Microsoft and Enterprise Boards support game to teach students business skills

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Minister for Education, Mr Batt O’Keeffe, TD, has launched a new online game supported by Microsoft and the County and City Enterprise Boards, which is aimed at teaching students business skills. The Small Business Game, which involves students running a virtual sports shop, teaches key skills such as marketing, finance and stock management.

The Business Game gives students the opportunity to develop enterprise skills in a virtual world. However, it is more than just a game as it will be closely linked to the Junior Cert curriculum. This means that teachers can utilise the game to give students the opportunity to have their students examine business concepts in a more realistic way.

Minister for Education, Mr Batt O’Keeffe launching the game said: “This is a wonderful demonstration of how technology can be adapted to meet the needs of the curriculum. Using the game, students will get a very real flavour of what it takes to run a business and if we can continue to provide these types of enterprise experiences to our students it is much more likely that they will decide to try the real thing in the future.”

“We’re delighted to support the Small Business Game as we are committed to helping students through the medium of technology to learn many of the skills they will need to operate in the real world when they have completed their studies,” said Paul Rellis, managing director of Microsoft Ireland. “Playing the game, students will be faced with real business decisions and like in the real world success or failure will be based entirely on the decisions they make.”

Gerry Enright, County and City Enterprise Boards noted: “This game is hugely valuable as it offers students the opportunity to implement what they are leaving in business studies class. Utilising the game to take lessons beyond the curriculum, students can learn what works in business and what doesn’t. By experimenting with different strategies and tactics students can see the impact of their decisions.

To play the game, schools needs to register at www.businessgame.ie.

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