Few academic disciplines have undergone the academic scrutiny that history has since the end of the Second World War. A growing consensus among historians has emerged to the effect that, if history is to be revitalized, it will require recognition of the disconnect between popular and professional, as well as an embracing of innovative methods of…

This article reports upon roleplaying simulations used for teaching and learning subjects in the field of international relations. It is based upon five years of experience gained by the author while teaching in RUDN University in Moscow, Russia, and Webster University in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. The article aims to unravel both the value of…

Structured interviews are widely used in the employment process; however, students often have little experience asking and responding to structured interview questions. In a format similar to "speed dating," this exercise actively engages students in the interview process. Students pair off to gain experience as an interviewer by asking…

A 3D multi-user virtual environment holds promise to support and enhance student online learning communities due to its ability to promote global synchronous interaction and collaboration, rich multisensory experience and expression, and elaborate design capabilities. Second Life[R], a multi-user virtual environment intended for adult users 18 and…

A traditional debate format, in which a small group of students is given the task of presenting arguments for or against a particular issue, can promote pro and con dualism that is both incomplete and counter to developing a sociological imagination. In this article, the authors describe their efforts to avoid this kind of dualism through the…

Treating employees fairly produces many positive outcomes, but evidence suggests that managers' efforts to be fair are often unsuccessful because they emphasize the wrong aspects of justice. Managers tend to emphasize distributive justice, though employees may be most concerned with procedural and interactional justice. Organizational justice…

Describes how, as a portion of the oral presentation assignment, business communication professors can foster a professional atmosphere in the classroom for both speakers and listeners by having students in the audience play roles commonly found during a business question and answer session. Discusses the roles, implementing them, and the benefits…

Explains what software manufacturers are doing to combat software piracy, recommends how managers should deal with this problem, and provides a role-playing exercise to help students understand the issues in software piracy. (SR)

Creative second language learning activities for high school and college students are presented. The 45 activites are task oriented, and conducted in a nonthreatening atmosphere, are performed in small groups without teacher supervision, and involve role playing. Four types of activities are described: (1) explanations of ambiguous concepts, (2)…

Presents a classroom activity that will provide students practice in developing the essential skills of developing a profile of the primary audience. Suggests that students should also explore differences in word usage. Concludes that students will better appreciate the significant function of audience in determining the content, tone, and method…

Describes ways to use the job interview as a topic in college technical writing assignments, including role-playing either the interviewer or interviewee, observing a professional interviewer at work, and generating business correspondence as a result of an interview. (RL)

Describes a news conference simulation involving students from business communication classes and presentational speaking classes, which is used to prepare business students to "think on their feet" while under stress and facing a potentially hostile audience--conditions that business professionals are apt to encounter. (SR)

Presents a discussion tool that the author has incorporated into the classroom. Describes how she combines two approaches into a non-graded group work with a role-playing component, a technique she integrates into the classroom numerous times throughout every semester. Concludes how eventually students confidently present their well-supported…

Suggests a new typology for evaluating simulation games based on the extent to which participants' roles correspond to specific real-world equivalents. Application of the typology associates different simulation formats with characteristic teaching goals, learning processes, and administrative pitfalls. (Author)

Develops technical writing skills by organizing the class as a "company." Class activities include forming the company, defining the product, and completing exercises and situations in internal and external business communication. (RL)