Introduction to Marketing 2023
by Ilia Gugenishvili
Objective: Training in Soft Skills
VR software used: VirtualSpeech
This software allows soft skills training. These skills include presentation skills.
The course began with students forming small groups (3-4 members) to brainstorm startup ideas. Throughout the course, key marketing topics were introduced.
Each group developed a marketing plan for their startup, which they refined during the seminars. The course culminated in a seminar, where industry experts and marketing researchers attended student presentations and gave feedback.
VirtualSpeech was used to prepare for these final presentations. This VR training was strategically scheduled later in the course once the marketing plans were nearly finalized.
- Students were instructed to prepare for their presentation training in the VirtualSpeech. The software cannot analyze the content without it being presented by the student first.
- The training schedule was pre-set and students were allowed to choose the individual training time slots in advance.
- Students were required to submit their slides and notes in advance.
- Since the students were required to present, the teacher chose to conduct independent sessions where students were given instructions and then left alone to practice.
- Pre-defined questions may be submitted by the teacher to VirtualSpeech but we opted not to.
Ilia Gugenishvili, ilia.gugenishvili(at)abo.fi
University Lecturer
School of Business and Economics
Faculty of Social Sciences, Business and Economics, and Law
Åbo Akademi University