Skip to Content, Navigation, or Footer.

Like Mario and Luigi, with business degrees


Students will soon be trading textbooks for video games in many global management classrooms on ASU's West campus.

The School of Global Management teamed up with IBM to create instructional video games for the classrooms.

These games are designed to help global business students improve the skills they need in today's market, according to the school's Web site.

Though the games will look and feel like video games, they will relate to more realistic business processes and events, according to the Web site.

"This technology is very cutting edge and, to have IBM attached to it, it lends creditability to the program," said Steve Des Georges, director of public relations and marketing for the West campus.

The games are played with a joystick and are based on advanced gaming technology, which will allow students to see how technology and strategy affect businesses in different ways, according to the Web site.

"IBM has developed a unique and exciting platform to present complicated material in a way that will engage the students," said Pierre Balthazard, director for the School of Global Management master's program in a press release.

The program —"Innov8" — will be first tested with the master's program around mid-November, Balthazard said. He added that he hopes students will enjoy the new technology.

Elio Espinoza, a global management sophomore, said he is excited to see the video games in his classroom.

"I think it's pretty cool to have video games in our classes now," Espinoza said. "I've practically grown up around video games, so if they will help prepare me for a career, then I'm all for it."

Des Georges added that he hopes the video games will bring the educational experience to a level that students are comfortable with.

In a recent IBM survey, 75 percent of CEOs surveyed said education and a lack of qualified candidates will have the largest impact on businesses within the next three years. The video games will pull technology and business skills together, which, according to the survey, are a challenge IBM clients face immediately.

"There is a difference [in student response] between 'Let's turn to page four' and 'Let's pull up Innov8,' " Des Georges said. "We hope our students will be very excited to use this new educational tool."

Reach the reporter at: ktomlins@asu.edu.


Continue supporting student journalism and donate to The State Press today.

Subscribe to Pressing Matters



×

Notice

This website uses cookies to make your experience better and easier. By using this website you consent to our use of cookies. For more information, please see our Cookie Policy.