englewood, Colorado

Virtual Business has set a new standard for educational materials and resources. The Sports version of Virtual Business motivates students, is integrated with Marketing Education curriculum content standards, is instructionally sound, and supports the Career and Technical student organization DECA.

The Sports version of Virtual Business (VBS) is a great motivational tool for my students. The lessons are presented using a projector, which engages the entire class. We go over the tutorial and then complete the Student Activity worksheet. The class is then given the opportunity, on their own, to complete the section "Number To Beat!" Rarely do students beat the number on the first attempt. That's when the discussion gets animated. It seems that every student has an opinion as to why they didn't beat the number. At that point, my role is as the facilitator. We try different approaches as suggested by individual students. Because VB-S can be run repeatedly, students can immediately see the results of their decisions. The "Number To Beat!" motivates the students to learn and apply what was covered in the lesson.

Because VBS is such a great motivational tool, I use it as an introduction to the Marketing Education curriculum content standards. For example; VBS Franchise Location is used as an introduction to the topic of Market Identification, Ticket Pricing introduces the lessons on Pricing, Promotion for Promotion, Sponsorship for Selling, et cetera. This approach helps students make the connection and application of Marketing Education curriculum content material to a simulated marketing situation.

Virtual Business - Sports includes those components that I look for in instructional materials and resources. Each lesson includes learning objectives, contextual vocabulary, a variety of learning activities, and assessments.

Virtual Business - Sports also provides all of my students the opportunity to participate in a DECA Competitive Event at the state, regional, and national levels. The opportunity to compete and compare their efforts with other schools is also a great motivation for my students.

In addition to motivating students, integrating Marketing Education curriculum content material, being instructionally sound, and supporting DECA, it just plain FUN to manage your own sports franchise.

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