Abstract:

One of the main shortcomings of the online classroom is the lack of hands-on, face-to-face interactions that students receive in the traditional classroom environment. One technique that has been used to compensate for that shortcoming is the use of immersive educational exercises (IEE), where the course is designed to introduce students to a real-time exercise in crisis management. The authors of this paper propose a framework for the development, implementation, and execution of IEE for an online environment which overcomes the shortcomings of many previously implemented tools. The design and execution of the IEE is intended to reinforce concepts and variables that are frequently omitted by participants in an actual crisis such as emotional commitment, inadequate communication or information, and crisis response accountability. The design focuses on placing students into a current/life-based crisis scenario requiring them to demonstrate specific skill sets of critical thinking, teamwork and internal/external communications.

Keywords:

Crisis management, crisis communication, simulation, experiential learning.