Retail Discount Practice

A professor in Texas created a unique class assignment where students had to practice real-world negotiation by haggling for discounts in retail stores.

Key Points About The Assignment

• Students had to achieve specific discount targets from retail stores
• Required real-world application of negotiation skills
• Focused on practical experience over theoretical learning

Why This Teaching Method Works

• Provides hands-on experience with real stakes
• Forces students to overcome fear/discomfort of negotiation
• Creates memorable learning experiences
• Teaches valuable life skills through direct practice

Part of Larger Trend in Practical Education

The speakers discussed other examples of practical education approaches:

• Marketing professor requiring students to go viral on TikTok
• Proposed lemonade stand competition between student teams
• Suggested newsletter/writing assignments focused on building real audiences
• Proposed "flipping" assignments where students trade up items for profit

Benefits of This Teaching Approach

• Students learn through direct experience
• Develops real-world applicable skills
• Creates measurable outcomes (specific discount targets)
• Builds confidence through practical achievement
• More engaging than traditional classroom learning

The speakers emphasized this represents a shift toward more practical, results-oriented education versus traditional theoretical teaching methods.