Project Management is an “Experiential Subject” – you cannot just teach it in a class-room – students have to experience the ‘thrills and spills’ of running their own projects to understand and appreciate how to plan properly. Lectures are passive for students, and case studies are static. But don’t take my word for it – read the words of other academics:

• The KOLB learning cylcle (1984) requires learners to experience, reflect, conceptualise, and apply learning.
• Hood (2006) states that the project management concept can be very difficult for students with little work or project experience.
• Shtub (2013) suggests that traditional teaching using case studies and lectures cannot teach the uncertainty that is inherent in project management.

Therefore simulations help student apply knowledge and starts to build their experiences and competence.

Simulations and activities can also help with deeper learning, more engagement, and increased student satisfaction. Buy one of my simulations and save yourself some course development time!

References:

• Kolb, D. (1984) Experiential Learning : Experience as the Source of Learning and Development. London: Prentice-Hall
• Hood, D. and Hood, S. (eds.) (2006) Innovation and Technology in Computer Science Education ITiCSE ’06. ‘Teaching Software Project Management using Simulations’. held 26-28 June at Bologna, Italy.
• Shtub, A. (2013) ‘Simulation Based Training (SBT)–the Next Generation of Project Management Training’. PM World Journal II (XI), 1-11