Educators’ Use and Views of Simulations as Teaching Tools within a Discipline: The Example of Hospitality and Tourism

Abstract

This Scholarship of Teaching and Learning study investigated hospitality faculty members’ perceptions and use of industry-related simulations in hospitality and tourism education to help the authors understand how simulations are and can be used as educational tools. Using learning engagement theory as a framework, respondents to a survey perceived that simulations help students develop decision-making skills, increase problem-solving skills, integrate knowledge from other classes, learn to work with others, and link theory to practice, and noted that simulations are fun to use. A significant positive relationship was found between the number of semesters educators have used simulations and their satisfaction with the simulations. Perceived drawbacks to the use of simulations included that they are costly, time-consuming, too complex, and lack realism and validity. Based on the findings, suggestions are made for improving the use of simulations in hospitality and tourism education, and limitations and ideas for further research are offered.

Keywords

• simulations
• hospitality educators
• perceptions
• teaching
• learning