Andrea Buenano, Stacy Warner, Rachel Madsen

Student Expectations vs. Outcomes

Introduction

Student expectations vs. Outcomes. Compare student expectations vs. outcomes from Super Bowl LVII experiential learning in sport management. Key themes: networking, professional development, mega-events, & surprising "Community of Practice."

Abstract

Professional development and experiential learning opportunities are essential to student success in sport management programs. This work utilizes qualitative content analysis of survey responses to compare students’ expectations regarding a learning opportunity at Super Bowl LVII to students’ reported outcomes after the event. Open-ended data from an online survey prior to the event experience (n =82 students) was analyzed and then compared to data (n=81 students) after the event. Three common themes emerged regarding students’ expectations for the upcoming experience: Networking Experiences, Professional Development, and Mega-Event Experience. The same themes were also reported as post-event experience outcomes. Unexpectedly, Community of Practice emerged as a post-event experience theme. The results illustrated that some of the students’ expectations lined up with their reported outcomes. However, the emergence of Community of Practice reported post-event is noteworthy. Practical implications to enhance and maximize learning through a large sporting event experience are provided.

Review

This study presents a timely and pertinent examination of the alignment between student expectations and actual outcomes from a significant experiential learning opportunity: the Super Bowl LVII. In the context of sport management programs, where professional development and hands-on experience are paramount for student success, this research utilizes a qualitative content analysis approach to shed light on the efficacy and impact of such initiatives. The core objective of comparing pre-event expectations with post-event reported outcomes offers valuable insights into how students perceive and ultimately benefit from high-profile industry engagements. The methodology employed involves analyzing open-ended survey data collected from students both before (n=82) and after (n=81) their Super Bowl experience. Crucially, the analysis revealed three consistent themes – Networking Experiences, Professional Development, and Mega-Event Experience – which were prominent in students' expectations and subsequently reaffirmed in their reported outcomes. This consistency suggests a successful delivery of anticipated learning components. However, a particularly noteworthy finding is the unexpected emergence of "Community of Practice" as a distinct theme in the post-event outcomes. This unanticipated result points to a deeper, more organic form of learning and engagement that warrants further consideration. The practical implications derived from this work are significant for educators and administrators within sport management programs. The study affirms the value of intentionally designed experiential learning opportunities for meeting student expectations in areas like professional networking and development. More importantly, the unexpected identification of "Community of Practice" highlights an often-unspoken benefit, suggesting that such events can foster a sense of belonging, shared identity, and collaborative learning that extends beyond individual professional gains. This discovery encourages a focus on designing experiences that not only meet explicit learning objectives but also cultivate a supportive and interactive environment, thereby maximizing the holistic educational impact of large sporting event participation.

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