The Hospitality Classroom, Circa 2005

Abstract

This article traces the history of information technology in education, reviews the current uses of information technology, and projects what hospitality classrooms might look like in 2005. The discussion is extended to the implications for training in the hospitality industry. To achieve the forecasted changes, the view of education must shift from training to performance and from documentation to the application of knowledge.The host greets the guests at the door and escorts them to their table. The waitstaff goes into action as more customers enter the restaurant and are seated.The front-of-the-house manager is strolling about making sure that all is in order, when a disturbance is heard from across the room. The manager walks over to see a waiter listening intently to the noisy complaint of afemale patron about the cold draft on her feet. The manager watches as the waiter compassionately offers to find a table to the customer's and her three friends' liking. Agreeing to the move, the waiter and the manager help settle the guests into their new location. The waiter apologizes profusely for the discomfort and assures the table that it is his intention to make the rest of their evening a pleasant one, and he would like to bring them an appetizer on the house.The instructor then asks the manager and the waiter to remove the special goggles that allowed them to see the imaginary restaurant and customers and the gloves that allowed them to feel the imaginary chairs and objects and to join in a discussion of the incident. The instructor turns off the simulator and the customers disappear, as do the employees, food smells, cold drafts, and other restaurant environmental effects.This training exercise has just used the concept of virtual reality, wherein the only truly real subjects were the manager and the waiter. All else was programmed and simulated using a combined effort of a multiplicity of media and information technologies. Science fiction? Don't you believe it. The year is 2005, and we are finally beginning to experience the enormous capabilities of the combined information technologies applied to the educational process.

Strategic Management Education Incorporating Written or Simulation Cases: An Empirical Test

“…In conclusion, although the hospitality literature has answered Mann's (1993) call for examples of computer use in the classroom, little statistical evidence has been provided to assess the efficiency or effectiveness of a variety of technologies. This research has shown that there are significant advantages to using simulation cases in hospitality strategic management courses when used carefully.…”

The Use of Simulation in Hospitality as an Analytic Tool and Instructional System: A Review of the Literature

“…Although Mann (1993) describes the potential of a virtual reality scenario to assist in educating and training waiters and foodservice managers, no work has been found that discusses simulation as an educational and instructional tool to assist learners in visualizing the dynamics of a foodservice operation. However, the authors are working on research in this area.…”

“…Literature in other disciplines regarding the use of simulation as a method of education and training was also found (Alessi & Trollip, 1991;Berger, Fulford, & Krazmien, 1993;Boreham, 1985;Forcier, 1996;Gray & Waitt, 1982;Mellar, Bliss, Boohan, Ogborn, & Tompsett, 1994;Muhlhauser, 1995;Percival, Lodge, & Saunders, 1993;Simonson & Thompson, 1990). Although Mann (1993) describes the potential of a virtual reality scenario to assist in educating and training waiters and foodservice managers, no work has been found that discusses simulation as an educational and instructional tool to assist learners in visualizing the dynamics of a foodservice operation. However, the authors are working on research in this area.…”

“…Simulation modeling has been used in hospitality education to plan curricula (McCowan & Mongerson, 1969) and to increase students'foodservice experience (Brozik & Zapalska, 2000;Chase, 1983;Corsun, Inman, & Muller, 1995;Fawcett, 1994Fawcett, , 1995Feinstein & Mann, 1999;Foucar-Szocki, 1989;Hott, 1986;Kent, 1985;Mahoney, 1981;Mann, 1993;Paulson et al, 1989;Sawyer et al, 1986). Specific uses and instructional applications of simulation theory as suggested by these authors include teaching and development of students' management decision making, manpower scheduling, quantity food production management, restaurant management, and financial management.…”

The Development and Assessment of a Foodservice Instructional Simulation Technique (FIST)

“…) Although Mann (1993) describes the potential of a virtual reality scenario for educating andtraining waiters and foodservice managers, no actual work has beenfound that utilizes symbolic simulation as an educational and instructional toolto assist leamers in visualizing the dynamics of a foodservice operation.…”