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To: INSTRUCTORS WHO USE EXPERIENTIAL EXERCISES IN CLASS

You use experiential exercises in class, because you think they are an
effective way for students to learn complex concepts. But have you ever
shared them with others, or thought about publishing them in conference
proceedings? If you are looking for an outlet for your EXPERIENTIAL
EXERCISES think about the Eastern Academy of Management’s Experiential
Learning Association (ELA).

ELA welcomes the submission of new (not previously published) exercises or
substantial modifications of existing exercises. Exercises include games,
simulations, role plays, and other interactive experiences that center on
the teaching of management.

The 2006 Eastern Academy of Management will be in Saratoga Springs, NY, May
10-13, 2006.
The submission deadline is December 9, 2005. The Call for Papers can be
found at http://www.eaom.org/AnnualMeetings/Saratoga2006/index.html

Exercises will be eligible for the Best Experiential Exercise award,
determined by judges at the conference.

If you are interested in submission guidelines, have questions, or want to
explore your ideas, please contact Don Gibson, chair of the Experiential
Learning Association, at dgibson@mail.fairfield.edu.


Guidelines for Submitting an Exercise to ELA:

• New (not previously published) or substantial modifications of
existing exercises are welcome. Exercises include games, simulations, role
plays, and other forms of interactive experiences which center on the
teaching of management. If you are revising, enhancing or describing a new
use for an exercise, be sure to reference the original and/or include a
copy of the original as an appendix.
• Write a short rationale for why the exercise is needed or helps
present the material. You need not review why experiential learning is
needed.
• Indicate briefly: a) learning goals for the exercise, b)
approximate timing, c) number of participants or group size, d) materials
needed, e) preparation needed before class by students, f) preparation
needed by instructor.
• Describe in detail the steps and timing involved in doing the
exercise. Try to write instructions for the instructor that assume the
instructor has never seen the exercise before and wants to use it the
following day in class.
• Discuss in detail how you debrief the exercise. How are the
learning goals addressed? What additional learning can you bring forth?
What has been the student experience? What unexpected outcomes have
occurred?
• Provide a complete copy of the exercise (this can be an appendix if
you are beyond the 25 page limit, but don’t feel obligated to “stretch”
your paper to 25 pages). If your paper is accepted, you will likely have to
shorten it to fit in the Proceedings.
• Indicate time frames for presenting the exercise or portion of the
exercise at the Eastern Academy of Management meeting. Discuss the extent
to which session attendees will be able to participate in the typical time
frames of the meeting (2 to 4 exercises in a 1 to 2 hour session). If there
are ways to creatively do a portion of the exercise at the conference,
please describe (this increases the likelihood of acceptance).
• Exercises will be eligible for the Best Experiential Exercise
award.

General Evaluation Criteria for Experiential Exercises:

• Contribution: does it move or promise to move beyond existing
knowledge?
• How well does this paper demonstrate understanding of theories and
research in the relevant literature?
• Does the experiential activity demonstrate the material in a
creative, interesting, and useful manner?
• Is the proposal well written (including instructions)?
• How interesting would this paper be to EAM members?
• What is your overall evaluation of this paper?

Criteria* for Best Experiential Exercise Award:
*Judging is based on both the written exercise and its presentation at the
conference.

• Does this exercise provide students with a meaningful learning
experience that provides insight into key management concepts or practices?
• Is the exercise design challenging? Entertaining? Creative?
• Is this exercise a teaching tool or technique that has the
potential to make a solid impact in the classroom?
• Are the instructor teaching materials and participant learning
materials discussed and submitted with the exercise of high quality, that
is, easy to follow, professional in appearance, and supportive of the
exercise itself?

Thank you!
Don Gibson
Fairfield University
dgibson@mail.fairfield.edu