PROJECT HoRizons : Technology : A Supplement or
Replacement?
On the evening of March 10, 2020 Vishnu Mannam, the Content Head, Prerna
Sheoran, the Creative Head and Surabhi Khandelwal, the Design Head at HoRizons
sat down together in the conference room to solve a huge problem. Dr. Gita Bajaj,
the Program Head at IMT Dubai had just informed them that they wouldn’t be
allowed to conduct a training program at the institue because of the new regulations
to counter the spread of Covid-19, more commonly known as Coronavirus.
They were faced with either scrapping the program or changing the entire program
to make it into an entirely technology-based program.
The Background
HoRizons had been hired by IMT Dubai to conduct a training program for their
students. The objective of the program was to assess the students’ existing level of
Self-control, Communication Skills and Listening Skills and to offer creative solutions
to enhancing those levels, ultimately shaping young leaders of the industry towards
a better future.
The program had had its fair share of complications. It had already been postponed
from the initial date of 23rd of February to the 6th of March following an overload of
work upon the students and thus, an underwhelming enthusiasm regarding
participation. Came 4th of March and the institute was forced to move forward the
examinations for the students because of the novel coronavirus.
The team had anticipated such a situation but didn’t realise how big a challenge it
would turn out to be.
The Program
During the initial proposals, the HoRizons team identified following qualities can help
students to succeed in their career- Team Work, Listening Skills and Self-Control. All
these skills were planned to be delivered using interactive and competitive activities
that would not only create interest in the students but also help them retain them
for a long time.
The activities are as follows:
• Call of Duty (Mobile)- Teamwork
• A game of telephone- Listening Skills
• Selective Listening- Listening Skills
• Tower of Cups- Self Control
(for details, refer appendix)
The program is aimed to be wrapped up in 1 hour 30 minutes and the activities are
planned accordingly. Since the training program is meant to be happening in a
classroom setting, all the activities were designed accordingly. After the activities
were done, it was proposed to create an LMS with all the content of training and
some activities that would support the same.
The Problem
The initial program date was scheduled to be 23rd February 2020. After all
preparations were made and registrations were done, the students of IMT were
intimated that they will be having their final exam for a subject on that day, and
during the same hours of the program. This was a major hit because no participant
was able to participate even if he/she were willing to. Keeping this in mind, program
was postponed to 6th March 2020, which was 4 days before the final exam schedule
for PGDM-DCP batch.
Coronavirus hits!!!
With a final date in place and all the arrangements done, Team HoRizons was
confident about their project and are making fine tunings to their programs. For this,
they are looking at more innovative and environment friendly learning methods
which not only engage the students, but also doesn’t add any more paper material
to their bags. (Refer appendix for technology used in the program).
But on March 4th 2020, due the management issued a circular that Due to Corona
outbreak, all the educational have to be shut down by 9th March and hence, the
