The Mekong e-Sim activity involves students being assigned personas from the Mekong region to adopt. They will complete readings and quizzes to understand their assigned persona and region. Students will then interact with each other through email and online forums, responding to news events and policy issues from the perspective of their persona. A debriefing session follows where students reflect on their experience and submit a final paper. The goal is for students to develop understanding of stakeholders in the Mekong region and skills in communication, negotiation, and decision making across cultures.

1. Mekong e-Sim
RESOURCES TASKS SUPPORTS
Briefing: Face-to-face
Lectures, • Activity introduction discussions,
articles on • Activity requirements instruction
persona • Software training with software
and region • Role allocation
Role Adoption:
• Develop persona Online
Persona statement from resources * quiz
statements • Online quizzes on software
persona & background *
Interaction: (email)
• Respond via email to Asynchronous
Approximately 8 or 9 weeks
Scenario news events, news articles discussion
News & actions of other persona via email
events • Create issue papers or
news articles *
Issue
Papers and
News Articles
Interaction: (Forum) * Asynchronous
• Post persona position discussion
Forum • Negotiate position via forum
postings
Debriefing
• Derole Face-to-face
Critical • Post online critical discussion,
Incident incident report * asynchronous
report • Structured debriefing activity posting
• Submit debriefing paper *
Debriefing
paper
Intended Learning Outcomes:
• Develop an awareness of multiple dimensions and perspectives about natural resource decision-making in the
Mekong region.
• Develop an understanding about stakeholders roles, responsibilities, values and attitudes of organisations
involved with development in the Mekong region.
• Develop communication, research, critical thinking, negotiation and decision-making skills and an appreciation of
cultural/disciplinary differences and approaches.
• Utilise Information Communication and Technology skills.