Students from the School of Academic and Liberal Studies transformed a typical classroom into a vibrant, high-energy esthetics trade show – an innovative experiential learning assessment that blended communication skills with real-world industry practice.
Led by Communications professor Sarah Bobko, the simulation challenged first-year students to plan, design, and deliver professional trade-show pitches. Working in pairs, students created interactive booths showcasing a wide range of products, services, devices, and techniques, from ultrasonic skin scrubbers and red-light therapy tools to builder gels, gua sha stones, and professional skincare lines.
To mirror the fast-paced nature of real trade events, each student group delivered their presentation up to five times in one day, rotating through different audiences that included their peers, Bobko, and Reyna Grigg, from the Esthetician program.
Bobko says the goal was to create an immersive and authentic environment where students could repeatedly practice oral communication skills, refine their messaging, and adapt their delivery to new audiences on the fly.
“Presenting multiple times builds confidence and gives students the opportunity to sharpen their responses to a variety of questions-just like they would at an actual trade show,” she said.
Students were encouraged to incorporate visuals, hands-on demonstrations, and promotional materials to make their booths dynamic and engaging. Many noted that the informal, interactive format felt more natural than a standard classroom presentation and better reflected what they will encounter in industry settings. The timing of the assessment-just ahead of Black Friday-even allowed audience members to explore and purchase the featured products in real life.
The activity draws directly from the learning objectives of COMM 1101, a core communications course in which students learn to craft professional messages and deliver them with clarity, confidence, and purpose. As part of the assessment, students were evaluated on essential presentation skills such as body language, articulation, enthusiasm, and active listening. They also demonstrated their ability to tailor messages to different audiences using the AIDA communication strategy-a key framework taught across NC’s communications curriculum.
Among the standout participants were first-year students Jamee Hiemstra and Laura Del, pictured in the accompanying photo, who impressed faculty with their professionalism and creativity.
Jennifer Roberts, Associate Dean of Academic and Liberal Studies at the Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake, praised the initiative for its experiential focus and potential to be showcased more widely.
“This is exactly the kind of innovative teaching we love to highlight,” she said. “It shows how COMM 1101 equips students with real industry-ready communication skills, and it’s a fantastic example of how faculty bring theory to life.”
Bobko plans to run the simulation again, and next time she hopes to welcome additional faculty and staff to experience the energy of the event firsthand.
