Using Simulation to Teach Operations Management to First- and Continuing-Generation Students

Leveraging a popular operations management simulation, we examine how team interaction, students' previous software experience, simulations' ease of use, team leadership, and instructors' guidance affects students' comprehension. Respondents completed a 27-item survey designed to assess individual comprehension. To illustrate the various affects, we use structural equation modeling to compare first-generation and continuing-generation undergraduate populations. The results indicate software's ease of use and instructors' guidance affects both groups, while team interaction to comprehension is present for only first-generation students. We also find that the strength of the various relationships depends on the population of students being studied. As simulations continue to grow in popularity, educators need to recognize how these pedagogical tools affect different student populations.