Instructor Launch Kit

Everything you need to launch next week.

Syllabus language, grading rubrics, LMS setup guides, and a department approval template, all right here, ready to copy and use.

Need the full professor walkthrough first? Start with the Instructor Overview and come back here when you are ready to launch your section.

Syllabus Insert

Grading Rubric

LMS Setup Guide

Approval Template

Syllabus Insert

Copy and paste into your course syllabus

Required Simulation Assignment, MISsimulation

This course includes a multi-week competitive business simulation (MISsimulation) in which students manage a competitive market scenario. Students will purchase and analyze market research data sets, execute strategic actions across geographic regions, manage budgets, and craft social media strategy, all while competing against other teams in a simulated election.

Learning Outcomes Addressed

Apply data analytics techniques to evaluate market research and forecast market outcomes
Demonstrate data-driven decision-making under competitive budget constraints
Develop targeted competitive strategies using geographic and demographic data
Evaluate spending efficiency and return on investment across strategic actions
Adapt competitive strategy in response to competitor actions and competition results

The simulation includes the following components: Campaign Actions, Market Research Data Sets, Critter Social Media, Financial Management, Geographic Strategy, and Surveys. Your instructor will configure the number of turns and competitive structure for your section.

Grading Weight

The simulation counts for [X]% of your final course grade, broken down as follows: AI strategy score ([X]%), simulation performance ([X]%), financial management ([X]%), and participation & collaboration ([X]%). See the grading rubric below for detailed criteria.

Academic Integrity

Each student section operates on a unique simulated market. Sharing decision data, outputs, or strategic reasoning across sections is considered academic dishonesty and will be handled per the course and university policy. AI writing tools may not be used to produce strategic memos without instructor-approved disclosure.

You Need to Fill In

Grading weight percentages (effectiveness / data analysis / financial management / collaboration / participation)
Number of simulation turns planned for your course
Specific submission deadline cadence
Your institution's academic integrity policy reference

Grading Rubric

Per-turn scoring guide for strategic decisions and analysis

Part A, Strategic Decision Quality

Criterion	Excellent (4)	Proficient (3)	Developing (2)	Beginning (1)
Data Analysis Depth	Cross-references multiple data sets (demographics, media consumption, issue preferences) to identify high-value voter segments with clear geographic targeting	Uses two or more data sets to inform targeting; reasonable segment identification	References one data set superficially; limited geographic or demographic analysis	Decision made without meaningful data set reference
Resource Allocation	Effectively balances budget across strategic actions, data set purchases, social media (Critter), and geographic targeting with clear trade-off reasoning	Budget spread across most categories; some trade-off reasoning present	Budget concentrated in one area with minimal justification	No evidence of deliberate budget allocation strategy
Strategic Integration	Decisions across strategic actions, social media, geographic strategy, and data analysis form a coherent, mutually reinforcing competitive strategy	Most simulation components are aligned; minor inconsistencies	Strategic decisions made in isolation with limited strategic coherence	No evidence of integrated strategic thinking
Competitive Awareness	Adapts strategy based on competitor intelligence and turn-over-turn results; anticipates rival moves	Acknowledges competitor actions; partial strategy adjustment between turns	Minimal competitor consideration; strategy unchanged across turns	No evidence of competitive analysis or adaptation

Part B, Competitive Strategy Submission

Criterion	Excellent (4)	Proficient (3)	Developing (2)	Beginning (1)
Strategic Clarity	Targeting rationale is specific (which segments, which regions, which issues) and demonstrates clear strategic focus	Targeting rationale is mostly specific; minor gaps in voter/region/issue detail	Vague targeting; lacks specificity on segments or geography	No clear targeting rationale; generic or off-topic
Data Evidence	Strategic decisions clearly informed by purchased data sets; targeting matches data-driven insights	Decisions mostly consistent with available data; minor gaps between analysis and execution	Noticeable gaps between data available and strategic decisions made	No evidence of data set utilization in decision-making
Expected Results	Projections are quantified and tied to specific data sources	Some quantified projections; data source connection is partial	Vague projections without quantification	No expected results stated
Professional Tone	Business-appropriate, concise communication suitable for executive briefing	Mostly professional; occasional lapses in tone or brevity	Inconsistent tone; some informal or verbose language	Informal or unclear writing throughout; not suitable for executive audience

Sample Grading Weights

Component	Weight	Artifact
AI Strategy Score	35%	AI-evaluated action plan quality, reasoning & justification
Simulation Performance	25%	Action effectiveness scores, data utilization, targeted vs. non-targeted results
Financial Management	20%	Budget allocation efficiency, spending ROI
Participation & Collaboration	20%	Turn completion rate, peer review scores, team contribution

You Need to Fill In

Point weight for each rubric part (e.g. 60% decision / 40% strategy submission)
Whether additional written analysis is required beyond simulation inputs
Any course-specific criteria you want to add or remove

Scoring Tip

The simulation dashboard shows each team's effectiveness scores, spending reports, and performance trends automatically. You can review action effectiveness results and data set usage directly from the instructor dashboard.

LMS Setup Guide

Canvas · Blackboard · D2L Brightspace · Moodle

In your Canvas course, go to Assignments → + Assignment.
In the assignment instructions, paste the direct MISsimulation course link so students can access it from Canvas.
Set the point value to match your rubric weight.
To record grades, download the score report from your instructor dashboard and enter them manually in Grades → Gradebook.
For announcements, use the Canvas Announcement tool, paste the turn reminder template from the section below.

Navigate to Course Content → Build Content → Web Link.
Paste the MISsimulation course link and give it a clear name (e.g., "MISsimulation").
In your syllabus or assignment description, note the point value and how students will be graded.
To record grades, download the score report from your instructor dashboard and enter them manually into the Grade Center.
Use Announcements for turn reminders, see the turn reminder template below.

Go to Content → New → Create a Link.
Paste the MISsimulation course URL and give the link a clear title.
In Grades, create a grade item manually for this activity and note the point value.
To record grades, download the score report from your instructor dashboard and enter them manually in the Grades tool.
Use News/Announcements for turn deadline reminders.

With editing enabled, click Add an activity or resource → URL.
Enter the MISsimulation course URL in the External URL field and set it to open in a new window.
Set the maximum grade to match your rubric weight.
To record grades, download the score report from your instructor dashboard and enter them manually in the Gradebook.
Use Forum Announcements or Course Notifications for turn reminders.

Turn Reminder Template (copy into your LMS announcements)

Subject: Turn [N] closes [DAY], [DATE] at [TIME]

Hi everyone, a quick reminder that Turn [N] of the MISsimulation closes on [DAY, DATE at TIME]. Log in at missimulation.com and submit both your strategic decisions and any required submissions before the deadline.

Late submissions cannot be accepted because the market resolves for all teams simultaneously. If you have any technical issues, email [email protected] and copy me so we can resolve it before the deadline.

Department Approval Template

Use this to get chair / curriculum committee sign-off

To: [Department Chair / Curriculum Committee]
From: [Your Name]
Re: Course Tool Addition, MISsimulation for [Course Name / Number]

I'm writing to request approval to incorporate MISsimulation into [Course Name] beginning [Semester/Year]. MISsimulation is a web-based business strategy simulation used at 35+ accredited universities with over 13,000 students to date. A peer-reviewed study published in the Journal of Statistics and Data Science Education (2023) confirmed statistically significant gains in student engagement and analytical skill development.

Pedagogy: Students run an MIS simulation set in an election context, making sequential data-driven decisions over [N] weekly turns. Each turn requires analysis of market research data sets, execution of strategic actions across geographic regions, budget management, and social media strategy, directly addressing our program's analytical thinking and data-driven decision-making learning outcomes.

Cost to students: $29 per student for semester access. There is no cost to the institution or instructor.

Academic integrity: Each section runs on a unique simulated market, making answer-sharing impossible. The platform maintains full audit logs of all student activity for grade appeals or academic misconduct inquiries.

AACSB alignment: The simulation generates direct-measure evidence for Analytical Thinking, Data-Driven Decision Making, and Technological Agility, suitable for inclusion in our AoL documentation. The platform generates AACSB-ready Assurance of Learning evidence exports (per-student, per-turn CSV with effectiveness scores and spending patterns) and supports objective tagging aligned to your program's AOL rubric.

I'm happy to provide a demo or a sample instructor walkthrough. Please let me know if you need any additional information.

You Need to Fill In

Your name and course number
Intended semester/year
Student cost (check your instructor dashboard)
Number of simulation turns
Verify published study citation details

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