We recently worked with a major manufacturing company to re-design a 2-week classroom event. This meant replacing the former lecture-based approach with a knowledge-based, pre-work approach, done in an e-learning format. The new approach kept focus on a few things: presentations, which were delivered by subject matter experts; group activities, used for sharing practical applications for best practices; and an extensive case study.

Learners represented all functions within the company, including sales, operations and engineering. For many, it was their first time working together. The content included 'lean' manufacturing concepts, process and procedures for project life cycle management, and the company's specific perspective on how they add value for their customers across every function and program.

Prior to attending the course, participants downloaded pre-reading materials for the case studies. These described the learner's role within the case and the scenario involving a potential business opportunity, as well as a data synopsis on the potential client, partners and competitors. This detail-oriented method allowed learners to manipulate variables to discover and explain relationships, predict events, and learn procedural skills.

Fourteen individual portions of the case study were interspersed at key points to allow the learners to practice and reinforce knowledge, skills, and attitudes that had been presented in formal presentations. Learners worked in teams, with each team member assigned to play a specific job function, and were encouraged to work together to complete the case studies with friendly competition. Each team was assessed at the end of each activity and awarded points based on their performance. At the end of the course, awards were presented to the teams with the highest point totals.

< Back to Immersive Learning Strategies