Due to the Covid-19 crisis, higher education was forced to offer online alternatives to their courses. This change drastically increased the number of students partaking in online education. However, the effects of obligatory online education could potentially be harmful and are not yet sufficiently explored. This research analyses the impact of obligatory online education on business students’ social life, well-being and academic performance. The study used a phenomenological and a comparative approach to assess and compare students’ personal experiences in Germany and the Netherlands. A total number of 30 semi-structured interviews were conducted with students in the mentioned countries. Results show, that students’ academic performance decreased due to a lack of student identity, study life balance, motivation and technological issues during e-learning. Furthermore, mixed findings were recorded about the impact on social life. Finally, a slight drop in students’ well-being caused by a decline in physical and mental health was observed. Findings of this study are significant in a sense that they can provide crucial information for policymakers, educators and managers in higher education which enable them to make more informed decisions when delivering online education in crucial times and enhance students’ experience. This will consequently create a more positive impact for students’ well-being, social life and academic performance.
This study furthers game-based learning for circular business model innovation (CBMI), the complex, dynamic process of designing business models according to the circular economy principles. The study explores how game-play in an educational setting affects learning progress on the level of business model elements and from the perspective of six learning categories. We experimented with two student groups using our game education package Re-Organise. All students first studied a reader and a game role description and then filled out a circular business model canvas and a learning reflection. The first group, i.e., the game group, updated the canvas and the reflection in an interactive tutorial after gameplay. The control group submitted their updated canvas and reflection directly after the interactive tutorial without playing the game. The results were analyzed using text-mining and qualitative methods such as word co-occurrence and sentiment polarity. The game group created richer business models (using more waste processing technologies) and reflections with stronger sentiments toward the learning experience. Our detailed study results (i.e., per business model element and learning category) enhance understanding of game-based learning for circular business model innovation while providing directions for improving serious games and accompanying educational packages.
MULTIFILE
The growing availability of data offers plenty of opportunities for data driven innovation of business models for SMEs like interactive media companies. However, SMEs lack the knowledge and processes to translate data into attractive propositions and design viable data-driven business models. In this paper we develop and evaluate a practical method for designing data driven business models (DDBM) in the context of interactive media companies. The development follows a design science research approach. The main result is a step-by-step approach for designing DDBM, supported by pattern cards and game boards. Steps consider required data sources and data activities, actors and value network, revenue model and implementation aspects. Preliminary evaluation shows that the method works as a discussion tool to uncover assumptions and make assessments to create a substantiated data driven business model.
MULTIFILE
Physical rehabilitation programs revolve around the repetitive execution of exercises since it has been proven to lead to better rehabilitation results. Although beginning the motor (re)learning process early is paramount to obtain good recovery outcomes, patients do not normally see/experience any short-term improvement, which has a toll on their motivation. Therefore, patients find it difficult to stay engaged in seemingly mundane exercises, not only in terms of adhering to the rehabilitation program, but also in terms of proper execution of the movements. One way in which this motivation problem has been tackled is to employ games in the rehabilitation process. These games are designed to reward patients for performing the exercises correctly or regularly. The rewards can take many forms, for instance providing an experience that is engaging (fun), one that is aesthetically pleasing (appealing visual and aural feedback), or one that employs gamification elements such as points, badges, or achievements. However, even though some of these serious game systems are designed together with physiotherapists and with the patients’ needs in mind, many of them end up not being used consistently during physical rehabilitation past the first few sessions (i.e. novelty effect). Thus, in this project, we aim to 1) Identify, by means of literature reviews, focus groups, and interviews with the involved stakeholders, why this is happening, 2) Develop a set of guidelines for the successful deployment of serious games for rehabilitation, and 3) Develop an initial implementation process and ideas for potential serious games. In a follow-up application, we intend to build on this knowledge and apply it in the design of a (set of) serious game for rehabilitation to be deployed at one of the partners centers and conduct a longitudinal evaluation to measure the success of the application of the deployment guidelines.
