Preparing Hospitality Managers for the 21st Century: The Merging of Just-in-Time Education, Criticalthinking, and Collaborative Learning

Abstract

The use of technology in educational settings, whether in academia or industry, is becoming a more common and accepted method of course delivery. Just-in-time (JIT) education refers to Web-based education that students may access at any time and in any place and that is not confined to specific classrooms or time schedules. An instructional model is described that allows for the evaluation and comparison of JIT and traditional educational methods. The model is based on the theoretical concepts of JIT education, critical thinking, collaborative learning, and user acceptance of technology. The evaluative aspect of the model is presented through seven propositions that provide a platform for educational research in this area. The use of this model could assist hospitality education programs in developing and evaluating course offerings that incorporate the use of technology and the World Wide Web.

Utilising Flexible Learning Packages to Enhance Teaching Effectiveness: A New Zealand Case Study

“…A review of the hospitality pedagogical research reveals one common question: "Are we preparing students and managers for the consistently changing and complex workplace of the twenty-first century" (Cho, Schmelzer, & McMahon 2000, p. 31). Considerable research has focused on management competencies of graduates (Christou & Eaton 2000;Barron, Watson, & McGuire 2006;Baum, 2002;Lashley 1999;Woods, 1992), and three skills continually surface as being key: critical thinking skills (Baum 2002;Sigala, 2002;Zabel, 1997), effective communication and technical skills (Huettman, 1996;Malfroy & Daruwalla, 2000), and the ability to manage a diverse workforce (Huyton, 1997;Roberts, 1998;Barron & Arcodia, 2002;Seymour, 2002;Hamilton, 2003;Deale & Wilborn, 2006) Previous research has also addressed the question of relevant competencies in relation to the rapid advancement of technology and management practices in the hospitality industry (Deale 2004;Cho & Schmelzer 2002;Debevec, Shih, & Kashyap;Mayer, 2003). Baum (2002) noted a 2000 United Kingdom QCA (Qualifications and Curriculum Authority) report which identified the application of information technology as a "core or key skill" both within the service sector and the wider economy (p.…”

Investigating the Factors Determining e-Learning Effectiveness in Tourism and Hospitality Education

“…by Marianna Sigala, Ph.D. However, although e-learning is widely being adopted for enhancing and complementing tourism and hospitality instruction (Sigala & Christou, 2003) and its advantages for tourism and hospitality education are extensively argued (Sigala, 2002;Cho Schmelzer & McMahon, 2002;Clements et al, 2001), little is known on how to design and implement effective e-learning platforms. On the other hand, it is generally agreed that the re-implementation of conventional models borrowed from classroom based or distance education that are focused on passive transmission would permit only marginal improvements.…”

“…Internet's affordance for enhanced communication provides great opportunities for combining collaborative techniques with technology to dramatically enhance the learning process and learning outcomes (Sigala, 2002;Cho et al, 2002).…”

Relationship of WWW usage and employee learning in the casino industry

“…preparing employees for this complex environment (Cho et al, 2002). The rapid development of self-service technology is significantly influencing casino and hospitality organizations by providing new opportunities and challenges for customers and employees.…”