Empowering Schools through Competitive Online Business Simulation Training
In the wake of technological advancements and the challenges posed by traditional teaching methods, schools globally have been exploring innovative avenues to enhance educational outcomes.
This case study explores the pilot implementation of a competitive online Immersive Edge experiential learning training program in partnership with
South of Scotland Enterprise, DYW Borders & DYW Dumfries & Galloway, aimed at fostering teamworking skills and increasing student confidence whilst bringing knowledge of business studies to life for students in school classrooms.
Playing Teamwork.Inc, 6 schools (3 from each region) with a team of 5-6 pupils per school had the opportunity to run their own business online for a trading period of 12 months, representing 2 levels of simulation gameplay, with a further 6 months of trading (level 3) for the grand final. Winners from each heat were to play off against each other, with net profit being the determining factor for winners throughout the competition.
Each school was facilitated individually by an Immersive Edge representative, supported excellently by DYW and school staff.
Read the pdf
(At the time of this study the name of the company was GingrTech, therefor some references are still to GingrTech.)
School
Case Study
In partnership with
Empowering schools
students through
competitive online
business simulation
training
Introduction
In the wake of technological advancements and the challenges posed by traditional teaching methods, schools globally have been exploring innovative avenues to enhance educational outcomes.
This case study explores the pilot implementation of a competitive online Immersive Edge experiential learning training program in partner-ship with South of Scotland Enterprise,
DYW Borders & DYW Dumfries & Galloway, aimed at fostering teamworking skills and increasing student confidence whilst bringing knowledge of business studies to life for students in school classrooms.
Background
South of Scotland Enterprise engaged DYW Borders and DYW Dumfries & Galloway to put forward the idea of the pilot to their respective schools networks, with an online insights drop-in session subsequently set up for staff to attend, during which Elton Daddow, Commercial & Training Director at Immersive Edge, gave an overview presentation of business simulations with live Q&A for all attendees to assess suitability for thier respective schools and colleges.
6 schools from Dumfries and Galloway and Borders regions subsequently expressed interest in participating in a pilot online simulation competition to involve 5-6 senior students from each school respectively.
Meet the Teams
6 schools from Dumfries & Galloway & Borders regions took part in 2 competitive online TeamWork.Inc business simulation competition heats.
Experiential Learning
What is it and how does it work? This FutureLearn article explains further.
wejfaeiowfjaiowejfo;aejiwo;afjiw
Borders 
Eyemouth High School
Jedburgh Grammar Campus
Earlston High School
TeamWork.Inc
TeamWork.Inc
Dumfries & Galloway
Dumfries Academy
Dalbeattie High School
Lockerbie Academy
Agreed Objectives 
Support innovative, creative approaches to engaging students in a safe space – learning by doing.
Foster a collaborative learning culture among pupils through immersive online learning.
Exposure to running a company, business functions and interactions and decision-making between departments.
Increase student confidence, ambition, self-belief, communication skills, teamworking and problem-solving abilities.
Setting the Scene
Students from all competing schools were given an introductory online presentation of the business simulations including:
– What experiential learning is
– The science behind Immersive Edge simulations
– Key business functions and how they operate effectively together through collaborative teamworking
– Overview of the TeamWork.Inc simulations
Simulation Gameplay
Build stronger teams, drive leadership and break down silos.
TeamWork.Inc focuses on getting teams to communicate efficiently, teaching business empathy, and generating profit.
Played virtually or in a classroom, participants learn and improve business skills by running a virtual business.
Split into different departments and roles, teams need to optimize a struggling business by working together; all whilst staying in business and making a profit.
TeamWork.Inc
Simulation Gameplay
Schools with a team of 5-6 pupils ran a business online for a trading period of 12 months, (2 levels of simulation gameplay) with a further 6 months of trading (level 3) for the grand final.
Each school was facilitated individually by an Immersive Edge representative.
26 weeks in
26 minutes
We challenge teams to develop the strategies to deliver organizational success in only a few short hours.
The simulations are designed for groups of up to 15 people and divided into three to four rounds. Each round is 26 minutes and involves the equivalent of 26 weeks of trade.
After each round, teams get to reflect and learn from past mistakes to improve their performance in future rounds.
Game roles
Teams are split into different departments and roles. Depending on their own role, they may be asked to play a different role in the game.
Competing schools were judged on their closing bank balance ($) at the end of the trading period, with the winners from each heat competing online in one final round.
Results
Winners
Jedburgh Grammar
Campus Secondary
“A massive thank you from all of the staff and young people at Jedburgh Grammar Campus to the GingrTech team. At Jedburgh we are always encouraging our staff to be ambitious for our young people so that they may achieve beyond their own perceived limitations. As a result of the opportunity that you have given to our Senior Students they will have increased confidence, self-belief and broader ambition about the lives they will forge for themselves.”
Paul Fagan, Depute Head
Jedburgh Grammar Campus
Results
Winners 
Jedburgh Grammar Campus Secondary
Runners Up 
Dumfries Academy
Faciliator Reflections 
“There are many start ups run by young adults, and the students from the South of Scotland will definitely be successful in setting up their own businesses. From the results of the simulation it is clear that they know how to work together and communicate effectively about the tasks and challenges at hand. I was most impressed by one of the students who managed not only to maintain focus on current tasks, but was also able to simultaneously solve numerous codes required for her simulation role. Many business teams who have played the simulation struggle with this task. The teams stayed calm under pressure and did what they needed to do to successfully run the business.”
Wendy Zwart – Business Manager and Facilitator
“Every simulation throws up unique sets of challenges for teams to overcome, and individuals innovate and show great leadership qualities to address challenges and learn by doing in a safe space. What impressed me most about the application of these exceptional students was the unbelievable calmness they showed to work together and communicate effectively to achieve great success, whilst equally being really up for the competitive nature of the training against competing schools. It was great to see them celebrating successes and I thoroughly enjoyed meeting the undoubted stars of tomorrow in whatever career path they may choose.”
Elton Daddow – Commercial and Training Director
“It has been truly impressive to witness the outstanding performance of the students in this business simulations pilot. Their problem-solving, communication, and decision-making skills were a match for many professionals, demonstrating a high level of sophistication. They collaborated with exceptional clarity, navigating the simulation’s complexities with strategic insight and adeptness. This format not only highlighted their individual talents but also the collective strength and innovative spirit of young learners.”
Neil Ballantyne – CEO
Conclusions
– Experiential learning plays a key role in driving student engagement and reinforcing principles learnt in the classroom through practical application, focused on team working as opposed to the individual.
– During an era of continued and accelerated online learning developments, students are able to actively participate in new and innovative learning experiences regardless of their physical location.
– Confidence is key: Building students’ confidence as they progress through their learning journeys into the lifelong learning world of work is fundamental to their success, as exemplified during this pilot competition.
– ALL schools and ALL students are winners in equal measure based on embracing the learning experience and using all the rich brain power and ideas to work together to achieve outstanding outcomes as they use reflective periods between rounds to evolve their strategy and approach.
“I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved.
My pupils had a great time and I have rarely had such positive feedback regarding an event.”
Alexandra McQuarrie
Business Education
Dumfries Academy
Scottish Parliament Recognition
in April 2024, a local Member of the Scottish Parliament picked up on our press release and commended the inter-school business simulations pilot competition in the Scottish Parliament. Full release here.
Sometimes you win, EVERY time you learn.
What’s Next?
Based on the success and overwhelmingly positive feedback from pupils, staff and South of Scotland Enterprise representatives, discussions are underway with a view to rolling out simulation training to other schools in the Borders and Dumfries & Galloway regions in 2024 and beyond.
As education providers continue to innovate and embrace experiential learning as an integral part of bringing educational concepts and theory to life, we are working with partners across the globe to embed these learning experiences into teaching and learning strategy focused on specific and unique outcomes for each partner.
If you would like to find out more about bringing business simulations to your school or college classroom, or further and higher education institution, get in touch with us, [email protected].
Thank you!
