Improving Student Understanding of Operations Management Techniques Through a Rolling Reinforcement Strategy

Abstract In this article, the author describes a rolling reinforcement strategy designed to improve student understanding of several quantitative techniques in an operations management (OM) course. Techniques investigated include multiproduct break-even analysis, critical path analysis, and statistical process control. In the rolling reinforcement strategy, reinforcements are planned and provided on days different from those of the original exposure to the problem category. Approximately 49% of the students in the OM course scored full points when the instructor used two rolling reinforcements, whereas only 22% of the students scored full points when one rolling reinforcement was used.