Using a Virtual National Park to Teach Workplace Skills in Conservation Management

Figures & data

Table 1. The content of the role-play

The degree		Environmental Management	Parks and Recreation	Ecotourism
The scenario		Students are managers of a catchment management authority	Students are managers of a park that has both natural areas and some formal open space	Students run an ecotourism resort set on the beach and surrounded by a national park
The curriculum
	Task 1	Develop a vision and business principles based on a mission statement provided within the particular scenario
	Task 2: Human resources	Use a limited budget to
		1. Create an organizational structure consistent with Task 1
		2. Identify complementary resources/assets that will be outsourced
		3. Write a duty statement and a set of interview questions for a senior staff position within that structure
	Task 3: Assess management	1. From an asset database provided develop a set of prioritization principles to rehabilitate a number of rivers in various states of degradation	1. From an asset database provided develop a set of prioritization principles to repair a number of walking tracks in various states of degradation	1. From an asset database provided develop a set of prioritization principles replaces a number of visitor in various states of degradation
		2. From a database consisting of visitors using these rivers predict which rivers will need additional boat ramps	2. From a database of consisting of visitors using these tracks predict which tracks will need upgrading	2. From a database of consisting of visitors to the facilities at the resort predict which will need upgrading
	Task 4: Resource management	Given resources to undertake a large-scale landcare project	Given resources to undertake a large-scale project to protect a karst system	Given resources to build visitor facilities around a karst system
		1. Develop a specific budget	1. Develop a specific budget	1. Develop a specific budget
		2. Identify the risks associated with this project	2. Identify the risks associated with this project	2. Identify the risks associated with this project
		3. Having received the funds develop a Gantt chart for its implementation	3. Having received the funds develop a Gantt chart for its implementation	3. Having received the funds develop a Gantt chart for its implementation
	Task 5: Policy and ethics	1. Write a policy for the authority on public participation in planning	1. Write a policy for the agency on environmental education and interpretation	1. Write a policy on the resort being involved in commercial partnerships
		2. From the records of a meeting of the board identify possible conflicts of interest by these board members	2. From the records of a meeting of the board identify possible conflicts of interest by these board members	2. From the records of a meeting of the board identify possible conflicts of interest by these board members

Figure 1 Student responses to a quantitative survey of 11 questions (role-play started in 2006). For sample sizes and response rate see text.

Table 2. Students' comments about what they thought was good or bad about the subject

Year	Typical comments
2005	“Overall the subject increased my understanding of the administration side of the industry.”
	“I feel the subject has not helped me. Make the tasks more relevant to everyone.”
	“I found the subject painfully vague. Whilst I did see the relevance, most was so tedious that emphasis had to be placed on simply putting something on paper.” “A lot of topics I covered in High School particularly Business studies. I feel the subject has not increased my understanding of how natural resource management organizations run.”
2006	“I liked that it was a series of tasks I think that was a really good idea, but I am not sure what I learnt.”
	“Helped me learn how a university subject should not be run.”
	“Assessment task were confusing, modules were full of mistakes, and the lecturer difficult to contact and in some cases the response was not understood. The whole subject needs re-evaluation.”
2007	“This was a fairly tedious subject—but extremely relevant. The CD-ROM was well designed and was helpful for every task. I think Jonathon has done the best he can in presenting a difficult subject.”
	“I found it frustrating that hints and help were posted only a few days before the assignment was due.”
	“I found that the majority of the assessment tasks are on areas I have not covered in other subjects—so perhaps more description of what was required and how it will be assessed is needed.”
2008	“The modules and assessment provide areas of the workplace I did not think about so in terms of future knowledge with career I have a greater knowledge.”
	“The structure of the assessment tasks was very effective—approaching each task with a clear focus and learning outcome made it clear what was required and how much time and effort to put in. The forum was most useful and queries answered efficiently most of the time. Discussing tasks as a group really cleared up some aspects and ensured I was on the right path.”