TATA Interactive Systems wins APEX 2004 Award of Excellence
TATA Interactive Systems (TIS), a global leader in e-learning, has been awarded the APEX 2004 Award of Excellence in the @Education & Training Campaigns & Programs' category for its work on simulation-based learning objects (SimBLs) on business ethics at the University of Phoenix Online, in the USA.
Sambit Mohapatra, the head of TIS in the UK and Europe, commented: "SimBLs provide learners with an engaging and highly motivating way to interact with e-learning materials, greatly enhancing the learning experience and increasing the retention of information. They simulate specific topics by substituting fidelity-to-concept for fidelity-to-reality, helping learners to focus on the key learning points in the material.
"They can be used as standalone learning tools or can be blended with other forms of learning for use as ice breakers, pre-assessments or even assessment tools."
Sanjaya Sharma, chief executive of TIS, added: "Using SimBLs at the University of Phoenix has demonstrated the effectiveness of this approach in facilitating learning. The University now incorporates SimBLs in its business management program and uses SimBLs simulations on other courses being taught throughout the university."
Being more tightly focused than many online business simulations, SimBLs can offer a cost-effective way of learning - being available on a 'pay-per-user' basis.
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Notes for Editors:
About the award-winning entry
The Business Ethics Simulation-based Learning Object was created for the online MBA program at the University of Phoenix (UoP), Arizona, USA, who aimed to:
- Increase instructional efficiency
- Handle larger classes
- Cover 'difficult to learn' concepts
- Focus on real-world application
TIS's solution was to develop small, self-contained chunks of learning for each subject - including business ethics - that simulate real-world scenarios and aid focused learning. The solution provides
- Uncertainty and unpredictability
- Instant feedback
- External influences
- Opportunities to review decisions
The solution focuses on comprehensive feedback to improve learning effectiveness, by discussing their decisions, the optimal solutions and the rationale behind them.
TIS' simulations helped enhanced conceptual understanding, boosted relevant classroom discussions and reduced the number of doubts that the teachers had to respond to. Their effectiveness is reflected by the fact that today UoP offers nearly 100 simulation-based courses in its online MBA program.
(More information at www.apexawards.com)
About the APEX Awards
The APEX Awards for Publication Excellence is an annual competition for writers, editors, publications staff and business and nonprofit communicators. It is sponsored by Communications Concepts, Inc., publishers of business communication reports, including Writing That Works, a subscription monthly for professional communicators, and special reports on topics such as Writing for the WEB.
According to the APEX 2004 judges: "The awards were based on excellence in graphic design, quality of editorial content and the success of the entry in conveying the message and achieving overall communications effectiveness."
In the 16th Annual APEX Awards, awards were given in 109 communications categories, in 11 main categories including: newsletters; magazines and journals; magapapers and newspapers; annual reports; brochures, manuals and reports; video and electronic publications; Web and intranet sites; campaigns, programs and plans; writing; design and illustration; and special publications.
5,462 entries were received (across 109 categories) including 329 entries in the Campaigns, Programs & Plans category, in which Tata Interactive Systems won an Award of Excellence.