Active learning of E-Commerce: A case analysis of online auction game

This paper describes a simulation exercise that allows business students from two tertiary institutions, namely The Hong Kong Institute of Education (HKIEd) and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) to learn a particular domain of E-Commerce - online auction. Results of student evaluation of the online auction game were analyzed within the same group and across groups. The results indicated that students from two tertiary institutions like to learn the on-line auction using simulation approach, which is one of the active learning strategies that have been used in the two institutions. We have found that business student teachers from HKIEd, who are better equipped with pedagogical knowledge and skills, tended to rate the online action game (OAG) higher than their PolyU fellows in a number of areas. The favorable comments from the pre-service teachers are informative and conclusive. In this case, simulation approach in teaching and learning online auction has proved itself to be effective. It is believed that active learning strategies such as simulation game should be adopted to maximize learning effects in various E-Commerce domains.